##August 26th is…
###National Cherry Popsicle Day
Each summer on the 26th of August, Popsicle lovers across the United States enjoy National Cherry Popsicle Day.
One evening in 1905, 11-year-old Frank Epperson mixed a batch of soda on his porch and left it with the stirring stick still in it for the night. That evening in San Francisco, California the temperature dipped to record lows and the following morning, Frank discovered instead of soda pop, a frozen treat on a stick. Inspired, he created the fruit-flavored “Popsicle”.
It wasn’t until years later, in 1922 during a fireman’s ball, that he introduced his frosty treat. With the Popsicle’s huge success, Epperson proceeded to make and sell his frozen sweetness at an amusement park in Alameda, California. By 1924, he applied for a patent where he called it the “Epsicle” ice pop. He later renamed it “Popsicle”.
Once of summertime’s favorite treats, National Cherry Popsicle Day honors one of the top flavors!
###National Women’s Equality Day
The United States Congress passed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution granting women full and equal voting rights on this day in 1920. Every year on August 26, we commemorate this right with National Women’s Equality Day.
Seeds were planted for the women’s rights movement 80 years before when Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Staton, while in London at the World Anti-Slavery Convention, were denied access to the convention floor. Once back in The United States, along with Martha Wright, Mary Ann McClintock, and Jane Hunt, the women set in motion plans for the first woman’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Held at Wesleyan Chapel on July 19-20, 1848, the conference drew 200 women the first day. On the second day, the convention was opened to men and some did attend.
Resolved, that it is the duty of the women of this country to secure to themselves their sacred right to the elective franchise. ~ 9th Resolution of the Seneca Falls Convention 1848
During the convention, 12 resolutions were presented. These resolutions enumerated the rights of that women should be equal to men socially, economically, legally and representatively. Of the resolutions, all but the 9th were approved unanimously. It was the right to vote that many women felt would cause many of their backers to withdraw their support. However, after much debate and the support of Abolitionist Frederick Douglass, the 9th resolution too passed.
Woman’s suffrage would have it’s beginnings. Another advocate, Susan B. Anthony, joined Stanton in 1869 in creating the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA). Through nearly ten years of persistence and lobbying, the NWSA introduced an amendment in 1878 and after years of debate, to the floor of Congress in 1886, only to be defeated. It would take another 34 years, passing of batons, states entering the union with constitutions including the woman’s right to vote and civil disobedience for an amendment to be introduced and passed by Congress.
###National WebMistress Day
National WebMistress Day recognizes women in web development on August 26.
A WebMistress is a woman who designs, develops, markets and maintains websites. While the term has existed since the mid-1990s, it officially entered technology’s lexicon in June of 1995 when Kat Valentine secured the domain name WebMistress.com and began web development under the job title WebMistress. The previously existing WebMaster had arrived on the scene as early as 1986 according to various classified ads.
There are now thousands of women working under the job title WebMistress, but the word still raises eyebrows more than 20 years later. WebMistress has a place not only on the résumé but is a legitimate job title in the business world. As part of National WebMistress Day, take the time to acknowledge the women in web development to promote the job title in the business and lose the stigma associated with the word.
###National Dog Day
National Dog Day is observed annually on August 26th.
This day encourages dog ownership of all breeds, mixed and pure, and embraces the opportunity for all dogs to live a happy, safe and abuse-free life. Dogs give us companionship; they keep us safe, and they aid those in need. It is a goal for many on National Dog Day to find homes for all dogs in need of a loving family. The goal of the National Dog Day Foundation is to rescue 10,000 dogs each year.
Source for these holidays -
http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/
###Make Your Own Luck Day
Thomas Jefferson once said, “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” On Make Your Own Luck Day do just that by being open to new experiences and opportunities. Don’t be stuck in a routine. Set a goal and work hard for it. Don’t accept defeat and take risks. Richard Wiseman, head of a psychology research department at the University of Hertfordshire in England, says he’s cracked the code “Luck isn’t due to kismet, karma, or coincidence, he says. Instead, lucky folks — without even knowing it — think and behave in ways that create good fortune in their lives”.
More quotes about luck:
“Luck is believing you’re lucky.” – Tennessee Williams,
“Diligence is the mother of good luck.” - Benjamin Franklin
“Luck is not chance-It’s Toil-Fortune’s expensive smile Is earned-” — Emily Dickinson
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” – Seneca
###Daffodil Day
The daffodil is the international symbol of hope for all touched by cancer. Daffodil Day was first held by the Canadian Cancer Society in the early 1980s, but in 1992, it was established as an Australia-wide event, and has since become the largest fundraising event of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Daffodil Day in the U.S. is not as well-known or organized as it is down-under; however, it remains a day for everyone to give hope for a brighter, cancer-free future.
Source for these holidays -
http://www.giftypedia.com/Fun_and_Unique_Holidays
###National Toilet Paper Day
Today (August 26) is National Toilet Paper Day! Here are some interesting facts about toilet paper to help you celebrate this quirky event!
Americans use 50% more toilet paper than other Western societies. On average, Americans use about 50 pounds of toilet paper per-person per year, compared to people in other Western countries, who use about 33 pounds per year each. Americans also prefer multi-ply paper, which increases the per-person usage rate.
Some interesting things have been used in place of toilet paper. Water, hay, corncobs, leaves, sticks, stones, sand moss, hemp, wool, husks, fruit peels, ferns, sponges, seashells, and broken pottery have all been used in the bathroom at one time or another. (Broken pottery!)
Over or under? About two-thirds of Americans prefer their toilet paper to come off the roll over the top.
Toilet paper was introduced in the US in 1857. Joseph Gayetty is credited with bringing toilet paper to the US market in 1857. The paper was dispensed in flat squares embossed with Gayetty’s name. Gayetty’s Medicated Paper exited the market in the 1920’s, a victim of competition from the more compact and more easily dispensed rolled paper commonly used today.
Rolled toilet paper (and toilet paper rollers) hit the US market in 1883. Seth Wheeler patented both rolled toilet paper and toilet paper dispensers.
Colored toilet paper was available in the US for about 40 years. Scott was the last company to remove colored toilet paper from the US market in 2004. Colored toilet paper is still readily available in European countries.
Hold the color! US consumers prefer bright white, multi-ply paper with decorative designs. While the designs give an embossed look, the toilet paper isn’t truly embossed. The designs are created as part of the drying process during production, and according to the manufacturers, they improve the overall strength of the paper.
Toilet paper is specially designed to decompose. Even though they may feel similar, toilet paper and facial tissues aren’t the same. The fibers used to make toilet paper are very short, which allow the paper to begin disintegrating within seconds of becoming wet. This design allows the paper to dissolve in septic systems. Remarkably, after getting wet, toilet paper still retains about 15% of its dry strength.
The first mention of toilet paper in history was from the 6th century AD. Chinese history records the first mention of the use of toilet paper in the 6th century. By the 14th century, toilet paper was mass-produced in China.
Global toilet paper production consumes 10 million trees each year. Each tree produces about 100 pounds of toilet paper. On average, global toilet paper demand consumes nearly 30,000 trees each day.
Standard size? Not always! The industry standard size of a square of toilet paper is 4.5″ x 4.5″. Some manufacturers reduce the size of the square in order to offer a lower retail price.
Toilet paper is a bona fide bestseller! Not surprisingly, toilet paper is ranked third in overall sales of non-food items, and accounts for more than $4 billion in US sales annually.
The US Army used toilet paper as camouflage. During Desert Storm, the US Army used toilet paper to camouflage its tanks.
It doesn’t pay to be British. At least when it comes to buying toilet paper. Britons spend on average about twice as much as other European consumers do on toilet paper, and about three times more than US consumers do for the same product.
Here’s the real reason Canada likes us. The US is the largest exporter of toilet paper in the world. On the other side of the coin, Canada imports more toilet paper from the US than any other country.
Source for this holiday -
http://www.bostonstandardplumbing.com/15-facts-to-help-you-celebrate-national-toilet-paper-day/
