21

An interesting topic for a Saturday morning, the traditional day of sleeping in for our 40 work hours a week society -- the idea that we should really change our society to make it a 21 work hours a week society.

The article about it suggests that by doing this, we will consume less and spend our time doing more things that matter, such as caring for our families, being with friends, learning, hobbies, etc.

While the whole theory may be right, that we would be able to better sustain our lifestyle on the planet with fewer resources because we couldn't afford as much, all i can see is Sweetie hanging around the house like he does during Christmas break, trying to tell me how to do all the stuff i do when he isn't here anyway. Or worse, he would be inviting The Mouth to hang out here with him.

Nope, i'm not ready to have him underfoot either from retirement or from a shortened work week.


Today is:

Assembly Line Worker's Day -- listed on many sites but no particular reason for it to be this day; then again, why not today?

Azhirnikhua -- Abdhazia (Day of World Creation)

Cakes and Ale Day -- emblems of the good life, a day to remember the good things we have, and be grateful

Camel Wrestling -- Selcuk, Turkey (through tomorrow)

Celebration of the 2nd Week of Moonhopper -- Fairy Calendar

Children's Day -- Thailand

Day of Defenders of the Native Land (Army Day) -- Uzbekistan

Feast of Divina Pastora -- Barquisimeto, Venezuela

Feast of the Ass -- Medieval Christianity (commemorates the Flight Into Egypt)

International Kite Festival -- Jaipur and Ahmedabad, India

Makar Sandranti -- India/Hindu Calendar (part of the sidereal solstice festivals)

National Dress Up Your Pet Day -- do you really dislike your pet this much?

National Forest Conservation Day -- Thailand

National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day

Niino no Yukimatsuri -- Izu shrine, Niino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan (offerings to the gods for good crops next year)

North American International Auto Show -- Detroit, MI, US (through the 22nd)

Pongal -- Tamil New Year, among the Tamil People (celebrated through the 17th)

Revolution and Youth Day -- Tunisia

Sidereal Winter Solstice Celebrations -- throughout South and Southeast Asia

St. Felix of Nola's Day (Patron of domestic animals; against eye diseases)

St. Sava's Day (Patron of Serbian schools)

Take a Missionary to Lunch Day -- to honor Albert Schweitzer's Birthday



Anniversaries Today:

Joe DiMaggio marries Marilyn Monroe, 1954


Birthdays Today:

Faye Dunaway, 1941
Jack Jones, 1938
Andy Rooney, 1919
William Bendix, 1906
John dos Passos, 1896
Hal Roach, 1892
Hugh Lofting, 1886
Albert Schweitzer, 1875
Thornton W. Burgess, 1874
Benedict Arnold, 1741


Today in History:

The Knights Templar are formally approved by the Roman Catholic Church, 1129
Pope Leo X issues a papal bull against slavery, 1514
Spain annexes Cuba, 1539
The "Fundamental Orders", the first written constitution that created a government, is adopted in Connecticut, 1639
Massachusetts holds a day of fasting for wrongly accusing "witches", 1699
Congress ratifies the Treaty of Paris, formally ending the American Revolutionary War, 1783
The US Supreme Court rules that racial separation on trains is unconstitutional, 1878
An earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica, kills more than 1000, 1907
Henry Ford introduces the assembly line to the production of the Model-T, 1914
The first prototype of the MiG-17 makes its maiden flight, 1950
The Reserve Bank of Australia, the country's central bank and banknote issuing authority, is established, 1960
Toronto, Ontario Mayor Mel Lastman becomes the first mayor in Canada to call in the Army to help with emergency medical evacuations and snow removal after more than one meter of snow paralyzes the city, 1999
The national flag of Georgia, the so-called "five cross flag", is restored to official use after a hiatus of some 500 years, 2004
Landing of the Huygens probe on Saturn's moon Titan, 2005