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Valentine’s Day Fun Facts

February 8th, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 2 Comments | Filed in Fun Stuff

There are major holidays and then there are Hallmark holidays, the latter falling under the category of less important celebrations which are still oftentimes acknowledged through the sending of a greeting card or small gift. Many men look at Valentine’s Day as being a day of lesser significance while most women seem to rank the holiday up there with Christmas and their birthday.

love letterGuys, you lose on this one: make sure that you remember your sweetheart this Sunday. Or else.

St. Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is not what most people think that it is. At least when it comes to being seen in its original context. Back in the 5th century the Roman Catholic pope, Gelasius I, recognized the service of a martyr named Valentine, elevating him to sainthood. Thus, St. Valentine’s Day is the actual name of the holiday even though it has come to represent love between a man and a woman.

As we move deeper into the 21st century, Valentine’s Day is likely to continue to evolve. In recent years people sent e-cards, but that has largely fell into disfavor because of the possibility of viruses attached. Instead, if you want to send a viral message you do that by visiting their Facebook account. Why chance receiving something that can wreck your computer?

Fun Facts

With each Valentine’s Day holiday, comes word of some tradition or idea worth noting. Yes, chocolates, roses, and a funny card are usually welcome gifts, but consider what some people are planning to give this year and where you can find them:

Red Heart USB Drive – she loves her computer, so why not give her a fun, memory device? (www.coolcubetoys.com)

Chocolate Lips – For a lip smacking good time, available in pink or purple foils. (candywarehouse.com)

Lovopoly – A romantic version of the classic Monopoly game, for the lover in you! (findgifts.com)

Romantic Fortune Cookies – Chinese take out food pail holds nine fortune cookies with sweet sayings. (amazon.com)

Ladybug Chocolates – Give a six piece ladybug shaped truffles set to your sweetheart (moonstruckchocolate.com)

Be Mine Wine – Give that special wine, champagne, or nonalcoholic beverage on Valentine’s Day. (personalcreations.com)

Classic Jewelry – When all else fails, buy jewelry. But why settle for something he or she won’t wear once the holiday is over? (redenvelope.com)

True Love

That’s it, folks! Fun gift ideas for Valentine’s Day, ways for you to express your love to the one nearest and dearest to your heart.

Photo Credit: Billy Alexander


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Groundhog Day Eccentricities Abound

February 2nd, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 4 Comments | Filed in Fun Stuff

Rodent’s annual showing inspires frivolity,
even controversy

“How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” That question can best be answered with another riddle: “A woodchuck would chuck what a woodchuck could, if a woodchuck could chuck wood.”

In other words, a groundhog is not particularly interested in wood as early European settlers misunderstood the Algonquin native word for groundhog which is wuchak.

Punxsutawney Phil

Punxsutawney Phil and Friends

Yes, today is Groundhog Day, when Marmota Monax is coaxed or pulled from his wintry habitat in towns across the United States and Canada in order to help humans divine whether there will be six more weeks of winter or if an early spring is in the offing.

As legend has it, if the local groundhog emerges from his den and fails to see his shadow, then winter will end early and he’ll leave his burrow promptly.

Shadow or Not

On the other hand if the groundhog sees his shadow he’ll return to his burrow and sleep the next six weeks away in anticipation of spring arriving on schedule.

No plausible explanation has been given to the question every smart-aleck kid wants to ask: how can you know for certain whether the groundhog has seen his shadow or not?

Luckily, there are “interpreters” who can figure that out even if it has later been proven that the groundhog was wrong in his prognostication. In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania a team of keepers and protectors (Inner Circle) do the bidding of Punxsutawney Phil, who is perhaps the most recognizable of all groundhogs at work on February 2nd.

Ancient German Tradition

Indeed, the Punxsutawney tradition can be traced back to 1887 when a group of German Americans noted that the groundhog looked a lot like their native hedgehog, deciding that a mildly revised form of weather interpreting would work well in the new world too. Thus the beginning of a tradition now spanning parts of three centuries.

Phil’s annual rite of woodchuck passage draws more than 30,000 people annually who  partake in a variety of related multiday activities. 1.5 miles from town is Gobblers Knob, the precise site where Phil does his thing. By 5:00 in the morning on Groundhog Day the crowds begin to swell, with Phil getting in on the act by 7:30 a.m., whether he wants to or not.

Groundhog Notables

Thanks to a group of groundhog hunters from Punxsutawney who dub themselves The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, groundhog lore, interest, and controversy has spread well beyond this small town located some 90 minutes northeast of Pittsburgh:

  • Bee Cave Bob predicts the weather in Bee Cave, Texas, a town not too far away from Austin. On closer examination you will see that Texans substitute an armadillo for our favorite rodent.
  • PETA, which does not stand for People Eating Tasty Animals, has recently demanded that Phil be replaced with a mechanical version of himself.
  • In 1993, Columbia Pictures released the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray.
  • In 1986 Phil visited President Reagan in Washington, DC; in 1995 he made a live appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
  • The origin of the word Punxsutawney comes from native Delaware tribesman. It means land of the sand flies.
  • Though Punxsutawney Phil is believed to be the first of the North American groundhogs to prognosticate about the weather, he certainly is not alone.

In Bruce County, Ontario they have Wiarton Willie to offer his predictions. Staten Island Chuck a/k/a Charles G. Hogg is New York City’s representative. In the Raleigh, NC area, Sir Walter Wally waits until high noon to offer his prediction, part of an event running from 10 am to 3 pm at the Museum of Natural Science.

Other woodchuck representatives include Dunkirk Dave, Balzac Billy, Shubenacadie Sam, French Creek Freddie, Pat Lane, General Beauregard Lee, among others.

Teacher’s Aid

Finally, if you are a teacher and would like to involve your students in the day’s events, The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club has lesson plans for your review, written and compiled by the faculty and staff of West End Elementary School, in Punxsutawney.

Source: VisitPA.com


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Super Bowl Ads Get Super-sized Results

February 1st, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 3 Comments | Filed in Fun Stuff

This Sunday evening a football game will be played in Opa Locka, Florida at Sun Life Stadium. That game, Super Bowl XLIV, will pit two of the best teams in professional football: the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. Drew Brees and Peyton Manning are the quarterbacks for these teams respectively, but they won’t be the only stars viewers will see when they tune in.

football

Super Bowl XLIV: February 7, 2010

Entertaining Commercials

No, I am not talking about the supporting cast of offensive, defensive, and special unit players who will make or break the game. Rather, it is the commercials which can be almost as entertaining, short clips which can have a profound impact on viewers.

Wake Forest University conducted a study and their researchers found that although Super Bowl commercials can cost a mint—as much as $3 million for a 30-second spot, they can also be worthwhile for those who run them.

“Believe it or not, advertising on the Super Bowl can be downright economical,” says Wake Forest University marketing professor Sheri Bridges, an expert on branding and advertising. She gives eight reasons the Super Bowl is a unique opportunity for advertisers:

1. Exposure to nearly 100 million viewers of the game itself and to an attractive demographic.

2. Extensive publicity before and after the event in a variety of media and media channels.

3. Engagement levels of the audience in the ads are incredibly high (no zipping or zapping; people want to watch the commercials).

4. Excitement of game day can lead to positive feelings being associated with/transferred to the ads/advertisers.

5. Employee morale can be boosted, especially at a time when workers are looking for a reason to feel proud.

6. Evangelical word-of-mouth after the game (around the office water cooler, on the subway, in the checkout line, etc.) about favorite ads.

7. Extended ad life and exposure via airings on Internet sites devoted to Super Bowls ads, including YouTube and advertiser Web pages.

8. Elite image associated with Super Bowl stimulates an “eagle effect” — if a brand can fly high with the other eagles, it must be good.

“The bottom line…watching Super Bowl commercials is an event in itself,” Bridges says. But, she warns advertisers to steer clear of messages related to the bad economy. “Viewers want ads that make them smile, laugh or get choked up, not those that make them feel depressed,” she says.

Gridiron Classic

Expect a lot of exciting ads this weekend before, during, and after the big game. Enjoy the contest too because when you talk Saints-Colts, you’re talking about one of the best Super Bowl match ups of all time.

Source: Wake Forest University


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7 Resolutions For The New Year

January 1st, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 3 Comments | Filed in Fun Stuff, News

Here's to your success in 2010!

2010 is here and with it comes the promise of new beginnings. At least that is what we like to tell ourselves as we put away the old calendar and bring out the new one.

Have you made resolutions for the coming year? Do they accurately reflect what you believe you can accomplish or were you talked into a pricey gym membership that you will drop in February?

The only reason why you make resolutions is to improve yourself in one or more ways. But most resolutions are made in haste or made without considering what it will take for you to stay the course and reach your goals. To that end, we are offering seven resolutions you can accomplish for 2010 including a few where you won’t have to break a sweat!

To A New You

1. Save Money. You can save money on a regular basis in order to pay for your summer vacation, have money available for a down payment for a new car, send the kids off to college, or reach some other goal. The easiest way to save money is by not seeing it in the first place through deductions to your paycheck with direct deposits to your 401(k) or other account.

In addition, you can save money for next Christmas or some other important event by linking up your checking account with a savings account and having money deposited weekly to it. Even the smallest amount set aside on a regular basis can make a huge difference for you.

2. Quit Smoking. Bad habits die hard and smoking is one of the worst habits imaginable. You probably will not be able to do this alone, so plan on seeing your doctor, tell a close friend that your are quitting, and do not give up even if you fall off the band wagon.

Smoking makes you look better, feel better, and smell better. Besides, you want to live a bit longer, right? Accountability is the key; join a “12 Step” type program if that works best for you.

3. Read More. Thanks to the rise of the internet along with email, people are writing and reading more. Still, our conversations have become more shallow as we use the shortest possible words, embrace slang, and advance other bad habits our high school English Composition teachers warned us about.

Resolve to read at least one book monthly from The New York Times bestseller to the classics. Join a reading group if you enjoy sharing a good story with friends.

4. Eat Right. Snack season is over! Sure, the Super Bowl is still weeks away, but isn’t it time you give your body what it deserves? And it deserves nothing less than balanced, wholesome eating to keep you fit, feeling strong, and healthy.

No, I am not advocating a diet plan, rather for you to come up with some sort of food plan that keeps you from feeling hungry while working with not against your body.

5. Exercise Regularly. Along with a healthy diet, an exercise regimen can work wonders. You do not need to join a gym, nor to you have to take up aerobics. Though these are both good things to do, you can benefit in small ways and large.

Instead of taking the elevator up three stories, why not walk up three flights of stairs? Park further away when you visit the mall, join a mall walkers club, walk around the neighborhood, and consider purchasing a bicycle, stationary bike, jump rope, or other device to help you get moving. Mix it up too: a variety of exercise methods can keep you interested and engaged.

6. Attack Debt. 2009 was a financial disaster for so many families with homes lost to foreclosure, credit card lines maxed out, and money in short supply. Whether you have your debt under control or it is controlling you, there are some things you can do to master it.

Consider reducing your available credit lines, closing unused accounts, increasing your monthly payments, canceling unneeded subscriptions, purchasing generic, selling an extra car, deferring a purchase, and picking up side income in a bid to win the debt battle. You can do it!

7. Reward Yourself. No matter what sort of resolution(s) you have in mind, one of the keys to successfully reaching your goals is to periodically reward yourself. In other words, resolve to be kind to YOU.

If you lose weight, then buy that new dress you have been eying. If you have paid off a credit card, then buy yourself a (small) gift with CASH. If you have quit smoking, invest in a new hair style. Find some way to give yourself a pat on the back and a much needed boost before you press on to your next goal.

Happy new year and may your resolutions ring bright all throughout 2010!

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Photo Credit: Mateusz Stachowski


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