As I am wont to do on a Tuesday morning in July, I was daydreaming about International Talk Like a Pirate Day, which I make a point of honoring every year. And, in true Carrie Bradshaw style, I "couldn't help but wonder" how many other silly holidays and commemoration days there are in the world.

A quick trawl round the 'Net revealed that there are in fact hundreds of weird and wonderful holidays and commemoration days celebrated around the world. Far too many to list here, so here are my top 75. They're all real - Google them if you don't believe me!

16 January - Appreciate a Dragon Day
22 January - Answer your Cat's Questions Day ('When's dinner?' 'What's for dinner?' 'Dinner?')
26 January - Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
31 January - National Gorilla Suit Day
7 February - Wave all your Fingers at your Neighbours Day
8 February - Laugh and Get Rich Day
13 February - Blame Someone Else Day
21 February - Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
3 March - What if Cats and Dogs had Opposable Thumbs Day
14 March - International Fanny Pack Day (possibly only funny in the UK)
20 March - Snowman Burning Day (how does that work?)
31 March - National "She's Funny That Way" Day
11 April - International "Louie Louie" Day
15 April - Take a Wild Guess Day
23 April - Talk like Shakespeare Day
24 April - National Hairball Awareness Day
26 April - Hug an Australian Day
1 May - No Pants Day
3 May - Lumpy Rug Day
3 May - National Two Different Coloured Shoes Day
4 May - Respect for Chickens Day
9 May- Stay up All Night Day
13 May - Root Canal Appreciation Day
14 May - National Chicken Dance Day
20 May - International Day of Dishwashing Liquids
22 May - National Wig Out Day
28 May - Slugs Return from Capistrano Day
2 June - Yell "Fudge" at the Cobras in North America Day
6 June - Doo-dah Day
8 June - Upsy Daisy Day
19 June - World Sauntering Day
22 June - Stupid Guy Thing Day
26 June - Ugly Dog Day
29 June - Please Take my Children to Work Day (...because they are driving me bloomin' mad)
1 July - Second Half of the Year Day
2 July - I Forget Day
3 July - Compliment your Mirror Day (oh baby, you're soooo good at reflections...)
6 July - Take your Webmaster to Lunch Day
10 July - Don't Step on a Bee Day
13 July - Embrace your Geekness Day
22 July - Spoonerism Day
25 July - Cow Appreciation Day (oh Daisy, you're really moo-tiful)
7 August - Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day
8 August - Sneak Some Zucchini onto your Neighbour's Porch Night (could this be any more random?)
12 August - Sewing Machine Day
17 August - Meaning of "is" Day (go on then - what does "is" mean?)
22 August - Southern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day
28 August - Race your Mouse Around the Icons Day
28 August - Crackers Over the Keyboard Day
5 September - Be Late for Something Day
19 September - International Talk Like a Pirate Day
19 September - Wife Appreciation Day
19 September - Big Whopper Liar Day (I'm sure there's a way to combine all three of 19 September's silly holidays...)
26 September - Fish Amnesty Day (don't worry, Codfather - you're safe, for one day only)
12 October - International Moment of Frustration Scream Day
12 October - National Kick Butt Day
14 October - Be Bald and Be Free Day
17 October - World Toy Camera Day
22 October - Caps Lock Day (or is that CAPS LOCK DAY?)
27 October - Cranky Co-Workers Day
30 October - Create a Great Funeral Day (like you're going to be around to enjoy it...)
30 October - Haunted Refrigerator Night
8 November - Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day (my husband's socks ought to do the trick)
18 November - Married to a Scorpio Support Day
19 November - World Toilet Day
19 November - Have a Bad Day Day
20 November - Name your PC Day (I typed this list on Beryl, my trusty laptop)
25 November - Tie One On Day
30 November - Stay at Home because you're Well Day
1 December - Bifocals at the Monitor Liberation Day (totally baffled by this one... anyone?)
5 December - Ninja Day
5 December - Bathtub Party Day (those bathtubs really know how to celebrate)
15 December - Cat Herders Day
16 December - Barbie and Barney Backlash Day

And if none of those tickle your fancy, there's always 26 March - Make up your Own Holiday Day.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Clare

(As told to Brian Hill by a Cocker Spaniel from Phoenix named Patches.) At our house, we watch a lot of sports on TV. When I was a puppy, I thought this was a big waste of a nice sunny day. After all, it meant less time available for playing outside in the yard or going to the dog park. But as I've matured (the other day I saw my reflection in the window and was shocked to see I have gray in my muzzle), I've begun to see the wisdom of spending the afternoon on the comfy sofa watching a game. Some people think dogs can't see TV or understand what's going on. That's nonsense. The only thing we can't do is call and purchase the products we see on infomercials, but a lot of that stuff seems like junk anyway. Myself, I even figured out how to order pay-per-view using the remote.

The great thing about TV sports is the variety. If I feel like a nap, there are quiet sports like golf, where after about an hour or so, both I and my master are taking a nice snooze. Football on the other hand, is really exciting for a dog. When we have people over and it's the fourth quarter of a game and they begin concentrating on the TV screen, it's a piece cake for me to sneak around and steal their snack foods. They don't even notice the food is gone most of the time. To you canines who may be novices at this, the key is to steal foods that are soft or those that can be eaten in a couple of gulps, before anyone sees you. Avoid crunchy chips. Cheese and cold cuts make great candidates for theft. On the other paw, one time during a playoff game I was able to take a whole pizza off the table and eat it. I still remember that pizza. Pepperoni. Yum.

When their team makes a touchdown, they all jump up and yell at the screen. This is the one time I don't get scolded for running around hysterically and barking. Yep, I'd have to say football is my favorite sport. The only thing I object to is something called the "Dawg Pound" at the Cleveland Browns games. This is a section of the stadium where fat guys dress up in costumes that are rude caricatures of the nobility and grace of real dogs. I find that to be a species-insensitive stereotype.

But I love following the flight of the ball on TV, no matter what the sport. Tennis is confusing because lately so many of the players make this barking sound when the smack the ball. I've tried to decipher what the barks mean in canine language, but it seems like it's just gibberish.

I've only watched hockey once but didn't like it much. The little rock thing they smack around goes too fast to keep an eye on and I don't like ice because it reminds me of the time we went up the snow for the holidays and my paws got too cold. I much prefer a trip to a warm beach. The next best thing is watching beach volleyball. Big ball, easy for me to follow on the screen. I've even seen spectators bring their dogs to tournaments at the beach. Now that's a civilized sport.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_E._Hill

Learning how to be funny is actually not excessively difficult. You will run across a plethora of things on the internet that state that they can make you become funny and teach you the ropes in order to make you that way.

Many people say that humor is a thing of genetics. Not everyone has the right to be funny and even some people that try will never actually be considered to be funny. Being funny is not something that you learn from a course, and it is not something that you study in school.

Being funny is an attribute that you must have in order to get people to feel comfortable with you. There are a few basic steps that you can take to help you learn how to be funny, although most of them will not work if you don't put forth any effort to allow them to work correctly.

1. Gain knowledge of the perfect time.-People need to know when the mood is right to make a joke or to do something funny. If you try to be funny at the wrong time no one will like what you are saying, and you won't like the income.

2. Learn your audience. If you are talking to your family or friends, it's a good idea to find out what makes them laugh. Often times this is a simple thing to do since you are so close to them.

3. Do not repeat yourself. If someone laughs at your joke, do not repeat it again until your next encounter with the other person. People who repeat their jokes constantly turn more into a nuisance then someone that is thought to be funny.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lewis_Stonham