The Squid Calendar

Today is Uncle Sam’s Birthday…well…sort of. Today is the anniversary of the date (September 3, 1813) that the term “Uncle Sam” was first used as a nickname for the United States Government in the media – the Troy Post. At this point image we envision as being Uncle Sam had not yet been established – that didn’t happen until 1917!

The term “Uncle Sam” was already in use verbally, since it was coined by the US soldiers during the war of 1812.

Uncle Sam evolved from Samuel Wilson, born September 13, 1766, who lived in Troy, NY. Learn the story of how Samuel Wilson became Uncle Sam at Uncle Sam: An American National Symbol.

Did you know that September is National Mushroom Month?  Mushrooms are a beautiful and fascinating gift from nature.   Edible mushrooms have many nutritional benefits.  Are mushrooms for you?

Mushrooms, Mushrooms and Mushrooms by awelldressedbullet
Death by Mushroom – Myths and Facts About Mushroom Poisoning by LucyVet
I love Mushrooms! by susannaduffy

(Wild Mushroom Photo by Jasmine&Roses used under CC 2.0)

September is Pain Awareness Month. Millions of people suffer chronic pain. Chronic Pain is a physical problem, but it has physiologic, emotional, social, and economic implications.

Learn more at Pain Awareness Month by Macs.

Today would have been Michael Jackson’s 52nd birthday. How about celebrating it by starting your training for Thrill The World. Thrill The World is an annual event where people around the world dance Michael Jackson’s Thriller at exactly the same time. If there is not an event in your area, then be the one to start one!

Today is Hungry Ghost Festival, a traditional holiday in which the spirits of the deceased are believed to come up from the lower realm and visit the living. Offerings are given to the ghosts.

Learn more about this holiday:
Hungry Ghost Festival by draik

Today is the Tanabata Star Festival. Modern celebrations of this holiday include writing wishes on papers and hanging them on trees, in a beautiful and hopeful manner.

Learn more about this day at:
Tanabata Star Festival by Classic

Photo by Yuki Yaginuma used by permission CC 2.0

We are smack in the middle of National Panini Month!  Have you had a celebratory panini yet?

If you are looking for some recipes and tips to help you improve your panini, check out these two great lenses:

Best Panini Sandwich Recipes by rms
Veggie Panini Recipes by TheGreenerMe

Today is National Navajo Code Talkers Day.  The Code Talkers were a group of Native American soldiers who used their own language as an unbreakable code to prevent critical information from being compromised.

As gbenton789 discusses in Native Warriors, several Native American languages were actually used during WWII.

Today, we remember the work done by the brave Code Talkers.
They are heroes.

Oh, no! Today is Friday the 13th! That’s unlucky, right? That’s what we’re told, and for people with triskaidekaphobia, the 13th is always unlucky. But why is 13 unlucky? Where does this superstition come from?

Learn about the unlucky 13 here: Triskaidekaphobia: The Fear of 13.

Unless you’re a leftie, you probably never realized how right handed the world is. That is exactly what National Left Hander’s Day was created to create awareness about. From scissors, to musical instruments, to kitchen and garden equipment, and even the computer mouse, everything seems to be meant for right-handers.

Check out:
National Left Hander’s Day by WeddingZazzle