February 22, 2017

Industry: Philadelphia soda tax killing sales, layoffs loom

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Some Philadelphia supermarkets and beverage distributors say they’re gearing up for layoffs because the city’s new soda tax has cut beverage sales by 30 percent to 50 percent, worse than the city predicted.

An owner of six supermarkets tells The Philadelphia Inquirer he expects to cut 300 jobs, and a soft drink distributor predicts a 20 percent workforce reduction.

City officials expect business to rebound once customers get over sticker shock. They suggest the industry may be engaging in fearmongering to stop the spread of the tax to other cities.

Mayor Jim Kenney pushed through the 1.5-cent-per-ounce tax on sweetened and diet beverages to pay for nearly 2,000 pre-kindergarten slots and other programs. He tells the Inquirer he didn’t think it’s possible for the industry “to be any greedier.”

http://wdtn.com/2017/02/22/industry-philadelphia-soda-tax-killing-sales-layoffs-loom/?cid=facebook_WDTN-TV

February 22, 2017

'Bathroom bill' draws parade of criticism in Senate committee

JEFFERSON CITY • If there was a crescendo in the long line of transgender people and their supporters speaking against the nation's latest "bathroom bill" Tuesday, it probably came when Samantha DeMichieli of St. Louis stopped talking and started crying.

With her black hair tied back in a ponytail, Samantha, 13, offered the Senate education committee her credentials as a "normal girl": a role on her school's cheer team, a love of drawing, a fondness for the family cats.

Then she revealed that she lived her first six years as Samuel before deciding to identify as female. At the school she goes to now, it's not a problem, she said. Her friends and teachers accept her and don't make a big deal about where she goes to the bathroom.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/bathroom-bill-draws-parade-of-criticism-in-senate-committee/article_c716dd40-c7dd-5453-82ec-e4a1860e14bc.html

February 22, 2017

Muslims raise $55,000 to fix vandalised Jewish cemetery

A crowdfunding project launched by Muslim activists has raised more than $55,000 in one day to repair a vandalised Jewish cemetery in St Louis.

On Tuesday, Linda Sarsour of the grassroots civil rights MPower Change group and Tarek El-Messidi of the non-profit CelebrateMercy organisation called on people to donate after more than 100 headstones at the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in the St Louis suburb of University City were toppled.

By early Wednesday, at the time of publishing, $55,341 had been raised.

According to reports, police said they did not yet know who was responsible for the vandalism.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/muslims-raise-55000-fix-vandalised-jewish-cemetery-170222060559511.html

February 22, 2017

Daily Holidays - February 22

National Margarita Day There is a drink that is the very essence of joviality, the patron saint of fun, the joyous expression of life at its absolute best. That drink would the Margarita, and when it’s a hot day and you’re gathering with friends, there’s nothing better to bring everyone together. Margarita Day celebrates this amazing drink, and the rainbow of colors and flavors it comes in. It just goes to show what a little salt, some ice cold tequila, and a wedge of lime can do! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/margarita-day/

World Thinking Day originated from a desire by Girl Guides / Girl Scouts to dedicate a day to thinking about and appreciating the global spread of these movements. Each year a participating country is selected and its culture and general living conditions pondered on for the day by all guides and scouts. The idea is to create a greater awareness and understanding of different cultures and any global concerns regarding that particular region. It sounds a little like those endless, global conferences attended at great cost by politicians, which rarely show results. The Girl Guides and Scouts Associations, however, do things differently. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/thinking-day/

Be Humble Day Humility may be the most difficult of all the virtues to truly attain. There seems to be a paradox in that claiming to have humility may be an act of pride. Some people might be prideful in their humility… or something like that. Either way, Be Humble Day focuses on humbling yourself. There is no boasting allowed on Be Humble Day. Choosing not to brag about your successes and abilities can prove to be much more difficult than one might anticipate, as the culture surrounding us is often centered on self and the successes achieved by an individual. Throughout the ages philosophers and the average Joe alike have pondered humility and what it means to be truly humble. It is a difficult question to answer and the final answer may never fully present itself. But perhaps the seeking of humility is more important than the achieving. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/be-humble-day/

Cook A Sweet Potato Day Cook a Sweet Potato Day is our chance to recognise the important contributions that this vegetable has made to humanity. As with other food-related events, part of the fun of this day is that we can cook a sweet potato however we see fit. Whether it is boiled, steamed, fried or prepared with other delectable dishes, the sweet potato is both healthy and tasty. Sweet potatoes can be used in salads, pies and soups. They can be used as a side dish or serve as the main course when made into a casserole. They can be combined with flour, yeast and several other ingredients to be made into rolls, or they can be combined with eggs, sugar and spices like cinnamon to make a delicious pie. There are even recipes for sweet potato quesadillas, sweet potato pudding and sweet potato chip dip to be found. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cook-a-sweet-potato-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/february22.html

February 22, 2017

Lowe's announces second round of layoffs

MOORESVILLE, N.C. • Home improvement retailer Lowe's has announced its second round of layoffs in just over a month, saying more than 500 full-time corporate employees companywide will lose their jobs.

Local news outlets report Lowe's announced Tuesday that 430 workers at its headquarters in Mooresville would be laid off. In addition, 70 support staffers in Wilkesboro and about 25 corporate support positions in other facilities across the U.S. would lose their jobs.

On Jan. 17, Lowe's announced approximately 2,400 full-time workers would be laid off. A majority of the cuts were at the store level.

Meanwhile, the company said Lowe's will post more than 100 new positions at its corporate offices in Mooresville and will add at least 600 full-time customer-support and central production office positions in Wilkes County.

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/lowe-s-announces-second-round-of-layoffs/article_507ac44d-ef0d-5d54-8ad0-de3c14989e4a.html

February 21, 2017

Daily Holidays - February 21

National Sticky Bun Day Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer a carbohydrate filled treat, the sticky bun is the ideal gastronomic delight to fill the brief. Fortunately for those who enjoy a good sticky bun, an entire day is dedicated to celebrating and eating them – Sticky Bun Day. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/sticky-bun-day/

International Mother Language Day Announced by UNESCO in 1999, International Mother Language Day celebrates cultural diversity and commemorates the “language martyr” students of 1952 Bangladesh. These students are honored by the encouragement of multiculturalism and the promotion of protective measures for endangered languages. It’s hard to imagine the challenges faced by students who have been ordered to learn in a foreign language, as without linguistic inclusion, there is no equal access to education. Current International Mother Language Day events include multicultural festivals which promote the hearing of all voices, and display social cohesion, cultural awareness, and tolerance. The unique nuances and subtleties of linguistic communication which connect individuals to culture and personal identity are valued and encouraged. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-mother-language-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/february21.html

February 20, 2017

Daily Holidays - February 20

National Cherry Pie Day When we think of pie most of us think of an Apple Pie, but the sweet-tart Cherry Pie deserves a place right next to it brother on the dessert tray. So do you like your pie sharp and tart or do you prefer a more sweet and smooth pie? Todays the best day to have one. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cherry-pie-day/

Love Your Pet Day How’s your relationship with your favourite furry friend? Love Your Pet Day is a chance to show your cat, dog, tortoise or [insert other] how you really feel. Treats, pampering and all the the attention that the little guy or gal can handle are a great way to celebrate! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/love-your-pet-day/

Play More Cards Day was created in 2013 by Bicycle Cards, the biggest producer of playing cards in the United States. The company began producing their cards in 1885, and they have since had sizable roles in various important historical events.For example, during World War II, the deck was designed as a puzzle, which when put together, became a map. This map was supposed to help potential prisoners make their way to safety once they escaped. Wars also prompted Bicycle Cards to create waterproof cards that would not peel, rip or fall apart after coming into contact with water or moisture. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/play-more-cards-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/february20.html

February 19, 2017

Daily Holidays - February 19

National Chocolate Mint Day There’s something special about the combination of smooth, rich, luxurious chocolate and cool, refreshing, sharp mint. Celebrate this incredible combination on Chocolate Mint Day by indulging in your favourite minty, chocolate treat! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/chocolate-mint-day/

International Tug of War Day One of the simplest of sports, dating back to ownership disputes over food and clothing, the history disappears into legend with the Sun and Moon wrestling over light and darkness. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-tug-of-war-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/february19.html

February 18, 2017

Irish in the American Civil War

https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2012/09/08/irelands-forgotten-famine-generation/

The Great Famine is an event seared into Irish national memory. Although the victims of the Great Hunger are rightfully remembered and commemorated, as is the physical fact that vast numbers of people were forced to leave, Ireland today largely leaves the memory of these emigrants at the dock, as they boarded ships to a new life far from home. Preserving the memory and experiences of emigrants once they arrived in their new countries has for the most part been left to their own descendants, despite the broader pride that Ireland takes in her global diaspora.

Perhaps the most stark example of this is the way Ireland views the American Civil War. At the commencement of that conflict 1.6 million Irish-born people lived in the United States, the vast majority having arrived as a direct consequence of the Famine. In New York City, which in 1860 had a population of 793,186, a little over one in four people were born in Ireland. In the region of 170,000 Irish-born men fought during the conflict, and tens of thousands most certainly died. Irish communities in cities such as New Orleans and Memphis experienced the war up close, as did those who bore witness to the New York Draft Riots in 1863. The effects of the conflict on the families of those lost or severely injured often lasted well into the twentieth century. The Irish experience of the American Civil War is a popular theme in the United States, where a large number of historians and enthusiasts study, commemorate and remember the huge influence the war had on the Irish community. (1)

February 18, 2017

Daily Holidays - February 18

Drink Wine Day A glass of wine a day keeps the cardiologist away, or so they say. That may be the reason there is such a thing as Drink Wine Day, but who’s to say we needed a reason to gurgle down a glass of our favourite zesty Bordeaux, anyway? https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/drink-wine-day/

Battery Day Where would we be without the humble battery? Take a moment to consider how many of your household items use batteries – from cars to remote controls and hand-held devices, Battery Day is all about celebrating and recognising just how important the simple battery is to our way of life. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/battery-day/

Whale Day Giants of the ocean are celebrated on World Whale Day, which aims to raise awareness of these magnificent creatures. The annual holiday was founded in Maui, Hawaii, in 1980, to honour humpback whales, which swim off its coast. It’s the main showcase of the Maui Whale Festival. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-whale-day/

Pluto Day If you’re like us, you grew up with a solar system that had nine planets in it. You also grew up in world that didn’t teach new math, but that’s a rant for a different day. Then one day they suddenly decided that designating Pluto as a planet was just wrong, and our most distant friend in the solar system suddenly was told he wasn’t good enough for the planet club anymore, and would forever be considered a ‘dwarf planet’. Kind of a consolation prize for those not cool enough for the big planets club. Pluto Day celebrates the discovery of Pluto in 1930, when it was designated as a planet, and that’s how it should have stayed! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pluto-day/


http://www.famousbirthdays.com/february18.html