December 9, 2016

LA CITY ATTORNEY SUING SEARS, KOHL'S, MACY'S, JC PENNEY FOR ALLEGED PRICE SCHEME

http://abc7.com/news/la-city-attorney-suing-4-big-retailers-for-alleged-pricing-scheme/1646009/

The Los Angeles city attorney accused four big stores of using pricing schemes in a series of lawsuits filed on Thursday.

The lawsuit alleges JC Penney, Sears, Kohl's and Macy's engage in deceptive advertising by putting out a high "list price" or "regular price" on items that were never actually for sale at that original price.

The litigation states the practice makes customers believe they're getting a better deal than they actually are.

"If they're doing this, then I think that's very wrong, especially taking advantage of people around Christmas time," shopper Robert Rolfe said.

December 9, 2016

Daily Holidays - December 9

National Pastry Day If you love pastries, then your day is about to get all the more delicious! On December 9th, it’s time to observe Pastry Day – so if you ever needed an excuse to grab a croissant before work or keep the hunger pangs at bay in the afternoon with a cheeky slice of apple pie, today hands it to you on a plate! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pastry-day/

International Anti-corruption Day Corruption could be one of the biggest tragedies of mankind for the simple reason that it is ongoing and extremely difficult to combat, forcing the poor into ever more hopeless conditions while the select few in power get ever richer and more powerful. Bribes prevent chosen criminals from ever having to take responsibility for what they’ve done, politicians employ all of their cronies as as soon as the get into office, police officers cooperate with drug dealers, and anyone who dares object is either blackmailed into silence or “mysteriously” disappears. As of 2014, some of the most corrupted countries in the world are Haiti, Iraq, North Korea, Venezuela, Somalia and Afghanistan. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-anti-corruption-day/

Techno Day This musical phenomena has been taking the world by storm, from its creation in the melting pot of Detroit’s musical scene, and exploding across the world to Europe, it’s quickly moved into the limelight as one of the most popular forms of music. There’s something about the driving rhythm that reaches right down into the depths of our souls, and brings out our animals nature. For some it’s just music that gets their heartrate up, for others it’s a shamanistic dive into the psychedelic lights and writhing body that brings about an altered state irrespective of any chemical influence. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/techno-day/

International Day of Veterinary Medicine. lauds those companies and organizations like the American Veterinary Medicine Association that work every year not just to promote the development of veterinary medicine, but to ensure that information is made available to pet owners like you that will enable you to make the best choices for them. Whether that’s a notice about the contents of a new dog food (that sometimes leads to them getting recalled, like Cesar Classics Filet Mignon Flavor Wet Food in October of 2016) or a new medicine that you may want to ask your veterinarian about for rovers, these organizations are on the cutting edge of Veterinary Medicine. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-day-of-veterinary-medicine/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december9.html

December 8, 2016

Daily Holidays - December 8

National Chocolate Brownie Day Brownies, that rich, decadent, purely hedonistic blend of cake and cookie that feels amazing in your mouth and leaves you craving more. There’s a million different derivations of how to make these delicious treats, but there’s one thing they all have in common. Levels of chocolate so thick and rich they should be illegal. So popular are they that you can find them served as the foundation for sundaes, they can be found in milkshakes, and there’s even been breakfast cereal based on them. Brownie Day is your chance to get in and indulge in all that decadent goodness you’ve avoided the rest of the year, or at least an opportunity to go into some serious brownie overload. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/brownie-day/

Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day Being able to travel through time to a different age or era is the dream of many scientists, sci-fi enthusiasts, and even historians. After all, we spend so much of our lives hearing about what happened in the past, be it one hundred, one thousand, or one million years ago, that many of us would give anything to see the things that were happening then with our own eyes. But have you ever thought that one day there will be people who will look back and wish they could travel to our times? Or how many people there were living in the 18th century that would have loved to see what life would look like in 2015? If you’ve never thought about it that way, it’s time you did, as that attitude will allow you to see the world in a whole new light and enjoy Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day to the fullest. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pretend-to-be-a-time-traveler-day/


http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december8.html

December 7, 2016

Daily Holidays - December 7

National Cotton Candy Day There exists in the world small clouds of utter delight, floating multicolored strands of spun-sugar all wrapped around a stick or served in a bag. Everything from the machine the produces this treat, to the men and women who operate it, and the very flavor it leaves in your mouth is purely magical. When a treat has gained notoriety around the world and utterly defines what it means to attend a country fair, you know that it deserves a holiday of its very own. That’s where Cotton Candy Day comes in, celebrating this best of the bestest treats! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cotton-candy-day/

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day The History of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is the history of the attack itself, an attack which took place on December 7th, 1941. The attack was devastating, killing over 2,400 citizens of the United States from the time it began at 7:48am Hawaiian time and ended just 90 minutes later, making the attack incredibly devastating. Multiple ships were lost during the attack, though things could have been much worse. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pearl-harbor-remembrance-day/

International Civil Aviation Day In 1901 something was accomplished that hadn’t happened in the history of mankind, a man flew upon a glider and covered a respectable distance in a manmade device that was not held aloft by lighter-than-air gas. The skepticism that greeted this event was profound, with people all over the world saying the Wright Brothers were more liars than fliers, a claim that would be refuted by a demonstration of what would be the most important aeronautics event in the world. International Civil Aviation Day celebrates the science, art, and sport of aviation that grew out of this initial glide, and the men and women who push the frontiers of it today. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-civil-aviation-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december7.html

December 6, 2016

Daily Holidays - December 6

Miners’ Day The men and women who spend every day digging in the earth are some of the greatest unsung heroes of industry and modern civilization. They dig deep into the darkest places in the world to bring out the riches that help to sustain our lifestyles. From the steel for our cars, to the copper wiring that binds together our digital world together, everything we think of as our modern lives and comforts exist on the back of these intrepid people. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/miners-day/

National Pawnbrokers Day Having to visit a pawnbroker may not exactly be a sign that your life is as successful as it could be, but that by no means means that pawnbrokers have not been lifesavers on more than one occasion. When you need money, and you need it right now, with no time to wait for a bank to rethink whether it really wants to give you that loan 6 times, pawnbrokers are the only people you can count on. Pawnbrokers are also the reason why you don’t have to endure long, awkward monologues about how to manage your finances from the uncle who lent you $100 once every time your families meet for dinner. Still, it would seem that pawnbrokers get something of a bad rap—definitely undeserved, for the most part. And Pawnbrokers Day is here to change all that. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pawnbrokers-day/

St. Nicholas Day observed on December 6 (in Western Christian countries) and 19 December (in Eastern Christian countries), is the feast day of Saint Nicholas.[2] It is celebrated as a Christian festival with particular regard to his reputation as a bringer of gifts, as well as through the attendance of Mass or worship services.[3][4] In Europe, especially in "Germany and Poland, boys would dress as bishops begging alms for the poor."[5] In Ukraine, children wait for St. Nicholas to come and to put a present under their pillows provided that the children were good during the year. Children who behaved badly may expect to find a twig or a piece of coal under their pillows. In the Netherlands, "Dutch children put out a clog filled with hay and a carrot for Saint Nicholas' horse. On Saint Nicholas' Day, gifts are tagged with personal humorous rhymes written by the sender."[6] In the United States, one custom associated with Saint Nicholas Day is children leaving their shoes in the foyer on Saint Nicholas Eve in hope that Saint Nicholas will place some coins on the soles, for them to awake to.[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas_Day

Mitten Tree Day Mittens, we have all used them in our lives, some of us probably still do. They are our favorite things to use when making snowballs or making a snowman. They keep our hands warm from the cold and crunchy snow that we pick up and throw at each other, and are a good way to make sure our hands are colorful against the bright whiteness of the snowy ground. We are here today to learn about a day just for these little colorful, fuzzy, and soft hand covers, a day called Mitten Tree Day! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/mitten-tree-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december6.html

December 5, 2016

Daily Holidays - December 5

Repeal (of Prohibition) Day http://www.repealday.org The thirteen years of Prohibition were a dark time for the United States, as the criminalization of alcohol led not only to a rise in civil delinquency and organized crime, but also to the loss of customs associated with the production, preparation, and consumption of alcohol.

National Sacher Torte Day This world-famous chocolate cake owes its origins to apprentice chef Franz Sacher, who created it for the guests of Austrian Chancellor Klemens von Metternich in 1832. Sacher was in fact filling in for the head chef, who had fallen ill, when he had this stroke of genius. When it was served up, the guests loved it, and the Chancellor himself was impressed. Still, it took years for Sachertorte to become one of the most famous and beloved desserts on the planet. Sacher eventually settled in his hoemtown of Vienna and continued his culinary endavours there. A well-deserved danke, Herr Sacher! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/sachertorte-day/

Bathtub Party Day These days, many people lead busy lives and simply do not take the time to enjoy a leisurely bath. However, soaking in a bathtub is a great way to relax and unwind and can help the body to heal itself if it is suffering from stress or conditions such as dry and flaky skin. In ancient Roman times, bathing was seen as a social occasion and special bathing parties were a regular occurrence that allowed people to bond while they discussed business or caught up on the latest gossip. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/bathtub-party-day/

International Ninja Day To truly understand the history of International Ninja Day, one must first understand the history of the Ninja. The original Ninja were warriors of the Iga Province of Japan during the Sengoku period. These warriors were raised from the basic people of the countryside, without access to proper armor, weapons, or training to use them. This is why so many of the weapons of the Ninja are drawn from agricultural roots, such as the Kunai and sickles, they were also weapons that disguised themselves. No sir, no infiltration focused assassin here, just a humble farmer working his fields. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/ninja-day/

World Soil Day One annual celebration you might be forgiven for not participating in (or even knowing about) is World Soil Day. Yes, soil—as in that sticky brown stuff that gets walked all over your prized cream carpets. Sadly, it is our ignorance about the importance of soil and the degree to which we take advantage of all that it offers that have led to a drastic reduction in its quality the world over. These are precisely the problems World Soil Day aims to battle, as few things could be more important to us, the inhabitants of Planet Earth, who could never hope to survive without the land. Soil is one without a doubt of the most significant parts of the ecosystem, contributing to our food, water and energy and playing an important part in reducing the impact of climate change. For all of these reasons, it’s high time World Soil Day became known to more people than just scientists concerned about the welfare of our planet. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-soil-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december5.html

December 4, 2016

Daily Holidays - December 4

National Cookie Day Cookies are sweet and full of all sorts of delicious goodness, from nuts to fruit to chocolate. They can be either delightfully crumbly or sinfully chewy. Not to mention that they keep forever if they are stored properly… There’s no doubt about: cookies more than deserve their own day, and that’s why Cookie Day is celebrated around the world in order to pay tribute to these delicious little treats. So grab some flour, butter and sugar, and let’s get celebrating, shall we? https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cookie-day/

National Dice Day What do Monopoly, Backgammon, Dungeons & Dragons and Craps have in common? All are games that are played by using dice. These are six-sided cubes with dots, called pips, on each side, which are rolled or thrown to display a random number from 1 to 6 when they land. Dice have been used by mankind for countless years and have been found in the ruins of the most ancient civilisations. Originally made from animal bones and later wood, today’s dice are usually made from a plastic called cellulose acetate. National Dice Day is a time to enjoy using dice, whether in board-games or in gambling. Casinos all over the world offer special promotions and games on Dice Day involving these small and cleverly designed gaming pieces. Many people purchase special dice souvenirs on this day, such as the popular dice clock which has an arrangement of dice around its face in place of numbers. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/dice-day/

World Wildlife Conservation Day The sad truth is that the world’s best loved, beautiful and fascinating species are being slaughtered by widespread and dangerous criminal networks that will stop at nothing to get what they want. And what they want are animal parts and products that for reasons no sane person really understands, are worth lots of money. There are plenty of synthetic substitutes for things like ivory and fur that don’t require the brutal slaughter of an animal to obtain, not to mention how hard it actually is to tell the difference between high-quality synthetic substitutes and the real thing. And do you mean to tell me no other dish in the world tastes as good as shark fin soup, and that we really have to mutilate live sharks and then throw them back into the ocean to die? Long story short, there is simply no excuse for the amount of animals being poached every year. And yet they are. In 2011 alone, for example, there were 13 large-scale seizures of ivory, and over 23 tons of ivory confiscated, which is equivalent to at least 2,500 elephants. A 2010 United Nations report suggests that gorillas could disappear altogether from large parts of the Congo Basin by the mid-2020s. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-wildlife-conservation-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december4.html

December 3, 2016

Daily Holidays - December 3

International Day of Persons With Disabilities is a day that has been promoted by the United Nations since 1992. The aim of Disability Day is to encourage a better understanding of people affected by a disability, together with helping to make people more aware of the rights, dignity and welfare of disabled people, as well as raise awareness about the benefits of integrating disabled persons into every aspect of life, from economic, to political, to social and cultural. Disability Day is not concerned exclusively with either mental or physical disabilities, but rather encompasses all known disabilities, from Autism to Down Syndrome to Multiple Sclerosis. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/disability-day/

Roof Over Your Head Day is a call to charity and social awareness. Homelessness is a real problem, but it can be overcome. There have been a lot of creative moves made to help alleviate this problem, with one notable method being rolled out in Salt Lake City, Utah. The city discovered it was paying $20,000 a year to handle their homeless issue, including policing, arrests, healthcare, jail time, just to name a few. So instead they built homes they could put their homeless into for just $7,800 a year. Since then, homeless in the city has dropped by 72%, all while saving the town money. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/roof-over-your-head-day/

Make A Gift Day There’s just something amazing about unwrapping a gift, wondering what’s inside. Underneath the wrapping paper could be anything, a CD from your favorite band, a new headset from Best Buy, any one of a million things from a million stores. But what’s really special is when you open up that paper and what’s found inside is a tangible representation of the love and adoration the person giving the gift felt you. Nothing says that like a hand-made gift, and on Make a Gift Day, you get to be the one to share that love with the people you care about. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/make-a-gift-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december3.html

December 2, 2016

Daily Holidays - December 2

National Fritters Day Fritters are popular all over the world, though obviously they’re not called fritters everywhere you go. In Asia there are several varieties, including the Burmese a-kyaw which is popularly made with a rich gourd filling, and are typically served with tea, or for breakfast. Because who doesn’t like deep fried gourds for breakfast? Admittedly, they also have it made from chickpea, onion, brown bean paste, just to name a few. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/fritter-day/

Bartender Appreciation Day aims to make customers think about the great service their favourite bartenders give while pouring pints and mixing cocktails as well as their great people skills of talking, listening, joking and being a shoulder to cry on and a person to confide in. Over the centuries, a bartender’s job has somehow evolved from just pouring your pint or shot into being a therapist of sorts, to the point that these days, that’s what bartenders are best known for: being the person you can tell all about your life’s troubles while sipping an ice-cold beer. Who could think of a better kind of therapy? https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/bartender-appreciation-day/

Faux Fur Day The first fake furs started coming into the scene in the 1900’s, with ‘fur’ being made from the wool of either newborn or unborn lambs. Since that day fake furs have been expanding throughout the world and fashion industry. During the hey-day of fur fashion fake furs were a way for those less financially enriched to get into the fur fashion. Fur was considered to say a lot about the person wearing it, with Vogue Magazine stating that the fur you wear will reveal “the kind of woman you are and the kind of life you will lead.” https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/faux-fur-friday/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december2.html

December 1, 2016

Email to Congressional Representatives Re: GOP Cuts to Medicare/Social Security

Granted it’s not much, but it’s a start. I would hope that everyone can take time out to let their representatives know their thoughts on what we are hearing in the media about proposed changes to Medicare and alike. It only takes a minute or two to do so.



Senator:
We are writing you to request you oppose any cuts to Medicare and Social Security that are being proposed by the Republican Congressional Leadership. These programs need to be strengthened to provide a decent standard of living for the working people of this country who have for too long been abused by the growing wage and wealth inequities that we have seen over these last 30+ years. Working people need to be respected for their contributions to this great nation and not have the rug pulled out from under them by a scheming health insurance industry and corporate CEO’s.
Thank You Very Much for your support of working people.
Regards,