All - Leep Calendar

Formerly National Stress Awareness Day in the United Kingdom, International Stress Awareness Day has gone global and seeks to educate people about stress' effect on the body and assist individuals in lifestyle and behavior choices that can reduce it.

Africa

Nov

Fig Week, Ntl.: November 1-7

06:20 AM | -

National Fig Week celebrates one of nature's natural candies, the fig. Originally believed to be an aphrodisiac, figs have several health benefits. They are good sources of calcium, iron, fiber, potassium, and antioxidants with anti-diabetic properties. Figs are relatively low in calories at just 120 calories per half cup. In California, fig production averages over 28 million pounds per year. All dried figs harvested in the United States are grown in California's Central Valley.

Africa

Nov

French Week, National: November 1-7

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National French Week is an American educational event celebrating all things francophonie. French essayist Onésime Reclus coined the term "francophonie" in 1880 as he was trying to describe the geographic areas of the world where French is spoken.

Africa

Nov

Psoriasis Awareness Week (UK): November 1-7

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Psoriasis Awareness Week runs annually in the United Kingdom and aims to raise awareness of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis is an annoying and often uncomfortable condition classified as an autoimmune disease, and it manifests in painful red rashes that can bleed and itch. Left untreated, it can lead to more severe problems, including heart disease, stroke, and psoriatic arthritis.

Africa

Nov

Chessboxing Championships, World: November 2-7 (est)

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The World Chessboxing Championships are held annually in late October or early November. The hosting nation changes each year.

Chessboxing is a hybrid sport combining two traditional disciplines, chess and boxing, with competitors facing each other in alternating rounds. This unique sport tests its contestants' physical prowess and mental agility, as they need to be adept at boxing and chess to succeed. Players must maintain their concentration and strategic thinking under the physical duress of boxing, making it a unique test of mind-body coordination.

A chessboxing match consists of 11 three-minute rounds: six-speed chess and five boxing. Scoring a knockout, checkmate, judge decision, or exceeding the time limit in chess determines the winner of each round.

Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh (1974-2020) invented the sport in the early 2000s, inspired by French artist and filmmaker Enki Bilal's comic book "Froid Équateur." It has grown into a recognized competition with a world championship and is very popular in Germany, the United Kingdom, India, and Russia.

Africa

Nov

Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day: November 7

06:20 AM | -

Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day is an unofficial event with no set sponsor. Dark chocolate in Europe, or bittersweet baker’s chocolate in the Americas, is a minimum of 35% pure cocoa with little or no sweetener added. Almond turtles, a popular confection, are made with roasted almonds covered in dark chocolate. Enjoy today by indulging.

Africa

Nov

Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day, Ntl: November 7

06:20 AM | -

Created by pet parent Terry Simons after his dog Reveille was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2011 and died in 2012, 53 weeks later. Simons started Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day in 2015 and the non-profit CLEAR to increase awareness and understanding of canine lymphoma through clinical research and to provide a resource for dog owners interested in preventing and treating this devastating disease.

Africa

Nov

Chhath Puja (H): November 7

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Chhath Puja is a Hindu religious observance that celebrates the sun and the natural world. Lord Surya is worshipped by chanting prayers and fasting next to unpolluted rivers. PLEASE NOTE: We use the Indian civil calendar, the official holiday calendar in India. The Hindu faith has many calendars, each specific to different regions and tribes, with dates and celebrations marked by differing positions of the sun, moon, and stars. Names of months and holidays and the corresponding dates in the Gregorian Calendar may vary widely from one calendar to the next. Determine the proper calendar before attending local events.

Africa

Nov

Hug a Bear Day: November 7

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Hug a Bear Day began as a PAWS promotion highlighting endangered species and other animals needing welfare and protection. Supporters snap a picture hugging a teddy bear to support the animal rights nonprofit. Check your local PAWS organization to find an event near you. The day has caught on with other charities in the United Kingdom and Canada. For example, Wessex Cancer in the United Kingdom also promotes pictures with their mascot, Wolly the Lion, as a fundraising event on this day.

Africa

Nov

Men Make Dinner Day, Ntl.: November 7

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National Men Make Dinner Day seeks to teach men who do not know how to cook. Contrary to popular belief, most men in the world can cook, and many of them are really good at it. This event is for those mystified at the art of simply boiling water, and it’s an opportunity to learn shy kitchen guys. And no, you can’t just order a pizza and call it done! Bon Appetite!

Africa

Nov

Notary Public Day: November 7

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Today is Notary Public Day. Notaries apply a stamp and witness to official documents and are necessary for many legal transactions. Notary Public Day honors all hardworking notaries in the country. There are nearly 4.8 million notaries public in the United States, all of whom serve the common good as trusted public officials. Notary services have existed since the Roman Empire. Notary Public Day began in 1975.

Africa

Nov

Revolution and Solidarity Day, Ntl., (BD)(1975): November 7

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National Revolution and Solidarity Day in Bangladesh celebrates the November 7, 1975 uprising by citizens and soldiers to release Ziaur Rahman (Zia), who would become the nation's president. National Revolution and Solidarity Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Nov

Revolution Day (RU) (1917): November 7

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One of the boldest revolutions in history (March 8, 1917 - November 7, 1917) climaxed on this day in Russia. Often referred to as the October Revolution, communism replaced Tzarist Russia with the Soviet Union. On this day, Vladimir Lenin revolted against the Provisional Government, which had been installed earlier in the year, and brought the Soviets into power. Revolution Day is a national holiday in Russia.

Africa

Nov

Victims of Communism Day (US-FL): November 7

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Victims of Communism Day, November 7, goes into effect in 2022. It comes out of Florida and is part of Governor DeSantis' posturing leading up to the 2024 presidential elections in the United States. The name itself is problematic: "Victims of Communism Day."

There are as many victims of capitalism as communism, arguably more under capitalism, given it has existed for at least one hundred years longer. However, both are ideas for economic governance and how the people in power implement each determines whether they're evil or not. Many leaders are driven by self-enrichment and self-promotion, not by altruism and duty to the people they lead. Therein lies the problem.

Power, for power's sake, leads to poor decisions, and it doesn't matter which economic policy you choose. DeSantis has the right idea in that we need an open discussion on the economic tools available to us as a nation and those used elsewhere. If we're going to criticize one solution within a day, let's look at all and, at the very least, make sure we understand what we're talking about.

CAPITALISM

"Capital," as in money and profit, is the key idea behind capitalism. There is only one goal of capitalism: to make a profit, either through selling more, acquiring more, reducing costs, or buying out the competition.

The general idea behind capitalism is laissez-faire, which states the market dictates cost and the government does not constrain activities. In capitalism, there is a winner and a loser. The most substantial companies in terms of resources and spending survive, though, unlike natural selection, money and size do not guarantee that the best or most innovative organizations continue. Since the objective of capitalism is to make a profit, people and nature are a resource but not the goal. An individual's actual value to capitalism is his/her ability to buy, borrow, and create demand. Yet, despite this system being detrimental to the average person, most will defend the system to death because there is a remote possibility, a fleeting hope that he/she could be that person who beats the odds and becomes wealthy. That hope is why many will vote and act against their interests on taxes, usury, oversight, and other restrictions on profit. Profit and hope are capitalism's seduction.

COMMUNISM

Communism came about as an answer to the excesses of capitalism. "Communal" is the keyword in communism. It is an economic idea that says everyone contributes and benefits equally. In theory, all the money, resources, assets, and benefits go into one pot controlled by the government, which is divided equally amongst all the people. Nobody has more or less. Everyone gets enough to get by, and only the government has the authority to decide.

That theory doesn't work, either. There is no initiative for innovation, risk, or autonomy. All decisions are made by the government, from where and how you live to what career you can pursue. Over time, communism erodes the spark, invigorating people turning them into cogs. You've also got the problem of greed with those running the scheme. Like capitalism, the leaders stop making decisions for the people and instead look for ways to enrich themselves. Even China adopted capitalistic ideas for its industry while maintaining authoritarian rule over its people to survive.

Communism looked fantastic on paper but failed in practice. It promised work, shelter, food, clothing, and equality for life, an enticing idea to the millions thrown into deep poverty during the Industrial Revolution of the late eighteenth and early-to-mid-twentieth centuries. Security and safety are communism's seduction.

SOCIALISM

"Society" is the keyword of socialism. Socialism snuggles between capitalism and communism. Like capitalism, it believes in freedom of choice, commerce, innovation, and markets; it promotes reward for advancement. Like communism, socialism uses money collected through taxes and tariffs to provide goods and services for the population. For example, rather than spending 25% of a federal budget on new bombs, invading countries, or colonization, socialism would take some of that money and improve schools, health care, parks, roads, and other services that benefit the population.

Unlike capitalism, socialism believes organizations require oversight, someone or something to be accountable to prevent abuse, pollution, theft, and skulduggery. It's the old fox policing the chicken coup scenario—not a good idea if you hope to have eggs in the morning. Compassionate caution is socialism's seduction. Even socialism isn't perfect and can be abused, which is why most countries are hybrids. The United States and Europe are predominantly capitalistic and minority socialistic, though Europe leans more toward socialism than the US, particularly in health and elder care. The thing is, capitalism, socialism, and communism are economic ideas, not government structures. You can be a dictator and a capitalist or a communist. You can be a monarch and rule a socialist or capitalist economy and still be tyrannical.

CONCLUSION

Each system has its benefits, appeals, downfalls, and opportunities for abuse. No economic solution is a panacea, and none is a villain. The 50 million who died under Stalin didn't die from communism; they died from tyranny. Thirty-five million were starved to death in 1933-34 because a dictator ordered them to starve as punishment for not bending to his will. People starve to death under capitalism, too, daily. It's called a lack of money to purchase. Lack of supply. Lack of access. Victims of Communism Day misses the point. Like critical race theory (CRT), it's a non-issue formatted into an issue, an electoral dog whistle, banking on fear and a lack of understanding and context. The day is meant to teach bias and close minds rather than stimulate learning, thought, and questions.

Africa

Nov

Patient Accessibility Week, Ntl.: November 4-8

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The disabled, elderly, obese, and others often have difficulty accessing health care providers and their offices. National Patient Accessibility Week encourages health care providers and facilities to look at their practices and offices from a patient’s perspective and make any changes that may be needed.

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