All - Leep Calendar

Cigarettes Are Hazardous To Your Health Day marks the anniversary of Surgeon General Luther L. Terry's issuance of a report on January 11, 1964, that declared cigarettes to be hazardous to health. In his words, the message "hit the country like a bombshell," making it the lead story and front page of news sources worldwide. The anniversary raises awareness of the dangers of smoking cigarettes for smokers and those in the vicinity.

Africa

Jan

Citizen United Decision by Supreme Court (2010): January 21

06:20 AM | -

Citizens United is one of the most destructive decisions ever upheld by the US Supreme Court. Foundational to the decision is that a corporation, a legal entity created by a contract that cannot be jailed, breathe, killed, or wounded, is equivalent to a human being under the First Amendment. The court stated on January 21, 2010, that corporations, like people, have a constitutional right to be heard in election campaigns. The court maintained that there should be no limit to the amount of money corporations and unions can spend in elections, provided the money is independent of the campaign it intends to support. Without accountability, this decision has flooded national and local elections in the United States with billions of dollars from special interest groups, including international donors, creating an atmosphere of competing messages and non-transparent agenda funding. Not only has it exasperated the cost of elections, but it has also extended the campaign time into a near never-ending parade.

Africa

Jan

Clam Chowder Day, New England Style: January 21*

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Chowder is a cross between a stew and a soup, essentially made of vegetables and fish stewed in a cauldron. "Calderia" is Latin for a "place for warming things." "Jowter" is old English for a "fish peddler," and it is believed that this is the origin of the word "chowder." The first chowder recipes originated in France and England, among the coastal fishing villages. The custom was to have a cauldron simmering in the house, awaiting the fishing ships' return to port. A portion of each man's catch would be tossed into the pot, and the resulting chowder was served to the community to celebrate the ship's safe return. Clams were easy to harvest without embarking on a ship, making them ideal for chowder, especially in bad weather. Of course, clams could only be collected at certain times of the year. A staple of the working class, when clams were unavailable, the chowder was made from haddock, cod, and other local fish. Later, chowder recipes included other meats like ham, bacon, and poultry. Clam chowder became a favorite with East Coast Americans, especially on Fridays, due to a Christian custom of only eating fish on Fridays.

Africa

Jan

Clap-4-Health Month: January

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Children, Seniors, and just about everyone can clap. Not only is it exercise, but it releases feel-good endorphins that elevate your mood. Clap-4-Health Month is an annual outreach program that uses clapping to educate Americans about obesity and cardiovascular disease annually in January.

Africa

Jan

Clean Off Your Desk Day, Ntl.: January 9

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National Clean Off Your Desk Day encourages people to organize their desks and office space. How many mystery piles do you have? When was the last time you saw the bottom of a drawer? Has your inbox ever gone down, or does it keep growing and growing? These are all signs that it is time to clean off your desk. And now, you have a holiday as an excuse on the second Monday of January each year. Get to it! Created by AC Vierow of Clio, Michigan, who founded International Goof-off Day in March, Blame Someone Else Day, and National Boss-Employee Exchange Day.

Africa

Jan

Clean Out Your Inbox Weeks: January 23 - 27

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Clean Out Your Inbox Week is about getting rid of the clutter in your inbox, organizing what you need to keep, and starting the year fresh and new. Marsha Egan started this event in 2007.

Africa

Jan

Clean-up Your Computer Month, Ntl.: January

06:20 AM | -

It’s a new year and time to get rid of what is holding you back, clean up your act, and prepare. Most of us start the new year slowly, making it the perfect time to update our computer and its virus software, clean out old files and consolidate new ones. National Clean-up Your Computer Month in January is your excuse to do this. Denise Hoyle of Pensacola, Florida, founded this event.

Africa

Jan

Cockroach Races (AU-QLD), Brisbane: January 26

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Leave it to the Aussies to make sport of one of the most reviled insects in the world, the cockroach. Each year on Australia Day, Brisbane Australia celebrates with the Cockroach Races, cockroach beauty contests, and cockroach fashion shows. All proceeds go to charities. This event first ran in 1982.

Africa

Jan

College Football Playoff National Championship: January 9

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College Football Playoff National Championship is a bowl game that determines the national champion of the NCAA Division I FBS college football for the playing season. The two participating teams will be the winners of the Peach Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl of this year’s season.

Africa

Jan

Comics Festival, Angouleme (FR): January 30 - February 2

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The largest comics show in Europe, Angouleme Comics Festival attracts over 200,000 enthusiasts each year. The event began in 1974. PLEASE NOTE: Treat all televised and venue-specific events (sporting, concerts, trade shows, etc.) as estimated. Several factors can cause an event to move dates at the last minute, including weather, strikes, natural disasters, political upheaval, conflicting programming, pandemics, and current events. Because of this, always verify the event with the promotor before committing resources. LEEP often estimates dates based on the previous year's schedules, as the final dates are only a few months, weeks, or days before the event. If the date is known to be estimated, you will see an (est) following the date in the title.

Africa

Jan

Coming-of-Age Day (JP): January 9

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For all the children who reach the age of 20 during the previous year, Seiji-no-hi or Coming-of-Age Day is their national holiday. In Japan, people officially reach adulthood at the age of twenty. Seiji-no-hi allows society to welcome each year's new adults to the freedoms and responsibilities that come with reaching the majority. Annually on the second Monday in January.

Africa

Jan

Compliment Day, Ntl.: January 24*

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National Compliment Day was created in 1998 by two women, Debby Hoffman and Kathy Chamberlin of New Hampshire, to demonstrate that there is more to happiness in giving than receiving. The objective of the day is to complement at least five people. National Compliment Day is a day to focus on the positive and find something good in everyone you meet today. Everyone appreciates compliments, yet they are often hard to come by. National Compliment Day is one of two compliment days. World Compliment Day occurs in March.

Africa

Jan

Confederate Heroes Day (US-TX)(1807): January 19*

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On different days, Confederate Memorial Day is observed in most former states of The Confederacy. In some cases, like Georgia, it is no longer referred to as Confederate Memorial Day but rather as a state holiday. It is an official state holiday that honors the men who died fighting for The Confederacy during the American Civil War, 1861-1865. The dates are as follows: Alabama, Georgia: 4th Monday in April Mississippi: Last Monday in April Florida: April 26; Tennessee, Kentucky & Louisiana: June 3, Jefferson Davis's birthday in 1808 North & South Carolina: May 10, Anniversary of the death of General "Stonewall" Jackson in 1863 Texas: January 19, Birthday of Robert E. Lee 1807; Due to the 400-year legacy of slavery (ending in 1865) and state-supported racial segregation (ending in 1964), this event is highly contentious and seen as a celebration of racism by many critics. Detractors insist this plays into existing racism and celebrates white supremacy and slavery. Proponents insist that the Confederacy played a part in shaping who we are, and to deny a portion of our past, good and bad, is selective censorship. Both sides have points. Confederate Memorial Day can be used to explore the unspoken but oft-deployed prejudices, which are real. It also opens discussions of extreme political correctness, which squelches debate and is equally intolerant. Whether you side with the detractors or the proponents, the best way to acknowledge this day is to spend some time reading the Constitution of the United States and learning history. History, not social studies. History teaches the how and why; social studies do not. A great place to start is with Howard Zinn's "Peoples' History of the United States," which some states, including Arizona, have tried to ban from their schools. Why? Because it is the history of the American people, not the leaders, barons, and wealthy. It looks at the nation from the perspective of the 99%, the immigrants, migrant workers, women, religious minorities, Native Americans, slaves, and the common man. The Confederacy existed, and it impacted and continues to impact American history. Ignoring it doesn't make it go away, and squashing debate on it doesn't work. Learning about it and understanding the whys and hows is the best defense against a second tearing asunder. Listen/Watch Howard Zinn's Peoples History of the United States: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCHuPpyoyBQ&list=PLCtsSTwQSIOKrtS_vyTAVuWLGnCB7Dbs8.

Africa

Jan

Conscience Month, Ntl.: January

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National Conscience Month celebrates and raises awareness about the value of using your conscience to guide better decisions. Created by American Meditation Institute founders Leonard and Jenness Perlmutter, National Conscience Month will take place each January, beginning in 2020. During Conscience Month, observers are encouraged to explore more about their conscience — from what it is, how it works, to how to access it reliably. People who consult their consciences regularly experience more positive outcomes and find they can be happier and healthier in the long term. Contact the American Meditation Institute to learn more.

Africa

Jan

Cordova Iceworm Festival (US-AK): January 28 - February 4

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Throughout the glaciers and ice in northern climates, worms thrive. They're an essential part of the ecosystem and enjoy freezing temperatures. Each year, the city of Cordova, Alaska, hosts the Cordova Iceworm Festival to welcome the little worms' emergence before the spring thaw. The tradition started with a single-day event in 1961. Today, festivities cover an entire week. PLEASE NOTE: Treat all televised and venue-specific events (sporting, concerts, trade shows, etc.) as estimated. Several factors can cause an event to move dates at the last minute, including weather, strikes, natural disasters, political upheaval, conflicting programming, pandemics, and current events. Because of this, always verify the event with the promotor before committing resources. LEEP often estimates dates based on the previous year's schedules, as the final dates are only a few months, weeks, or days before the event. If the date is known to be estimated, you will see an (est) following the date in the title.

Africa