All - Leep Calendar

Photography enthusiasts have a lot to celebrate on National Camera Day. Today is the anniversary of the first Kodak camera sold on June 29, 1888. The camera documents whatever is happening in the world. Before its invention, people relied on paintings, which were very expensive and viewable by a select group of people. Photography changed that. It documents day-to-day living quickly and reproduces readily. The camera is not a recent invention. Several cultures claim the invention of the camera. Ibn Yunus of Egypt is often cited in Western cultures as the inventor, sometime near 1000 AD. However, written documentation of pinhole style, or camera obscura, existed nearly 1400 years earlier, in 391 BC, according to Chinese records. Therein, Mozi writes of the process used in pinhole cameras to project an image. These early cameras, however, did not allow for the collection of an image, only its projection. That changed early in the nineteenth century. The first photograph was taken by Nicephore Niepce in 1814, and he recorded the image on silver chloride-coated paper. This prototype, however, was temporary. In 1827, he produced a more permanent photograph using a wooden camera developed by Charles and Vincent Chevalier. The first modern photograph was developed in 1836 by Louis Daguerre using a copper and silver mix plate coated with iodine vapor. George Eastman of the Kodak Company produced the first film camera. By the early 2000s, cameras became digitized, resulting in higher resolutions and more detailed photographs that are much more easily reproduced and shared. The addition of cameras to cellular phones has democratized photography for the world.

Africa

Jun

Cancer from the Sun Month: June

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Skin cancer affects people of all ages. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer over a lifetime; 13 million Americans live with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer, and nearly 800,000 Americans live with a history of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Skin cancer is a chiefly lifestyle disease and is highly preventable. The most common cause is exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Pharmacists Planning Service, Inc. champions Cancer from the Sun Month. May also includes a month-long event devoted to melanoma by the American Academy of Dermatology.

Africa

Jun

Cancer Survivors Day: June 1

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On International Cancer Survivors Day, cancer survivors across the globe will unite to show the world what life after cancer looks like. Thousands of people in hundreds of communities across the US and abroad will hold celebrations on this day to honor cancer survivors and to show that there is life after a cancer diagnosis – and it's something to celebrate. National Cancer Survivors Day is an annual worldwide Celebration of Life. It is the one day each year that we unite to honor everyone with a history of cancer—including America's 14 million cancer survivors. "A survivor is anyone living with a history of cancer—from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life," according to the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation, administrator for the celebration. NCSD allows cancer survivors to connect with other survivors, celebrate milestones, and recognize the healthcare providers, family, and friends who have supported them. It is a day for cancer survivors to stand together and show the world what life after cancer looks like. "Sometimes people have very negative ideas of what life after cancer looks like," says Foundation spokesperson Laura Shipp. "But the reality is that more people are living longer and better quality lives after cancer than ever before. These survivors show us that life after cancer can be meaningful, exciting, and joyful. "National Cancer Survivors Day is an opportunity for cancer survivors to come together and celebrate this new reality in cancer survivorship. There is life after cancer. It may not be the same as before cancer, but it can be beautiful, rewarding, and sometimes even better than before. And that's something to celebrate." NCSD activities will be as diverse as the communities where the events are being held and will include parades, carnivals, walks, races, art exhibits, health fairs, inspirational programs, and more. There will be laughter and tears, shouts of joy and moments of quiet reflection, hope for the future and strength to endure today, and maybe even a little music and dancing. The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation encourages everyone to participate in their community's events. To locate the nearest one, check with your local cancer treatment center, hospital, or American Cancer Society office. Or you can host an event of your own. The NCSD website, ncsd.org, has everything you need to plan a successful NCSD celebration. NCSD started in the United States in 1987 and is now celebrated worldwide in countries including Canada, Australia, India, South Africa, Greece, Great Britain, Spain, and Nigeria, according to Shipp. The nonprofit National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation provides free guidance, education, and support to hundreds of hospitals, support groups, and other cancer-related organizations that host National Cancer Survivors Day events in their communities. The Foundation's primary mission is to bring awareness to cancer survivorship issues to better the quality of life for cancer survivors. Cancer survivors may face physical, emotional, social, and financial challenges due to their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Many have limited access to specialists, a lack of information about promising new treatments, inadequate or no insurance, difficulty finding employment, and psychosocial struggles. "To say that cancer is challenging is an understatement," says Shipp. "But it is a challenge that millions of people – 14 million in the US alone – are overcoming. The NCSD Foundation hopes that through National Cancer Survivors Day, we can not only bring awareness to the issues survivors face but also honor for the courage and strength of all those who are living with a history of cancer." The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation is encouraging a greater commitment to resolving quality-of-life issues for cancer survivors. "More resources, research, and increased public awareness are needed to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors," says Shipp. "Because of advances in modern medicine, cancer survivors are now living much longer after diagnosis. However, long-term survivorship poses its own unique challenges. We need to do a better job of addressing the hardships survivors face beyond treatment." Leading up to the event, the Foundation urges everyone—cancer survivors and supporters alike—to show the world what life after cancer looks like.

Africa

Jun

Candy Month, Ntl.: June

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National Candy Month is an opportunity to explore your sweet tooth, try something new, or make some of your own. The National Confectioners Association list this month in their Candy Calendar as an official event, and that's pretty sweet!

Africa

Jun

Canoe Day, Ntl.(US/CA): June 26

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Created in 2007 as a Canadian Awareness Day, canoe-loving enthusiasts have also made it part of the United States calendar. Canoes are one of the oldest forms of marine transportation, versions of which can exist in nearly every ancient culture on each continent going back thousands of years (8200 BC - 7600 BC). Paddles appeared 1,000 years later. Each culture creates its designs from available materials. Carved-out logs "dugouts" are the most rudimentary; as skill and knowledge grew, more complex canoes using wooden skeletons began to appear. Today canoeing and its cousin, the kayak, are still used for transportation in parts of the world. The most common use remains for sport and recreation.

Africa

Jun

CAPS LOCK DAY, INTL. (2009): June 28*

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INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY (take two) is a celebration to commemorate Billy Mays, the Infomercial King, who died June 28, 2009. Mays was an American icon known for his enthusiastic, yelling pitch style, hawking "As Seen on TV" products, and creating fortunes for many inventors. Arnold added this second event in 2009, and the internet community continues to honor him each year with texts, tweets, and emails in all caps. There are two CAPS LOCK DAYS each year: June 28 and October 22.

Africa

Jun

Career Nursing Assistants Day, National: June 12

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Nursing Assistants Week occurs in mid-June each year, with Thursday set aside as National Nursing Assistants Day. Nursing assistants are key players in the lives of the people in their care, and each nursing assistant creates an environment of caring for the resident or client and the worker. The nationwide observance of Nursing Assistant's Week provides many opportunities to recognize and validate the nursing assistant's role in the health care system. Public recognition of nursing assistants provides a valuable service, not only for making nursing assistants more visible but also to lessen the concern of family members when a loved one requires special care. The annual observance of Nurse Assistants' Week and Career Nurse Assistants' Day is a particular time to celebrate and recognize the efforts of the Nurse Assistant in long-term care services.

Africa

Jun

Carers Week, Ntl.(UK): June 9-15 (est)

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Thousands of people in the United Kingdom are carers. A carer is an unpaid adult caretaker of seniors or those who are ill, impaired, or challenged. National Carers’ Week brings attention to the service provided by unpaid adult carers and seeks to reach them with information on the support services and tools available to them.

Africa

Jun

Caribbean-American Heritage Month, Ntl.: June

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In June 2005, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted HCR 71, sponsored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, recognizing the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States. On February 14, 2006, the resolution similarly passed the Senate, culminating a two-year, bipartisan, and bicameral effort. Since the declaration, the White House has issued an annual proclamation recognizing June as Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Dr. Claire Nelson, Founder and President of the Institute of Caribbean Studies, spearheaded the campaign to designate June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month. Through this month's commemoration, we hope to ensure that America is reminded that its greatness lies in its diversity, with Caribbean immigrants from founding father Alexander Hamilton to journalist Malcolm Gladwell, who have shaped the American dream. For centuries, the United States and nations in the Caribbean have grown alongside each other as partners in progress. Separated by sea but united by a yearning for independence, our countries won the right to chart their destinies after generations of colonial rule. Time and again, we have led the way to a brighter future together -- from lifting the stains of slavery and segregation to widening the circle of opportunity for our sons and daughters. National Caribbean-American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate those enduring achievements. It is also a chance to recognize men and women who trace their roots to the Caribbean. Through every chapter of our Nation's history, Caribbean Americans have strengthened our country—reshaping our politics, reigniting the arts, spurring our movements, and answering the call to serve. Caribbean traditions have enriched our own and woven new threads into our cultural fabric. Again and again, Caribbean immigrants and their descendants have reaffirmed America's promise as a land of opportunity -- a place where no matter who you are or where you come from, you can make it if you try. FAMOUS CARIBBEAN-AMERICANS Al Roker Alexander Hamilton Bob Marley Cicely Tyson Claude McKay Colin Powell Desi Arnez Doug E. Fresh Garcelle Beauvais Harry Belafonte Heather Headley Jamaica Kincaid Karlie Redd Karrine Steffans Kelsey Grammar Kerry Washington Laz Alonso Nia Long Sandra "Pepa" Denton Shaggy Orville Richard Burrell Shakara Ledard Shontelle Sidney Poitier Tatyana Marisol Ali Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan Tyson Beckford Zoe Saldana

Africa

Jun

Caribbean-American's AIDS Awareness Day: June 8

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Caribbean-American AIDS Awareness Day seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of AIDS in the Caribbean-American communities and United States territories in the Caribbean. A multitude of events are organized on this day. Check local health listings for an HIV testing location near you.

Africa

Jun

Carpenter Ant Awareness Week: June 22-28

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Carpenter Ant Awareness Week began with Batzner Pest Control in 1992 to educate the public about this common pest at a time when they are most active. Carpenter ants excavate wood to build their nests, compromising a home's structural soundness. The only sure way to erase a carpenter's ant infestation is by eliminating their nests. Carpenter ants can be challenging to control once they have entered a home. The following preventative measures can help avoid an infestation: 1) Eliminate sources of moisture and standing water 2) If you store firewood at your home, keep it as far as possible from your home. 3) Identify and eliminate any water-damaged or damp wood to avoid attracting carpenter ants. Carpenter ants are the number one nuisance pest nationwide in the United States.

Africa

Jun

Cataract Awareness Month: June

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Currently, more than 24 million Americans age 40 and older struggle with cataract(s), according to a report from Prevent Blindness America entitled "Vision Problems." It is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens, which blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye. Unlike many eye diseases, vision loss due to cataracts can be restored. Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the United States and has a 95 percent success rate. To educate the public on cataracts, Prevent Blindness America has declared June as Cataract Awareness Month. The national non-profit group provides free information through its dedicated web page at preventblindness.org/cataract, The following changes in your vision may be signs of cataract: 1) Blurred vision, double vision, ghost images, the sense of a film over the eyes. 2) Lights seem too dim for reading or close-up work, or you are dazzled by strong light. 3) Changing eyeglass prescriptions often. The change may not help your vision. It is possible to see the cataract in your eye. It may look like a milky or yellowish spot in the pupil (the center of your eye is typically black). "Although getting a cataract is common, it doesn't have to mean permanent vision loss," said Hugh R. Parry, president, and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. "One way to protect our vision is to make a commitment to take care of our eyes today, including getting a dilated eye exam, so we can help protect our sight for the future not just from cataract, but other eye diseases as well."

Africa

Jun

Catfish Day, Ntl.: June 25

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Created by President Ronald Reagan in 1987, National Catfish Day educates Americans about the nutrition and uses of farm-raised catfish. The tradition continues today. Farm-raised catfish have come a long way from their bottom-feeding ancestors. Catfish available today (fresh or frozen) are products of state-of-the-art aquaculture methods. The fish thrive in clean freshwater ponds with surface-fed soybean, corn, fish meal, vitamins, and minerals. Farm-raised catfish not only furnish American consumers with a tasty delicacy, but the fish provide a nutritious, low-calorie, low in cholesterol source of protein. In addition to June 25th each year, August is also National Catfish Month.

Africa

Jun

Cave Week, Ntl.(US/CA): June 1-7

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Caves have been integral to human survival from the beginning, whether as housing, for research, or places of storage. Over 20 parks in the United States take part in National Cave Week. This annual event helps locals and tourists discover the rich diversity and significance of the nation's caves. Each year has a different theme.

Africa

Jun

Celebrate Life Day: June 1*

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Each year, Support Connection presents Celebrate Life Day to honor cancer survivors for their strength and courage and to recognize the contributions of families, friends, and other caregivers. Celebrate Life Day is uplifting, including musical entertainment, inspirational speakers, and the pleasure of good company and good food. It occurs on the same day as National Cancer Survivors Day, an annual worldwide celebration of life held in hundreds of communities throughout the United States, Canada, and other participating countries.

Africa