Author: Lisa Mungovan

Do you know how to recognize a rip current, at the beach? The fast-moving current, can pull you quickly out to sea. The water might look calmer, between the sections where waves are breaking, but that’s the most dangerous area. If you get caught in a rip, swim parallel to shore, to escape it.

Ultra-white paint, can reflect over 98% of light. It’s being used on rooftops to cool buildings, and on roads to cool cities. Scientists calculated that painting 2% of the Earth white, could stop global warming. That would mean covering 4,000,000 square miles, with 278,000,000,000 gallons of white paint. We’d all need sunglasses.

Real estate companies in the UK, are including swift bricks in new construction. The special bricks are hollow inside, with a small opening for birds. Swifts can build their nests right into the wall, transforming new housing estates into bird-friendly spaces. The migratory birds spend 10 months-per-year in the air, and welcome the rest.

Did you plant corn in your garden? It’s exciting to see it growing taller. Keep the birds away, by adding a scarecrow in the middle. It’s Build A Scarecrow Day, so stuff some old clothes with rags or hay, and put it to work. Scaring off squirrels and raccoons, is harder. Try red pepper.

Today is Umbrella Cover Day. Yes, it’s weird. No, I don’t know why someone would make a day celebrating umbrella covers. Maybe you’d like to celebrate International Kissing Day instead? Or give an invisible hug online, for Virtually Hug a Virtual Assistant Day. Show the I T team, you appreciate them!

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, is an annual 4th of July tradition in New York. World record-holder Joey Chestnut reclaimed the Mustard Belt title, by eating 70 hot dogs in 10 minutes! Miki Sudo won her 11th women’s title, with 31 hot dogs, after Madison Barone was disqualified for “urges contrary to swallowing.”

Are you a workaholic? That’s someone who’s addicted to work. Well, today is Workaholic Day!  Thank the workaholics in your life by showing up a little early to work, so they can take a rare day off. It’s also International Bikini Day, so put on a 2-piece swimsuit and go to the pool!

Do you use mechanical pencils at school? The cheap plastic ones give you a nice sharp point to write with, until the led falls out. To celebrate Mechanical Pencil Day, see how they measure up to the Graf von Faber-Castell Perfect Pencil. It’s made of wood, gold, and diamonds, and it only costs $12,000.

What do you do, when it’s Apple Turnover Day, and Graham Cracker Day? Place your little pie between 2 graham crackers, and make a sandwich! Reverend Sylvester Graham developed the cracker in the 18 20s, as a health food that relieved ailments. Does that make s’mores, made with graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows, a healthy snack?

When you go to the park, do you always visit the same one? Today is Hop A Park Day, so try to visit a few new ones today. You might find a new favorite! Bring a bag of cherries along, to celebrate International Cherry Pit Spitting Day. Who can spit the farthest?