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Posts for December 2007
You might think we're referring to the Philadelphia Phillies, but today we talk about a more festive subject: New Year's Eve in Times Square. Hardly an American alive today has not witnessed the ritual -- an evening of television entertainment (be it hosted by Guy Lombardo or Dick Clark), interrupted by frequent updates from a guy in the heart of New York's theatre district counting down the moments until the New Year.
But how did it all start? Back in 1907, the city fathers of New York outlawed firecrackers, but still wanted to go all-out to ring in 1908. Their solution? Drop a "high-tech" wood-and-iron sphere (adorned with 100 25-watt bulbs!) from a flagpole in Times Square. Over the years, the ball has gotten more sophisticated (the current version boasts LED lights and Waterford Crystal), but the process remains the same. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people (in varying states of sobriety) huddle together in the cold, ignore the lack of bathroom facilities, and see in the New Year. And the most important piece of continuity is the smallest -- the ball is still hand-lowered by a guy pulling on a rope. 21st Century technology, indeed!
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Directory categories:
Times Square, New Year, Manhattan, New Year Events, New York City Entertainment |
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Archived under: Anniversaries, Broadway, Events, Holidays, New Year, New York, Parties, Times Square |
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It's hard to believe there was ever a time when Americans were incapable of overcoming depression without the aid of chemistry. Such a time there was, though, and it was only as recently as 1951 that it became medically possible to relieve the otherwise-crippling effects of depression. Drug companies weren't as savvy then as they are now (it was estimated that fewer than 100 Americans in a million would benefit from anti-depressants), so such drugs as Isoniazid, iproniazid, and Imipramine were more or less ignored.
In 1987, however, the good people at Eli Lilly finally saw the benefits (and marketing potential) of Fluoxetine hydrochloride, and on December 29 of that year, began selling it under the trade name of Prozac. While Prozac had some minor side effects -- headaches, fever, insomnia, and homicidal rages among them -- millions of people (over 20 million in 2006) have been able to lead productive lives over the last two decades thanks to a little blue and white capsule filled with C17 H18 F3 NO.
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Directory categories:
Prozac, Prozac Nation, Depressive Disorders, Antidepressants, Substance Abuse |
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Archived under: Anniversaries, Brands, Disease, Drugs, Health, Medicine, Mental Health, Prozac |
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Spare some change? |
Maybe you've been a scrooge all year. You slammed the door on the Girl Scouts' cookies, you never gave at the office, and you didn't even answer the phone in the evenings, for fear of the solicitors on the other end of the line. But now the holiday cheer has you thinking that you should put down the iPhone and the new Wii and give something back. Before you run out to the mall in search of a Santa with a bell and a collection box, you should know that there's no shortage of great charities and nonprofits that will let you donate online. There are so many, in fact, that you may have trouble narrowing down your choices. You could put your faith in religious nonprofits of many denominations, such as Catholic, Islamic, or Jewish charities. Donate livestock for impoverished farmers. Help young writers achieve their dreams. Or help the environment for future generations. Do your homework, though: You want to give that hard-earned cash to a reputable, top-rated organization. And if you can't give cash this year, consider giving something even more valuable: your time. You won't get that tax break, but you will know that you gave a helping hand to someone in need.
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Directory categories:
Philanthropy, Online Fundraising, Nonprofit Resources, Charitable Vehicle Donation, IRS |
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Archived under: Charity, Finance, Holidays, Money, Philanthropy, Taxes |
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| Boxing Day | By Mitzi Buchanan
Wed, December 26, 2007, 12:01 am PST |
There it is on the calendar -- December 26: Boxing Day. You might be wondering if you should get out the training gloves and work off those post-holiday pounds, or fight your way past frantic shoppers in the rush to return Aunt Dottie's reindeer tea cozy. Relax. Boxing Day customs probably started back in medieval England and really picked up steam during the Victorian era. Clergy opened up the alms boxes to give money to the poor, while others offered food and clothing to servants and tradespeople in recognition of services rendered. Coincidentally, the Feast of St. Stephen (honoring the first Christian martyr) falls on the same day and shares the theme of giving to those less fortunate. Though primarily a British and Commonwealth holiday, you can enter into the spirit wherever you live by volunteering your time or donating to a worthy cause. Save the sales racks for another day. Surely Aunt Dottie's tea cozy can wait!
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Directory categories:
Boxing Day, Middle Ages, Community Service Organizations, Philanthropy |
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Archived under: Charity, Christmas, Holidays, Philanthropy, Regional, United Kingdom |
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Dear Friends,
Another year has drawn to a close, and it's time to look back at our accomplishments of the past twelve months. We're so proud of our family's achievements and want to share them with those who are dear to our hearts. Some of our fondest memories of 2007: * Dave got his dream job and will be directing the upcoming Hannah Montana/High School Musical crossover. "It’s like what Ingmar Bergman said when he directed The Magic Flute," he says. "It’s a thrill to get paid to listen to that music all day."
* We were all delighted by the doctor’s assurances that Jerry’s little "incident" will leave no lasting scars… at least not physical ones.
* David spent three weeks in North Carolina volunteering for Stephen Colbert's presidential campaign before realizing he was in the wrong Carolina. Though he used up all of his vacation time, he still maintains that "it was a valuable learning experience."
* Anna is relieved that all the charges have been dropped.
* Little Mikey can't wait for the new Batman movie, and is hoping it features his favorite Joker story.
* Michelle adopted a pet raccoon ("Jimmy") and has begun washing all of her food in a bowl on the floor before eating it.
* Yuvraj and Anu seem baffled by the rest of the team, but persevere (with wary looks over their shoulders).
* Chris won a lovely wreath at the holiday party. He couldn't be prouder!
* Helene had her baby, though she got more than she expected.
* Richard completed his 2007 resolution to run a marathon a week. We expect him out of the ICU any day now!
Warm wishes to you and yours over the holidays and in the coming year.
Love,
The Spark Household
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Directory categories:
Christmas Humor, Correspondence, Letter Writing, Writing |
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Archived under: Biographies, Communication, Hobos, Holidays, In Character, Jokes, Writing |
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