"What are YOU doing this weekend?" (Photo by Veronica ML) Ah, the lazy days of summer are here. Wait -- "lazy?" We Americans are lazy enough already, according to this month’s American Journal of Medicine. That means it’s time to get out, get active, and to take advantage of some summertime activities! Nothing on your calendar? No problem! Ours is packed through the season. Here are just a few ideas for just this weekend: In major metropolitan areas, of course, there’s always something going on. If you’re anywhere near Chicago, this weekend is "Taste of Chicago," with free admission and filled with food and music. Speaking of music, everyone in Dallas is likely lined up for the "American Idol" auditions. If you missed registering in Texas, get your plane tickets now for one of the upcoming auditions in Los Angeles, Orlando, or Denver. Are there events geared toward those who want to get or stay fit this summer? Certainly! Remember the "Seinfeld" episode where Kramer swims in the East River because the pool is too constricting? It turns out there's a gaggle of like-minded New Yorkers who are swimming around Liberty Island today. If you can't make it, don’t worry; they have more events scheduled. Of course, you don’t have to live in the big city to find cool things to do. Wherever you are, you can still participate in "Take Your Dog to Work Day" (provided your employer approves, of course!), Some folks in Petaluma, California, however, will be skipping work with their pooches to visit the Sonoma-Marin Fair and enter the "World’s Ugliest Dog Contest." If the thought of big crowds and rats on leashes makes you want to just stay home -- or if you’re just saving all your energy for the Fourth of July weekend -- you can still get involved by watching other people push the limits of hockey, golf, or pure speed. Just don’t say you’re bored!

Directory categories: American Idol, Recreation in Manhattan, Chicago Travel Guides, Activities for Dogs, Sports

Archived under: American Idol, Animals, Boredom, Calendars, Chicago, Cities, Contests, Dogs, Eating, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Food and Drink, Health, Outdoors, Pets, Recreation and Travel, Regional, Seinfeld, Sports, Summer, Swimming, Tourist Attractions, Travel, Vacations

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Groundhog Day 2005 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania We have to admit that we don't get it. Why take a helpless rodent out of the warmth of his burrow and subject him to freezing cold, just to come up with some kind of prediction about how much longer winter will last? (A prediction that's apparently correct only about a third of the time.) But today is Groundhog Day, so 30,000-40,000 people will find their way to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania -- a town of about 6,500 the rest of the year -- to watch a bunch of guys haul Punxsutawney Phil from a fake log and give us all a supposed sneak preview of the next six weeks. The good burghers of Punxsutawney are not alone, though. All over North America, in towns as small as Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia (home of Shubenacadie Sam), and as large as New York City (where Staten Island Chuck resides), groundhogs will earn their yearly keep by playing weather woodchuck for the day. No one really knows how the whole thing started. It's apparently a combination of the Christian holiday of Candlemas and the Julian Calendar's placing of the Vernal Equinox six weeks after February 2nd, but there’s no clear origin. Not only that, but there's tremendous variety in the ways February 2nd is commemorated around the world. The day is known in France as La Chandeleur, when the French celebrate by eating crepes, and in Mexico, Día de la Candelaria is a time to eat tamales. And it’s not like predicting the weather is exclusive to bucktoothed rodents. If it rains in Germany on June 27 (Siebenschlaefertag), the rest of the summer will be rainy. Same with England's St. Swithin’s Day (July 15). Depending on the weather that day, the next forty days and nights will be rainy or sunny. (Given that it's England, our money's on rainy.) We're writing this in sunny California, where the climate over the next six weeks is likely to be the same as it was the last six. It might seem as though we're in a never-ending loop of nice weather, so if we wake up tomorrow to the strains of "I Got You Babe," it may be time to worry and start rethinking our lives. Suggested Sites... Greetings From Punxsutawney! - official site for the big Groundhog Day doings, with news, schedule, and travel guide. Groundhog.org - media, fan club, predictions, and more than you want to know about Groundhog Day. The Groundhog Fraud - Slate.com exposes the shenanigans in Punxsutawney. Holiday Spot: Groundhog Day - you know; for kids. History of the holiday, quiz, greeting cards, and more. Wikipedia: Groundhog Day The Movie - background, fun facts, and more about the classic 1993 comedy.

Directory categories: Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Weather, Groundhogs, Groundhog Day - The Movie

Archived under: Animals, Calendars, Celebrations, Events, France, Germany, Holidays, Mythology and Folklore, Nature, Pennsylvania, Religion, Small Towns, Tourist Attractions, United Kingdom, United States, Weather, Winter

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Long count date of "June 23, 152 CE" as carved into stone by the Mayans Long ago, the Maya began carving what is now known as the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar onto stone monuments. Unlike our repeating calendar, this Mayan calendar covered more than 5,000 years, with a beginning, August 11, 3114 BC, and an end: December 21, 2012. So, what happens then? Because 12-21-12 may coincide with a possible alignment of the earth and the Milky Way's center, some predict a catastrophic reversal of the earth's polarity. Maya researcher John Major Jenkins argues that this pole reversal will actually result in a shifting of the collective psyche, or "a moment in which the human spirit can emerge from unconscious patterns and blossom." In "The Bible Code," Michael Drosnin predicts an apocalypse in 2012 -- but Drosnin's calamitous predictions for 2000 and 2006 didn't exactly go according to plan. One thing that is certain is humanity's tendency toward mass paranoia and hysteria -- and we're not saying that's always a bad thing. We listened to Art Bell back in the day, we love Graham Hancock, and we can't wait for Michael Bay to CG our brains out in "2012: The War for Souls." A good dose of the-end-is-nigh paranoia can inspire great drama and creativity. And if 2012 doesn't work out as planned, we can still get excited about Asteroid Aphosis in 2036. Suggested Sites... The Maya Calendar - information on the Maya Calendar from the Maya World Studies Center in Yucatan, Mexico. Meta-Religion: Popol Vuh - translation of Popol Vuh, the Mayan creation myth. 13-Moon Natural Time Calendar - a new take on the Mayan calendar from major new-age player, Dr. Jose Arguelles. December 21, 2012 - the "official" 2012 website. Includes news, merchandise for sale, and a 2012 Believers list. Survive 2012 Forum - discussion board with survival tips, 2012 news, various theories, gatherings, events, new age transformations, and more.

Directory categories: Doomsday 2012, Mayan Calendars, Pole Shift, Biblical End Times, Mayan Archeology

Archived under: Calendars, Mayan Civilization, Mexico, Mythology and Folklore, Predictions, Prophecy, Religion, Time

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Let's celebrate something! (Photo by ShipBoy) Everybody needs a month -- or so it would seem. Aside from the obligatory commercial promotions by various industries, every month of the year finds itself besieged by a barrage of organizations, causes, and hobbies. Now, far be it from us to say who can and cannot have a party, but here at The Spark we're all feeling a little national-monthed-out. There's only so much preposterousness one can take, and the following have pushed us to our limits and beyond: January - Prune Breakfast Month (a.k.a. Work From Home for the Sake of Others Month) February - Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month (ummmm...) March - National Frozen Food Month (at least these folks are upfront about the holiday's purpose) April - Fresh Florida Tomato Month (advertising ideas, anyone?) May - National Sweet Vidalia Month (onions need love, too) June -National Accordion Awareness Month (people are perfectly aware of this instrument, whether friend or foe) July - National Baked Beans Month (we again kindly request that you remain at home) August - Studious Behavior Awareness Month (we're pretty sure this one doesn't even exist, but several websites happily include it on their holiday calendars) September - Hug a Texas Chef Month (see also How to Get Punched Month) October - National Toilet Tank Repair Month (by the time you've made it through months of prunes, tomatoes, and beans, chances are that sucker's going to need some help) November - National Georgia Pecan Month (since those Florida tomatoes stole April) December - International Calendar Awareness Month (and it coincides with holiday shopping!) Still haven't had enough? Well we have, and we're officially declaring June Give Us a Break Month. Suggested Sites... Holidays on the Net - find holidays to your heart's content. Wikipedia: List of Commemorative Days - possibly the genesis of many a dubious observance. Commemorative Observances - the Congressional Research Service's list of national observances.

Directory categories: Holiday Humor, Holidays by Month, Holiday Calendars, Holiday Entertaining

Archived under: Calendars, Events, Fanatics, Festivals, Holidays, Society and Culture

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It's leap day! (get it?) (Photo by Lauren) Back in the 16th Century, Ponce de Leon claimed to have discovered the Fountain of Youth. While de Leon never actually found his fountain, we've found ours: it's called "Leap Day," and those who are born on February 29 have a birthday only once every four years. Does this mean that rapper Ja Rule, who was born 2/29/76, is only eight years old? Sure, he can come off a bit juvenile, but the fact is that most Leap Year babies (or "leaplings") simply celebrate their birthdays on February 28 or March 1. And since Leap Day rolls around only every four years, fewer people (only one in about 1,500) are born on this day than any other. Other than Ja Rule, some other famous leapsters are: Gioachino Rossini (born 1792), the Italian opera composer who wrote "The Barber of Seville" and "William Tell"; early film director William A. Wellman (1896), whose most famous movies were "Wings," "The Public Enemy," and "A Star Is Born"; actor Dennis Farina (1944); big band leader Jimmy Dorsey (1904); and the eldest of the famous Feb. 29 kids, Pope Paul III (1468). So here's a quick "Happy Birthday!" shout-out to all leaplings out there who might be wishing that mom had just pushed a little harder on the 28th. Suggested Sites... FamousBirthdays.com: February 29 - not many celebs were born on this rare day, so Ja Rule just might be the most famous leapling. BBC: On This Day: February 29 - see what major events happened to occur on Leap Day. Time and Date.com: Why Leap Years Are Used - a much simpler way of explaining it. Wikipedia: Leap Year - but if you still want the full, technical, explanation...

Directory categories: Leap Day, Leap Year, Wonders of Time

Archived under: Birthdays, Calendars, Celebrities, Holidays, Time

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