Celebrate Every Day

What's Your All Time Favorite Video Game?

Welcome to September 12th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the best home remedy and a true game changer.

In the late 1800’s the term milkshake appeared in pharmacies, where a  “sturdy, healthful eggnog type of drink” made of eggs, whiskey, and other ingredients was served as a tonic. By 1900, a more “wholesome drink” was offered with either chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla syrup and minus the alcohol. Malt powder made its debut in the 1870’s but both malts and milkshakes hit their stride by the 1920’s. I don’t know about you, but I still consider a chocolate milkshake an essential drink to lift the spirits. Though you won’t catch me adding any malt powder or other stuff: just ice cream, syrup and milk.  On National Chocolate Milkshake Day blend up your own “tonic” that makes any day a celebration.

In 2018, the film industry grossed over $41 billion worldwide. Not too shabby. But it might surprise you to learn that during the same year, video game sales were over $152 billion. If you're not quick with numbers, that's nearly FOUR TIMES as much. Pretty impressive for an industry that started with a game called Pong that consisted of two lines and a dot that bounced back and forth between them. Since then, we've been introduced to Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Sonic the Hedgehog, and the Mario Brothers. Every year the games get more elaborate and generate more revenue for an already booming market. On National Video Game Day dust off the old Xbox or maybe spend a few hours playing Candy Crush on your phone.  

If you would like to Celebrate Every Day with us, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com.

What Do You Remember About the Events of September 11th?

Welcome to September 11th on the National Day Calendar. Today on the 19th anniversary since the events of 9/11, on this National Day of Service and Remembrance, I've invited my fellow crew of the National Daily, Chris Cecot, John McClain and Marlo Anderson to tell us what they remember and what they took away from that day.

Chris: I lived in New York City on September 11th and it was probably the most terrifying thing I'd even seen in my life. And after the dust had settled, I had to walk home about five miles because all of the traffic in and out the city had been shut down. Everybody, tens of thousands of people were shuffling along with me, shoulder to shoulder, everybody silent and it was... nobody knew what was going to happen next. And just when we thought we couldn't go any further from being emotionally and physically exhausted something amazing happened. People were coming out of their office buildings with water and snacks for us. And I remember that when someone handed me an ice cold bottle of water, thinking that everything's going to be okay. We're gonna bounce back from this and we're gonna be stronger and more resilient than ever.

John: When I think about 9/11 I think about the strength of the American people. Sometimes I think about the early days of World War II when we were being pushed back on all fronts and President Roosevelt would speak to us, he would give speeches and fireside chats on the radio, and one of his most famous quotes, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." And we came together as a people; our strength is in our diversity and we did it, as Chris said on 9/11. That gives me great hope and joy.

Marlo: For me 9/11 is today's Pearl Harbor, the riots of the 60's or the Revolutionary War. Our country has faced so many challenges, each one unique in its own way. And while our country may seem divided when we watch the news, we are really in the process of becoming united once again as a great nation. I'm proud to live in the United States and Patriot Day is a reminder to me of why it is important to me, and I hope to you, to celebrate every day.

Anna: I'm grateful for all of you for sharing and I'm reminded of the power of listening. I hope you'll listen to one another today. Today we remember, tomorrow we celebrate. I hope you'll join us.

Do You Have a Favorite School Photo? If So, It's Time To Share!

Welcome to September 10th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. I’m John McClain filling in for Marlo Anderson.  Today we celebrate dinner in a flash and the proof that you were “cool” back in the day.

While the first aluminum TV dinner tray made its way into the Smithsonian American History Museum in 1986, the origins of this meal are hotly contested.  Maxon Food Systems, Inc. manufactured the first frozen meal in 1945 for military and civilian air travel.  The concept was further developed by Jack Fisher who sold FridgiDinners to restaurants and taverns in the late 1940s.  But the winner, winner chicken dinner goes to Swanson and Sons, who’s Thanksgiving meal was first sold for 98 cents in 1953. Packaged in aluminum the turkey, cornbread dressing, peas, and sweet potatoes could be baked in the oven in under 30 minutes. And guessing by the more than 10 million sold in their very first year, Americans were truly grateful.  On National TV Dinner Day School, celebrate this modern convenience that still tastes great at the dinner table.

School may look different these days but one thing’s for sure: school pictures are priceless for preserving your look.   Nothing is more fun than remembering an era through the fashions and hairstyles of days gone by.  And if you're brave enough to share them on social media, you may spark a virtual trip down memory lane with classmates and those who remember you best. Give your school aged kid some encouragement by sharing old photos and offering tips on how to look their best.  And reassure them that their kids will be smirking at them one day too.  On National School Picture Day enjoy the awkward moments in living color that captured your looks for better or worse.

If you would like to Celebrate Every Day with us, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com.

Did You Know That Your Lovable Old Bear Was Named For A United States President?

Welcome to September 9th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. I’m John McClain filling in for Marlo Anderson.  Today we celebrate a serious schnitzel and the softer side of Teddy Roosevelt.

If the name Wienerschnitzel makes you think of hot dogs, you are not alone.  The popular American fast food restaurant has been serving up dogs since 1961. But true Wiener Schnitzel is an Austrian dish that comes with a few strict rules.  In Vienna this dish is made with veal by law and the name “Wiener” is German for Viennese cutlet. A schnitzel is the method of preparing any meat that is pounded thin, breaded and fried.  Austrians are quite serious about the dish and even  trademarked the name, claiming the recipe came from an Austrian Field Marshal in 1869.  But the Italians have a bone to pick with this story and insist that the dish was borrowed from their cotoletta alla milanese, which is nearly identical except the veal is left on the bone.   On National Wiener Schnitzel Day settle the score with your own favorite recipe.  Or head to Wienerschitzel if you don’t have a dog in this fight.   

President Theodore Roosevelt was an avid outdoors man and loved hunting. On one particular trip in 1902, his companions lassoed a black bear and gave him the opportunity to take a shot. Roosevelt refused to kill the defenseless animal and said, “I couldn't be proud of myself if I shot an old, tired, worn-out bear that was tied to a tree.” News of this incident spread across the country and people admired his compassionate choice. So much so that it inspired a toy maker in Brooklyn, NY to create a stuffed animal that was dubbed Teddy's Bear. The bear became wildly popular and soon was in high demand. On National Teddy Bear Day we celebrate this lovable toy and the softer side of the President who inspired it. 

If you would like to Celebrate Every Day with us, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com.

Did You Know There Were Once 27 Letters Of The Alphabet?

Welcome to September 8th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. I’m John McClain filling in for Marlo Anderson.  Today we celebrate a classic snack and classical letter who ditched the alphabet to become a star.

Back to school means packing school lunch and every parent knows that peanut butter is brain food.  But PB&Js don't always make the grade and that’s when it’s time for a good old standby: ants on a log.  Celery sticks are sturdy and when loaded with peanut butter and studded with raisins this fun and healthy treat can beat any snack attack. The kid friendly recipe has been around since the ‘50s, so feel free to give it an update with your own variation of dried fruits and nut butter.  Kids love them and parents know the extra protein will help them get back in the swing things.  On National Ants on a Log Day make back to school fun and simple with a crunchy bite that keeps kids going even when their minds wander off the trail. 

Today every kid learns to recite their ABCs, but did you know that two hundred years ago there was a 27th letter? It appeared at the end, just after ‘z’ and though It's not clear why this letter got the boot, it has a special place in our language today as a ligature.  That’s a fancy word for combining two letters and in this case the ‘e’ and the ‘t’ became the ampersand from the latin word et meaning and. The symbol has been around for nearly 2000 years and is believed to have been created by Marcus Tullius Tiro, who created the first Latin shorthand system, while working for Cicero.  Today the ampersand gets special attention in logos and is the most often used special character in passwords.  On National Ampersand Day celebrate this letter who leapt off the page into stardom.

If you would like to Celebrate Every Day with us, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com.

How Do You Celebrate Labor Day? Salami and Beer is a Good Start!

Welcome to September 7th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. I’m John McClain filling in for Marlo Anderson.  Today we celebrate a job well done and take a look at how the sausage is made.

Since 1882 we’ve honored the folks who labored to build the backbone of our nation.  Where would be without the roads, buildings and infrastructure that were built by a host of men and women since the beginning of our country?  And while Americans are generally known as hard working, this day is all about relaxing with family, hosting cookouts and recognizing the official end of Summer. Some head out to explore new sites, while others enjoy camping and road tripping and fitting in one more adventure before it’s back to school.  Whatever you get up to on Labor Day, remember the tradition of patting yourself on the back for a job well done, and kicking up your heels with family and friends.  

While our American food culture benefits from a host of international flavors, today we celebrate the contributions of Italian immigrants on National Salami Day. Salami is a generic term describing any type of encased meat product and comes from the Latin word “salumen” meaning a mix of salted meats. In Italy this typically means pork, and in the same way cheese is named for the region in which it's made, salami is more specifically identified by its native geographical region.  Look for the PDO designation if you want authentic flavor made in the traditional way.  This could be Salami di Felino from Parma or Soppressata from Calabria.  The sausages vary by spice and curing process, but most are tied and stored in dark cool cellars for anywhere from days to months.  On National Salami Day try something truly special as you learn to appreciate how the sausage is made. 

 If you would like to Celebrate Every Day with us, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com.

Have You Ever Tried Coffee Ice Cream For Breakfast? Find Out What You're Missing!

Welcome to September 6th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a new buzz for breakfast and the perfect way to travel on a shoestring budget.

If I made a list of my favorite things, right at the top would be coffee and ice cream.  So imagine my delight when I discovered that in some places coffee ice cream is served for breakfast.  It's perfectly acceptable in Italy to start the day with coffee flavored gelato tucked inside fresh brioche bread. Just the thought of this makes me want to hop a plane to Sicily, though there’s surely a much easier way to taste this.  Italians also make a dessert called Affogato which means drowned and you guessed it, it’s a scoop of ice cream drowning in espresso.  Coffee ice cream has been around since 1869 and it’s been on Howard Johnson’s menus, right alongside chocolate and vanilla since the 1960's.  I may or may not have been enjoying it since then. On National Coffee Ice Cream Day it’s okay to have your buzz for breakfast or dessert!

Though it's not easy to travel right now, that doesn't mean that you can't get away. Take a trip to Middle Earth, fight dragons, and save the world from impending doom. Or hop on a train at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters to enroll in a school for magicians.  And if romance is more your style, get swept off your feet to the wind-swept moors of Northern England. Books can take you anywhere and everywhere you can imagine. On National Read A Book Day, curl up on your favorite chair and crack open a book, whether it's something new or an old favorite. Reading is a great way to escape for an hour or two. And if you've got kids, it's the perfect day to introduce them to a new book and perhaps a life-long love of reading. 

If you would like to Celebrate Every Day with us, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com.

Hold Everything, Today's It's About the Cheese! Who Makes Your Favorite Slice?

Welcome to September 5th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate skipping the razor and a cheesy pie.

In cavemen times, beards were much more than a way to define your look. Men who could grow big, bushy facial hair looked more masculine and more attractive. But wait—there’s more! If a man had a big beard, he was better equipped to take a punch, since the hair would provide a bit of cushion to the fist headed towards his face. Over the ages, some cultures saw beards as symbols of wisdom or authority. Today, there are a lot of bearded men walking around, but the facial hair isn’t a statement on their authority or how many Vikings they have battled. It’s probably because they’re working from home and…well, why bother shaving, right? On World Beard Day, celebrate skipping the razor and proudly display those whiskers on your chin!

Whoever said, “Love is all you need” forgot about cheese, and if we’re talking pizza, then cheese is definitely all you need. Dating back to ancient Greece the simple flatbread known as pita was topped with olive oil, herbs and cheese, and it’s here that our love affair with the pizza pie was born.  Fast forward to 1889 in Naples, Italy when a dish fit for Queen Margherita was created to reflect the colors of the Italian flag.  Cheese, sauce and a little basil became a Neopolitan standard and today more than 2 billion pounds of pizza cheese are produced every year in the United States.  That's a lot of amore!  On National Cheese Pizza Day hold the extra toppings and enjoy all that gooey goodness. 

If you would like to Celebrate Every Day with us, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com.

Did You Ever Have a Paper Route? If So You Are in Good Company!

Welcome to September 4th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the call of the wild and the brave heart of one boy who changed an industry.

Did you know that tiger stripes are as unique as human fingerprints? Or that otters sleep holding hands so that they don’t drift apart? The natural world is a curious place, full of fascinating animals that most of us will never see in person. But thanks to filmmakers such as Sir David Attenborough, we can watch the beauty of nature from a front row seat. These amazing documentaries capture our imagination and plant wonder and compassion for the natural world in our hearts.  On National Wildlife Day take a virtual safari and satisfy your curiosity for the call of the wild. 

When a young boy answered an ad in the New York Sun, looking for “steady men” to sell newspapers, little did he know he would change history.  On this day in 1833, 10 year old Barney Flaherty answered the call as a “steady man.”  His attitude was so sincere that Benjamin Day, the newspaper’s publisher, hired him on the spot. And the infamous shout of: “Get your papers here!”  was heard on street corners around the city.   In 1960, The Newspaper Carrier Hall of Fame was created. It honors some of the more illustrious newspaper carriers including Martin Luther King Jr., Warren Buffet, and John Wayne. On National Newspaper Carrier Day give an extra shout out to the folks who carry on this tradition and if your paper always lands on the porch you might even give them a tip.  

If you would like to Celebrate Every Day with us, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com.

Is There Any Rabbit in Welsh Rarebit?

Welcome to September 3rd, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate “good natured” country fare and a game with a checkered past.  

We all know that random nicknames have a way of sticking with us.  Take the name “Welsh Rarebit” for example.  This basic dish of toasted bread with cheese sauce contains no actual rabbit and was originally called “caws pobi” or toasted cheese in 16th Century Wales.The countrymen loved it so much that a joke sprang up at the time.  It was said that God asked St. Peter to get rid of the Welsh from heaven as they were causing too much ruckus.  St. Peter stepped outside and yelled “caws pobi!” and the Welshmen all came out at once.  The English dubbed it Welsh Rarebit towards the end of the 18th century as a nod to “poor man’s rabbit.”  On National Welsh Rarebit Day  try a bite of something classically delicious and raise a pint to the Welsh who don’t mind a bit of ribbing.

In the 1830s and 40s, officials in Connecticut passed a law to ban bowling. Apparently, the excessive gambling associated with the sport, made it a threat to public welfare. Bowling at the time consisted of 9 pins, which is what the state outlawed. As a way to get around this, bowlers added an extra pin, creating the 10-pin game we know today. This new version of the game caught on in New England, though it took a few innovations before bowling caught on with the rest of the country. First, the material used for bowling balls was changed from wood to rubber. Then in the 1950s the automatic pinsetter changed the game forever. Whether you can roll a perfect game or you need to use bumpers, get out today and roll on U.S. Bowling League Day.

If you would like to Celebrate Every Day with us, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com.