Tag: Movies

December 2nd Business Of Popping Corn Day

December holidays

If you are as old as I am you can remember popping corn over a stove or fire in a special tin pan. It was fun once it started popping but not something you could make a living with. So C. Cretor & Company made their own popping corn machine so he could make enough for larger parties and conventions. He invented a steam operated machine that popped corn for him in 1885. He received the patent for it in 1893 and went on to maker a successful business with his machine that could also roast peanuts, roast coffee beans and bake chestnuts. Why does this fall on December 2nd? Who knows, who cares, but we celebrate the business of popping corn today.

How to celebrate – Pop some popcorn. Roast some chestnuts. Buy a popcorn popping machine to keep the tradition alive.

June 2nd National Bubba Day

June Holidays

We’ve all known someone named Bubba. Well, actually I haven’t except for those Bubba’s in sports or the movies. They are generally thought of as not overly bright, large in stature and always very friendly. Now any Bubba’s you know may meet none of this description but we have to come up with some sort of description don’t we? Maybe not, maybe our preconceived notions are just meant to be challenged. Still, I’ve never heard of Dr. Bubba or President Bubba. I sometimes wonder if we wouldn’t be better if we did have a President Bubba though!

How to celebrate – Think of all the people you know named Bubba. Watch Forest Gump. Is there a character in Star Wars named Bubba?

May 4th Star Wars Day

May Holidays

So I keep telling this story and some people say it’s right, and some say it’s wrong but I am sticking with it. The day began as a mistake by a German News TV company, N24, in 2005. Via a translation mistake they took “May the force be with you” as “May the 4th be with you” and hence “Stars War Day” was created on May the 4th. Right or not it’s a good story and at least sort of makes sense. Or at least just as much sense as “May the force be with you” because isn’t the source already something with you whether you want it or not?

How to celebrate – Watch Star Wars. Visit Germany. Learn to become a translator.

March 11th Popcorn Lover’s Day

March Holidays

You can’t go to the movies without wanting popcorn. (That is if you can even get in the theater) Popcorn has become a world wide treat that if you serve without all the butter and extra toppings isn’t all that bad for you! Of course, most of us like it that way. Today was created by Bob Matthews of Rochester, NY in 2012. It is always the 2nd Thursday of the month to celebrate Bob, and his wife, having popcorn every Thursday as a snack. The original date was in January but somehow it got changed to March, maybe the popper wasn’t working right.

How to celebrate – Have some popcorn! Try out all the new salts and flavorings you can add to popcorn these days. Have popcorn while watching you favorite home movies.

Dec. 18th Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day

December holidays

December 18th Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day

Who would have thought that a simple comedy like “Elf” staring Will Farrell made back in 2003 can have created such a following all these years later. Buddy goes through the trials and tribulation of being a Human who thinks he is an Elf, acts like an Elf and talks like an Elf. He goes to find his father in New York City and, well… if you haven’t seen the movie I won’t spoil it for you. But if you haven’t seen the movie you are probably living under a rock. Today intends that you leave a message on your answering machine that makes it sound like you are Buddy answering the phone. Ah, who actually has answering machines anymore? Anyway the idea is fun, if a little annoying, and it kicks off the holiday season.

How to celebrate – Learn to speak like Buddy the Elf. Never give up on innocence. Visit the North Pole.

June 7th VCR Day

June Box, June Holidays

June 7th – VCR Day

If you are under 20 you probably have no idea what a VCR is today. The best way I can describe it is, a machine with a flashing light that never went off! Many of us watched movies on our VCR. It was the latest rage in the 70’s and 80’s. Then we went to DVD’s but even they are dated in today’s world. Before the VCR machines we watched on Beta recorders, before that… well, you had to go to the theater. VCR stood for Video Cassette Recorder. Movies were played on VHS tapes. Just be thankful, those days are gone.

How to celebrate – Be happy you don’t have to store all those VHS tapes! If you still have VHS tapes make sure you save at least one working VCR. Re-watch all your home movies you saved on VHS.

September 8th Star Trek Day

September Holidays, Unboxing the Bizarre

September 8th Star Trek Day

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Gene Roddenberry created Star Trek using an international cast when international relationships were at an all-time high stress level. The series began in 1966 and when American and Russian relations were near an all time low.

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Yet while the Starship Enterprise was an American vessel it was crewed by international characters from all over the world. (And in some from beyond the world) The enemies were creates from other planets where the human race, as well as other races, had to work together to solve problems.

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How to celebrate – Pretend to be your favorite Star Trek Character. Binge watch Star Trek. See how many nationalities you can find in a single Star Trek episode.

March 8th Popcorn Lover’s Day

March Holidays, Unboxing the Bizarre

This is Popcorn Lover’s Day. A natural treat that can be served healthy, or unhealthy at your choice. Corn itself was domesticated in Mexico as far back as 9,000 years ago. No one really knows when popped corn came about but probably not that long afterwards, and probably by mistake.

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The term, popped corn, is first mentioned in John Russell Bartlett’s “Dictionary of Americanisms” in 1848 though it had been around long before that. During the great depression it was a cheap source of food, sometimes having to serve as a meal instead of a snack.

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And today, we can hardly imagine going to the movies and not having a popcorn treat to munch on  while being entertained. It has also been used to decorate Christmas trees with and to keep fingers warm on those cold winter nights.

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We’ve learned to flavor it, adapt it and make it more interesting over the years. It does have multiple uses, smells great while cooking (Or popping) and when not topped with salt and butter, a good diet food. But that salt and butter make it oh so good!

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The day was created by Bob Matthews on January 6th, 2012 in Rochester, NY. It was placed on the second Thursday of March as a day of celebration… but you don’t need to wait until then to enjoy it.

How to celebrate – Have some popcorn today. Try and come up with your own original flavoring for popcorn. Find a new and unique way to serve popcorn to your friends and family.

March 4th Oscar Night

March Holidays, Unboxing the Bizarre

Tonight we find out who the best of the best are in film. Well, it may not be exactly who we would choose, it’s sort of up to the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts, and Sciences. We, the public, really have nothing to say about it.

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The first Oscar was given out in 1929, created by George Stanley.

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Emil Janning, was the first male to receive the honor.

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Janet Gaynor followed as the first female to win for her performances in three films.

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How to celebrate – Watch the Oscars. Create your own Oscars for people you know. Throw an Oscar party.

February 26th Oscar Night

Unboxing the Bizarre

If you are into movies, tonight is your night to celebrate. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This is the night the best of the best in Hollywood, and across the world, come out to get their rewards for being the best at their job.

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And trust me, it is a job. They get paid extremely well but they work very long hours both on set and in the promotion of the product they have created. As hard as the actors work, the crew works even harder. It really isn’t something you want to get into if you are not in love with it.

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And as the actors parade in front of the small screen, something most of them detest, they will take credit for pretending to be someone else, as seen by someone else, and directed by yet someone else. And of course their opinions on the world and the condition it is in is so much more valuable than yours or mine. Because they may have played Winston Churchill obviously makes them as smart as Winston Churchill! They played Albert Einstein so obviously they have to right to speak out as Albert Einstein spoke out. It’s only natural!

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And they tell us all how to spend our money, what to think and how to act because, of course, they have such perfect track records themselves that we should all live like them. I have to admit that I am amazed there are any wealthy actors because they all spend every dime they make on charity and others, never anything on themselves!

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The Oscars started on Radio in 1930, it moved to television in 1953. I wonder if it moved back to radio is anyone would listen? Since the Academy began issuing these treasures there have been 3,048 given out… almost every one using the format to express their opinions about how you and I should think, feel and act. Ever try to tell one of them what you think? They are not interested.

Well I do admire what they do… just wish they’d do their job and keep their mouths shut like the rest of us. Since they live and work in a world of fantasy… I just wish the Oscars could get back to what they were originally meant for, thanking audiences everywhere for enjoying someone pretending to be someone else.  So maybe it’s appropriate that La La Land is up for more awards than anyone else ever before.

How to celebrate – Make some popcorn and enjoy the show. Route for your favorite actor not making a political statement. Admire those actors who don’t use an award show for making a political statement.