All - Leep Calendar

For National Microwave Day, there are three possibilities for why this day is on the calendar:  ovens, cellphones, or studies.

Why the confusion? All the rest of the event sites say "Microwave Oven Day," right?

That's one of the reasons we started LEEP. There is much contradictory information, and we need to know precisely where events came from. This is an example. Originally this day included the qualifier "Auditory" before "Microwave Day," and we made a notation to follow up on it.

MICROWAVE OVENS

If it's the oven, the microwave oven originated after WWII but was not available for consumer use until 1967. By the 1990s, 95% of homes in the US would own one. However, December 6 is not the anniversary of any of the patents filed on microwave ovens, nor the birth or death date of the various scientists and engineers attributed to the appliance.

If Microwave Oven is the true meaning of this day, then it is simply an unofficial event with no sponsor. However, there is an anniversary tied to microwaves involving auditory sciences.

CELLPHONES

Tying it to cellphones is the most logical reason for Microwave Day as it relates to a scare that everyone in adulthood during the early 2000s will remember. On December 6, 2006, Danish scientists published a report (given to the press on the 5th) showing that the electromagnetic field (EMF) or microwaves emanating from cellular phones and towers do not cause brain cancer or genetic anomalies.

The report was big news at the time. Several conspiracies abound, with many people convinced that holding their phones to their ears for an extended time would result in brain cancer. EMFs were blamed for everything from insomnia to Downs Syndrome.

STUDIES

You could go for a third option, auditory microwaves, which could be used for crowd control and to prevent wildlife from entering areas harmful to them. The science used is known as the Frey Effect.

Now there is a correlation between two and three. Allen H Frey wrote an update to the Danish study noted in option two in 2011. He writes:

"(1) Most of the patients (86%) in one study used car telephones or bag telephones, not handheld telephones; the antennae used with car and bag telephones are well away from the head, so there is little, if any, exposure of the head to the energy.

(2) Most of the patients (82%) in another of the studies had no or negligible use of a handheld telephone.

(3) Shortly after these papers were published, another epidemiology study was published in another prominent medical journal. The authors lumped together car, bag, and handheld telephones as though using all these types of telephones gave the same head exposure as handheld telephones.

(4). And the currently reported update of that study has the same faults."

Read Frey's entire update at: http://www.bmj.com/rapid-response/2011/11/08/safety-cell-phone-radiation.

Frey's bottom line? These epidemiology studies have served the public poorly.

Learn more about Frey and the Cell Phone Task Force: http://www.cellphonetaskforce.org/?page_id=594

Africa

Dec

Miners' Day (1907): December 6

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Miner's Day commemorates, honors, and remembers the worst mining disaster in American history, which occurred in Monongah, West Virginia, on December 6, 1907. Three-hundred and sixty-one men lost their lives. The US Senate made this an annual memorial day in 2009.

Africa

Dec

Mitten Tree Day: December 6

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The origin of this day is uncertain, but it is possible it originated from the 1995 story "The Mitten Tree" by Candace Christiansen. The book premiered in October that year, so this event can't be associated with that anniversary. We're still determining if December 6 is the author's birthday. Typically, these are the two primary reasons for declaring a day.

The children's book recounts a woman who knitted mittens and hung them on an evergreen tree by a bus stop, thus allowing children without mittens to have a pair. Regardless, Mitten Tree Day is an excellent opportunity to organize a donations campaign.

Africa

Dec

Musical Instrument Gift Day (343 AD): December 6

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Musical Instrument Gift Day is celebrated in the United States each year. Coinciding with St. Nicholas Day, the patron saint of pawnbroking, Musical Instrument Gift Day brings together the nation's pawnbrokers, local businesses, and organizations to donate musical instruments to schools and children in need. Legend states Saint Nicholas died on December 6, 343 AD. Also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker and Nikolaos of Myra, or the Greek Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), he is believed to be the origin of the "Santa Claus" story due to the miracles he performed and his work with children. Saint Nikolaos is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, students, and pawnbrokers. Contact your local National Pawnbrokers Association chapter to see if you might participate or donate in your area.

Africa

Dec

Pawnbrokers Day, Ntl. (343 AD): December 6

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National Pawnbrokers Day is celebrated on December 6 every year in honor of Saint Nicholas. Legend has it that Saint Nicholas died on December 6, 343 AD. Also known as Nikolaos of Myra, he was a Greek Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Because of the miracles he performed, he was also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker. Saint Nikolaos became the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, students, and pawnbrokers. Hence, National Pawnbrokers Day.

Africa

Dec

Put on Your Own Shoes Day: December 6

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"Put on your own shoes" is a metaphor reminding us to maintain humility and a warning to avoid believing you are above all others and selfish in the extreme.

For example, Mariah Carey admitted to "The Record" in a November 25, 2016 article that Oprah Winfrey, warning her to avoid becoming too diva-like and inaccessible, told her: "Don't let anybody think that you don't put your own shoes on anymore."

Another possibility for this day involves a call to action for the child slaves in Haiti, referred to as restavek. A restavek is a child sent by his or her parents to work for a host household in Haiti because the parents cannot afford to care for the child. In essence, it is child slavery. How does this apply to "Put your own shoes day?"

A missionary and educator posted this excellent piece on March 29, 2016, about a young restavek forced to put shoes on a woman and then carry her discarded flip-flops up the hill while the woman took a motorcycle. The astounded educator, taken aback, thought,

"What in the world did I just see? Could that lady NOT have put on her own shoes?"

She approached the child, learned her story, and immediately advocated to get her into the mission's school. It's a beautiful, heartfelt blog post. Unfortunately, the blog shut down in 2021, but the memory and spirit of the story hold today.

Africa

Dec

Saint Nicholas Day (343 AD): December 6

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December 6 is Saint Nicholas Day. Acknowledged by nearly all Christian denominations, this day celebrates the life of Saint Nicholas (March 15, 270 - December 6, 343 AD).

Known as Nikolaos of Myra, a Greek, he was the Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (Demre, Turkey).

For Western Christian denominations, he is the inspiration for Santa Claus, and for Orthodox Christians, he is much more. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, and students.

Africa

Dec

Salesperson's Day, Ntl.: December 6

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National Salesperson's Day in the United States celebrates an essential building block of a successful economy, sales. Salespeople are responsible for getting goods and services into the hands of the people who need them. They can be found in stores, helping people find what they need. They often are the public face of companies, going out and prospecting for new and servicing existing customers. Top sales professionals earn very high salaries, often based on a percentage of what they sell. Their service is essential. Without them, most goods and services would never find a way into the hands of the people and companies that need them. Always the first Friday in December, this is a day to honor the efforts of these men and women. This event first ran in 2000 and was created by the author and the president of Best@Selling, Maura Schreier-Fleming.

Africa

Dec

Anger Awareness Week, Ntl. (UK): December 1-7

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Held the first week of December annually, National Anger Awareness Week provides tools and education to families leading into the highly emotional Christmas season. Sponsored by the British Association of Anger Management (BAAM), multiple resources are available on the "Beating Anger" website to assist with managing the stresses and triggers that instigate anger. http://www.beatinganger.com

Africa

Dec

Handwashing Awareness Week: December 1-7

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"Handwashing is the new vaccine!" is one of the slogans we see during December's National Handwashing Awareness Week. Help spread the word and raise awareness on this simple way to combat the spread of disease.

Africa

Dec

Infantile Spasms Awareness Week: December 1-7

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The collective goal of Infantile Spasms Week (ISAW) is to increase awareness and understanding of infantile spasms through: Developing and distributing educational materials to providers, caregivers, and the public Announcing new and valuable research and support initiatives Recognizing exemplary contributions to care Inviting families living with IS to be part of a larger community—many stories with one voice In 2015, CNF partnered with the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance (TS Alliance) to lead a multi-year IS awareness and education initiative. IS efforts are showcased during Infantile Spasms Awareness Week (ISAW), held annually during the first week in December. ISAW is held December 1-7 each year. #ISAW2017 #onevoice

Africa

Dec

Influenza Vaccination Week, Ntl.: December 1-7

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National Influenza Vaccination Week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the annual push to convince people to get immunized against the flu, especially the elderly and young, who are most susceptible.

Africa

Dec

Safe Driving Week, Ntl. (CA): December 1-7

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National Safe Driving Week occurs during the first week of December and promotes car safety, winter preparation, and driving in inclement weather during the holidays. The event brings up the dangers of unsafe driving practices, such as speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, and not wearing seatbelts.

Africa

Dec

Bike Shop Day, Ntl.: December 7

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National Bike Shop Day began in 2017. Its purpose is to bring together independent bike stores across the country and educate the public about the economic, ecological, and health benefits of bicycling. Annually on the first Saturday in December.

Africa

Dec

Black Pound Day (UK): December 7

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Born in 2020 in the wake of the Black Lives Matter global protest, Black Pound Day in the United Kingdom is a monthly event occurring on the first Saturday of each month. The purpose is to ask consumers to support Black-owned businesses on this day by shopping at them or giving their patronage. Musician DJ Swiss created it.

Africa