Advertising Is Good For You

Happy National Puncuation Day

 Test your punctuation know-how at the Huffington Post punctuation quiz.

I got seven out of eight correct. Damn you, colon!

It's Cankles Awareness Month

Because American women aren't insecure enough about their bodies, Gold's Gym has declared that July should be Cankles Awareness Month.

The Wall Street Journal reports:

Cankle, a portmanteau word combining calf and ankle, refers to "the area in affected female legs where the calf meets the foot in an abrupt, nontapering terminus," according to Urban Dictionary.

The WSJ adds:

A spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association says the word is not a medical term.

If you have cankle issues, you'll be glad to know that Gold's is offering a customized "cankles-busting workout" at its gyms. Which I find curious since my personal trainer and many other fitness experts say spot reducing is not possible.

Happy National Indian Pudding Day

I suggest you celebrate by NOT eating the worst dessert idea since the pilgrims landed.

Feeling priggish? Here's a recipe.

Happy National Doughnut Day

To celebrate, Krispy Kreme is giving away a free doughnut to each customer. No purchases necessary. CLICK HERE for free doughnut details.

Krispy Kreme used to be famous for giving away free doughnuts every time a new batch came out of the frialator. Don't they do that any more?

Dunkin Donuts is also giving away a free doughnut but you have to purchase a beverage to qualify.

Don't forget, this is National Clean Hands Week

CLICK HERE for more information on the importance washing your hands.

Mustard of the Month Club. Just one of the many joys of the Mustard Museum.

There are also mustard gift baskets, souvenirs from Poupon U ("where mustard lovers go to college") and the frivolity of National Mustard Day.

Don't worry. If you can't make it to the Mustard Museum in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin any time soon, you can visit the website.

Thank you to Bits & Pieces for finding this cultural gem.

January is Prune Breakfast Month. Oh, joy.

Source: Slashfood

Image: pCka

2008, The International Year of the Potato

You can't blame marketing or the United States Potato Board for this. It was actually the United Nations that decided this is to be the year of the spud. According to Neatorama, the United Nations' reasoning was:

Over the next two decades, the world’s population is expected to grow on average by more than 100 million people a year. More than 95 percent of that increase will occur in the developing countries, where pressure on land and water is already intense. A key challenge facing the international community is, therefore, to ensure food security for present and future generations, while protecting the natural resource base on which we all depend. The potato will be an important part of efforts to meet those challenges. . . "

Image: Patrick Q

Happy World Toilet Day

According to promoters, World Toilet Day is "a time to reflect upon how far modern sanitation has come."

The World Toilet Association Convention starts Wednesday in Seoul. To celebrate -- and to raise money for the organization's goal of cleaner and hygienic toilets around the world -- the convention will feature a toilet-shaped house.

For $1, one can tour the toilet house; for $50,000, one can spend the night in the giant toilet.

Does Chuck Berry know about this?

Happy National Meatloaf Appreciation Day

You can blame Serious Eats for this dubious holiday.

Image (and recipe): Cook UK

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day

Talk Like a Pirate Day doesn't sound any more dumb than say, National Eggs Benedict Day or National Pancake Day.

Aaargh.

Source: Ananova

Happy Administrative Professionals Day

(For you old timers, I think this is what used to be called Secretary's Day.)

I've found the perfect gift for your favorite administrative professional (that would be the one with the warped sense of humor). I Heart Office Stickers. Of course, you will put these in an envelope with a nice card and a generous gift check.

You can find I Heart Office Stickers at Perpetual Kid.

Happy National Pancake Day!

Yes, they've made today National Pancake Day. Don't ask why. Just use it as an excuse to have pancakes for dinner.

Source: Slash Food