Today, the “Teddy Bear Picnic” is a theme used by many children’s hospitals to have events where children bring their teddy bears to make their experience more “bearable.”

As to it’s origin, it’s purpose, or it’s traditions? I forgot what they are. But, perhaps today is a good day to say, “hey, I’m sorry I forgot…” whatever it is you may have forgotten. Who knows, maybe they will have forgotten something too.

More than just a funny story, a joke often tells us things that we don’t want to know or hear about life – things that are “too true.” Think about your favorite comedian. Isn’t he or she just telling stories about their life? Aren’t they funny because you’ve seen them happen, or they’ve happened to you? And the best part, that this time you’re not the poor sap who suffered?

The History Channel did a great special with Lewis Black entitled, “The History of the Joke.” Check it out. In the meantime, tell a friend a joke – they deserve a laugh today.

Why are we writing about Tower Bridge, when it is London Bridge Day? Because the bridge to which the holiday refers is actually Tower Bridge. London Bridge is one bridge down from Tower Bridge and is much newer than Tower Bridge, having opened in 1973.

The original London Bridge is not in London anymore, and this day isn’t about that bridge either. That bridge was purchased by Robert B. McCullough and moved to Lake Havasu city, Arizona. It is the second largest tourist attraction in that state, second only to the Grand Canyon. And that bridge isn’t even the original London Bridge.

The original London Bridge was built around 50 A.D. and remained in use until the mid-1800s.

20 years ago, cameras involved film and developing. I’m sure many adults remember heading to the store to “pick up your pictures,” your visual memories of a happy event. You get the folder with the negatives and pictures inside, and you could barely wait to get out of the store before looking at your pictures. Today, digital cameras, either alone or on cell phones, make our memories instantaneously.

Some say that Paul Bunyan carved out the Grand Canyon when he was dragging his axe behind him one day. Another story is that Bunyan created Mount Hood by making a pile of rocks to put out his fire. These and dozens of other stories grew from the tall tales that men would tell at logging camps. Paul Bunyan was first immortalized by James McGallivray, a newspaper columnist. Many cities claim that Paul Bunyan was born in their town, and there are a plethora of Paul Bunyan festivals and tourist attractions throughout the midwest.

Did you know? Sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Your Optician will tell you that sungalsses with UV protection will help to avoid cataracts. They also report that UV rays can be stronger in the winter, as the sun’s rays hit you on the way down….and as it is reflected back up from the snow. But word to the wise – go for the $10 knockoff pair instead of the $300 brand name. The only thing different about the two? The price.

This did not deter Silver, who mentioned the project to a classmate, Joe Woodland. Together Silver and Woodland worked for years to develop just the right system. By the early 1970s they were close to a working solution. At this point both men were working for IBM, and together they created the Universal Product Code System (UPC), which is widely used today. In 1974 a single pack of gum was scanned through a bar code reader, and shopping as we knew it changed forever. By the end of the 1970s over 80% of all stores were using some sort of bar code technology, and you would be hard pressed to find a store that did not use bar codes today.

In 1987, Michigan was celebrating its 150th birthday, and the last Saturday in June was declared Log Cabin Day. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and so it was decided to make it an annual celebration.