March is Women's History Month

After a hiatus, I'm back.    What better time to reappear than during Women's History Month? 

The theme of Women's History Month for 2013 is Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.



I have my own honoree for this month: Rosalind Elsie Franklin (25 Jul 1920 - 16 Apr 1958) was a British biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer who made critical contributions to the understanding of the fine molecular structures of DNA, RNA and viruses (among other things).


Rosalind Franklin's contributions were only hinted at by Watson and Crick, despite that it was her x-ray image of DNA structure that revealed a fatal flaw their working concept and set them on the right path.  Because she had died in 1958, she was not eligible for nomination to the Nobel Prize subsequently awarded to Crick, Watson, and Wilkins (her research assistant) in 1962.  It was only years later that her contributions were highlighted.

September is Library Card Sign-up Month

Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all.  Plan an event in your community to encourage kids to get a library card and open windows to the universe!

~~ Irish

Happy 90th Birthday, John Glenn!

John Glenn was the fifth person in space and the first American to orbit the Earth, aboard Friendship 7 on February 20, 1962, on the "Mercury Atlas 6" mission, circling the globe three times during a flight lasting 4 hours, 55 minutes, and 23 seconds.  Thanks, John Glenn!

~~ Irish

May is Get Caught Reading Month

What a great idea!  Encourage reading by getting caught!


Get Caught!

 ~~ Irish

Happy Valentine's Day

~~ Irish

February is Women's Heart Month

~~ Irish

^®, ™ The Heart Truth, its logo and The Red Dress are trademarks of HHS.

Now Is The Time to Get Ready for National Wear Red Day®

NOW is the time to start planning for National Wear Red Day^® -- the first Friday every February -- when Americans nationwide wear red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness.

The Heart Truth^®  --  a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease  --  created and introduced the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2002 to deliver an urgent wakeup call to American women.

The Red Dress^® reminds women of the need to protect their heart health, and inspires them to take action.

National Wear Red Day^® promotes the symbol and provides an opportunity for everyone to unite in this life-saving awareness movement by showing off a favorite red dress, shirt, or tie, or  Red Dress Pin.

~~ Irish

^® National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of HHS and AHA.

^®, ™ The Heart Truth, its logo and The Red Dress are trademarks of HHS.

January is Natonal Blood Donor Month

Donate a unit of blood.

Remember to thank a donor:

~~ Irish

Happy 2011 !!

~~ Irish

May the Joys of the Season Visit Your Family & Loved Ones

~~ Irish

Happy Thanksgiving



~~ Irish

Today is Congressional Election Day

November is National Novel Writing Month

Write 50,000 words in 30 days.  Are you up to the challenge?

Shiny clean white paper, computer keys click, pencils scratch, wonderful fat-nibbed pens flow.  Sign on, sign in, commiserate with other authors, and write, write, write:

~~ Irish

Oct 3 - Oct 10 is Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire.  Contrary to popular belief, neither Mrs. O'Leary nor her cow started the fire.  While the fire no doubt started in the O’Leary barn, it was more likely the result of spontaneous combustion of hay or a carelessly tossed cigar.  In any case, it quickly grew into a huge wall of flame that was propelled northward by strong winds.  The 1871 conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned about 1/3 of the city.

~~ Irish

October is National Book Month

Celebrate Books!  Buy a book.  Read a book.  Donate a book.  Share a book with children.  Join a book club.  Organize a book swap.

E-books and e-readers have their places but, for me, nothing else quite measures up to the satisfaction of holding a book in my hands and turning pages.

What will you do for National Book Month?

~~ Irish