OK Day
The word OK started as a joke. A journalist for the "The Boston Morning Post" purposefully used and abbreviation of a misspelled phrase, "all korrect," according to Dennis Baron of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The word first appeared in print on March 23, 1839. "Most of the 'abracadabraisms' popular among journalists in 1839 are long gone, but OK stuck around."
Barron equates the popularity of OK with common abbreviations of today including BTW and OMG, both of which appeared in print well before Yahoo! Messenger was created. In 1917, J. A. F. Fisher wrote, "I hear that a new order of Knighthood is on the tapis-O.M.G. (Oh! My God!)-Shower it on the Admiralty!" (Online Etymology Dictionary )
National Day of Unplugging
While you're considering pre-texting language that has survived into the digital age, you may want to take some time to unplug. The Sabbath Manifesto "asks people to take a tech detox for the 2012 National Day of Unplugging." On National Day of Unplugging, "re-embrace the ancient beauty of a day of rest," unfettered by smart phones, tablets, computers or (gulp) any technology.
Unless you're taking the day off from work to play in the garden or go for an extended hike (sans GPS) in the woods, it may be difficult to completely avoid technology. You can sign the pledge (by using technology) here.
Chip and Dip Day
Creamy dip made with a simple packet of onion soup mix, cream cheese and sour cream was one of the first commercially available dips. Thomas J. Lipton Company promoted the dip in the 1950s with a heavy advertising campaign which included radio spots and dip recipes on food packages according to "The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink." The dips were eaten with carrots, celery, and of course, potato chips.
Enjoy your favorite salty snack with a creamy dip, or think outside the bag with one of these combinations:
* Kale chips and Greek yogurt dip
* Mexican seven-layer dip and
* Crab dip and the best tortilla chips
National Puppy Day
One way to enjoy your day without technology is to spend some time with a small pup. Give your own puppy extra attention or offer to puppy sit for a neighbor's puppy. The Animal Miracle Foundation encourages you to celebrate puppies and to consider adopting a puppy that needs a good home. Even if you can't adopt a puppy of your own, consider volunteering at a local animal shelter or donating items to one.
More ways to celebrate National Puppy Day, from the Animal Miracle Foundation:
* Donate blankets to Blankets of Love.
* Host a puppy party for your friends and their pups.
* Practice good puppy safety by puppy-proofing your pool, installing gates or carpeting stairs to minimize hazards.
