Entry bubble Why We Don't Celebrate George Washington's Birthday on his Birthday

By: Jake | February 18, 2008 | Category: Fun

If you turned on the TV or radio, read the paper, and/or surfed the net this weekend, you were probably exposed to ads for President's Day Weekend sales. President's Day has become the common name for today, the holiday the federal government designates as Washington's Birthday but isn't his actual birthday.George Washington

George Washington's actual birthday is February 22nd, and it was a federal holiday from 1879 until Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to "bring substantial benefits to both the spiritual and economic life of the Nation." This law designated Washington's Birthday be celebrated on the third Monday of February starting in 1971.

There are various reasons that President's Day is becoming the preferred term for Washington's Birthday. Some have said that early drafts of the bill aimed to recognize Lincoln and other presidents on the holiday, but it never made it into law. States do not have to follow federal holidays, but many do recognize the holiday as "President's Day." The term has also been popularized by retail promotions this time of year (we have free publication offers year round, by the way).

Many Americans still celebrate the holiday as if it's George Washington's birthday with parades and other fanfare like the reading Washington's farewell address in Congress. You may wonder what General Washington would have thought of his birthday being recognized on a different date, and he probably would tell you it's not the first time.

Washington's birthday date changed in his lifetime when Great Britain and all of its colonies switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. Not only did the date change of February 11 become the 22nd, but so did the year from 1732 to 1733.

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Entry bubble Dear George Clooney:

By: Nancy | November 01, 2007 | Category: Fun

...If you're reading this, and I know you are because you're an intelligent, blog-savvy kinda guy...

I wanted to let you know that I tried to see you when you were in Washington, DC this week shooting your new movie.

It was all Jake's idea. "Let’s go find out what they’re filming down the street," he said. "I heard George Clooney was there." Oh really? Being the older sister type, I thought it best to accompany him on his adventure.

Jake and I looked on USA.gov's search engine for "film" and found an assortment of state and city film offices and commissions, including Washington, DC's Office of Motion Picture and TV Development. A little more searching on the Web and it didn't take long to discover that those production trailers across from our office were for your upcoming film, Burn After Reading.

I think half the blog team was secretly hoping to see you. Colleen developed a mysterious craving for hot chocolate and had to dash out for an early lunch. Samantha needed a snack fix a little later and disappeared for a few minutes. Both returned without sightings. But I knew it would be different for me, George Clooney. I knew that I'd see you.

We have a special tie, you and I. We're both fans of the late Fred W. Friendly, whom you portrayed in the 2005 film you also directed, "Good Night and Good Luck." Friendly was my boss when I was a 19-year-old production assistant, assigned to sit at his feet and relay his instructions to the production team during the taping of a news series. I didn’t know then that I was sitting at the feet of the man who, with journalist Edward R. Murrow, helped bring about the end of McCarthyism.

I was all ready to bond with you over Fred Friendly, George Clooney. But I had to find you first.

nancy in front of wardrobe trailer

Jake and I spent our lunchtime wandering along the block of production vehicles. We spotted the dressing room trailers, cleverly coded so we couldn't tell whose was whose. But you were not there. No one was there, George Clooney. And posing there next to the mops and bags of trash, I fell into despair. 

We hunted and hunted for the set, to no avail, until two cameramen walked past, toting their gear. "Follow them!" Jake started to yell, catching himself. We had to be discreet. Following half a block behind, crossing the street at every other traffic light (Were these guys swerving to lose us?) we tailed them nine blocks until we lost them in a building on K Street.

Gone. We couldn't get in. The adventure ended, and we didn't get to see you.

nancy buying potato chipsIt occurred to us during our long walk back to the office that there are lots of camera crews in Washington, DC. We might not have even been following the right guys. Jake took the disappointment like a man; I found solace plowing through a bag of salt and vinegar potato chips.

That's genuine pain in my eyes, George Clooney. But if you need an “extra” on the set, please contact me. Cuz for fifty bucks and access to the craft services table, I can turn that expression on and off at will.

Your loyal fan,

Nancy

 

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