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40 years ago today...

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Re: 40 years ago today...

#21

Post by mcav »

amichail wrote: post #18

I'm curious: what exactly are birthdays celebrating? Perhaps what is being celebrated depends on age and/or other factors? For example, one celebration might be about reaching driving age while another might be about longevity.

Celebration of continued existence; an opportunity to reflect on one's own personal growth and achievements in the past year. Secondly, it's a unique opportunity for each of us to be recognized individually. New Years' provides reflection time too, but it isn't individualized.

Re: 40 years ago today...

#22

Post by amichail »

mcav wrote: post #21
amichail wrote: post #18

I'm curious: what exactly are birthdays celebrating? Perhaps what is being celebrated depends on age and/or other factors? For example, one celebration might be about reaching driving age while another might be about longevity.

Celebration of continued existence; an opportunity to reflect on one's own personal growth and achievements in the past year. Secondly, it's a unique opportunity for each of us to be recognized individually. New Years' provides reflection time too, but it isn't individualized.

What if you had a bad year and the future looks bleak?

What if people are not surprised that you did not die?

As for individual recognition, wouldn't a recent achievement worthy of recognition be better?

Re: 40 years ago today...

#23

Post by mcav »

amichail wrote: post #22
mcav wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Celebration of continued existence; an opportunity to reflect on one's own personal growth and achievements in the past year. Secondly, it's a unique opportunity for each of us to be recognized individually. New Years' provides reflection time too, but it isn't individualized.

What if you had a bad year and the future looks bleak? What if people are not surprised that you did not die? As for individual recognition, wouldn't a recent achievement worthy of recognition be better?

Then my advice would be to avoid celebration.

Consider it a catalyst for change, even if only in mindset.

That said, birthdays are also unique: If you don't tell anyone about it, you could just as well ignore it yourself. You won't see reminders about your birthday in the local store, as you do for halloween, Christmas, etc.

In that sense, if one doesn't want to celebrate their birthday, they don't have to. It's an optional holiday.

Re: 40 years ago today...

#24

Post by dualogy »

vijaydev wrote: post #16

Before opening this link, I thought that this is about the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street ( http://www.sesamestreet.org/home ) which I came to know a few mins back courtesy Google ( http://www.google.com/logos/boombah_chamki-hp.gif ), even when I had my doubts whether pg is interested in Sesame Street :)

Server is down for me -- let's face it, they weren't prepared for being linked to from Hacker News!

Re: 40 years ago today...

#25

Post by mrduncan »

vijaydev wrote: post #16

Before opening this link, I thought that this is about the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street ( http://www.sesamestreet.org/home ) which I came to know a few mins back courtesy Google ( http://www.google.com/logos/boombah_chamki-hp.gif ), even when I had my doubts whether pg is interested in Sesame Street :)

I'm not sure who is correct but Wikipedia lists the anniversary on November 10th (in a couple of places) - I wonder if Google is a little bit ahead on this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesame_Street

Re: 40 years ago today...

#26

Post by blasdel »

btilly wrote: post #17
tlb wrote: post #14

Thanks guys!

Happy birthday from a fellow Canadian. Since everyone should smile on their birthday, here is a Canadian joke for you. Canada had the opportunity to have American know how, British politics and French cooking. Instead it got American cooking, British know how, and French politics! And here is an American joke that is particularly appropriate given where you're from. Many years ago two Americans were riding a train ac…

http://qdb.us/114349

  We are the canadian borg
  please wait to be assimilated
  resistance would be impolite
  pour l'assimilation en francais, presse sur "2"

Re: 40 years ago today...

#28

Post by mixmax »

rudd wrote: post #9

I wonder if I was the only one who saw "40 years ago today..." and thought of Sesame Street (thanks to the Google logo of the day).

I thought of the Beatles.

"It was forty years ago today

that Sgt. Pepper taught a band to play..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper%27s_Lonely_Hearts_C...

Re: 40 years ago today...

#30

Post by icco »

rudd wrote: post #9

I wonder if I was the only one who saw "40 years ago today..." and thought of Sesame Street (thanks to the Google logo of the day).

I thought the same thing. Think how epic it would be to be born on the same day as Sesame Street.
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