The Friday Fishwrap

All the news that's fit to wrap around a dead fish

The week in review

Monday - "Put THAT down!" Is the smartphone creating dumber people? "The implication is that our smartphone use is already having a significant effect on our ability to think. The researchers suggest there is an association between heavy smartphone use and lowered intelligence. Another concern is that as we age, it is essential for good brain health that we continue to challenge our brain and make it work for us. An idle brain is a rapidly rusting brain."

Tuesday - "How giving up Starbucks for 90 days can improve your business" Ninety Grande Mochas will cost you $400. Here's an idea on how to spend that money to grow your business. "With the 7 touch campaign you just put your prospects' name and birthday into our CRM system and they'll automatically receive a birthday and holiday card, as well as a card celebrating each of the four seasons. This is also good for keeping in touch with friends and family, as well as existing clients. Sending 7 cards over the year works out to a nickel per day, including sales tax and postage! Are your clients worth a nickel a day to you?"

Wednesday - "Happy #TauDay!" Why Pi is wrong. "It's lots of fun when math geeks start to argue! (OK...it's not that much fun for most people). Anyway, since Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3.14), Tau Day is celebrated on June 28th (6.28)."

Thursday - "Support your local... #TBT" Supporting local small businesses. "The local business owners, whether the person who owns a brick and mortar business downtown, or the person who teaches piano out of their home or the network marketer sharing the product or service that they're passionate about, are our neighbors and they use the money to pay for braces for their children at the local orthodontist or piano lessons at the local piano teacher's home or to buy jerseys for the local youth softball team that they sponsor."

Interesting days

Today - Social Media Day and Meteor Watch Day

July - World Watercolor Month, Sarcoma Awareness Month, Horseradish Month, Picnic Month, Independent Retailer Month, Cell Phone Courtesy Month and Ice Cream Month

Tomorrow - Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day, Gingersnap Day, International Reggae Day, Hop A Park Day, Second Half of the Year Day, Canada Day, International Joke Day, Postal Worker Day and Zip Code Day

Next Friday - Strawberry Sundae Day, Tell The Truth Day, Global Forgiveness Day and Chocolate Day

July 30 - Father-in-Law Day, Paperback Book Day and Cheesecake Day

July 31 - Raspberry Cake Day, World Ranger Day and Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day