A Clipped Together Wednesday Medley...

I must admit that the National Day Calendar, at times, leaves me wondering whatever am I going to do with the choices given to us.  When I saw that it is National Paperclip Day tomorrow.... well, here we go!!  Please, please read all about this day before you skip to the questions. It really is quite inspiring!!  Seriously!

Everything below this line is from the National Day Calendar website.

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NATIONAL PAPERCLIP DAY

National Paperclip Day is observed each year on May 29.  Yes, even the paperclip has its own day of honor. It is about that well-known piece of curved wire that keeps our papers together and helps keep us organized.

While there are much earlier claims to the invention of the paperclip, according to the Early Office Museum, the first patent for a “bent wire paper clip” was presented to Samuel B. Fay in the United States in 1867.   The original intention of Fay’s clip was to attach tickets to fabric. However, U.S. patent 64,088 recognized that it could also be used to attach papers together.

There were as many as 50 others that received patents for similar designs prior to 1899. One other notable name receiving a patent for his paperclip design in the United States was Erlman J. Wright in 1877.  At that time, his clip was advertised for use in fastening newspapers.

The Gem paperclip, which was most likely in production in Britain in the early 1870s by The Gem Manufacturing Company, was never patented.  It is the most common type of wire paper clip and is still in use today.  It was introduced to the United States around 1892 and in 1904, Cushman & Denison registered a trademark for the “Gem” name in connection with paper clips.  Paperclips are still sometimes called “Gem clips.”

Today, paperclips come in various sizes, shapes, and colors and can make your paperwork look more fun and lively.

Paperclips are not just for holding papers together. There are many other things that you can do with them!

• Replace a zipper tab
• Unclog a spray bottle
• Unclog a single serve coffee maker
• Hem holder
• Emergency hooks for broken necklaces

The Paper Clip Project
During World War II this small, universal office supply provided a visual method of protest at a time when any outward signs of objection could be dangerous, even in familiar company.

Early in the war, Norwegians were particularly persistent in their development of symbols. The paper clip represented “sticking together” for a time until the Nazis caught on and banned the wearing of paper clips.

According to a March 5, 1941, Provo, Utah newspaper article (The Daily Herald), the Norwegians switched to new symbols as quickly as the bans could be issued.
In 1998, a group of middle school students led by language arts teacher Sandra Roberts and associate principal David Smith began a project through a Holocaust education class. The voluntary after-school class, Whitwell Middle School principal Linda Hooper’s idea, would be the foundation for developing tolerance and diversity.

Inspired by the story of the protesting Norwegians and their paper clips, the students began to collect six million paper clips – one paper clip representing one Jew who perished during the Holocaust. Adults today still wrestle with how the Holocaust could occur. Imagine middle school students trying to understand the magnitude of such an event on humanity.

The Paper Clip Project gained international attention and by 2001 the students collected more than 30 million paper clips. The school dedicated a Children’s Holocaust Memorial which displays an authentic German railcar filled with a portion of the paper clips.

For more information on this inspiring story, the book and film that followed visit www.oneclipatatime.org

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Everything above this line is from the National Day Calendar website.

1.  Wow!  Had you ever heard of the Holocaust project involving paperclips?  It is a great teaching project, for sure!  I had never heard of this project before reading about it here. Very worthwhile.  I may never look at a paperclip the same way again.

2.  Have you ever created a paperclip chain?  I freely admit to creating a paperclip chain.  How long did it get?  I think it got to be about three feet long.  It was a pain to take apart though.

3.  I use paperclips as hooks at Christmas time to put ornaments on the tree.  Works like a charm!! What is something you used a paperclip for, other than holding papers together?  I just admitted how I use them at Christmas time, but I also use them to reboot electronic devices, clean my fingernails occasionally, I have used one on several occasions for a zipper pull, and to hold jewelry together.  Have you seen the one using a paperclip to help fasten your bracelet?  Brilliant.

4.  I am amazed at the shapes and colors of paperclips available.  I found my favorite... share your favorite with us here!

5.  Say goodbye to May on this last Wednesday of May.  Be poetic if you will, or simply bid it adieu.  Remembering the beautiful weather we had at the beginning of May... and living now with the high 90s and humidity...

6.  Tell us something about your week so far, please!  My weekend recap post on Monday didn't include anything about the Memorial Day potluck we had up at the clubhouse. It was well attended, the food was amazing (my broccoli & rice casserole was gone) and the company was fun, as always. We met some new folks and caught up with a few we hadn't seen in a while.  I believe the count was around 90 which is great since the winter residents have gone home now.

Al and Theresa saved the table for us. Cute!!

There we are...

Al and Theresa

The four of us...

Good friends, Laura & Mic

New residents Miguel & Eilene, with Nancy standing between them.

We had only been home for about an hour when our friend, Mary Ellen, knocked on the door. She was driving by and decided to see if we were home.  Her hubby, Mike, has been up in Pennsylvania for a few weeks helping resettle his folks in their condo which has been damaged by a neighbor's fire. They are in their 90s.  He is due back in a couple of weeks.  It was great catching up with her and hearing about their folks. Hers are in their 90s too and still living on their own.  We will have dinner with them when Mike gets back.

Thanks for your visit!  If you answered the questions on your blog, please link up below with other Meddlers so we can all visit each other!

Peace & hugs!!  God bless!!

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