HOLIDAYS 

Holiday	2015	2016
New Year's Day	Thu, Jan 1	Fri, Jan 1
Orthodox Christmas	Wed, Jan 7	Thu, Jan 7
Orthodox New Year's Day	Wed, Jan 14	Thu, Jan 14
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (US)	Mon, Jan 19	Mon, Jan 18
Family Day (BC)	Mon, Feb 9	Mon, Feb 8
St. Valentine's Day	Sat, Feb 14	Sun, Feb 14
President's Day (US)	Mon, Feb 16	Mon, Feb 15
Family Day (AB, ON, SK)	Mon, Feb 16	Mon, Feb 15
Ash Wednesday	Wed, Feb 18	Wed, Feb 10
Orthodox Lent Begins	Mon, Feb 23	Mon, Mar 14
St. Patrick's Day	Tue, Mar 17	Thu, Mar 17
Palm Sunday	Sun, Mar 29	Sun, Mar 20
Good Friday	Fri, Apr 3	Fri, Mar 25
First Day of Passover	Sat, Apr 4	Sat, Apr 23
Easter Sunday	Sun, Apr 5	Sun Mar 27
Orthodox Easter	Sun, Apr 12	Sun, May 1
Mother's Day	Sun, May 10	Sun, May 8
Armed Forces Day (US)	Sat, May 16	Sat, May 21
Victoria Day (CA)	Mon, May 18	Mon, May 23
Memorial Day (US)	Mon, May 25	Mon, May 30
Flag Day (US)	Sun, Jun 14	Tue, Jun 14
Ramadan Begins	Thu, Jun 18	Mon, Jun 6
Father's Day	Sun, Jun 21	Sun, Jun 19
Canada Day (CA)	Wed, Jul 1	Fri, Jul 1
Independence Day (US)	Sat, Jul 4	Mon, Jul 4
Labor Day	Mon, Sep 7	Mon, Sep 5
First Day of Rosh Hashanah	Mon, Sep 14	Mon, Oct 3
Yom Kippur	Wed, Sep 23	Wed, Oct 12
Columbus Day (US)	Mon, Oct 12	Mon, Oct 10
Thanksgiving Day (CA)	Mon, Oct 12	Mon, Oct 10
Islamic New Year	Thu Oct 15	Sun, Oct 2
Halloween	Sat, Oct 31	Mon, Oct 31
Election Day (US)	Tue, Nov 3	Tue, Nov 8
Veterans Day (US)	Wed, Nov 11	Fri, Nov 11
Remembrance Day (CA)	Wed, Nov 11	Fri, Nov 11
Thanksgiving Day (US)	Thu, Nov 26	Thu, Nov 24
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (US)	Mon, Dec 7	Wed, Dec 7
First Day of Hanukkah	Mon, Dec 7	Sun, Dec 25
Christmas Day	Fri, Dec 25	Sun, Dec 25
Kwanzaa Begins	Sat, Dec 26	Mon, Dec 26
Boxing Day (CA)	Sat, Dec 26	Mon, Dec 26

 

2016 Advance Planning	2016 Advance Planning
JANUARY	JULY
FEBRUARY	AUGUST
MARCH	SEPTEMBER
APRIL	OCTOBER
MAY	NOVEMBER
JUNE	DECEMBER

 

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Air Freight Companies Traveler's Checks Credit Cards Airlines Automobile Rentals Hotels And Resorts

All numbers for US & Canada unless otherwise noted.

All names, websites and telephone numbers confirmed 1/24/2012.

Microsoft Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts Microsoft Excel Keyboard Shortcuts

TEXTING ACRONYMS 

Acronym	Meaning	Acronym	Meaning
2G2BT	Too good to be true	IRL	In real life
<3	Heart	ISO	In search of
AIH	As it happens	J/K	Just kidding
ALOL	Actually laughing out loud	L8R	Later
BCNU	Be seeing you	LOL	Laughing out loud/lots of love
B4N	Bye for now	MIL	Mother-in-law
BBS	Be back soon	NP	No problem
BIL	Brother-in-law	NUB	Newbie
BRB	Be right back	OIC	Oh, I see
BTDT	Been there done that	OMG	Oh my gosh
BTW	By the way	OTOH	Oh the other hand
BFF	Best friends forever	OT	Off topic
CD9	Code 9: Parents are nearby	PLO	Peace love out
CB	Call back	PM	Private message
CIL	Check in later	PSA	Public service announcement
CM	Call me	RBAY	Right back at you
COB	Close of business	RBTL	Read between the lines
CUL8R	See you later	RUOK	Are you okay?
DEF	Definitely	ROTFL	Rolling on the floor laughing
DFIK	Darn if I know	SIL	Sister-in-law
DH	Dear husband	SMH	Shaking my head
EM	Excuse me	SOW	Speaking of which
EMA	E-mail address	STYS	Speak to you soon
EOM	End of message	SUP	What's up?
EVRE1	Everyone	Sweet <3	Sweetheart
FAQ	Frequently asked questions	TBC	To be continued...
FB	Facebook	TBH	To be honest
FCOL	For crying out loud!	TIA	Thanks in advance
FIL	Father-in-law	TMI	Too much information
FTR	For the record	TTFN	Ta ta for now
FOFL	Falling on floor laughing	TX	Thanks
FTR	For the record	TTYL	Talk to you later
FYEO	For your eyes only	UOK	Are you okay?
FWIW	For what it's worth	UR	You are
G2G	Got to go	URW	You are welcome
GAL	Get a life	VBG	Very big grin
GBH	Great big hug	VM	Voice mail
GIDK	Gee, I don't know	WWYD	What would you do?
GL	Good luck	WYWH	Wish you were here
GN	Good night	X-I-10	Exciting
GR8	Great!	XLNT	Excellent
HAGD	Have a good day	Y	Why?
H/O	Hold on	YKWIM	You know what I mean
IDK	I don't know	YOLO	You only live once
ILY	I love you	YW	You're welcome

ZOMG

Oh my gosh

 

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SPANISH HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Año Neuvo	New Year's Day
4/3	Viernes Santo	Good Friday
4/5	Domingo de Resurrección	Easter Sunday
5/1	Fiesta del Trabajo	Labor Day
5/24	Pentecostés	Whit Sunday
10/12	Día de la Hispanidad	National Day
11/1	Todos los Santos	All Saints Day
12/6	Día de la Constitución Española	Constitution Day
12/8	Inmaculada Concepión	Immaculate Conception
12/25	Navidad	Christmas Day

AUSTRIAN HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Neujahr	New Year's Day
1/6	Heilige Drei Könige	Epiphany
4/5	Ostersonntag	Easter Sunday
4/6	Ostermontag	Easter Monday
5/1	Staatsfeiertag	Labor Day
5/14	Christi Himmelfahrt	Ascension Day
5/24	Pfingstsonntag	Whit Sunday
5/25	Pfingstmontag	Whit Monday
6/4	Fronleichnam	Corpus Christ
8/15	Mariä Himmelfahrt	Ascension of the Virgin Mary
10/26	Nationalfeiertag	National Day
11/1	Allerheiligen	All Saints Day
12/8	Mariä Empfängis	Immaculate Conception
12/25	Christtag	Christmas Day
12/26	Stephanitag	Boxing Day

 

 BELGIAN HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015 (DUTCH COMMUNITY AND NAMES)

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Neiuwjaar	New Year's Day
4/5	Pasen	Easter Sunday
4/6	Paasmaandag	Easter Monday
5/1	Day van de Arbeid	Labor Day
5/14	Hemelvaart	Ascension Day
5/24	Pinksteren	Whit Sunday
5/25	Pinkstermaandag	Whit Monday
7/11	Feest van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap*	Flemish Community
7/21	Nationale Feestdag	Independence Day
8/15	Maria Tenhemelopneming	Assumption Day
9/27	Feest van de Franstalige Gemeenschap*	French Community
11/1	Allerheiligen	All Saints Day
11/11	Wapenstilstand	Armistice Day
11/15	Feest van de Duitstalige Gemeenschap*	German Community
12/15	Kerstmis	Christmas Day

* Regional public holidays

 

 BELGIAN HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015 (FRENCH COMMUNITY AND NAMES)

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Nouvel An	New Year's Day
4/5	Pâques	Easter Sunday
4/6	Lundi de Pâques	Easter Monday
5/1	Fête du Travail	Labor Day
5/14	Ascension	Ascension Day
5/24	Pentecôte	Whit Sunday
5/25	Lundi de Pentecôte	Whit Monday
7/11	Fête Comm. Cult. Néerl.*	Flemish Community
7/21	Fête Nationale	Independence Day
8/15	Assomption	Assumption Day
9/27	Fête Comm. Cult. Franç​.*	French Community
11/1	Toussaint	All Saints Day
11/11	Armistice 1918	Armistice Day
11/15	Fête Comm. Cult. Germano*	German Community
12/25	Noël	Christmas Day

* Regional public holidays

 

 

DANISH HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Nytårsdag	New Year's Day
4/2	Skærtorsdag	Maundy Thursday
4/3	Langfredag	Good Friday
4/5	Påskedag	Easter Sunday
4/6	2. påskedag	Easter Monday
5/1	St. bededag	General Prayer Day
5/14	Kristi himmelfartsdag	Ascension Day
5/24	Pinsedag	Whit Sunday
5/25	2. pinsedag	Whit Monday
6/5	Grundlovsdag	Constitution Day
12/24	Juleaftensdag	Christmas Eve
12/25	Juledag	Christmas Day
12/26	2. juledag	Boxing Day

 

DUTCH HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Nieuwjaarsdag	New Year's Day
4/3	Goede Vrijdag	Good Friday
4/5	Eerste Paasdag	Easter Sunday
4/6	Tweede Paasdag	Easter Monday
4/27	Koningsdag	National Day (Kings Day)
5/5	Bevrijdingsdag	Liberation Day
5/14	Hemelvaartsdag	Ascension Day
5/24	Eerste Pinksterdag	Whit Sunday
5/25	Tweede Pinksterdag	Whit Monday
12/25	Eerste Kerstdag	Christmas Day
12/26	Tweede Kerstdag	Boxing Day

 

 

GERMAN HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Neujahr	New Year's Day
1/6	Heilige Drei Könige	Epiphany
4/3	Karfreitag	Good Friday
4/5	Ostersonntag	Easter Sunday
4/6	Ostermontag	Easter Monday
5/1	Maifeiertag	Labor Day
5/14	Christi Himmelfahrt	Ascension Day
5/24	Pfingstsonntag	Whit Sunday
5/25	Pfingstmontag	Whit Monday
6/4	Fronleichnam	Corpus Christi
8/8	Friedensfest*	Peace Festival
8/15	Mariä Himmelfahrt	Assumption Day
10/3	Tag der Deutschen Einheit	National Day
10/31	Reformationstag*	Reformation Day
11/1	Allerheiligen	All Saints Day
11/18	Buß- und Bettag*	Day of Repentance and Prayer
12/25	1. Weihnachtstag	Christmas Day
12/26	2. Weihnachtstag	Boxing Day

 

IRISH HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015 (REPUBLIC OF IRELAND)

DATE	HOLIDAY
1/1	New Year's Day
3/17	St. Patrick's Day
4/3	Good Friday
4/5	Easter Sunday
4/6	Easter Monday
5/4	Early May Bank Holiday
6/1	June Holiday
8/3	August Holiday
10/26	October Holiday
12/25	Christmas Day
12/26	St. Stephen's Day

 

ITALIAN HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Capodanno	New Year's Day
1/6	Epifania	Epiphany
4/5	Pasqua	Easter Sunday
4/6	Lunedì di Pasqua	Easter Monday
4/25	Anniversario della Liberazione	Liberation Day
5/1	Festa del Lavoro	Labor Day
6/2	Festa Naz. della Repubblica	National Day
8/15	Assunzione	Assumption
11/1	Tutti i Santi	All Saints Day
12/8	Immacolata Concezione	Immaculate Conception
12/25	Natale	Christmas Day
12/26	Santo Stefano	Boxing Day

 

LUXEMBOURGIAN HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015 (LUXEMBOURGISH COMMUNITY/NAMES)

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Neijoersdag	New Year's Day
4/5	Ouschter	Easter Sunday
4/6	Ouschterméindeg	Easter Monday
5/1	Éischte Mee	Labor Day
5/14	Christihimmelfahrt	Ascension Day
5/24	Paischten	Whit Sunday
5/25	Paischtméindeg	Whit Monday
6/23	Nationalfeiertag	Birthday of Grand Duc
8/15	Léiffrawë​schdag	Assumption
11/1	Allergeilgen	All Saints Day
12/25	Chrëschtdag	Christmas Day
12/26	Stiefesdag	Boxing Day

 

 LUXEMBOURGIAN HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015 (FRENCH COMMUNITY/NAMES)

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Nouvel An	New Year's Day
4/5	Pâques	Easter Sunday
4/6	Lundi de Pâques	Easter Monday
5/1	Fête du Travail	Labor Day
5/14	Ascension	Ascension Day
5/24	Pentecôte	Whit Sunday
5/25	Lundi de Pentecôte	Whit Monday
6/23	Fête Nationale	Birthday of Grand Duc
8/15	Assomption	Assumption
11/1	Toussaint	All Saints Day
12/25	Noël	Christmas Day
12/26	2ème Jour de Noël	Boxing Day

 

NORWEIGIAN HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Nyttårsdag	New Year's Day
3/29	Palmesøndag	Palm Sunday
4/2	Skjærtorsdag	Maundy Thursday
4/3	Langfredag	Good Friday
4/5	1. Påskedag	Easter Sunday
4/6	2. Påskedag​	Easter Monday
5/1	Off. Høytidsdag	Official Holiday
5/14	Kristi himmelfartsdag	Ascension Day
5/17	Grunnlovsdag	Constitution Day
5/24	Pinsedag	Whit Sunday
5/25	2. Pinsedag	Whit Monday
12/25	1. Juledag	Christmas Day
12/26	2. Juledag	Boxing Day

 

POLISH HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015 

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Nowy Rok	New Year's Day
1/6	Święto Trzech Króli	Epiphany
4/5	Wielkanoc	Easter Sunday
4/6	Lany Poniedziałek	Easter Monday
5/1	Święto Pracy	May 1st
5/3	Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja	Constitution Day
5/24	Zesłanie Ducha Świętego (Zielone Świątki)	Whit Sunday
6/4	Boże Ciało	Corpus Christi
8/15	Wniebowzięcia NMP	Assumption Day
11/1	Wszystkich Świętych	All Saints Day
11/11	Narodowe Święto Niepodległości	Independence Day
12/25	Pierwszy dzień Bożego Narodzenia	Christmas Day
12/26	Drugi dzień Bożego Narodzenia	Boxing Day

 

SWEDISH HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Nyårsdagen	New Year's Day
1/6	Trettondag jul	Epiphany
4/3	Långfredagen	Good Friday
4/5	Påskdagen	Easter Sunday
4/6	Annandag påsk	Easter Monday
5/1	Första maj	May 1st
5/14	Kristi himmelsfärdsdag	Ascension Day
5/24	Pingstdagen	Whit Sunday
6/6	Sveriges nationaldag	National Day
6/20	Midsommardagen	Midsummer Day
11/1	Alla helgons dag	All Saints Day
12/25	Juldagen	Christmas Day
12/26	Annandag jul	Boxing Day

 

SWISS HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015 (GERMAN COMMUNITY AND NAMES)

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Neujahr	New Year's Day
1/2	Berchtoldstag	2nd New Year's Day
4/5	Ostern	Easter Sunday
4/6	Ostermontag	Easter Monday
5/14	Auffarht	Ascension Day
5/24	Pfingsten	Whit Sunday
5/25	Pfingstmontag	Whit Monday
8/1	Bundesfeier	National Day
12/25	Weihnachtstag	Christmas Day
12/26	Stephanstag	2nd Christmas Day

 

SWISS HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015 (FRENCH COMMUNITY AND NAMES)

DATE	HOLIDAY	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1/1	Nouvel An	New Year's Day
1/2	2eme jour de l'An	2nd New Year's Day
4/5	Pâques	Easter Sunday
4/6	Lundi de Pâques	Easter Monday
5/14	Ascension	Ascension Day
5/24	Pentecôte	Whit Sunday
5/25	Lundi de Pentecôte	Whit Monday
8/1	Fête Nationale	National Day
12/25	Noël	Christmas Day
12/26	2eme Jour de Noël	2nd Christmas Day

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES 2015

DATE	HOLIDAY
1/1	New Year's Day
1/3	Mawled (Birth of the Prophet)
5/16	Ascension of the Prophet
6/18	Start of Ramadan
7/17-7/19	Eid al-Fitr -- End of Ramadan
9/22	Arafat (Haj) Day
9/23-9/26	Eid-al-Adha / Qurban -- Feast of the Sacrifice
10/14	Al-Hijra / Hijri New Year's Day -- Islamic New Year
10/23	Ashura
12/2-12/3	UAE National Day
12/23	Mawled (Birth of the Prophet)

 

 

 

 

 

"A well-crafted email can be the difference between a new account and a missed opportunity," says Kerri Garbis, a business etiquette expert and founder of Ovation Communication. Here's what you need to know to write A-plus e-mails:

• Think through what you'd like to say-don't just start typing off the top of your head.
• Fill in the subject line; otherwise your message could land in spam.
• Greet the recipient by name and close with 'Best regards'.
• Keep your message short and to the point.
• Need to CC? Think carefully when adding the names. Cluttering up someone's inbox with unnecessary mail is unprofessional.
• AVOID ALL CAPS. In email-speak, it's shouting.
• Be specific. If you need an answer on Wednesday, say so.
• When you're included on a group email that requires feedback, use 'reply all' so everyone can see your answer.
• Getting hot under the collar? Don't type when you're angry. Take five minutes to walk around and cool off.
• Use Bcc carefully-and never as a way of talking behind someone's back. Bcc to inform and send a copy if it's appropriate.
• Don't forward anything unless absolutely necessary. Many e-mails that get widely passed around are hoaxes or contain viruses.

Need to order wine for a table of your friends or colleagues? Knowing that white goes with fish and red goes with red meat doesn't help when some people are eating pasta. Or chicken. Or there are 20 different wine varieties on the menu. Never get stumped again with this cheat sheet from master sommelier Sabato Sagaria, Director of Food and Beverage at The Little Nell, a luxury hotel in Aspen, CO.

Fish and Sauvignon Blanc

The acidity of the white wine brightens seafood's delicate flavors. Backup bottle: Chablis

Chicken and Chardonnay

This full-bodied white will stand up well to savory poultry. Backup bottle: Fumé Blanc, a type of Sauvignon Blanc

Steak and Cabernet

Fatty meat calls for a palate-cleanser, which makes Cabernet a perfect choice. It's high in tannins, a natural compound that makes it taste dry and refreshing. Backup bottle: Sangiovese, another dry red from Italy, usually Tuscany.

Pork and Pinot Noir

This soft, supple red doesn't overpower this lighter meat. Backup bottle: Syrah, another soft and supple red, usually produced in France's Rhone Valley, California, and Australia (where it's called Shiraz)

Pizza and Barbera

Ask your server to pour this red slightly chilled; it'll complement the acidic tomatoes and fatty cheese beautifully. Backup bottle: Sangiovese

Salad and Sauvignon Blanc

The lightness of this variety doesn't clash with vinaigrette dressing. Backup bottle: Dry Riesling from Australia

Cream- or Wine-sauce Pasta and Soave

This dry white wine works well with creamy, wine-based and mushroom- and herb-filled sauces. Backup bottle: Chardonnay

Red-sauce Pasta and Sangiovese

Tomato-based sauces need a wine with high acid content; Sangiovese's the red to reach for. Backup bottle: Pinot Noir

Shellfish and Chardonnay

Citrusy tang meets soft, buttery flavor in this white wine, making it well-suited with lobster and crab. Backup bottle: Sauvignon Blanc

Linear Measure

Square Measure

Weights

Measure of Volume

*Federal law recognizes a 40-gallon barrel for proof spirits, while many state laws fix the barrel for liquids at 31.5 gallons.

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General Directions

• keep broken bones from moving
• flush burns with cool water until burning subsides
• keep heart attack cases quiet and give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if trained and necessary
• fainting: keep head lower than heart
• eye injuries: pad and bandage both eyes

Always Call A Doctor

---

The only thing worse than getting overcharged on your phone bill or finding out your new printer is on the fritz? Dealing with customer service. But you don't have to get lost in a voice-mail maze or be frustrated by unhelpful reps! Try these shortcuts:

To get to an agent fast:

Look up the company on a site like GetHuman.com for instructions on how to reach a live person quickly, suggests Adam Goldkamp, the site's Director of Operations. (Don't see what you want? You can also try searching the lists at NoPhoneTrees.com and DialAHuman.com.)

To avoid being put on hold:

Use a free service like Fastcustomer.com that rings you when an agent becomes available. (Gethuman.com offers this feature too.) No more listening to elevator music!

To reach an operator:

Pressing "0" or saying "operator" may do the trick, but-believe it or not-so might getting angry. Some systems are smart enough to detect your tone and transfer you to the operator stat. But be nice once you reach someone: Goldkamp says kinder callers receive the best service.

To deal with a foreign call center:

Agents from abroad may be tough to understand-or they may read from a script rather than listen to your particular problem, says Goldkamp. Simply asking to be transferred to a domestic representative may get you what you want, he says.