Welcome to May 22, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate strange instruments and strategic goofing off.

The most popular instrument in the world is the guitar. It makes sense if you think about its versatility in terms of genre. But at the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find the theremin—one of the most uncommon musical instruments. Theremins are electronic and are played without touch. To make sound, the musician passes their hands through an electric field generated by the antennas, one which controls volume and the other frequency. The music it creates is pretty eerie, so you’ve likely only heard one in horror movies. Today is National Buy a Musical Instrument Day, so get out there and find something that suits your personal style, whatever that may sound like.

The World Video Game Hall of Fame has honored such favorites as Pac Man, Super Mario Brothers and Halo. But one game in the Hall of Fame may surprise you, Solitaire. This game made its debut in 1990 and since then it’s been played by more than half a billion people worldwide. Solitaire is also number three on the list of most frequently used Microsoft programs. Anyone who has ever worked in an office can tell you how happy they are that Solitaire exists. Otherwise, how would we make it through conference calls? On National Solitaire Day, celebrate the game for one that helps us goof off, while still being productive at work.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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