October 20 - International Sloth Day

 

Happy International Sloth Day! This day is held every year on October 20. The good news is you don’t have to be in too big of a hurry to celebrate these slow-moving mammals.  

 
Instead, hang out and have fun learning about these interesting mammals that are native to South and Central America. 

There are two different types of sloths. These include the two-toed and three-toed sloths. There are six species of sloths. One of which is the pygmy three-toed sloth.  

Of all the species, the pygmy sloth is the only one that’s endangered. Over the last decade, the population of the pygmy sloth has decreased by eighty percent.  

There are less than one hundred pygmy sloths today. This makes them one of the most endangered mammals in the world. 

Due to shrinking habitat, pygmy sloths are expected to become extinct by 2022. 

Here are some other interesting facts about sloths: 

• • Sloths are great swimmers and can hold their breath for up to forty minutes underwater! 

• • Sloths only go to the bathroom once a week and when they go, it’s in the same exact spot. 

• • Algae and fungus grow on a sloth’s course thick fur. 

• • Thanks to extra vertebrae in their spine, sloths can rotate their head 270 degrees in either direction! 

• • Sloths have protruding finger bones that are four-inches long. 

• • Sloths love their alone time and don’t spend a lot of time with other sloths. 

• • On average, sloths live between twenty to thirty years. 

• • A sloth’s stomach has four compartments and it takes up to a month to digest one meal. 

• • Sloths resemble monkeys or bears but their closest relatives are the armadillo and anteater. 

• • Sloths sleep up to twenty hours every day! 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

 
Many zoos and conservation groups host special presentations and educational seminars about these interesting mammals.  

Check with your local zoo to see if they have a special exhibit for International Sloth Day. 

Donate to a wildlife organization that is working to protect the pygmy sloth. One such organization is the Sloth Conservation Foundation. 

Maybe one of the best ways to celebrate International Sloth Day is to spend the day just hanging out doing nothing. 

You might not be able to sleep for twenty hours, but it might be a great day to have some alone time. 

Spread your love for the sloth by sharing #InternationalSlothDay on social media. 

HISTORY 

In 2011, the AIUNAU Foundation created International Sloth Day. AIUNAU is a non-profit conservation and wildlife organization based in Colombia. 

https://www.aiunau.org/en/ 

#InternationalSlothDay

#FlashFlash100YardDash 

@SlothConservation 

@aiunau 

@nichecinema 

October 20 - Valerie Faris

Happy 62nd Birthday, Valerie Faris! Born today in 1958 as Valerie Jean Faris, this American music video and film director is one half of the husband and wife directing team of Dayton and Faris. 

Both have worked so well together for so long that the two might as well have melded into one directing entity.  

 
Born in Los Angeles, California, Faris was the daughter of Paula Forbes, a supervising painter, and Jim Faris, a film editor 

 
Years later, Faris attended the UCLA Film School as a dance student in the late-1970s. It was there that she met Jonathan Dayton, who later became her husband and her partner. 

 
As a pair, Faris and Dayton have directed and produced music videos, documentaries, commercials and films.  

 
They have directed music videos for the English rock band Oasis, the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, the American hip hop group Beastie Boys, and the American alternative rock band R.E.M. 

 
Faris and Dayton later directed a number of sketches for the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show with Bob and David" (also known as Mr Show) (1995–1998). 

 
During this time, their 1996 video for "Tonight Tonight" by the American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins won six MTV Video Music Awards.  

 
Another video of theirs that received significant success was for the 1990 American rock band Extreme song "More Than Words". 

 
In 1998, Faris and Dayton established a production company, "Bob Industries". Through this company, the pair directed commercials for companies such as HP, Volkswagen, Sony, GAP, Target, IKEA, Apple Computer, and ESPN.  

 
Most famously, the two directed a 1999 commercial for the Volkswagen Cabrio, titled "Milky Way". 

Their soundtrack consisted entirely of English singer-songwriter Nick Drake's 1972 song "Pink Moon", of which is credited with single-handedly initiating a massive revival of interest in his music. 

 
The pair later began to be offered feature films to direct at around this time; among projects that they turned down.  

 
These were the 1999 American mystery thriller/action film 'The Mod Squad' and the 2003 American action comedy crime/thriller film 'Bad Boys II'. 

 
In 2001, Faris and Dayton began to work on the then-upcoming film of which they are best known for directing. This the 2006 American drama/comedy-drama road film 'Little Miss Sunshine'.  

 
On a budget of $8 million, the film grossed $101.1 million at the box office. 

It was 'Little Miss Sunshine' that vaulted Faris and Sayton into the Hollywood spotlight, turning the couple into a highly sought-after directing team. 

 
The film premiered at the 28th Sundance Film Festival in late January of that same year, receiving an ovation. 

 
The following year, 'Little Miss Sunshine' was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture. However, it didn't win, and lost to Martin Scorsese's 2006 American thriller/crime film 'The Departed'. This occurred at the at the 79th Academy Awards in late February 2007. 

 
Among her credits, Faris is also known for co-directing 'Ruby Sparks' (2012) and, 'Battle of the Sexes' (2013). 

 
Faris and Dayton's most recent directing project is the American comedy-drama web television series  Living With Yourself, starring Paul Rudd. The series premiered on Netflix on October 17, 2019. 

 
According to Faris' personal life, she had a grandfather who had been an electrician on American film director, cinematographer, and producer Victor Fleming's 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Gone with the Wind'.  

 
This was also for Alfred Hitchcock's 1940 American black and white romantic psychological drama/thriller film 'Rebecca', while her father was a sound editor on Tom and Jerry cartoons. 

 
Faris and Dayton have three children together: Augusta Forbes Faris Dayton (b. November 16, 1992), and twins James Bailey Dayton and Everett Alfred Dayton (b. September 22, 1995). 

 
Faris has been active from 1982–present. 

 
#borntodirect 

@WomenInFilm 

@bobindustries 

@direcotrsguildofamericadga 

@RogerEbert 

@kcrw 

@freethebid