Okay, everyone. One last time.

Let's all say it together, nice and loud: HABOOB

There, we said it.

Now, that's enough. Yes, it's a fun word to say, but it has run its course, what with everyone wanting to work it in multiple times a day.


Today is

Armed Forces Day -- Mauritania

Clerihew Day
Edmund's middle name was Clerihew
A name possessed by very few
But verses by Mr. Bentley
Succeeded eminently!

Don't Step On A Bee Day

Hemis Tse-Chu Festival -- Ladakh, India (Buddhist festival with monks performing in traditional costume, through tomorrow)

Independence Day -- Bahamas

Lady Godiva Day -- tradition says she took her famous ride on this day in 1040

Librarian Day -- Chile

National Pina Colada Day

New Robe for Athena Day -- Ancient Greek Calendar (date approximate)

Silence Day -- followers of Meher Baba

Sinclair Lewis Days -- Sauk Centre, MN, US (through the 16th)

St. Rufina and St. Secunda's Day

Teddy Bear Picnic Day


Anniversaries Today

Wyoming becomes the 44th US State, 1890


Birthdays Today

Jessica Simpson, 1980
Arlo Guthrie, 1947
Ron Glass, 1945
Arthur Ashe, 1943
Fred Gwynne, 1926
Jean Kerr, 1923
Jake LaMotta, 1921
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, 1921
David Brinkley, 1920
Don "Mr. Wizard" Herbert, 1917
Marcel Proust, 1871
Nikola Tesla, 1856
Adolphus Busch, 1839
James Whistler, 1834
William Blackstone, 1723
John Calvin, 1509


Today in History

Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia at the Battle of Dyrrhachium, BC48
The most severe of several early fires of London burns most of the city to the ground, 1212
Lady Jane Grey takes the throne of England, 1553
Alexander Mackenzie reaches the Mackenzie River delta, 1789
The Vellore Mutiny is the first instance of a mutiny by Indian sepoys against the British East India Company, 1806
The United States takes possession of its newly bought territory of Florida from Spain, 1821
Big Ben, the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, rings for the first time, 1859
The eruption of Tarawera volcano destroys the famous pink and white calcium carbonate hot-spring terraces of North Island, New Zealand, 1886
Meher Baba, self declared Avatar of the Age, begins his silence of 44 years; his followers observe Silence Day on this date in commemoration, 1925
In Dayton, Tennessee, the so-called "Monkey Trial" begins with John T. Scopes, a young high school science teacher accused of teaching evolution in violation of the Butler Act, 1925
Howard Hughes sets a new record by completing a 91 hour airplane flight around the world, 1938
Telstar, the world's first communications satellite, is launched into orbit, 1962
Boris Yeltsin begins his 5-year term as the first elected President of Russia, 1991