Saturday, November 30, 2019

Thanksgiving Week Thankfulness (Ten Things of Thankful)

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It's Thankful Day in a thankful week, and i have had so much to be thankful about that i may bust.  As one client told me earlier, her friend used to say, "I'm drinking from my saucer because my cup overflows!"

My first thankful is Grandpa and his sense of humor.  He had a birthday, and when i told him i hoped he'd had a wonderful day, he said, "I had meetings all day, it was great!"  Actually, he meant it, he loves all of his board work for whatever organizations he's with now.

We are still being provided with satsumas.  It seems many people's trees runneth over.  We are grateful to be the disposers of the extras.

It was a short work week, and i was still able to get every client in, one of them on two separate days, so no drop in income this week.

Wednesday was a very long day, the shelter, Ms. G, and then a hiccup before we could get to NOLA.  Just as we were about to leave town, Sweetie got a call from his friend the guitar tech who was repairing a guitar for another friend.  Could we come get it right now, so he could give the friend the discount for prompt pick-up (the friend was already out of town).  We are thankful we hadn't left town quite yet, we were able to comply.

Driving to NOLA and back on the day before Thanksgiving is an adventure in itself.  As i tell Sweetie, i do not know why anyone is heading the other way on the interstate, since it is obvious by the traffic on our side that there will be no one left to greet them when they get there.  Anyway, we got there and back safely, and i'm grateful for that and for the bright idea to get off the interstate early and take the back highway that was much quieter than usual on the way home.

While down there, Grandma had Uncle J, Bryn, Dre, Little Girl, Uncle P, Miss Eva, Sweetie and me there to cook and clean.  At one point, she asked Grandpa to put more of the cooked dishes in the back fridge, and he said, "There's no more room!  Somebody's going to have to eat some of what's already there to fit more!"  Bryn, Dre and Little Girl all said, "I'll eat some stuff!"  We are grateful for many hands to make light work, and for the sense of humor and appetites of the young.

On Thanksgiving, we had another hiccup.  Bigger Girl was to drive down with #1 Son.  She had a flat tire, and it turns out the car we got her after the accident, Bessie Low-Key, has no spare (i didn't know that or i would have remedied it right away).  She aired it up and it held, but it obviously has a slow leak and you don't take chances with that and put the car on the highway, so they were not able to come.

We are thankful they were safe, thankful they didn't break down on the interstate, thankful they had each other to spend time with, and thankful for Waffle House, where they went to share a meal.

The rest of us were thankful to be together, and that Little Girl invited a friend whose family lives in Nevada.  It's always a  joy to share with those who have no family close, and she knows if her plans fall through to go home for Christmas, she is more than welcome to come back.

The real fun was in having 5 dogs in the house celebrating with us, Lulu, Coda, Jack, Abadon, and Jezzie.  We were thankful that all got along except Lulu and Jezzie (Lulu tries to eat small dogs), and we are thankful we were able to keep those two separate.

There was orange tree climbing, and orange picking, and orange eating, and bags and bags of oranges to go home to everyone and lots more to give away.

There was a pushing of young people and dogs into the pool for an impromptu swim party.

There was packing of plates for the two who couldn't make it, including salad, soup, some of everything served, and dessert.

Little Girl made the pumpkin pie!  She had fun, i talked her through it when i was there on Wednesday, and Sweetie says it was the best he ever had.

Uncle P waited until Grandpa's back was turned and did the dishes.  Grandpa has always fought us on this, and i have tried to help before but been rebuffed.  Grandpa was quite amazed that when it was all done, he had nothing left to clean, and when i pointed out that i've been offering to do it for years and have even tried but been pushed away, he said, "Well, I'm bigger than you, but he's bigger than me to I can't make him stop!"  We all laughed, and this is going to be our way from now on.

Sweetie and i got back to town at a reasonable time, and in bed early as Friday was packed and we needed the rest.

Friday was indeed packed, and when we finally got to the shelter for our evening shift we were a bit droopy.  Once there we had a very thankful surprise, a crew we were not expecting showed up to help!  Because the shelter was closed Thursday and Friday, Ms. May didn't know which volunteers would be there and which would not, so she rounded up a bunch of young friends and relatives and brought them all, making short work of it all.

In addition, the room caretaker who had surgery two weeks ago came, totally unexpectedly!  She's recovering so well she wanted to stop by and spend time with the kitties.
Today after work i have an afternoon off, and Sweetie will be spending the time with a friend who will be in town.

All of these things have made it a week of lots of thanks, one of the best holiday weeks ever.


Please write up your own list and link up to Ten Things of Thankful, where Kristi and her co-hosts always have a warm welcome waiting.  


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter


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Today is:

Bonifacio Day -- Philippines

Christmas Traditions Celebration -- St. Charles, MO, US (the fun includes authentically costumed Santas from around the world; through Christmas Eve)

Cities for Life Day -- commemorates the abolition of the death penalty in many countries

ClauWau: Santa Claus World Championship -- Samnaun, Switzerland (Santa Claus aspirants compete in in such things as the chimney climb with toys, a geography bee, and the sledge race with timed gift giving to be crowned the world champion Santa)

Clear Up The Clutter Day -- internet generated, and what!?! in one day!!!

Computer Security Day -- International (sponsored by The Association for Computer Security Day; often held by some organizations/companies on another day of the week if it falls on a weekend)    

Deepavali/Diwali(Festival of Lights) -- Hindu; Jain; Sikh (fourth day of the festival)
     Goru Tihar/Goru Puja -- Day of Oxen (among most people)
     Gobardhan Puja -- Day of Cowdung (among followers of Krishna)
     Mha Puja -- Day of Self (among the Newar community)

Feast of Hecate, Goddess of the Crossroads -- Ancient Roman Calendar (also revered by the Greeks, Egyptians, and came from the Carians of the Bronze Age)

Guadalajara International Book Fair -- Guadalajara, Mexico (through Dec. 8)

Ham and Roast Beef Night -- internet generated, but a good idea for a make your own sandwich dinner

Independence Day -- Barbados(1966); Yemen(1967)

Lantern Light Tours begin -- Mystic Seaport, CT, US (walking tour of performances showing Christmas past, on various dates through the month)

Light of the World Christmas Pageant -- Minden, DE, US (pageant and lighting up the downtown square; also tomorrow and next Sunday)

National Day -- Benin

National Meth Awareness Day

National Mousse Day 

Perpetual Youth Day -- Dick Clark's birth anniversary

Regina Mundi Day -- South Africa

Saint Andrew the Apostle's Day (Patron of anglers/fishermen, fish dealers/fish mongers, maidens, old maids/spinsters, single lay women, singers, women who wish to become mothers; Spanish armed forces; Achaia; Greece; Russia; Scotland; Amalfi, Italy; Antey-Saint-Andre, Italy; Berchtesgaden, Germany; Burgundy, France; Cartosio, Italy; Confienti, Italy; Constantinople, Turkey; Encinasola, Huelva, Spain; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Grongnardo, Italy; Lampertheim, Germany; Luqa, Malta; Patras, Greece; Plymouth, England; Samolaco, Italy; San Andreas, California; Victoria, British Columbia; against gout, sore throats) related observances:
     Argyle Day
     National Day -- Scotland
     Sfantul Andrei -- Romania

Small Business Saturday -- encouraging everyone to patronize local businesses for your holiday shopping

Stay Home Because You're Well Day -- sponsored by the Wellness Permission League -- if you get in trouble with the boss, make sure they will take the fall!

Swine Time Festival --  Climax, Georgia, US (Come on out and join the fun, the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Contests & Events include best dressed pig, corn shucking, hog calling, eating chitterlings, pig racing, syrup making, baby crawling and the greased pig chase!)

Territorial Christmas Celebrations -- Guthrie, OK, US (old time fun this weekend and through Dec. 14)

Whisp and Thread Fair -- Fairy Calendar


Anniversaries Today:

Lucille Ball marries Desi Arnaz, 1940


Birthdays Today:

Elisha Cuthbert, 1982
Clay Aiken, 1978
Jessalyn Gilsig, 1971
Sandra Oh, 1970
Amy Ryan, 1969
Ben Stiller, 1965
Bo Jackson, 1962
Colin Mochrie, 1957
Billy Idol, 1955
Shuggie Otis, 1953
Mandy Patinkin, 1952
David Mamet, 1947
Noel Paul Stookey, 1937
Ridley Scott, 1937
Abbie Hoffman, 1936
G. Gordon Liddy, 1930
Dick Clark, 1929
Joan Ganz Cooney, 1929
Robert Guillaume, 1927
Richard Crenna, 1926
Shirley Chisholm, 1924
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., 1923
Gordon Parks, 1912
Winston Churchill, 1874
L(ucy) M(aude) Montgomery, 1874 (Anne of Green Gables)
Mark Twain, 1835
Oliver Winchester, 1810
Jonathan Swift, 1667
Philip Sydney, 1554


Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Thriller"(Michael Jackson Album), 1982
"The Wall"(Pink Floyd album), 1979
Brian's Song(TV movie), 1971
"Bwana Devil"(Film, first 3-D movie), 1952
The Joy of Cooking(Publication date), 1931
"Le Cid"(Opera), 1885


Today in History:

Amsterdam bans assembly of heretics, 1523
Death count by plague in Venice is officially set at 16,000, 1630
Beijing earthquake causes 100,000+ deaths, 1731
Britain signs agreement recognizing US independence, 1782
Peter Leopold Joseph of Habsburg-Lorraine, Grand Duke of Tuscany, promulgates a penal reform making his country the first state to abolish the death penalty. November 30 is therefore commemorated by 300 cities around the world as Cities for Life Day, 1786
Spain cedes her claims to Louisiana Territory to France, 1803
First ground is broken at Allenburg for the building of the original Welland Canal, 1824
First Welland Canal opens for a trial run, 5 years to the day from the ground breaking, 1829
Work begins on the first US underwater highway tunnel, in Chicago, 1866
The first international soccer football game is held, in Glasgow; Scotland-England 0-0, 1872
The first commercially successful AC electric power plant opens, Buffalo, NY, 1886
A German engineer patents front-wheel drive for automobiles, 1900
American Old West: Second-in-command of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch gang, Kid Curry Logan, is sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labor, 1902
Pike Place Market is dedicated in Seattle, Washington, 1907
The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park London destroyed by fire, 1936
Baseball's Negro National League disbands, two years after major league baseball integrated, 1948
In Sylacauga, Alabama, United States, the Hodges Meteorite crashes through a roof and hits a woman taking an afternoon nap in the only documented case of a human being hit by a rock from space, 1954
Exxon and Mobil sign a $73.7 billion USD agreement to merge, thus creating Exxon-Mobil, the world's largest company, 1998
Longtime Jeopardy! champion Ken Jennings of Salt Lake City, Utah finally loses, leaving him with US$2,520,700, television's biggest game show winnings, 2004
John Sentamu becomes the first black archbishop in the Church of England with his enthronement as the 97th Archbishop of York, 2005
The first human face transplant takes place in France, 2005
Enzo di Fabrizio, physics professor at Magna Graecia University in Catanzaro, Italy, successfully takes the first photograph of DNA, 2012
UNESCO adds Belgian beer to its Cultural Heritage List, 2016
Two Chinese scientists make it to the Guinness Book of World Records by recording the world's longest lasting rainbow - 8 hrs 58 min in Taipei's Yangmingshan mountain range, 2017

Friday, November 29, 2019

Mikey's Thankful (Feline Friday) and a Bit of Random on Friday

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Feline Friday was started by Steve, The Burnt Food Dude, and i'm going to believe it's because he likes cats.
He has handed hosting duties off to Sandee, of Comedy Plus, and it's simple to join, just follow the link to Sandee's page for the rules and the code.

Mikey is very thankful for his bed:






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This is where i would usually participate in Friendly Fill-Ins with 15AndMeowing and the Four Legged Furballs.  They are taking a break this week because of Thanksgiving and because Ms. Ellen lost one of her precious kitties this week.  We are all very sad with her, so i want to cheer her up a little.

That's why i am posting a bit of randomness, mostly just funnies.

Okay, it's all funnies.  As is usual, all of the random stuff i wanted to say flew out the window just as i sat to write!








Six Truths in Life

1. You cannot stick your tongue out and look up at the ceiling at the same time, a physical impossibility.

2. All idiots, after reading #1 will try it.

3. And discover #1 is a lie.

4. You are smiling now because you are an idiot..

5. You soon will forward this to another idiot.

6. There is still a stupid smile on your face.

I sincerely apologize about this but I'm an idiot and I needed company. You now have 2 options...delete it, or send it along to put a smile on someone's face today.


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Today is:

Belsnickel Craft Show -- Boyertown, PA, US (through tomorrow)

Black Friday or Buy Nothing Day -- US, and i will observe the latter

Buy Nothing Day -- UK (Shop Less, Live More)   

Christmas Candlelight Tour -- My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Bardstown, KY, US (Christmas as it was in the 1800s; Fridays and Saturdays the first three weekends after Thanksgiving)

Deepavali/Diwali(Festival of Lights) -- Hindu; Jain; Sikh (3rd day of the festival)
     Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja -- Day of Cows and Laxmi (goddess of wealth; day three of the festival)

Dita e Clirimit -- Albania (Liberation Day)

Electronic Greetings Day -- sponsored by Wellcat Holidays

Fairy Flute Fantasy -- Fairy Calendar

Family Day -- Nevada, US

Festival of Saturnia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (for the Sons of Saturn; Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto)

Fur-Free Friday -- originally sponsored by The National Humane Education Society, trying to make it a world-wide movement     

Gettysburg Holiday Festivals -- Gettysburg, PA, US (fun holiday events weekends through the New Year's Eve Bash)

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People -- UN

JuleFest -- Elk Horn, IA, US (a true Danish Christmas festival; through Sunday)

National Chocolates Day -- yes, another one

National Day of Listening -- US (sponsored by StoryCorps, encouraging sharing family stories during the holidays; learn how to interview and record those special stories here)    

National Flossing Day -- US, but a great idea everywhere; help spread peace of mouth!   

National Lemon Creme Pie Day

National Unity Day -- Vanuatu

Native American Heritage Day -- US; related observance
     Maize Day -- US; celebrating the First Nations of the Americas and the role maize/corn played in their cultures

Plan Your Dagwood Sandwich Day -- admit you've always wanted to, so build one with your Thanksgiving leftovers!

Sinkie Day -- sponsored by SINKIE, The International Association Of People Who Dine Over The Kitchen Sink, which urges you to combine your Christmas shopping with enjoying a quick meal of Thanksgiving leftovers and become a SINKIE convert!     

St. Andrew's Eve -- in many traditions, a night to fortell the future, especially whom you will marry

St. Saturnius of Toulouse's Day (Patron of Toulouse, France)

Square Dance Day -- internet generated, and fun to do, but here's some information about square dancing 

Tree Lighting at Anchorage -- Anchorage, AK, US (Santa and 9 real reindeer help celebrate the annual lighting of the holiday tree, with free cocoa and cookies for all)

William Tubman's Birthday -- Liberia (its longest serving President)

World Famous Fish House Parade -- Aitkin, MN, US (plus chili cook-off, craft show, and more!)

You're Welcomegiving Day -- US, the day after Thanksgiving, started by Richard Ankli to give everyone a reason for a 4-day weekend



Anniversaries Today:

Erwin Rommel marries Lucie "Lu" Mollin, 1916


Birthdays Today:

Jon Knight, 1968
Don Cheadle, 1964
Andrew McCarthy, 1962
Kim Delaney, 1961
Cathy Moriarty, 1960
Jeff Fahey, 1956
Howie Mandel, 1955
Joel Coen, 1954
Garry Shandling, 1949
Petra Kelly, 1947
Chuck Mangione, 1940
Peter Bergman, 1939
John Mayall, 1933
Jacques Rene Chirac, 1932
Diane Ladd, 1932
Vin Scully, 1927
Madeline L'Engle, 1918
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., 1908
C.S. Lewis, 1898
Busby Berkeley, 1895
Nellie Tayloe Ross, 1876
Louisa May Alcott, 1832
Wendell Phillips, 1811
Christian Doppler, 1803
Charles Thomson, 1729


Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Tatort"(TV), 1970
"I Want to Hold Your Hand"(Beatles single release), 1963
"Bells Are Ringing"(Musical), 1956
"Kukla, Fran, and Ollie"(TV), 1948
"Gay Divorce"(Musical), 1932


Today in History:

Jews of Augsburg, Germany, are massacred, 1349 (Sometimes, it seems, the more things change...)
King Philip II devalues Spanish currency, 1596 (See above...)
Sir James Jay invents invisible ink, 1775
San Jose, California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, 1777
Dessalines & Christophe declare St Domingue (Haiti) independent, 1803
First Italian opera in US, "Barber of Seville" premieres (NYC), 1825
Thomas Edison demonstrates hand-cranked phonograph, 1877
The first motorcycle race ever is held in Surrey, England; the distance was one mile and the winner was Charles Jarrot in a time of 2 minutes, 8 seconds, 1897
The first US patent for inventing the traffic lights system is issued to Ernest Sirrine. 1910
Fire destroys most of the buildings on Santa Catalina Island, California, 1915
Howard Carter opens the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun to the public, 1922
Richard Byrd becomes the first person to fly over the South Pole, 1929
The first surgery (on a human) to correct blue baby syndrome is performed by Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas, 1944
The United Nations General Assembly votes to partition Palestine, 1947
Mercury-Atlas 5 Mission – Enos, a chimpanzee, is launched into space, orbits earth twice, and is successfully recovered after splashdown, 1961
Canadian Space Agency launches the satellite Alouette 2, 1965
Nolan Bushnell (co-founder of Atari) releases Pong (the first commercially successful video game) in Andy Capp’s Tavern in Sunnyvale, California, 1972
The United Nations General Assembly passes a resolution stating that Soviet Union forces should withdraw from Afghanistan, 1983
The Czechoslovakian Parliament votes to end Communist rule, 1989
The United Nations Security Council passes two resolutions to restore international peace and security if Iraq did not withdraw its forces from Kuwait and free all foreign hostages by the following January 15, 1990
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurs off the northern coast of Martinique, 2007
Pablo Picasso's electrician reveals 271 previously unknown works he claims were gifts from the artist, 2010
NASA announces its space probe MESSENGER has almost certainly found water ice buried beneath the surface of the north pole of Mercury, 2012

Thursday, November 28, 2019

New Beginnings (Six Sentence Story), A Gem (Good Fences), Tired (Sammy’s Poetry Day) and Brian’s Thankful Thursday

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“Somebody help, I’m in the pound!”

“Calm down, it’s not the pound, it’s a shelter.”

“Then why am I in a cage?”

“So people can come visit you and decide if they want to adopt you and take you home forever.”

“It’s not a pound, not the end of the line?”

“When your new family finds you, my friend, it’s just the beginning!”


Linking up with Denise at Girlie On The Edge Blog, where she hosts Six Sentence Stories, and the cue is Pound.      


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Gosia at Looking for Identity has taken over Good Fences, and it's now Good Fences Around The World.  Post a picture of a fence or gate, link back to her blog, and go visit other blogs to see what interesting fences there are out in this big world.      

This one is a gem, i am sorry for the scenery around it.




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It's Angel Sammy's Poetry Day This week's image and my poem:    




Mama, I’m a big boy now
I can walk, I’ll show you how
I can jump and hop and run,
Getting there will be such fun!

My person, it is time to sit,
Push me instead for a little bit,
I chase as he runs and jumps about,
He has finally worn me out!


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Brian of Brian's Home hosts the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.   It's time to share something for which i am thankful.  

Faith, family, friends, fun and food, i am thankful for all of it  — Happy Thanksgiving!


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Today is:

Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha -- Baha'i

Daytona Turkey Run -- Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL, US (collector car show, swap meet, and craft sale; through Sunday)

Decorate Your Dog Day -- supposedly to get him/her into the holiday spirit; but please, don't

Deepavali/Diwali(Festival of Lights) -- Hindu; Jain; Sikh (second day of the festival)
     Kukur Tihar/Kukur Puja -- Day of Dogs
     Jain New Year

Feast of the Holy Sovereigns -- Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii (in honor of King Kamehama IV and Queen Emma, the founders of the Anglican Church of Hawaii

Flag Day -- Kosovo

Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia -- Jamestown Settlement, Williamsburg, VA, US (exploring the 17th- and 18th-century culinary practices of Virginia; through Saturday)

Independence Day -- Albania(1912); East Timor(1975); Mauritania(1960)

Independencia de Panama de Espana -- Panama(Independence from Spain Day, 1821)

Make Your Own Head Day -- meaning an art project model or drawing, in any medium; have fun with this one!

National Family History Day -- US (a call from the Department of Health and Human Services to get info about your family, especially health history, while everyone is together for the holidays)   

National French Toast Day

Red Planet Day -- on the anniversary of the 1964 liftoff of Mariner 4, the first successful mission to Mars

Republic Day -- Chad; Republic of the Congo

Royal Society Day -- one of the world's oldest scientific academies, established this day in 1660

Runic Half Month of Is begins (stasis)

St. Catherine Laboure's Day -- promulgator of the Miraculous Medal

St. Stephen the Younger's Day` (Patron of coin collectors, numismatists, smelters)

Thanksgiving Day -- Interfaith, US and Territories
     National Day of Mourning -- Native Americans   

Turkey-Free Thanksgiving -- sponsored by the Vegetarian Awareness Network


Birthdays Today:

Ryan Kwanten, 1976
Anna Nicole Smith, 1967
Jon Stewart, 1962
Judd Nelson, 1959
S. Epatha Merkerson, 1952
Ed Harris, 1950
Alexander Godunov, 1949
Paul Shaffer, 1949
Joe Dante, 1946
Randy Newman, 1943
Berry Gordy, Jr., 1929
Claude Lévi-Strauss, 1908
Charles H. Alston, 1907
Brooks Atkinson, 1894
William Blake, 1757
Jean Baptiste Lully, 1632
John Bunyan, 1628


Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Look Homeward, Angel"(Play), 1957
"The Grand Ole Opry"(Radio), 1925
Skywriting(as an advertising medium), 1922*



Today in History:

Skanderbeg and his forces liberate Kruja in Middle Albania and raise the Albanian flag, 1443
Ferdinand Magellan and his men become the first Europeans to sail from the Atlantic into the Pacific Ocean, 1520
The Times in London is for the first time printed by automatic, steam powered presses built by the German inventors Friedrich Koenig and Andreas Friedrich Bauer, signaling the beginning of the availability of newspapers to a mass audience, 1814
Ka Lahui: Hawaiian Independence Day - The Kingdom of Hawaii is officially recognized by the United Kingdom and France as an independent nation, 1843
Women vote in a national election for the first time in the New Zealand general election, 1893
US-born Lady Astor becomes the first female member of British Parliament, 1919
Capt Cyril Turner of the RAF gives 1st skywriting exhibition in NYC; Turner spelled out "Hello USA. Call Vanderbilt 7200." 47,000 called, 1922
"Hopalong Cassidy" premieres on TV, 1948
The first Polaroid Camera is sold, 1948
Chad, the Republic of the Congo, and Gabon become autonomous republics within the French Community, 1958
The first pulsar star is discovered by Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish, 1968
Norway votes against joining the European Union, 1994
Wikileaks releases 250,000 classified documents and sensitive national security information sent by U.S. embassies, 2010
"Hamilton" sets new record for the most money earned in a week on Broadway - $3.3 million, 2016
The Australian state of Queensland raises its fire warning to "catastrophic" for the first time as 130 fires burn, 2018

*The ad men said it wouldn't work, but John Savage demonstrated it by skywriting "Hello USA call Vanderbilt 7200" over New York City and generating over 47,000 calls to that number!