Mother's Day flower deliveries, that is. Yes, i'm at it again. Ain't i a sucker?
Don't answer that. Yesterday was wet, but went surprisingly well. Each time i went out, i was going against the traffic. And i even managed to find all the roads out in Boonville that are completely unmarked. After all, why put up signs? Everyone in Boonville knows that this street is Old Church Road, why should we have to put up a sign telling so?
It was a good day, though, in spite of the rain and lack of signs. My second delivery of the day was to an old family friend, and when i looked ahead several deliveries and figured out that some had to be by certains times before people went home, i went ahead and ran parts of the route backwards. It kept everything running quite smoothly.
So, for those of you who haven't ordered flowers for Mom yet, get crackin' if you plan to do it. And if you haven't ever read my suggestions for making it possible for me to deliver them without losing my mind, please make sure the house or business is clearly marked and i have a phone number to contact that will be answered if i need it. Those two things alone will take care of almost all problems.
Today is
Albany Tulip Festival -- Albany, NY, US (celebrate spring and Albany's Dutch heritage; through tomorrow)
Birth Mother's Day -- the day before Mother's Day, for all the women who have made an adoption plan for their babies
Blow Bubbles for Your Cat Day -- internet generated entertainment urged for human and feline like
Cormorant Fishing Festival -- Nagara River, Gifu, Japan (traditional fishing with trained cormorants is celebrated nightly under the light of blazing torches through mid-October)
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Awareness Day -- shedding light on this rare genetic condition
Eat What You Want Day -- since none of the "experts" can totally agree on what's good and what isn't, today, ignore them all! sponsored by Wellcat Holidays
Fairy Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Royal Humans Founded -- Fairy Calendar
Holiday of the City of Miskolc -- Miskolc, Hungary
Houston Art Car Parade -- Houston, TX, US (the world's oldest and largest art car parade)
International Migratory Bird Day -- original date second Saturday in May, but the IMBD organization encourages you to celebrate when birds are migrating in your area; one special celebration on this date:
International Migratory Bird Celebration -- Chincoteague, VA, US (walks, talks, tours, art, and children's activities, all outdoors with the birds)
Jamestown Day -- Jamestown, Williamsburg, VA, US (special demonstrations and programs for the anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, America's first permanent English colony)
Lemuralia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (second day)
Letter Carriers "Stamp Out Hunger" Food Drive -- US
Lokadagur -- Iceland (Final Day, festival to mark the end of the fishing season in the south-west of the country)
Mother Ocean Day -- celebrate the wonders of the ocean, wherever you happen to be
National Babysitter's Day -- US, giving recognition to the babysitters who make your date nights possible
National Bake Sale Day -- US (recognizing the tradition of raising money and expanding waistlines through the old fashioned bake sale)
National Miniature Golf Day
National Mocha Torte Day
National Technology Day -- India
National Train Day -- US (a day to explore why trains matter)http://www.nationaltrainday.com/s/
Nisga'a Day -- Nisga'a (one of the First Nations of Canada [ effective date of treaty])
Randwick Wap Cheese Rolling -- Randwick, Gloucestershire, England (Yes, they roll cheeses that were blessed last Sunday around the church and give the Mayor a good dunking in the pond; yes, they've been doing it for 700 years; no, no one is quite certain why, though many stories are told of the origin.)
Sun Awareness Day -- like Melanoma Monday, a few days back, a day to remember the damage the sun can do to skin and stock up on sunscreen, if you haven't already
Stay Up All Night Night -- as declared by George Mahood of Northampton, England, everyone needs to relive the excitement of staying up late like you always wanted to as a kid at least once a year
St. Gengulf's Day (Patron of knights, separated spouses, victims of adultery or unfaithfulness; against unhappy marriages)
St. Mamertus' Day (first of the Ice Saints, whose days are supposed to herald the last frost)
Tubeless Tire Day -- B. F. Goodrich Company announced the development of a tubeless tire on this day in 1947
Twilight Zone Day -- no, it didn't premier on this day, nor was Rod Serling born or died on this day; it's today on the internet for no particular reason except that someone decided to celebrate it today
Windmill Day -- Netherlands (on the second Saturday of May each year, more than 600 windmills, including many that are now national monuments, are open to the public)
Witching Day -- Isle of Man (Mayday Eve based on the OS calendar, be careful of the spirits today)
World Fair Trade Day -- sponsored by the World Fair Trade Organization
Anniversaries Today:
Minnesota becomes the 32nd US state, 1858
Birthdays Today:
Corey Monteith, 1982
Natasha Richardson, 1963
Mort Sahl, 1927
Foster Brooks, 1912
Phil Silvers, 1911
Salvador Dali, 1904
Martha Graham, 1894
Irving Berlin, 1888
Today in History:
Constantinople becomes the capital of the Roman Empire and is also called Nova Roma and Byzantium, 330
Peter Stuyvesant arrives in New Amsterdam, 1647
Captain Robert Gray becomes the first documented European to sail into the Columbia River, 1792
The waltz is introduced into English ballrooms, and becomes popular in spite of being called "riotous and indecent," 1812
William Lawson, Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth lead an expedition westwards from Sydney, opening the interior of Australia for settlement, 1813
Indian rebels seize Delhi from the British, 1857
Luxembourg gains its independence, 1867
U.S. Congress establishes Glacier National Park in Montana, 1910
Mercedes-Benz is formed by Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz merging their two companies, 1924
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is founded, 1927
Siam officially changes its name to Thailand for the second time, 1949
Israel joins the United Nations, 1949
In Baltimore, Maryland, the first heart-lung transplant takes place, 1987
In New York City, more than 170 countries decide to extend the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty indefinitely and without conditions, 1995
IBM Deep Blue, a chess-playing supercomputer, defeats Garry Kasparov in the last game of the rematch, becoming the first computer to beat a world-champion chess player in a classic match format, 1997
Can you tell how many kittens are in the kitten quilt on the floor?
.JPG) |
| Count the Kittens! |
If you can count 11, you are right! The current crop is from 5 litters. The eldest are just over five weeks old, so i'm trying to get them to start drinking out of a bowl. They already nibble at the dry food.
The youngest are about 3 weeks old, and so are just allowed to roam the kitchen in the last few days. They were in the cage until three days ago.
So far this kitten season, i have probably gone through about 20lbs. of dry kitten formula mix. That's just the kittens i've raised, as we do have a few others who will take one litter at a time, or only litters on the cusp of weaning. They aren't crazy like me.
At this time, i've already informed Miss W that vacation is coming up the first week of June, so any new kittens i take will have to have somewhere else to go by then, as will all of these. These shouldn't be a problem, and should all be weaned by then and up for adoption.
Then i get to come home from vacation and start over!
\
Today is
Armed Forces/Amateur Radio Crossband Test Day -- US (ham operators and the US military team up to test ham operators ability and expertise in contacting appropriate military radio stations in an emergency)
Blueberry Hill Open Dart Tournament -- St. Louis, MO, US (America's oldest and largest pub dart tournament; through Sunday)
Child Care Provider Appreciation Day -- US (on the Friday before Mother's Day, to recognize the important role of child care providers in society today)
Clean up Your Room Day -- one of those holidays that no one knows how it got started, but it's a good idea, especially if your house is decorated by teens in "Recently Ransacked" style!
Constitution Day -- Federated States of Micronesia
Electra Goat BBQ Cook Off & Craft Show -- Electra, TX, US (with a salsa dance contest, Cow Patty Drop, live bands, games, a Jackpot Steak & Beans Competition, there is something here for everyone; through Sunday)
Fintastic Friday: Giving Sharks A Voice -- they are really amazing creatures
Golden Spike Day -- finishing the first US Trancontinental Railroad in 1869
Josey's World Champion Junior 4-D Barrel Race -- Josey's Ranch, Marshall, TX, US (finest youth barrel racing in the world; through Sunday)
Lilac Festival -- Rochester, NY, US (a beautiful ten days of the biggest and best lilac festival anywhere)
Military Spouse Appreciation Day -- US (Friday before Mother's Day)
Mother's Day -- Belize; El Salvador; Guatemala; Mexico
National Shrimp Day
St. Cathal's Day (Patron of blind people, drought relief, epileptics, paralyzed people; Taranto, Italy; against blindness, drought, epilepsy, hernias, paralysis, plagues, storms)
St. Father Damien of Moloka'i's Day (Patron of lepers, outcasts, those with HIV/AIDS; Hawaii)
St. Job the Patriarch's Day (Patron against depression and ulcers)
Trust Your Intuition Day -- practice, and you'll get better at it
World Lupus Day -- www.worldlupusday.org
Birthdays Today:
Kenan Thompson, 1978
Amanda Borden, 1977
Paul "Bono" Hewson, 1960
Phil and Steve Mahre, 1957
Donovan, 1946
Judith Jamison, 1943
Gary Owens, 1936
Pat Summerall, 1930
Nancy Walker, 1922
David O. Selznick, 1902
Fred Astaire, 1899
Max Steiner, 1888
Emperor Fushimi of Japan, 1265
Emperor Claudius, 213
Today in History:
The Roman armies under Titus open a full scale assault on Jerusalem, 70
Vienna's church orders all Jews to wear a distinctive garb, 1267
Scottish nobles recognize authority of English king Edward I, 1291
Amerigo Vespucci allegedly leaves on a voyage to the New World, 1497
Christopher Columbus "discovers" the Cayman Islands, 1503
Jacques Cartier visits Newfoundland, 1534
Scottish Protestants under John Knox uprise against queen-mother Mary, 1559
England forcefully annexes Jamaice from Spain, 1655
Benjamin Franklin first tests the lightning rod, 1752
Louis XVI becomes King of France, 1774
The Barbary pirates of Tripoli declare war on the United States of America, 1801
New York City banks fail, and unemployment reaches record levels, 1837
In India, the first war of Independence begins, 1857
The First Transcontinental Railroad, linking the eastern and western United States, is completed at Promontory Summit, Utah (not Promontory Point, Utah) with the golden spike, 1869
Romania declares itself independent from Turkey, 1877
The Supreme Court of the United States rules in Nix v. Hedden that a tomato is a vegetable, not a fruit, under the Tariff Act of 1883, 1893
The first Mother's Day is observed, 1908
J. Edgar Hoover is appointed Director of the FBI, 1924
First successful launch of a V-2 rocket at White Sands Proving Ground, 1946
Bill Haley & His Comets release "Rock Around the Clock", the first rock and roll record to reach number one on the Billboard charts, 1954
The nuclear submarine USS Triton completes Operation Sandblast, the first underwater circumnavigation of the earth, 1960
The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing, 1979
François Mitterrand becomes the first Socialist President of France in the French 5th republic, 1981
Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first black president, 1994
Deadliest day on the mountain: a rogue storm on Everest claims 8 lives, including experienced climbers, 1996
The Maeslantkering, a storm surge barrier in the Netherlands that is one of the world's largest moving structures, is opened by Queen Beatrix, 1997
Solicitor General Elena Kagan is the youngest Justice and third woman nominated for the Supreme Court of the United States, 2010
Microsoft announces plans to purchase Skype, 2011
What's up, Son? i asked as #2 Son walked into the kitchen carrying a plate of hamburgers.
"Oh, I just barbecued some burgers for me and Festus."
Please note that this was about two hours after dinner. Remind me to write a post about how much it costs to feed teen boys. Then again, now that i think about it, please don't. It would depress me.
He proceeded to procure and prepare the burgers for consumption, grabbing condiments, tomato, and lettuce, and assembling it all as quickly as he could.
Don't forget to wash the lettuce, i told him, you never know whose hands have been on it.
"Mom, really?" he said. "Don't you know that the day I met Festus we had a potato chip eating contest at Mike Next Door's house, eating the chips right off the floor of the garage?"
He then put lettuce on his own burger (Festus doesn't like lettuce, it seems), topped them both with buns, and left.
No wonder my kids are so healthy, with no allergies (besides to a couple of antibiotics). Gads.
Today is
Ascension Day -- Christian
Doodle 4NF Auction Days -- Neurofibromatosis Foundation's biggest fundraiser, from today until May 19, go to Ebay to bid on doodles drawn by celebrities
Europe Day -- European Union
Hafengeburtstag -- Hamburg, Germany (Hamburg Harbor Birthday celebration, through Sunday)
Independence Day -- Romania (1877, from the Ottoman Empire)
Lawn Mower Day -- a rotary blade mower was patented this day in 1899
Lemuralia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (first of 3 non-consecutive days dedicated to getting rid of the spirits of the malevolent dead; rituals performed today, the 11th, and the 13th)
Liberation Day -- Guernsey; Jersey
Lost Sock Memorial Day -- they go to the hozone layer!
Mom's Night Out -- sponsored by momsniteout.com
National Butterscotch Brownie Day
National Moscato Day
Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day -- US
Olympieia -- Ancient Greek Calendar (spring festival for Zeus; date approximate)
Remembrance for Gudrod of Gudbrandsdal -- Slavic Pagan/Asatru (pagan martyr)
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Fairies Founded -- Fairy Calendar
St. Beatus of Lungern's Day (Apostle of Switzerland)
St. Nicholas Albergati's Day (Patron of learning)
Tear Tags Off of Mattresses Day -- yes, you can! If you bought it, you're allowed to.
Victory Day / Victory and Peace Day -- countries that didn't celebrate V-E day yesterday, mostly Russia and former SSR's
Birthdays Today:
Rosario Dawson, 1979
Steve Yzerman, 1965
Tony Gwynn, 1960
Billy Joel, 1949
Candice Bergen, 1946
James L. Brooks, 1940
Albert Finney, 1936
Glenda Jackson, 1936
Mike Wallace, 1918
Howard Carter, 1873
J.M. Barrie, 1860
John Brown, 1800
Today in History:
The first battle recorded with what is considered historic accuracy and detail, the Battle of Megiddo between Thutmose III and a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Kadesh, BC1457
Christopher Columbus leaves Spain for his 4th and final voyage, 1502
Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal England's Crown Jewels from the Tower of London, 1671
British inventor Joseph Bramah patents beer-pump handle, 1785
The city of Reno, Nevada, is founded, 1868
The Vienna stock market crash (Der Krach) heralds the Long Depression, 1873
The first horse-drawn bus makes its début in the city of Mumbai, 1874
Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show opens in London, 1887
The first horseless carriage show in London opens, featuring 10 models, 1896
The lawn mower is patented, 1899
Australia opens its first parliament in Melbourne, 1901
The steam locomotive City of Truro becomes the first steam engine in Europe to exceed 100mph, 1904
The Australian Parliament first convenes in Canberra, 1927
Edgar Bergen and Charley McCarthy take to the airwaves, becoming an overnight radio sensation, 1937
Rainier III of Monaco becomes Prince of Monaco, 1949
Sam and Friends, with Jim Hensen and his muppets, debuts, 1955
The FDA announces it will approve birth control as an additional indication for Searle's Enovid, making Enovid the world's first approved oral contraceptive pill, 1960
Iranian Jewish businessman Habib Elghanian is executed by firing squad in Tehran, prompting the mass exodus of the once 100,000 member strong Jewish community of Iran, 1979
The South African parliament chooses Nelson Mandela as president, 1994
Estonia ratifies the European Constitution, 2006
Before there was CGI, in fact, before there were too many computers on the planet at all, creating special effects was a painstaking, exacting task. The best in the business, hands down, was Ray Harryhausen, who inspired our current crop of filmmakers.
A light has gone out, Mr. Harryhausen has died. He was 92, living in London, and i grew up believing he was a magician.
He didn't have the huge budgets films have today, and so would often do the incredibly detailed work by himself to save funds. From what i gather, he never had more than two or three people helping him anyway.
My favorite of all his films was Clash of the Titans (it's Sweetie's favorite, too). Once, during a class on ancient Greek history, we were studying the mythology of the Greeks as well, and the professor arranged a screening of that film, so we could compare what we knew of the actual myths to the Hollywood version. It's a fond memory, popcorn and a Harryhausen film and i didn't have to spend a dime. (Remember there weren't personal computers in the dinosaur ages, and no Netflix on demand, so you had to either wait for it to come on TV, or go to the movies.)
Rest in Peace, Mr. Harryhausen; you showed generations what is possible, and i thank you.
Today is
Blessing of the Sea -- Hastings, Sussex, England (traditional blessing on the day before Ascension Day, conducted by the Rectors of All Saints and St. Clement's churches)
Bonnie Blue Horse Show -- Virginia Horse Center, Lexington, VA, US (a major, A-rated, all-breed event of the American Horse Show Association)
Desert Folk Festival -- Homs and Palmyra Syria (keeping the culture of the desert peoples alive for the next generations; through Saturday)
Dog-Prodding Day -- Fairy Calendar (Gremlins)
Donate a Days Wages to Charity Day 2013 -- onedayswages.org
Fête de l'iris -- Belgium (Brussels Region Day)
Helston Furry Dance a/k/a The Flora -- Helston, Cornwall, England (the world-famous dance is each year on May 8, unless that day is Sunday or Monday, when it's held the Saturday before; dancing around the streets begins very early in the morning)
Iris Day -- celebrate these beautiful spring flowers
Liberation Day -- Czech Republic; Slovakia
Miguel Hidalgo Day -- Mexico (birth anniversary of the father of Mexican independence)
National Coconut Cream Pie Day
National Empanada Day
National Nightshift Workers Day/Third Shift Workers Day -- US (remembering those intrepid souls who keep things running smoothly through the night)
National Receptionist Day -- US (because that first impression is important; National Receptionists Association)
National School Nurse Day -- US
National Student Nurses Day -- US
No Socks Day -- sponsored by Wellcat Holidays, who want you to let your toes go free, and cut down on your laundry a bit today
Occupational Safety and Health Professionals Day
Parents' Day -- South Korea
Royal Windsor Horse Show -- Windsor, England (through the 12th)
Stay Up All Night Day -- some teenager probably thought this one up, as an excuse to go ahead and convince the parents it was okay
St. Ida of Nivelles' Day (Patron of erysipelas patients, toothache sufferers; against erysipelas and toothache)
Thank Your School Librarian Day -- US (American Association of School Librarians)
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War -- International
Truman Day -- Missouri, US
V-E Day -- some countries celebrate today, some celebrate tomorrow
World Red Cross Day / World Red Crescent Day
Birthdays Today:
Enrique Iglesias, 1975
Robert M. Hensel, 1969
Melissa Gilbert, 1964
Toni Tennille, 1943
Peter Benchley, 1940
Rick Nelson, 1940
Don Rickles, 1926
Robert Johnson, 1911
Bishop Fulton Sheen, 1895
Harry S Truman, 1884
Jean-Henri Dunant, 1828
Today in History:
Hernando de Soto reaches the Mississippi River and names it Río de Espíritu Santo, 1541
Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, is tried and guillotined by the Reign of Terror, 1794
Future US president Zachary Taylor defeats a Mexican force north of the Rio Grande in the first major battle of the Mexican-American war, 1846
At Gilmore's Gardens in New York City, the first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show opens, 1877
Pharmacist John Styth Pemberton first sells a carbonated beverage named "Coca-Cola" as a patent medicine, 1886
In Martinique, Mount Pelée erupts, destroying the town of Saint-Pierre and killing over 30,000 people, 1902
In Rheims, France, German forces agree to an unconditional surrender, ending the war in Europe, 1945
The rollercoaster Revolution, the first steel coaster with a vertical loop, opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain, 1976
Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler make the first ascent of Mt. Everest without supplemental oxygen, 1978
The World Health Organization announces the eradication of smallpox, 1980
The new Canadian War Museum opens, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of V-E Day, 2005
The funny thing about libraries is, they are still needed, and i believe they always will be.
Maybe i'm just spoiled, because our libraries in this parish are really, really great. Spacious and beautiful and full of helpful, knowledgeable people, wonderful reference works, and the ability to find out something besides what Google can tell you.
They also have the most fabulous children's summer programs imaginable. Every day of the summer there are events at multiple branches, and not just story time. Ballet performances, visits from zoo docents with fascinating animals, crafts, science experiments, and one branch even hosts their now famous watermelon seed spitting contest each year.
When i first moved to this area, the libraries were at a crossroads. This was well before the internet, and it was all budget related. The people who ran the libraries made a promise. If the voters would give them a property tax millage devoted solely to running the libraries, thus protecting them from the vagaries of budget decisions being fought from year to year as people argued about such things, they would give us the best library system in the state. It was voted in, and they kept their word, and the tax has been renewed every time by a huge margin.
We love our libraries!
My favorite library story came from a friend whose husband was career military. During budget cuts many years ago, one thing the commander of one base was considering was shutting down the base library. While there was a hue and cry from the school and others on the base, his idea was that "nobody really needs a base library."
Then the officers over him heart about it. An edict was issued -- any base that chose to close down its library to save costs because libraries aren't needed had better not leave its golf course open, either.
No libraries were closed. That story always leaves me grinning when i think of it.
If you live in any area where the librarians are speaking to legislators today (see below for an explanation), give them your support if you can.
No matter what Google says, we need our libraries!
Today is
Beaufort Wind Force Scale Day -- birth anniversary of the British Navy officer whose wind scale, in refined form
Box Camera Day -- George Eastman patented the Box Camera on this day in 1888
Childhood Depression Awareness Day / Children's Mental Health Awareness Day -- sometimes also called Green Ribbon Day
Day of the Soldier -- El Salvador
Experience the Awesome Stomach-Churning Wonder of a Thrill Ride Day -- internet generated, and they can have it!
Feast of St. Nicola -- Bari, Italy (celebrates the moving of the relics of St. Nicholas -- yes, later Santa Claus -- to this town, where they still are; here he is patron of orphans and pirates, and the date of his body's arrival is celebrated as a huge three-day festival with fireworks included)
Fire Escape Ladder Day -- Joseph Winters patented a wagon-mounted version on this day in 1878
Hamburg Harbor Day -- Hamburg, Germany (founding of the city)
Homeland Defender's Day -- Kazakhstan
Homespun History Day -- internet holiday often exploited by Modern Drunkard Magazine as a day upon which to drink specifically so the stories will sound better
Library Legislative Days and Virtual Library Legislative Days -- sponsored by the ALA, encouraging librarians around the US to go to Washington, D.C., or their own state capitals to speak to legislators about the important library issues; through tomorrow
National Roast Leg of Lamb Day
National Teacher Appreciation Day -- US
Nones of May -- Ancient Roman Calendar
Primary Day: Live from Delaware Street -- Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, Indianapolis, IN, US (hear conversations of the day and time of President Harrison, and speak to re-enactors who play the parts of his family and staff to see what life was like in 1898)
Radio Day -- Bulgaria; Russia
St. Domitian of Huy's Day (Patron of Huy Liege, Belgium; against fever)
World Asthma Day -- International
Anniversaries Today:
Founding of Univerzita Karlova in Prague, the first university in Central Europe, 1348
Birthdays Today:
Owen Hart, 1965
Tim Russert, 1950
Johnny Unitas, 1933
Teresa Brewer, 1931
Darren McGavin, 1922
Eva Peron, 1919
Gary Cooper, 1901
Archibald Macleish, 1892
Gabby Hayes, 1885
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, 1840
Johannes Brahms, 1833
Robert Browning, 1812
Francis Beaufort, 1774
Today in History:
The dome of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople collapses, 558
Joan of Arc leads the final charge in the Battle of Orleans, 1429
Louis XIV of France inaugurates The Palace of Versailles, 1664
The city of New Orleans is founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, 1718
Jews are expelled from Ukraine by Empress Catherine I of Russia, 1727
Chief Pontiac begins the "Conspiracy of Pontiac" by attacking British forces at Fort Detroit, 1763
The world premier of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, 1824
The independence of Greece is recognized by the Treaty of London, 1832
George Eastman patents the "Kodak Box Camera," 1888
In Saint Petersburg, Russian scientist Alexander Stepanovich Popov demonstrates to the Russian Physical and Chemical Society his invention, the Popov lightning detector — a primitive radio receiver, 1895
German submarine SM U-20 sinks RMS Lusitania, 1915
England lowers age of women voters from 30 to 21, 1928
Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering (later renamed Sony) is founded with around 20 employees, 1946
The Council of Europe is founded during the Hague Congress, 1948
The concept of the integrated circuit, the basis for all modern computers, is first published by Geoffrey W.A. Dummer, 1952
Canadian Patrick Morrow became the first person to climb each of the Seven Summits, 1986
The Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on its first mission, 1992
Mercedes-Benz buys Chrysler for $40 billion USD and forms DaimlerChrysler in the largest industrial merger in history, 1998
The tomb of Herod the Great is discovered, 2007
"Mom, I did something amazing and astonishing at Youth Group tonight!" Little Girl came in last night to grab a snack and made this announcement.
Okay, what was that? i asked.
"I went to Youth Group wearing a color other than black! See, I have my blue t-shirt on, and apparently it's a big deal that I wore something other than black tonight! Everyone was commenting on it, they were amazed."
So, now that they've gotten used to you being in black, are you going to start wearing blue every week instead?
"Well, since this is my only blue shirt, uh, no." She picked up her plate and a glass of water, then turned and said, "By the way. I don't understand why people say the glass is half empty or half full when, technically, it's always all the way full, just partly full of air."
And George Carlin says the glass is the wrong size i noted as she took her snack to the table.
Today is
Adhesive Postage Stamp Day -- the first adhesive postage stamps went on sale on this date in 1840 in Great Britain
Army Day/St. George's Day -- Bulgaria
Beverage Day -- an internet holiday that encourages you to try a beverage you've never had before
Festival of Min -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (a four day festival celebrating male fertility)
International No Diet Day -- for reasons not to diet, but focus n health instead, click here
Joseph Brackett Day -- birth anniversary of Shaker author of the song "Simple Gifts"
Martyrs' Day -- Syria
Melanoma Monday -- learn how to check yourself for skin cancer
Mounikhia / Munichia -- Ancient Greek Calendar (festival of Artemis, date approximate)
National Crepe Suzette Day
National Meeting Planners Appreciation Day 2013 -- US (you are only obligated to celebrate this if you love meetings, love to plan meetings, or have a meeting planner in your organization to humor)
National Nurses Day -- US, start of National Nurses Week
National Tourist Appreciation Day -- during US National Travel and Tourism Week
No Homework Day -- sponsored by Wellcat Holidays (celebrated on Monday if it falls on a weekend)
Orthodox Easter Monday -- Orthodox Christians following the Julian Calendar
Sham el Nessim
Remembrance for Eyvind Kelve -- Asatru/Norse Pagan Calendar (pagan martyr)
School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day -- US
St. George's Day -- Eastern Orthodox Churches (the day to visit graves and decorate, leave special food, and provide entertainment for the dearly departed) related observance:
Shepherd's and Herdsman's Day -- Bulgaria
St. Gerard of Lunel's Day (Patron of epileptics and Montesanto, Italy; against epilepsy and headaches)
Yale Lock Day -- the Yale lock was patented this day in 1861
Anniversaries Today:
Princess Margaret marries Anthony Armstrong-Jones at Westminster Abbey (the first televised royal wedding), 1960
Birthdays Today:
George Clooney, 1961
Tom Bergeron, 1955
Tony Blair, 1953
Bob Seger, 1945
Willie Mays, 1931
Orson Welles, 1915
Stewart Granger, 1913
Rudolph Valentino, 1895
Gaston Leroux, 1868
Sigmund Freud, 1856
Robert E. Peary, 1856
Maximilian Robespierre, 1758
Today in History:
Spanish and German Imperial troops sack Rome, which many consider the end of the Renaissance, 1527
Mongol emperor Babur defeats the Afghans and Bengals, 1529
Henry VIII orders that English Bibles be placed in every church, 1536
Louis XIV of France moves his court to Versailles, 1682
The first African-American Masonic Lodge (African # 459) forms Prince Hall, Boston, 1787
John Deere produces the first steel plow, 1833
James Gordon Bennett, Sr. publishes the first issue of the New York Herald, 1835
The Glaciarium, the world's first mechanically frozen ice rink, opens, 1844
Dr John Gorrie patents a "refrigeration machine", 1851
Linus Yale patents the Yale lock, 1851
Chief Crazy Horse of the Oglala Sioux surrenders to United States troops in Nebraska, 1877
The Eiffel Tower is officially opened to the public at the Universal Exposition in Paris, 1889
George V becomes King of the United Kingdom upon the death of his father, Edward VII, 1910
George Herman "Babe" Ruth, of the Boston Red Sox, slams his first home run, against the New York Yankees, 1915
The German zeppelin Hindenburg catches fire and is destroyed, 1937
John Steinbeck is awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his novel The Grapes of Wrath, 1940
Bob Hope performs his first USO show, 1941
Roger Bannister becomes the first person to run the mile in under four minutes, 1954
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and French President François Mitterrand officiate at the opening of the Channel Tunnel, 1994
Chaiten Volcano erupts in Chile, forcing the evacuation of more than 4,500 people, 2008
When Bigger Girl walks into the kitchen to have a chat, you never know what you are going to get.
"Mom, what if the Earth is actually just a reality show for aliens, and if we ever do actually make peace, the show will get cancelled?" was her latest.
Hm, i told her, i think i'll have to go to church and pray about that one.
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately since they are my kids, my sarcasm is usually lost on them.
Today will be full, with nursery duty at church, and then doing my second work day at the neighborhood pool (everyone has the option of working a few days, or paying extra dues, and i'm too, shall we say, frugal -- read stingy -- to pay someone else to do the work i know i can do over there), and then prayer meeting.
If the aliens get bored watching me, i'm sure the reality show that is someone else's life will keep them satisfied for a bit longer, and if our show gets cancelled, well, i won't have to worry about the ironing pile any more.
Today is
Arrival Day -- Guyana
Be Kind to Animals Week -- sponsored by the American Humane Association, through Saturday
Bevrijdingsday -- Netherlands(Liberation Day)
Bonza Bottler Day
Cartoonists Day -- celebrates the first color cartoon ever published, The Yellow Kid, on this day in 1895.
Children's Day -- South Korea
Cinco de Mayo / Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla -- Mexico, and anyplace that beer brewers want to make a minor battle into a big deal to increase beer sales today
Constitution Day -- Kyrgyzstan
Coronation Day -- Thailand (crowning of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950)
Day of Adoration of Anubis -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar
Easter/Pascha -- Orthodox Christians following the Julian Calendar
Europe Day -- Council of Europe
Fairy Ring Day (Receiving) -- Fairy Calendar
Halfway Point of Spring/Autumn
Hanswijk Procession -- Mechelen, Belgium (since the year 1272, the Sunday before Ascension Thursday, the town celebrates Our Lady of Hanswijk, in thanks for the ending of plague and war)
Hidirellez -- Turkey (arrival of spring and a religious holiday of the Alevi peoples, celebrating the meeting on Earth of the Prophets Al-Khidr and Elijah; begins this evening and goes through tomorrow)
International Bereaved Mothers' Day -- for mothers who are grieving the loss of their children
International Day of the Midwife -- an old option becomes new again
Kodomo-no-hi (Children's Day)-- Japan
Lusophone Culture Day -- Community of Portuguese-speaking countries
Martyr's Day -- Lebanon
Mother's Day -- Hungary; Lithuania; Mozambique; Portugal; Spain
Motorcycle Mass and Blessing of the Bikes -- Paterson, NJ (on the first Sunday of May, which is Motorcycle Safety Month; some other places will also observe bike blessings throughout the month)
National Chocolate Custard Day
National Hoagie Day
National Infertility Survival Day® -- encouraging infertility survivors to reach out to those still coming to terms with being diagnosed as infertile
National Childhood Stroke Awareness Day -- yes, children can have strokes, too
Orthodox Easter/Pascha -- Orthdox Christians following the Julian Calendar
Patriot's Victory Day -- Ethiopia
Perfect Game Day -- Cy Young pitches baseball's first officially recorded perfect game on this day in 1904
Senior Citizens Day -- Palau
St. Judith's Day (Patron of Prussia)
Totally Chipotle® Day -- details are here
World Laughter Day -- sponsored by Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movementhttp://www.laughternetwork.co.uk/world-laughter-2013.html
Ziua Barbatului -- Romania (Men's Day)
Birthdays Today:
Danielle Fishel, 1981
Tina Yothers, 1973
Brian Williams, 1959
Tammy Wynette, 1942
Pat Carroll, 1927
Ann B. Davis, 1926
Alice Faye, 1915
Tyrone Power, 1913
James Beard, 1903
Nelly Bly, 1864
John Batterson Stetson, 1830
Karl Marx, 1818
Soren Kierkegaard, 1813
Today in History:
Rebel barons begin a chain of events that leads to King John of England's eventual signing of the Magna Carta, 1215
Kublai Khan becomes ruler of the Mongol Empire, 1260
Jews are expelled from Speyer Germany, 1430
Christopher Columbus lands at Jamaica and claims it for Spain, 1494
In France, the Estates-General convenes for the first time since 1614, 1789
Citizenship is denied to Jews of Canton of Aargau Switzerland, 1809
Mary Kies becomes the first woman issued a US patent, for a method of weaving, 1809
The American Bible Society organizes in NY, 1816
Emperor Napoleon I dies in exile on the island of Saint Helena, 1821
In Belgium, the first railway in continental Europe opens between Brussels and Mechelen, 1835
The American Medical Association forms in Philadelphia, 1847
Cinco de Mayo in Mexico: troops led by Ignacio Zaragoza halt a French invasion in the Battle of Puebla, 1862
The first train robbery in the US occurs in North Bend, Ohio, 1865
Sitting Bull leads his band of Lakota into Canada to avoid harassment by the United States Army, 1877
The Music Hall in New York City (later known as Carnegie Hall) has its grand opening and first public performance, with Tchaikovsky as the guest conductor, 1891
Cy Young pitches the first perfect game in modern baseball history, 1904
Coco Chanel introduces Chanel No. 5, 1921
John T. Scopes is arrested for teaching evolution in violation of Tennessee's Butler Act, 1925
West Germany gains full sovereignty, 1955
Alan Shepard becomes the first American to travel into outer space, 1961
Bobby Sands dies in the Long Kesh prison hospital after 66 days of hunger-striking, aged 27, 1981
The government of Sudan signs an accord with the Sudan Liberation Army, 2006
Mass protests in Greece erupt in response to austerity measures imposed by the government as a result of the Greek debt crisis, 2010
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