October 22, 2020
Day 296 of 366
October 22nd is the 296th day of the year. It is Wombat Day in Australia, despite the fact that they are considered to be nuisances by farmers.
In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Make a Dog’s Day, National Nut Day, and National Color Day.
Historical items of note:
- In 1746, the College of New Jersey (later renamed Princeton University) received its charter.
- In 1811, Hungarian pianist and composer Franz Liszt was born.
- In 1938, English actor Derek Jacobi was born.
- Also in 1938, actor, comedian and producer Christopher Lloyd was born.
- In 1844, followers of Baptist preacher William Miller, known as Millerites, anticipated the end of the world in conjunction with the Second Advent of Christ. The following day became known as the Great Disappointment. After his proclamation of the Second Coming did not occur as expected, new heirs of his message emerged, including the Advent Christians (1860), the Seventh-day Adventists (1863), and other Adventist movements.
- In 1879, Thomas Edison tested the first practical electric incandescent light bulb using a filament of carbonized thread. It lasted 131⁄2 hours before burning out.
- In 1883, the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City opened with a performance of Gounod’s Faust.
- In 1910, Hawley Harvey Crippen was convicted of poisoning his wife. He was the first felon to be arrested with the help of radio.
- In 1942, actress and singer Annette Funicello was born. She was one of the most popular Mouseketeers on the original Mickey Mouse Club.
- In 1943, actress Catherine Deneuve was born.
- In 1952, actor and producer Jeff Goldblum was born.
- In 1959, film and Broadway composer Marc Shaiman was born.
- In 1964, Jean-Paul Sartre was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, but turned down the honor.
- Also in 1964, an all-party Parliamentary Committee selected the design which would become the new official flag of Canada.
- In 1966, The Supremes became the first all-female music group to attain a #1 selling album with The Supremes A’ Go-Go.
- Also in 1966, the Soviet Union launched Luna 12.
- In 1968, Apollo 7 safely splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean after orbiting the Earth 163 times.
- In 1975, the Soviet unmanned space mission Venera 9 landed on Venus.
- In 1976, Red Dye No. 4 was banned by the US Food and Drug Administration after it was discovered to causes tumors in the bladders of dogs.
- In 1983, two correctional officers were killed by inmates at the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, thus inspiring the Supermax model of prisons.
- In 2008, India launched its first unmanned lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1.
- In 2013, the Australian Capital Territory became the first Australian jurisdiction to legalize same-sex marriage with the Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013.
- Also in 2013, Thor: The Dark World premiered.
- In 2019, Same-sex marriage was legalized and abortion was decriminalized in Northern Ireland. This was as a result of the Northern Ireland Assembly not being restored.
October 22nd is International Stuttering Awareness Day.
Also known as International Stammering Awareness Day in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the day is intended to raise public awareness of the issues faced by millions of people – one percent of the world’s population – who stutter, or stammer.
Every year, stuttering communities and associations worldwide host events and campaign to highlight how certain aspects of society can be difficult for people who stammer. They challenge negative attitudes and discrimination, and they debunk myths that people who stammer are nervous or less intelligent.
The event also celebrates the many notable figures who stammer who have made a mark on the world now and throughout history in the fields of science, politics, philosophy, art, cinema and music.
The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.
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