Tag: The Thing About Today

The Thing About Today – May 15

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

May 15, 2020
Day 136 of 366

 

May 15th is the 136th day of the year. It is the International Day of Families, a day proclaimed by the United Nations to reflect the importance the international community attaches to families. The day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic, and demographic processes affecting families.

It also provides a good day to remember that not all families are based on blood.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Chocolate Chip Day, National Nylon Stocking Day, National Endangered Species Day, National Defense Transportation Day, National Pizza Party Day, National Bike to Work Day, and NASCAR Day. The last five of those events are typically observed on the third Friday in May.

 

Historical items of note:

  • In 495 BC, a newly constructed temple in honor of the god Mercury was dedicated in ancient Rome on the Circus Maximus, between the Aventine and Palatine hills. To spite the senate and the consuls, the people awarded the dedication to a senior military officer, Marcus Laetorius.
  • In 1252, Pope Innocent IV issued the papal bull ad extirpanda. It authorized, but also limited, the torture of heretics in the Medieval Inquisition.
  • In 1536, Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, stood trial in London on charges of treason, adultery, and incest. She was condemned to death by a specially-selected jury.
  • In 1618, Johannes Kepler confirmed his discovery of the third law of planetary motion. He first discovered it on March 8th but initially rejected it after some initial calculations were made. Obviously, he changed his mind.
  • In 1718, London-based lawyer James Puckle patented the world’s first machine gun.
  • In 1776, the Fifth Virginia Convention instructed its Continental Congress delegation to propose a resolution of independence from Great Britain. This paved the way for the United States Declaration of Independence.
  • In 1817, the first private mental health hospital in the United States opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the Asylum for the Relief of Persons Deprived of the Use of Their Reason, but is now Friends Hospital.
  • In 1856, novelist L. Frank Baum was born.
  • In 1857, Scottish-American astronomer and academic Williamina Fleming was born.
  • In 1859, French physicist, academic, and Nobel Prize laureate Pierre Curie was born.
  • In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill into law that created the United States Bureau of Agriculture. It was later renamed the United States Department of Agriculture.
  • In 1869, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton formed the National Woman Suffrage Association in New York.
  • In 1890, short story writer, novelist, and essayist Katherine Anne Porter was born.
  • In 1905, Las Vegas was founded when 110 acres were auctioned off. The land was part of what would later become downtown.
  • In 1928, Walt Disney’s iconic character Mickey Mouse premiered in his first cartoon, Plane Crazy. It was a silent short sent to distributors, but it failed to gain any traction. Mickey’s first film with sound (and the first in wide release) was Steamboat Willie. Plane Crazy was later released with sound, becoming Mickey’s fourth film.
  • In 1940, McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in San Bernardino, California.
  • In 1949, astronaut Frank L. Culbertson Jr. was born.
  • In 1958, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 3.
  • In 1960, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 4.
  • In 1963, the final Mercury mission was launched. Mercury-Atlas 9, also known as Faith 7, carried Gordon Cooper into orbit where he became the first American to spend more than a day in space, and the last American to go into space alone.
  • In 1987, the Soviet Union launched the Polyus prototype orbital weapons platform, but it failed to reach orbit.
  • In 2005, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
  • In 2008, California became the second U.S. state after Massachusetts (in 2004) to legalize same-sex marriage. This was after the state’s own Supreme Court ruled a previous ban unconstitutional.
  • In 2010, Jessica Watson became the youngest person to sail, non-stop and unassisted, around the world solo.

 

May 15th is Peace Officers Memorial Day in the United States. It is an observance that pays tribute to the local, state, and federal peace officers who have died, or who have been disabled, in the line of duty. It is sponsored by the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and is implemented by the FOP Memorial Committee.

The holiday was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy on October 1, 1962. President Bill Clinton amended the law in 1994 with direction to fly flags in the country at half-staff.

Much of the holiday centers on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall in Washington, D.C. The wall features the names of more than 21,183 law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

 

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

 

 

The Thing About Today – May 14

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

May 14, 2020
Day 135 of 366

 

May 14th is the 135th day of the year. It is Flag Day in Paraguay.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Decency Day, National Underground America Day, and National Buttermilk Biscuit Day.

 

Historical items of note:

  • In 1727, English painter Thomas Gainsborough was born.
  • In 1796, Edward Jenner administered the first smallpox inoculation.
  • In 1800, The 6th United States Congress went to recessed. The process of moving the United States Government from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C., began the following day.
  • In 1878, the last witchcraft trial held in the United States began in Salem, Massachusetts. It started after Lucretia Brown, an adherent of Christian Science, accused Daniel Spofford of attempting to harm her through his mental powers.
  • In 1925, Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs. Dalloway was published.
  • In 1936, actor and singer-songwriter Bobby Darin was born.
  • In 1938, The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland was released.
  • In 1939, Lina Medina became the youngest confirmed mother in medical history at the age of five. She is also believed to be the youngest documented case of precocious puberty. The father’s identity was never determined, but Medina’s son grew up healthy until he died from a bone disease at the age of 40.
  • In 1944, director, producer, screenwriter, and entrepreneur George Lucas was born.
  • In 1952, director, producer, and screenwriter Robert Zemeckis was born.
  • In 1961, a white mob attacked a Freedom Riders bus two times near Anniston, Alabama. They then fire-bombed the bus and attacking the civil rights protesters who fled the burning vehicle.
  • In 1965, author Eoin Colfer was born.
  • In 1969, actress Cate Blanchett.
  • In 1971, director, producer, and screenwriter Sophia Coppola was born.
  • In 1973, Skylab was launched. It was the United States’ first space station.
  • In 1983, actress, author, model, and director Amber Tamblyn was born.

 

May 14th is known in some circles as National Dance Like a Chicken Day.

This is where I shout out to Kevin and Kornflake from The Flopcast, as well as the Mayor and all of the citizens of Chickentown! Grab a coffee and join them to discuss Saturday morning cartoons, Dr. Demento-style funny music, television and movies of the 1970s and 1980s, comic books, conventions, chickens, and more.

On May 14th, everyone is encouraged to flap their arms and strut like a chicken, because it’s highly probable that you’ve danced the “Chicken Dance” at least once in your lifetime. It’s a silly song that is popular at wedding receptions, Oktoberfest, and other celebrations. It’s catchy and gets people moving.

Also known as the Bird Song, the Birdie Song, the Bird Dance, or the Chicken Song, is an oom-pah song composed in the 1950s by accordion player Werner Thomas from Davos, Switzerland. It hit the United States sometime in the 1970s after Belgian producer Louis van Rymenant heard Thomas playing it in a hotel or restaurant. Once it was published in America, it acquired choreography with repetitive beak, wing, and tail motions, as well as its current name.

A version by Henry Hadaway actually reached #2 on the October 1981 music charts, and by 2000 it was voted as “the most annoying song of all time” by a poll on the dotmusic website. It has been featured on Lawrence Welk, and is very popular among children, novelty fans, and various celebrations.

 

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

 

 

The Thing About Today – May 13

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

May 13, 2020
Day 134 of 366

 

May 13th is the 134th day of the year. It is Abbotsbury Garland Day in Dorset, England. The celebrations have taken place since the 19th century and involve the making of garlands by local children.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Crouton Day, National Frog Jumping Day, National Apple Pie Day, National Fruit Cocktail Day, National Receptionists’ Day, and National Third Shift Workers Day. The last two are typically observed on the second Wednesday in May.

 

Historical items of note:

  • In 1780, the Cumberland Compact was signed by leaders of the settlers in the Cumberland River area of what would become the State of Tennessee. The agreement provided for a democratic government and a formal system of justice.
  • In 1861, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom issued a “proclamation of neutrality” with respect to the American Civil War. It recognized the Confederacy as having belligerent rights.
  • Also in 1861, the Great Comet of 1861 was discovered by John Tebbutt of Windsor, New South Wales, Australia.
  • In 1880, Thomas Edison performed the first test of his electric railway in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
  • In 1888, the Empire of Brazil abolished slavery with the passage of the Lei Áurea (“Golden Law”).
  • In 1912, the Royal Flying Corps was established in the United Kingdom. It was the forerunner of the Royal Air Force.
  • In 1922, actress Bea Arthur was born.
  • In 1937, author and poet Roger Zelazny was born.
  • In 1946, author Marv Wolfman was born.
  • In 1949, actress Zoë Wanamaker was born.
  • In 1950, singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer Stevie Wonder was born.
  • In 1951, the 400th anniversary of the founding of the National University of San Marcos was commemorated by the opening of the first large-capacity stadium in Peru.
  • In 1964, actor, comedian, and late-night talk show host Steven Colbert was born.
  • In 1977, actress and director Samantha Morton was born.
  • In 1995, Alison Hargreaves, a 33-year-old British mother, became the first woman to conquer Mt. Everest without oxygen or the help of sherpas.

 

In 1950, director and effects artist Joe Johnston was born.

Johnston began his career as a concept artist and effects technician on the first Star Wars film and was the art director on one of the effects teams for the sequel. His association with George Lucas would later prove fruitful when he became one of four to win an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for Raiders of the Lost Ark by Lucas and Steven Spielberg.

He continued to work in film as an effects expert and was an associate producer on Willow and production designer on the two Ewok television films in the mid-1980s.

In 1984, George Lucas offered Johnston a paid sabbatical with tuition to attend the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Johnston left the school after a year, saying he “was asked not to return” because he “broke too many rules”.

Johnston made his directorial debut with 1989’s hit comedy Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. His next two films, The Rocketeer and The Pagemaster were commercial failures, but he followed those with the cult classic Jumanji.

Although he was slated to direct Hulk, he dropped out and picked up more personal dramatic fare with October Sky. He followed that with Jurassic Park III, Hidalgo, and (after a six-year break) the 2010 remake of 1941’s classic The Wolfman.

Because of his experience with The Rocketeer, Marvel Studios tapped him for 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. He then went to Not Safe for Work and reshoots for director Lasse Hallström on The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.

Joe Johnston is still active in the industry today.

 

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

 

 

The Thing About Today – May 12

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

May 12, 2020
Day 133 of 366

 

May 12th is the 133rd day of the year. It is International Nurses Day, a celebration of the hardest working professionals in the medical industry and their contributions to society. It is observed each year on May 12th, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.

It is also International Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. The day is observed so that stakeholders have an occasion to improve the knowledge of “the public, policymakers, and healthcare professionals about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of ME/CFS, as well as the need for a better understanding of this complex illness.” It was also chosen because it is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who had a disease with an infection-associated onset that could have been a neuroimmune disease such as ME/CFS.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Limerick Day, National Odometer Day, and National Nutty Fudge Day.

 

Historical items of note:

  • In 1846, the Donner Party of pioneers departed Independence, Missouri for California. It would become a year-long journey of hardship and cannibalism.
  • In 1863, Bengali writer, painter, violin player and composer, technologist, and entrepreneur Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury was born.
  • In 1870, the Manitoba Act was given the Royal Assent, paving the way for Manitoba to become a province of Canada on July 15th.
  • In 1907, actress Katherine Hepburn was born.
  • In 1925, baseball player, coach, and manager Yogi Berra was born.
  • In 1928, singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer Burt Bacharach was born.
  • In 1937, the Duke and Duchess of York were crowned as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Westminster Abbey.
  • Also in 1937, comedian, actor, and author George Carlin was born.
  • In 1948, actress Lindsay Crouse was born.
  • In 1950, actor and author Bruce Boxleitner was born.
  • In 1958, actress Jennifer Hetrick was born.
  • In 1959, actor Ving Rhames was born.
  • In 1965, the Soviet spacecraft Luna 5 crashed on the Moon.
  • In 1968, actress and comedian Catherine Tate was born.
  • In 1978, actress, model, and singer Malin Åkerman was born.
  • In 1981, actor Rami Malek was born.
  • In 1983, actor Domhnall Gleeson was born.
  • In 1986, actress Emily VanCamp was born.
  • In 2002, former United States President Jimmy Carter arrived in Cuba for a five-day visit with Fidel Castro. He was the first President of the United States, in or out of office, to visit the island since Castro’s 1959 revolution.

 

In 1820, Italian-English nurse, social reformer, and statistician Florence Nightingale was born.

She came to prominence while serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War, in which she organized medical care for wounded soldiers. Through her acts, nursing gained a favorable reputation and she became an icon of Victorian culture, especially in the persona of “The Lady with the Lamp” making rounds of wounded soldiers at night.

Her later work was important in professionalizing nursing roles for women. In 1860, she built the foundation of the profession with the establishment of her nursing school at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. It was the first secular nursing school in the world and is now part of King’s College London.

In recognition of her pioneering work, the Nightingale Pledge taken by new nurses, and the Florence Nightingale Medal – the highest international distinction a nurse can achieve – were named in her honor.

Nightingale’s social reforms included improving healthcare for all sections of British society, advocating better hunger relief in India, helping to abolish prostitution laws that were harsh for women, and expanding the acceptable forms of female participation in the workforce.

Although much of Nightingale’s work improved the lives of women everywhere, she was of the opinion that women craved sympathy and were not as capable as men. She criticized early women’s rights activists for decrying an alleged lack of careers for women at the same time that lucrative medical positions, both under her supervision and that of others, went perpetually unfilled.

She was a prodigious and versatile writer and in her lifetime, much of her published work focused on spreading medical knowledge. It was often written in simple English to be easily understood by those with poor literary skills. She was also a pioneer in data visualization with the use of infographics, effectively using graphical presentations of statistical data.

In 1883, she was the first recipient of the Royal Red Cross. In 1904, she was appointed a Lady of Grace of the Order of St John (LGStJ). In 1907, she became the first woman to be awarded the Order of Merit. The next year, she was given the Honorary Freedom of the City of London.

Much of her writing, including her extensive work on religion and mysticism, has only been published posthumously. She died peacefully in her sleep on August 13, 1910, at the age of 90.

 

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

 

 

The Thing About Today – May 11

Michael Falkner1 Comment

May 11, 2020
Day 132 of 366

 

May 11th is the 132nd day of the year. It is National Technology Day in India.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Eat What You Want Day, National Foam Rolling Day, and National Women’s Checkup Day (which is typically observed on the second Monday in May).

 

Historical items of note:

  • In 1888, Belarusian-American pianist and composer Irving Berlin was born.
  • In 1904, Spanish artist Salvador Dali was born.
  • In 1910, an act of the United States Congress established Glacier National Park in Montana.
  • In 1918, physicist, engineer, and Nobel Prize laureate Richard Feynman was born.
  • In 1920, actor Denver Pyle was born.
  • In 1963, actress Natasha Richardson was born.
  • In 1969, the British comedy troupe Monty Python was formed. The membership was Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin.
  • In 1973, citing government misconduct, Daniel Ellsberg’s charges for his involvement in releasing the Pentagon Papers to The New York Times were dismissed.
  • In 1997, chess-playing supercomputer Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov in the last game of their rematch, becoming the first computer to beat a world-champion chess player in a classic match format.

 

May 11th is known as National Twilight Zone Day. Always observed on this day, National Twilight Zone Day features mysterious twists and turns highlighted with eerie background music and unexplainable occurrences as it honors the popular anthology franchise The Twilight Zone created by Rod Serling.

The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, suspense, horror, and psychological thriller. They often conclude with a macabre or unexpected twist, and usually with a moral. They are, in effect, modern fairy tales or versions of Aesop’s fables.

The original series was shot entirely in black and white and ran on CBS for five seasons from 1959 to 1964. It followed in the tradition of earlier television shows such as Tales of Tomorrow (1951–1953) and Science Fiction Theatre (1955–1957), as well as radio programs such as The Weird Circle (1943–1945), Dimension X (1950–1951) and X Minus One (1955–1958). It was also inspired by the radio work of Norman Corwin.

The success of the series led to a feature film (1983), a TV film (1994), a radio series (2002–2012), a comic book, a series of novels, a magazine, and a theme park attraction. It was followed by various spin-offs over the next five decades, including three revival television series.

The first revival (1985–1989) ran on CBS and in syndication during the 1980s. A second revival ran on UPN (2002–2003). In April of 2019, CBS All Access officially premiered the third Twilight Zone revival, this time helmed by Jordan Peele.

As a testament to the original series, which introduced many people to science fiction and fantasy, TV Guide ranked it at #5 in their 2013 list of the 60 greatest shows of all time, and at #4 in their list of the 60 greatest dramas.

 

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

 

 

The Thing About Today – May 10

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

May 10, 2020
Day 131 of 366

 

May 10th is the 131st day of the year. This year, it is Mother’s Day, which typically falls on the second Sunday in May. In 1908, it was observed for the first time in the United States, in Grafton, West Virginia.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Clean Up Your Room Day, National Lipid Day, National Shrimp Day, and National Washington Day.

 

Historical items of note:

  • In 28 BC, a sunspot was observed by Han dynasty astronomers during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han, one of the earliest dated sunspot observations in China.
  • In 1773, the Parliament of Great Britain passed the Tea Act, designed to save the British East India Company by reducing taxes on its tea and granting it the right to sell tea directly to North America. The legislation led to the Boston Tea Party.
  • In 1872, Victoria Woodhull became the first woman nominated for President of the United States.
  • In 1888, Austrian-American composer and conductor Max Steiner was born.
  • In 1899, actor, singer, and dancer Fred Astaire was born.
  • In 1902, director and producer David O. Selznick was born.
  • In 1954, Bill Haley & His Comets released “Rock Around the Clock”, the first rock and roll record to reach number one on the Billboard charts.
  • In 1960, the nuclear submarine USS Triton (SSRN-586) completed Operation Sandblast, the first underwater circumnavigation of the earth.
  • In 1962, Marvel Comics publishes the first issue of The Incredible Hulk.
  • In 1969, author John Scalzi was born.

 

In 1869, the First Transcontinental Railroad, linking the eastern and western United States, was completed at Promontory Summit, Utah with the golden spike.

The golden spike (also known as The Last Spike) is the ceremonial 17.6-karat gold final spike driven by Leland Stanford to connect the Central Pacific Railroad from Sacramento, California and the Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha, Nebraska on May 10, 1869.  The First Transcontinental Railroad was a 1,912 mile (3,077 km) continuous railroad line, and construction was started in 1863. The spike was placed in a ceremony where Union Pacific No. 119 and Central Pacific No. 60 (better known as the Jupiter) were driven cowcatcher to cowcatcher. After the ceremony, the golden spike was taken away and the real final spike was driven.

The resulting coast-to-coast railroad connection revolutionized the settlement and economy of the American West. It brought the western states and territories into alignment with the northern Union states and made transporting passengers and goods coast-to-coast considerably quicker, safer, and less expensive.

In 1904, a new railroad route called the Lucin Cutoff was built bypassing the Promontory location to the south. By going west across the Great Salt Lake from Ogden, Utah, to Lucin, Utah, the new railroad line shortened the distance by 43 miles and avoided curves and grades, but that also meant that main-line trains no longer passed over Promontory Summit.

In 1942, the old rails over Promontory Summit were salvaged for the war effort, an event that was marked by a ceremonial “undriving” of the last iron spike. The original event had been all but forgotten except by local residents who erected a commemorative marker in 1943. The 75th anniversary was marked with a commemorative postage stamp, but it wasn’t until 1948 that the first re-enactment was staged.

In 1957, Congress established the Golden Spike National Historic Site to preserve the area around Promontory Summit as closely as possible to its appearance in 1869. Working replicas of the locomotives were built, and those replica engines are drawn up face-to-face each Saturday during the summer for a re-enactment of the event.

The golden spike is now displayed in the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University.

 

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

 

 

The Thing About Today – May 9

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

May 9, 2020
Day 130 of 366

 

May 9th is the 130th day of the year. It is Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Awareness Day, which is observed on the second Saturday of May. Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) causes a range of physical, cognitive, and medical challenges.  It is a genetic disorder that even though present at birth, it is not always diagnosed at birth.  Affecting the physical and intellectual development of a child, CdLS is often known as Bushy Syndrome or Amsterdam dwarfism.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Lost Sock Memorial Day, National Moscato Day, National Butterscotch Brownie Day, National Sleepover Day, National Birth Mother’s Day (Saturday before Mother’s Day), National Babysitter’s Day (Saturday before Mother’s Day), National Dog Mom’s Day (Second Saturday in May), National Train Day (Saturday closest to May 10th), National Archery Day (second Saturday in May), and National Miniature Golf Day (second Saturday in May).

 

Historical items of note:

  • In 1662, the figure who later became Mr. Punch (of Punch and Judy) made his first recorded appearance in England.
  • In 1671, Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempted to steal England’s Crown Jewels from the Tower of London.
  • In 1860, Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie was born.
  • In 1887, Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show opened in London.
  • In 1893, psychologist and author William Moulton Marston was born. He was the creator of Wonder Woman.
  • In 1918, journalist Mike Wallace was born.
  • In 1936, actor Albert Finney was born.
  • In 1940, director, producer, and screenwriter James L. Brooks was born.
  • In 1946, actress and producer Candice Bergen was born.
  • In 1949, singer-songwriter and pianist BIlly Joel was born.
  • In 1958, Alfred Hitchcock’s film Vertigo premiered in San Francisco.
  • In 1974, the United States House Committee on the Judiciary opened formal and public impeachment hearings against President Richard Nixon.

 

This year, May 9th is Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day. Observed on the second Saturday in May, it is the largest one-day food drive in the United States. It occurs in more than 10,000 cities and towns, and the food is collected by United States Postal Workers.

Over the last 20 years, one billion pounds of food has been delivered by this drive which is sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers. The letter carriers representing the NALC receive help from rural letter carriers, other postal employees, and other volunteers. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has received a number of accolades over the years, including two Presidential Certificates of Achievement.

 

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

 

 

The Thing About Today – May 8

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

May 8, 2020
Day 129 of 366

 

May 8th is the 129th day of the year. It is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, an annual celebration of the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It is also the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant, who was born in 1828, was the founder of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Coconut Cream Pie Day, National Have A Coke Day, National Student Nurse Day, National Military Spouse Appreciation Day, and National Provider Appreciation Day. The last two are typically observed on the Friday before Mother’s Day.

 

Historical items of note:

  • In 1429, Joan of Arc lifted the Siege of Orléans, thereby turning the tide of the Hundred Years’ War.
  • In 1858, English author and poet J. Meade Falkner was born. To my knowledge, he is of no relation.
  • In 1884, Thirty-third President of the United States Harry S. Truman was born.
  • In 1886, pharmacist John Pemberton began to sell Coca-Cola as a patent medicine.
  • In 1899, the Irish Literary Theatre in Dublin produced its first play.
  • In 1912, Paramount Pictures was founded.
  • In 1919, Edward George Honey proposed the idea of a moment of silence to commemorate the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the event that ended World War I.
  • In 1926, English environmentalist and television host David Attenborough.
  • Also in 1926, actor and comedian Don Rickles was born.
  • In 1935, actress and dancer Salome Jens was born. She is potentially best known as the female Founder leader on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
  • In 1940, author and screenwriter Peter Benchley was born. If you know of Jaws, The Deep, The Island, Beast, and White Shark, you know of Peter Benchley.
  • In 1958, Dracula was released. The film starred Christopher Lee as the eponymous vampire, was directed by Terence Fisher, and is the first Hammer Horror film released.
  • In 1964, actor and director Melissa Gilbert was born.
  • In 1975, Spanish-American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor Enrique Iglesias was born.
  • In 1976, the rollercoaster The New Revolution opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It was the first steel coaster with a vertical loop.
  • In 1978, the first ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen occurred. The ascent was conducted by Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler.
  • In 1980, the World Health Organization confirmed the eradication of smallpox.
  • In 1981, actor Stephen Amell was born.

 

May 8 is Victory in Europe Day, generally known as VE Day.

It is the anniversary of the formal acceptance of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces during World War II on May 8, 1945. This event marked the end of World War II in Europe.

VE Day is celebrated across the Western European states on 8 May, with several countries observing public holidays on the day each year. The holidays are known as Victory Over Fascism Day, Liberation Day, or simply Victory Day.

Upon the defeat of Germany, celebrations erupted throughout the western world, especially in the United Kingdom and North America. More than one million people celebrated in the streets throughout the United Kingdom, and crowds massed in London’s Trafalgar Square and up the Mall to Buckingham Palace. There, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the palace before the cheering crowds. Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret were allowed to wander incognito among the crowds and take part in the celebrations.

In the United States, the victory celebrations coincided with President Harry Truman’s 61st birthday. He dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died less than a month earlier, stating that his only wish was “that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day”. Later that day, Truman said that the victory made it his most enjoyable birthday.

Celebrations took place in many American cities, especially in New York’s Times Square. The celebrations were tempered by Churchill’s and Truman’s warnings that the war with Japan was still looming.

May 8th has also been designated by the United Nations as the Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, an annual observance that pays tribute to the victims of World War II.

 

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

 

 

The Thing About Today – May 7

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May 7, 2020
Day 128 of 366

 

May 7th is the 128th day of the year. It is World Password Day, a day to promote better password and security habits. It is typically observed on the first Thursday in May.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Packaging Design Day, National Paste-Up Day, National Barrier Awareness Day, and National Roast Leg of Lamb Day. Since it is the first Thursday in May, it is also simultaneously observed as the National Day of Prayer and the National Day of Reason.

 

Historical items of note:

  • In 1697, Stockholm’s royal castle (dating back to medieval times) was destroyed by fire. It was replaced in the 18th century by the current Royal Palace.
  • In 1824, the world premiere of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony occurred in Vienna, Austria. The performance was conducted by Michael Umlauf under the composer’s supervision.
  • In 1833, German pianist and composer Johannes Brahms.
  • In 1840, Russian composer and educator Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born.
  • In 1846, the Cambridge Chronicle was published for the first time in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is America’s oldest surviving weekly newspaper.
  • In 1864, the world’s oldest surviving clipper ship, the City of Adelaide was launched by William Pile, Hay and Co. in Sunderland, England,. It was used to transport passengers and goods between Britain and Australia.
  • In 1915, German submarine U-20 sank RMS Lusitania. 1,198 people, including 128 Americans, were killed in the attack, and public reaction to the sinking turned many former pro-Germans in the United States against the German Empire.
  • In 1919, actress and Argentinian First Lady Eva Perón was born.
  • In 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea, aircraft from the USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Yorktown (CV-5) attacked and sank the Imperial Japanese Navy light aircraft carrier Shōhō. The battle marked the first time in naval history that two enemy fleets fought without visual contact between warring ships.
  • In 1946, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering was founded. It would later be renamed as Sony.
  • In 1952, the concept of the integrated circuit was first published by Geoffrey Dummer. The concept was the basis for all modern computers.
  • In 1992, the Space Shuttle Endeavour was launched on mission STS-49. It was the first for the orbiter, which was a replacement for the Space Shuttle Challenger.
  • In 1997, The Fifth Element premiered. At the time, it was the most expensive European film ever made.

 

In 1895, Russian scientist Alexander Stepanovich Popov demonstrated his invention to the Russian Physical and Chemical Society in Saint Petersburg.

The Popov lightning detector used a coherer to detect radio noise from lightning strikes, making it the world’s first radio receiver, albeit a primitive one. Popov was able to use his experience as a teacher at a Russian naval school to explore high-frequency electrical phenomena. A year later, he was able to transmit radio signals 250 meters between different campus buildings.

As a result, May 7th is celebrated in parts of the Russian Federation as Radio Day.

 

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

 

 

The Thing About Today – May 6

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

May 6, 2020
Day 127 of 366

 

May 6th is the 127th day of the year. It is the first day of Hıdırellez, a celebration of spring in Turkey that commemorates the day on which the Prophets Hızır (Al-Khidr) and Ilyas (Elijah) met on Earth.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Nurses Day, National Beverage Day, National Crepe Suzette Day, National Bike To School Day (a day that changes annually), National School Nurse Day (the Wednesday of National Nurses Week), and National Skilled Trades Day (the first Wednesday in May).

 

Historical items of note:

  • In 1527, Spanish and German troops sacked Rome. This date is considered to be the end of the Renaissance.
  • In 1782, construction began on the Grand Palace at the command of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke. It would be the royal residence of the King of Siam in Bangkok.
  • In 1856, Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud was born.
  • In 1889, the Eiffel Tower was officially opened to the public at the Universal Exposition in Paris.
  • In 1915, Babe Ruth hit his first major league home run. He was a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox at this point in time, and this home run was the first of the 714 he hit during his record-setting career.
  • Also in 1915, actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Orson Welles was born.
  • In 1940, John Steinbeck was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his novel The Grapes of Wrath.
  • In 1954, Roger Bannister became the first person to run the mile in under four minutes.
  • In 1960, more than 20 million viewers watched the first televised royal wedding when Princess Margaret married Anthony Armstrong-Jones at Westminster Abbey.
  • In 1961, actor George Clooney was born.
  • In 1983, actress Adrianne Palicki was born.
  • In 1994, The Channel Tunnel was opened, linking France and the United Kingdom under the English Channel. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and French President François Mitterrand officiated the event.

 

In 1937, the German zeppelin Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed within a minute while attempting to dock at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Thirty-six people were killed in the incident, including 13 passengers, 22 crewmen, and one observer on the ground. The disaster was the subject of newsreel coverage, photographs, and announcer Herbert Morrison’s recorded radio eyewitness reports from the landing field, which were broadcast the next day.

The cause of the accident is unknown, but a variety of hypotheses have been put forward for both the cause of ignition and the initial fuel for the ensuing fire. Speculation for the cause includes sabotage, a static spark that ignited the hydrogen in the gas volume, a lightning strike, and potential engine failure upon docking. The fuel for the fire that consumed the ship has been speculated as well, from the hydrogen in the gaseous volume, incendiary paint in the superstructure, and an undetected fuel leak.

The event shattered public confidence in the giant, passenger-carrying rigid airship and marked the abrupt end of the airship era.

 

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.