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Today is July 22 2014

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   I.
Today's Holidays and Historical Events (updated daily)
Today's Food Holiday

Penuche Fudge Day: More
Recipe at: More

Other celebrations/observances today:
  • Hammock Day: More
  • Ratcatcher’s Day: More
    Also on June 26.
  • Spoonerism Day: More
  • First person to fly solo around the world.: More
    Wiley Post in 1933, 15,596 miles - 7 days 18 hours and 45 minutes
  • Pi Approximation Day / Casual Pi Day: More
    Pi Day is March 14 (314). This is is for today (22/7).
  • First moto race.: More
    France 1894.
Events in the past on: July 22
  • In 1894, The first ever motorized racing event is held in France between cities of Paris and Rouen.
    From Wikipedia: 'Paris–Rouen, Le Petit Journal Horseless Carriages Contest (Concours du 'Petit Journal' Les Voitures sans Chevaux), was a pioneering city-to-city motoring competition in 1894. Some anglophone sources call it a race, a rally or a trial, and it is sometimes described as the world's first competitive motor race although the initial announcement stated that "it will not be a race".

    The contest was organised by the newspaper Le Petit Journal and run from Paris to Rouen in France on 22 July 1894. It was preceded by four days of vehicle exhibition and qualifying events that created great crowds and excitement. The eight 50 km (31 mi) qualifying events started near the Bois de Boulogne and comprised interwoven routes around Paris to select the entrants for the main event.126 km (78 mi)

    The first driver across the finishing line at Rouen was "le Comte de Dion" but he did not win the main prize because his steam vehicle needed a 'stoker' and was thus ineligible. The fastest petrol powered car was a 3 hp (2.2 kW; 3.0 PS) Peugeot driven by Albert Lemaître. The premier prize, the 5,000 franc Prix du Petit Journal, for 'the competitor whose car comes closest to the ideal' was shared equally by manufacturers Panhard et Levassor and Les fils de Peugeot frères ("The sons of Peugeot brothers"), with vehicles that were 'easy to use''.
    - At FamousDaily: More
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1933, Wiley Post becomes the first person to fly solo around the world traveling 15,596 miles (25,099 km) in 7 days, 18 hours and 45 minutes.
    From Wikipedia: 'Wiley Hardeman Post (November 22, 1898 – August 15, 1935) was a famed American aviator during the interwar period, the first pilot to fly solo around the world. Also known for his work in high-altitude flying, Post helped develop one of the first pressure suits and discovered the jet stream. On August 15, 1935, Post and American humorist Will Rogers were killed when Post's aircraft crashed on takeoff from a lagoon near Point Barrow in the Territory of Alaska.

    Post's Lockheed Vega aircraft, the Winnie Mae, was on display at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center from 2003 to 2011. It is now featured in the "Time and Navigation" gallery on the second floor of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

    In 1930 the record for flying around the world was not held by a fixed-wing aircraft, but by the Graf Zeppelin, piloted by Hugo Eckener in 1929 with a time of 21 days. On June 23, 1931, Post and his navigator, Harold Gatty, left Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York in the Winnie Mae with a flight plan that would take them around the world, stopping at Harbour Grace, Flintshire, Hanover twice, Berlin, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Blagoveshchensk, Khabarovsk, Nome where his propeller had to be repaired, Fairbanks where the propeller was replaced, Edmonton, and Cleveland before returning to Roosevelt Field. They arrived back on July 1, after traveling 15,474 miles (24,903 km) in the record time of 8 days and 15 hours and 51 minutes. The reception they received rivaled Charles Lindbergh's everywhere they went. They had lunch at the White House on July 6, rode in a ticker-tape parade the next day in New York City, and were honored at a banquet given by the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America at the Hotel Astor. After the flight, Post acquired the Winnie Mae from F.C. Hall, and he and Gatty published an account of their journey titled, Around the World in Eight Days, with an introduction by Will Rogers'.
    - At FamousDaily: More
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1937, Hal Kemp and his orchestra recorded 'Got a Date with an Angel'.
    From Wikipedia: 'James Hal Kemp (March 27, 1904 – December 21, 1940) was a jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, composer, and arranger. He was born in Marion, Alabama, and died in Madera, California, following an auto accident. His major recordings were "Got A Date With An Angel", "Heart Of Stone", "Lamplight", "The Music Goes 'Round And Around", "You're The Top", "Bolero", "Gloomy Sunday", "Lullaby Of Broadway", and many others'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    On YoutTube: More
  • In 1963, The Beach Boys released the single 'Surfer Girl'.
    From Wikipedia: '"Surfer Girl" is a song written, produced and sung by Brian Wilson for The Beach Boys. It was released as a single and it then appeared on the 1963 album of the same name, Surfer Girl. The B-side of the single was "Little Deuce Coupe". The single was the first Beach Boys record to have Brian Wilson officially credited as the producer.

    Written solely by Brian Wilson, the song is his very first composition. The lyrics were inspired by Judy Bowles, Wilson's first serious girlfriend who he had dated for three and a half years. He explained the genesis of the song: "Back in 1961, I'd never written a song in my life. I was nineteen years old. And I put myself to the test in my car one day. I was actually driving to a hot dog stand, and I actually created a melody in my head without being able to hear it on a piano. I sang it to myself; I didn't even sing it out loud in the car. When I got home that day, I finished the song, wrote the bridge, put the harmonies together and called it 'Surfer Girl'."

    The song was based on a Dion and the Belmonts version of "When You Wish upon a Star", which has the same AABA form. As a solo artist, Wilson later covered it for the tribute album In the Key of Disney (2011)'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1972, The Russian Venera 8 makes soft landing on Venus.
    From Wikipedia: 'Venera 8 ' was a probe in the Soviet Venera program for the exploration of Venus.

    Venera 8 was a Venus atmospheric probe and lander. Its instrumentation included temperature, pressure, and light sensors as well as an altimeter, gamma ray spectrometer, gas analyzer, and radio transmitters. The spacecraft took 117 days to reach Venus with one mid-course correction on 6 April 1972, separating from the bus (which contained a cosmic ray detector, solar wind detector, and ultraviolet spectrometer) and entering the atmosphere on 22 July 1972 at 08:37 UT. A refrigeration system attached to the bus was used to pre-chill the descent capsule's interior prior to atmospheric entry in order to prolong its life on the surface. Descent speed was reduced from 41,696 km/h to about 900 km/h by aerobraking. The 2.5 meter diameter parachute opened at an altitude of 60 km'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1983, Dick Smith makes 1st solo helicopter flight around the world.
    From Wikipedia: 'Richard Harold "Dick" Smith, AC (born 18 March 1944) is an Australian entrepreneur, businessman, aviator, and political activist. He is the founder of Dick Smith Electronics, Dick Smith Foods and Australian Geographic, and was selected as the 1986 Australian of the Year. In 2010 he founded the media production company Smith and Nasht with the intention of producing films about global issues. In 2015 he was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia, and is a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

    At the age of 34 he purchased his first helicopter, a Bell Jetranger II, and, on 23 February 1979 obtained his licence to fly it. In January 1980, with Rick Howell co-piloting the Jetranger, he made a record-setting flight from Sydney to Lord Howe Island and return, 1,185 km.:163 The helicopter opened new opportunities for exploring places otherwise inaccessible.

    In 1982–83 Smith successfully completed the first solo helicopter flight around the world. His flight began in Fort Worth, Texas, on 5 August 1982, in a newly purchased Bell Jetranger 206B. On 19 August, the 50th anniversary of James Mollison's solo crossing of the Atlantic, he arrived at Balmoral Castle, United Kingdom where he met Prince Charles. From there he flew to London, where, later that day, the first stage of his flight ended, after 11,752 km. The second stage of his flight started in London on 13 September, and finished in Sydney, Australia, 3 October 1982, 23,092 km later. On 25 May 1983 the final stage of the flight started. Not being granted permission to land in USSR, he arranged to land on a ship to refuel. His journey ended on 22 July 1983, the 50th anniversary of Wiley Post's solo aeroplane flight around the world on 22 July 1933'.
    - At Powerhouse Museum: More
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  II.
Henry's Heads Up! - previous days social media post (updated daily)

Been eating too much chocolate fudge lately. Take a break and have some made with brown sugar. Tomorrow will be 'Penuche Fudge Day'.

You might want to take some of that fudge and a beverage out under your favorite trees. Get out of the sun and into a peaceful swinging mood for 'Hammock Day'.

Today, the 21st we all, I'm sure, celebrated 'Global Hug Your Kid Day', Now as every parent knows, kids take a lot more looking after and affection, that just one day a year. With that in mind, be careful tomorrow. Tomorrow is 'Rat-catcher’s Day'. The connection? It is the day the Pied Piper lead the children out of Hamelin, in 1736. Fictional or not, lets make sure we have a little cash around to 'pay the piper'. Rumor is that he doesn't accept credit cards. We don't want to hug the little 'uns one day and loos them the next.

Tomorrow is also 'Spoonerism Day'. It's the birthday of Reverend William A. Spooner, the Oxford professor that seemed to have a lot of trouble with sentences with like sounding words. Such as “Is it kisstomary to cuss the bride?”. It is not a 'Freudian slip' as it does not reveal any subconscious feelings. Perhaps the brains nerve misnapes's are not licking on all fowls.

For the math lovers among us, you have another day to celebrate Pi Day. That was on March 14, (3.14). Tomorrow July 22, (22/7) is 'Pi Approximation Day / Casual Pi Day'. As I have said before, you can never have too much pie. .

We have had several days this month to honor the horse. We will let Dobbin rest tomorrow and celebrate the first horseless carriage (auto) race, that was held in France in 1894.

IF the old tube radio was on and warmed-up, the main news item of July 22 1933, was most likely about a flier Wiley Post. He was first to complete a solo flight around the world. It took 7days 18 hours and 45 minutes, for a distance of 15,596 miles. Sounds a little slow, but I believe his luggage arrived safely, at the same place and at the same time.

 III.
Top Song & Movie 50 years ago today

No. 1 song

  • Rag Doll - The Four Seasons: More
    'Get Around'has been displaced by 'Rag Doll', which will hold the no. 1 spot until July 25 2014, when 'A Hard Day's Night by The Beatles', takes over.

Top movie

  • The Moon-Spinners More
    Having displaced 'The Killers', it will be there until the weekend box office of July 26 1964 when, 'Marnie', takes over.
  IV.
Today in the Past (reference sites): July 22
   V.
This month July 2014 (updated once a month - last updated - )

National Baked Bean Month, National Culinary Arts Month, National Grilling Month, National Hot Dog Month, National Ice Cream Month, National July Belongs to Blueberries Month, National Vacation Rental Month,


July is:

July origin (from Wikipedia): Named by the Roman Senate in honor of Julius Caesar.
"is the seventh month of the year (between June and August) in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. It was named by the Roman Senate in honor of the Roman general, Julius Caesar, it being the month of his birth. Prior to that, it was called Quintilis. It is, on average, the warmest month in most of the Northern hemisphere (where it is the second month of summer) and the coldest month in much of the Southern hemisphere (where it is the second month of winter). The second half of the year commences in July. In the Southern hemisphere, July is the seasonal equivalent of January in the Northern hemisphere."

July at Wikipedia: More

  VI.
TV fifty years ago 1964 (updated yearly - last updated Jan. 1 2014)

If you couldn't afford 90 cents for a movie ticket, 50 years ago, or your 45 RPM record player was broke, you might watch one of these shows on TV.
From this Wikipedia article: More

 VII.
Best selling books fifty years ago (updated yearly - last updated Jan. 1 2014)

Best selling books of 1964 More

VIII.
Fun (Last link added October 1 2014, but content on each site may change daily)
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day: More
  • NOAA: - National Hurricane Center - Atlantic Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook: More
  • Listen to Old Radio Shows: (streaming mp3 with schedule) More
  • NASA TV: (video feed) More
    NASA TV schedule: More
  • Public Domain eBook Links

    Sites for downloading or reading free Public Domain eBooks. Available in various formats. More

  • Podcast: A Moment of Science. Approximately 1 minute general science facts.
    Home page: More
    RSS: More
  • Podcast: The Naked Scientists. Current science, medicine, space and other science
    Home page: More
    RSS: More
  • Podcast: Quirks & Quarks. Current science news.
    Home page: More
    RSS: More
  • Articles and videos: Universe Today. Current space and astronomy news.
    Home page: More
    RSS: More
  • Old Picture of the Day - "Each day we bring you one stunning little glimpse of history in the form of a historical photograph."
    Home page: More
    RSS: More
  IX.
Other Holiday Sites (Last link added October 1 2014. Link content changes yearly)

Below, are listed several holiday sites that I reference in addition to other holiday researches.


US Government Holidays

  • 2014 Postal Holidays More
  • 2014 Official Federal Holidays More

Holidays Worldwide

  • List of holidays by country More
  • Holidays and Observances around the World More
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