Today is September 13 2014

National Peanut Day: More

• National Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day: More
  
• Positive Thinking Day: More
• International Drive Your Studebaker Day: More
• National Hollerin' Day: More
  Second Saturday in September, At Spivey's Corner, North Carolina
• Defy Superstition Day: More
• Fortune Cookie Day: More
• Uncle Sam Day: More
• International Chocolate Day: More
• Prairie Day: More
• National Snack a Pickle Time: More

• In 1814, In a turning point in the War of 1812, the British fail to capture Baltimore. During the battle, Francis Scott Key composes his poem 'Defence of Fort McHenry', which is later set to music and becomes the United States' national anthem.
  From Wikipedia: 'Francis Scott Key (August 1, 1779 – January 11, 1843) was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet from Georgetown who wrote the lyrics to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".
  
  During the War of 1812, Key, accompanied by the British Prisoner Exchange Agent Colonel John Stuart Skinner, dined aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant, as the guests of three British officers: Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane, Rear Admiral George Cockburn, and Major General Robert Ross. Skinner and Key were there to negotiate the release of prisoners, one of whom was Dr. William Beanes, a resident of Upper Marlboro, Maryland who had been arrested after jailing marauding British troops who were looting local farms. Skinner, Key, and Beanes were not allowed to return to their own sloop because they had become familiar with the strength and position of the British units and with the British intent to attack Baltimore. Thus, Key was unable to do anything but watch the bombarding of the American forces at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore on the night of September 13–14, 1814.
  
  At dawn, Key was able to see an American flag still waving. Back in Baltimore and inspired, Key wrote a poem about his experience, "Defence of Fort M'Henry", which was soon published in William Pechin's the American and Commercial Daily Advertiser on September 21, 1814. He took it to Thomas Carr, a music publisher, who adapted it to the rhythms of composer John Stafford Smith's "To Anacreon in Heaven", a popular tune Key had already used as a setting for his 1805 song "When the Warrior Returns," celebrating U.S. heroes of the First Barbary War. (Key used the "star spangled" flag imagery in the earlier song.) It has become better known as "The Star-Spangled Banner". Though somewhat difficult to sing, it became increasingly popular, competing with "Hail, Columbia" (1796) as the de facto national anthem by the Mexican–American War and American Civil War. More than a century after its first publication, the song was adopted as the American national anthem, first by an Executive Order from President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 (which had little effect beyond requiring military bands to play what became known as the "Service Version") and then by a Congressional resolution in 1931, signed by President Herbert Hoover'.
  - At Wikipedia: More
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• In 1848, Vermont railroad worker Phineas Gage survives a 3-foot 7-inch (1.1 m) iron rod being driven through his head; the reported effects on his behavior and personality stimulate thinking about the nature of the brain and its functions.
  From Wikipedia: 'Phineas P. Gage (1823 – May 21, 1860) was an American railroad construction foreman remembered for his improbable:19 survival of an accident in which a large iron rod was driven completely through his head, destroying much of his brain's left frontal lobe, and for that injury's reported effects on his personality and behavior over the remaining twelve years of his life-effects sufficiently profound (for a time at least) that friends saw him as "no longer Gage."
  
  Long known as the "American Crowbar Case"-once termed "the case which more than all others is calculated to excite our wonder, impair the value of prognosis, and even to subvert our physiological doctrines"-Phineas Gage influenced nineteenth-century discussion about the mind and brain, particularly debate on cerebral localization,and was perhaps the first case to suggest the brain's role in determining personality, and that damage to specific parts of the brain might induce specific personality changes.
  
  One of "the great medical curiosities of all time," Gage is a fixture in the curricula of neurology, psychology, and related disciplines :149 "a living part of the medical folklore":637 frequently mentioned in books and scientific papers;:ch14 he even has a minor place in popular culture. Despite this celebrity, the body of established fact about Gage and what he was like (before or after his injury) is small, which has allowed "the fitting of almost any theory to the small number of facts we have":290-Gage acting as a "Rorschach inkblot" in which proponents of various conflicting theories of the brain all saw support for their views. Historically, published accounts of Gage (including scientific ones) have almost always severely exaggerated and distorted his behavioral changes, frequently contradicting the known facts.
  
  A report of Gage's physical and mental condition shortly before his death implies that his most serious mental changes were temporary, so that in later life he was far more functional, and socially far better adapted, than in the years immediately following his accident. A social recovery hypothesis suggests that Gage's work as a stagecoach driver in Chile fostered this recovery by providing daily structure which allowed him to regain lost soci and personal skills'.
  - At Wikipedia: More
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• In 1898, Hannibal Goodwin patents celluloid photographic film. First used in Edison's Kinetoscope.
  From Wikipedia: 'Hannibal Williston Goodwin (April 21, 1822 – December 31, 1900), was an Episcopal priest at the House of Prayer Episcopal Church and Rectory in Newark, New Jersey, patented a method for making transparent, flexible roll film out of nitrocellulose film base, which was used in Thomas Edison's Kinetoscope, an early machine for viewing animation.
  
  He was born on April 21, 1822 in Taughannock, New York.
  
  He was motivated to search for a non-breakable, and clear substance on which he could place the images he utilized in his Biblical teachings. On May 2, 1887, the year Reverend Goodwin retired from the church he had served for twenty years, he filed a patent for "a photographic pellicle and process of producing same ... especially in connection with roller cameras", but the patent was not granted until 13 September 1898. In the meantime, George Eastman had already started production of roll-film using his own process.
  
  In 1900, Goodwin set up the Goodwin Film and Camera Company, but before film production had started he was involved in a street accident near a construction site and died on December 31, 1900 from his injuries'.
  - At Wikipedia: More
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• In 1899, Henry Bliss is the first person in the United States to be killed in an automobile accident. He had stepped off a streetcar and was hit by a taxi. He died the next day.
  From Wikipedia: 'Henry Hale Bliss (June 13, 1830 – September 14, 1899) was the first person killed by a motor vehicle crash in the United States, and the first known in the Americas.
  
  On September 13, 1899 he was disembarking from a streetcar at West 74th Street and Central Park West in New York City, when an electric-powered taxicab (Automobile No. 43) struck him and crushed his head and chest. He died from his injuries the next morning.
  
  Arthur Smith, the driver of the taxicab, was arrested and charged with manslaughter but was acquitted on the grounds that he had no malice, nor was he negligent.
  
  The passenger, Dr. David Edson, was the son of former New York City mayor Franklin Edso'.
  - At Wikipedia: More
  - On YouTube (first ever): More
• In 1974, The first broadcast of 'The Rockford Files' on NBC-TV.
  From Wikipedia: 'The Rockford Files is an American television drama series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network between September 13, 1974, and January 10, 1980, and has remained in syndication to the present day. Garner portrays Los Angeles-based private investigator Jim Rockford with Noah Beery, Jr., in the supporting role of his father, a retired truck driver nicknamed "Rocky".
  
  The show was created by Roy Huggins and Stephen J. Cannell. Huggins created the television show Maverick (1957–1962), which starred Garner, and he wanted to recapture that magic in a "modern day" detective setting. He teamed with Cannell, who had written for Jack Webb productions such as Adam-12 and Chase (1973–1974, NBC), to create The Rockford Files.
  
  The show was credited as "A Public Arts/Roy Huggins Production" along with Cherokee Productions in association with Universal Television. Cherokee was owned by Garner, with partners Meta Rosenberg and Juanita Bartlett, who doubled as story editor during most of The Rockford Files run.
  
  The series theme music by composers Mike Post and Pete Carpenter was released as a single and went to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining on the chart for 16 weeks. and won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for 1975.
  
  In 2002, The Rockford Files was ranked #39 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
  
  In contrast to most television private eyes, Rockford wears low-budget "off the rack" clothing and does his best to avoid fights -- although he will engage in fistfights when there's absolutely no other option. He rarely carries his Colt Detective Special revolver, for which he has no permit, preferring to talk his way out of trouble. He works on cold cases, missing persons investigations, and low-budget insurance scams, and repeatedly states that he does not handle "open cases" to avoid trouble with the police. (This self-imposed rule of Rockford's was relaxed in later seasons.) He has been a P.I. since 1968, and his usual fee is $200 per day plus expenses'.
  - At Wikipedia: More
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• In 2007, The United Nations General Assembly adopts the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
  From Wikipedia: 'The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday, 13 September 2007, by a majority of 144 states in favour, 4 votes against (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States) and 11 abstentions (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Samoa and Ukraine).
  
  In May 2016 Canada officially removed its objector status to UNDRIP, almost a decade after it was adopted by the General Assembly.
  
  While as a General Assembly Declaration it is not a legally binding instrument under international law, according to a UN press release, it does "represent the dynamic development of international legal norms and it reflects the commitment of the UN's member states to move in certain directions"; the UN describes it as setting "an important standard for the treatment of indigenous peoples that will undoubtedly be a significant tool towards eliminating human rights violations against the planet's 370 million indigenous people and assisting them in combating discrimination and marginalisation."
  
  UNDRIP codifies "Indigenous historical grievances, contemporary challenges and socio-economic, political and cultural aspirations" and is the "culmination of generations-long efforts by Indigenous organizations to get international attention, to secure recognition for their aspirations, and to generate support for their political agendas." Canada Research Chair and faculty member at the University of Saskatchewan, Ken Coates, argues that UNDRIP resonates powerfully with Indigenous peoples, while national governments have not yet fully understood its impact'.
  - At FamousDaily: More
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• In 2008, Hurricane Ike makes landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast of the United States, causing heavy damage to Galveston Island, Houston and surrounding areas.
  From Wikipedia: 'Hurricane Ike was a powerful tropical cyclone that swept through portions of the Greater Antilles and Northern America in September 2008, wreaking havoc on infrastructure and agriculture, particularly in Cuba and Texas. In these places, Ike remains the costliest tropical cyclone on record. Other locations were also seriously affected by Ike, which was ultimately the third costliest of any Atlantic hurricane and resulted in $25 billion in damages.
  
  Ike developed from a tropical wave west of Cape Verde on September 1 and strengthened to a peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane over the open waters of the central Atlantic on September 4 as it tracked westward. Several fluctuations in strength occurred before Ike made landfall on eastern Cuba on September 8. The hurricane weakened prior to continuing into the Gulf of Mexico, but increased its intensity by the time of its final landfall on Galveston, Texas on September 13. The remnants of Ike continued to track across the United States and into Canada, causing considerable damage inland, before dissipating two days later.
  
  Ike was blamed for at least 195 deaths. Of these deaths, 74 were in Haiti, which was already trying to recover from the impact of three storms (Fay, Gustav, and Hanna) which had made landfall that same year. Seven people were killed in Cuba from Ike. In the United States, 113 people were reported killed, directly or indirectly, and 16 were still missing as of August 2011. Due to its immense size, Ike caused devastation from the Louisiana coastline all the way to the Kenedy County region near Corpus Christi, Texas. In addition, Ike caused flooding and significant damage along the Mississippi coastline and the Florida Panhandle Damages from Ike in U.S. coastal and inland areas are estimated at $29.5 billion (2008 USD), with additional damage of $7.3 billion in Cuba (the costliest storm ever in that country), $200 million in the Bahamas, and $500 million in the Turks and Caicos, amounting to a total of at least $37.5 billion in damage. Ike is now the third costliest Atlantic hurricane of all time, only surpassed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and later by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The search-and-rescue operation after Ike is the largest search-and-rescue operation in Texas history.
  
  Ike was the third major hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season'.
  - At Wikipedia: More
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Tomorrow is 'National Peanut Day'. This is the one you eat. Not the one that gives psychiatric help for 5 cents.

Parents beware. tomorrow is also 'National Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day'. Disclaimer: Do this at your own risk.

With kids loose in the kitchen you will want to embrace another one of tomorrows holidays, that of 'Positive Thinking Day'.

Only us older guys/gals may appreciate this one. Tomorrow is 'International Drive Your Studebaker Day'.

'National Hollerin' Day'. Second Saturday in September, At Spivey's Corner, North Carolina. I thought we had celebrated this earlier in the year, but maybe some people have more to get off their chests.

I'm still looking for the message from the worker trapped in the cookie factory. Maybe I will find it tomorrow on 'Fortune Cookie Day'.

In 1989 a presidential proclamation set aside September 13th as 'Uncle Sam Day'. We talked a few days ago about how the name came into general use, now, as of Public Law 100-645, it is official.

Here is one you will like. tomorrow is 'International Chocolate Day'.

If candy is not for you how about 'National Snack A Pickle Time'.

Stepping back to September 13 in the past:

IN 1814, the famous poem 'The Defence of Fort McHenry' was penned. Not familiar? What if I said the author was a man named Francis Scott Key. Well, if you were born in 1931, you may know it (after being put to music) as America's national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner

In 1959 - USSR's Luna 2 becomes the first probe to contact another celestial body.

In 2008, Hurricane Ike makes landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast, causing heavy damage to Galveston Island, Houston and surrounding areas. I spent a week without electricity.

No. 1 song

• The House of the Rising Sun - The Animals: More
  'Where Did Our Love Go' has been displaced by 'The House of the Rising Sun', which will hold the no. 1 spot until September 26 2014, when 'Oh, Pretty Woman', takes over.

Top movie

• Mary Poppins More
  Having displaced 'A Hard Day's Night', it will be there until the weekend box office of October 4 1964 when, 'Cheyenne Autumn', takes over.

• FamousBirthdays.com: September 13 Birthdays More
• FamousDaily.com: September 13 History More
• History.com: Historical Events on 13th September More
• HistoryOrb.com: Famous Deaths on 13th September More
• On-This-day.com history 13th September More
• On-This-day.com music history 13th September More
• Wikipedia.com: History September 13 More

Baby Safety Month, Better Breakfast Month, Classical Music Month, Fall Hat Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, International Square Dancing Monthk Little League Month, National Biscuit Month, National Blueberry Popsicle Month, National Chicken Month, National Cholesterol Education Month, National Courtesy Month, National Honey Month, National Mushroom Month, National Organic Harvest Month, National Papaya Month, National Piano Month, National Potato Month, National Rice Month, Self Improvement Month

September is:

September origin (from Wikipedia): Originally September (Latin septem, "seven") was the seventh of ten months on the oldest known Roman calendar.
September in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of March in the Southern Hemisphere.
After the calendar reform that added January and February to the beginning of the year, September became the ninth month, but retained its name. It had 29 days until the Julian reform, which added a day.

September at Wikipedia: More

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

Best selling books of 1964 More

• 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

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