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Today is January 8 2015

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

National English Toffee Day: More

Other celebrations/observances today:
  • Bubble Bath Day: More
  • National Argyle Day: More
  • National JoyGerm Day: More
  • Show and Tell Day at Work: More
  • National Man Watcher's Day: More
  • War on Poverty Day: More
  • Midwife's Day or Women's Day: More
  • Earth's Rotation Day: More
Events in the past on: January 8
  • In 1815, The Battle of New Orleans was fought durig the War of 1812, between the U.S. and Britain. The war had ended on December 24, 1814 but none of the combatants were aware of it's end. More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1835, The U.S. national debt is zero for the only time. More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1889, Herman Hollerith is issued U.S. patent for the 'Art of Applying Statistics'. This was his punched card calculator.
    From Wikipedia: 'Herman Hollerith (February 29, 1860 – November 17, 1929) was an American inventor who developed an electromechanical punched card tabulator to assist in summarizing information and, later, accounting. He was the founder of The Tabulating Machine Company that was consolidated in 1911 with three other companies to form the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, later renamed IBM. Hollerith is regarded as one of the seminal figures in the development of data processing. His invention of the punched card tabulating machine marks the beginning of the era of semiautomatic data processing systems, and his concept dominated that landscape for nearly a century'. More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1935, Birthday of Elvis Presley.
    From Wikipedia: 'Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as "the King of Rock and Roll", or simply, "the King"'. More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1952, The TV comedy, My Friend Irma, premiers.
    From Wikipedia: 'My Friend Irma, created by writer-director-producer Cy Howard, is a top-rated, long-run radio situation comedy that spawned a media franchise. It was so popular in the late 1940s that its success escalated to films, television, a comic strip and a comic book. Marie Wilson portrayed the title character, Irma Peterson, on radio, in two films and the television series. The radio series was broadcast on the Columbia network from April 11, 1947 to August 23, 1954.' 'The TV version, seen on CBS from January 8, 1952 until June 1954, was the first series telecast from the CBS Television City facility in Hollywood on November 16, 1952.
    The film My Friend Irma (1949) starred Marie Wilson and Diana Lynn, but is mainly remembered today for introducing Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis to moviegoers, resulting in even more screen time for Martin and Lewis in the sequel, My Friend Irma Goes West (1950)'. More
    - On YouTube (TV): More
    - On YouTube (radio): More
    - On YouTube (movie trailer): More
  • In 1964, President Johnson announces the War On Poverty outlining several initiatives including increasing the mandatory overtime pay rate.
    From Wikipedia: 'This legislation was proposed by Johnson in response to a national poverty rate of around nineteen percent. The speech led the United States Congress to pass the Economic Opportunity Act, which established the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) to administer the local application of federal funds targeted against poverty'. More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1968, Jacques Cousteau's first undersea special airs. From Wikipedia: 'The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau is a nonfiction documentary television series focusing on marine biodiversity, hosted by French filmmaker, researcher and marine explorer, Jacques Cousteau. The first episodes of the series aired from 1968 until 1975. English narration was by Richard Johnson (BBC version) and Rod Serling (US edition). It also featured his family including sons Jean -Michel and Philippe-Pierre, along with grandson Fabian Cousteau'. More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1994, Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov on Soyuz TM-18 leaves for Mir. He would stay on the space station until March 22, 1995, for a record 437 days in space. More
    - On YouTube: More
    - On YouTube (space firsts): More
  II.
Henry's Heads Up! - previous days social media post (updated daily)

Tomorrow's food holiday will be ' National English Toffee Day'.
[The Hankster says] Can you say Heath Bar?

Tomorrow is 'Bubble Bath Day'.
[The Hankster says] Until the mid 1940's in the U.S. it was quite common for a bath to be taken once a week. This was usually on a Saturday, in preparation for Sunday events. In many city apartments the routine went like this: Water was heated on the stove and placed in a tub. The mother of the house would take her turn first, then in the same water (extra hot water was added if needed) the father and then the children would take their turns . Now you can turn the lights down low, put on some soft music and fill the tub with fragrant playful bubbles.

For the Scott in all of us. Tomorrow will be 'National Argyle Day'.
[The Hankster says] The pattern is taken from the tartan of Clan Campbell.

Tomorrow we have a day with a strange name, but noble sentiment. Tomorrow will be 'National JoyGerm Day'.'
[The Hankster says] Joy is a germ we all should take time to spread.

Tomorrow may be a fun day for some. It will be 'Show and Tell Day at Work'.
[The Hankster says] As in the past, you are on your own with this one. Perhaps you can save the unveiling for the break room. This is a new year, but we did tax your boss heavily last year with bringing our teddy bears, wearing our PJ's, bringing our bikes and several other indignities.

Ladies, this one is for you. Tomorrow is 'National Man Watcher's Day'.
[The Hankster says] I would practice your wolf whistle and get your camera handy to take pictures of unsuspecting construction workers. You may also still be able to find some of those charity Fireman and Policeman calendars left over from Christmas.

Continuing right along with the previous concept, we have 'Midwife's Day or Women's Day'.
[The Hankster says] In past times this was a day on which the women had full reign to make it a woman's world. In some cases men were not even allowed on the streets. Any man found out on the streets would be partially stripped and had cold water poured over him.

Agatha Christi once wrote 'Everything that has existed, lingers in the Eternity.'
[The Hankster says] Well, to take on eternity is a large order. Let us just look at January 8 in the past. I bet the eternal good and bad, wise and foolish, and just the entertaining is there for us to see.

In 1815, During the War of 1812, during the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson leads American forces in victory over the British.
[The Hankster says] The war had ended in December of the previous year, but the news had not yet reached New Orleans.

In 1835, The U.S. national debt is zero for the only time.

In 1889, Herman Hollerith is issued U.S. patent for the 'Art of Applying Statistics'. This was his punched card calculator.
[The Hankster says] I made my early livelihood using punch card machines at Prudential Insurance in Houston before going into programming. No, I used the great grandchildren of such machines some 80 years later. And again, no, it didn't take that long to train me.

In 1935, The birthday of Elvis Presley.
[The Hankster says] Also, on January 8 1946, his 11th birthday, he was given his first guitar which was purchased for $6.50. What he really wanted was a rifle or bicycle. Looks like mother knows best.

In 1968, Jacques Cousteau's first undersea special airs.

In 1994, Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov on Soyuz TM-18 leaves for Mir. He would stay on the space station until March 22, 1995, for a record 437 days in space.

 III.
Top Song & Movie 50 years ago today

No. 1 song

  • I Feel Fine - The Beatles: More
    'Come See About Me' has been displaced by 'I Feel Fine', which will hold the no. 1 spot until January 23 1965, when 'Downtown (Petula Clark)', takes over.

Top movie

  • My Fair Lady More
    Having displaced 'Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlott', it will be there until the weekend box office of January 31 1965 when, '36 Hours', takes over.
  IV.
Today in the Past (reference sites): January 8
   V.
This month January 2015 (updated once a month - last updated - January 1 2015)

Food holidays
Apple and Apricots Month Artichoke and Asparagus Month California Dried Plum Digestive Month Natiionl Candy Month National Egg Month National Hot Tea Month National Soup Month Oatmeal Month
Other holidays and awareness days
Adopt A Rescued Bird Month Bath Safety Month Be Kind to Food Servers Month Birth Defects Month Book Blitz Month Celebration of Life Month Cervical Health Awareness Month Financial Wellness Month Get Organized Month International Brain Teaser Month International Creativity Month National Braille Literacy Month National Clean Up Your Computer Month National Glaucoma Awareness Month National Polka Music Month National Poverty in America Awareness Month National Skating Month National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month National Stalking Awareness Month National Volunteer Blood Donor Month Self-help Group Awareness Month Teen Driving Awareness Month Train Your Dog Month Thyroid Awareness Month Walk Your Dog Month


January is:

January origin (from Wikipedia): 'January is named after Janus, the God of beginnings and transitions; the name has its beginnings in Roman mythology, coming from the Latin word for door since January is the door to the year.'

'January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day. It is, on average, the coldest month of the year within most of the Northern Hemisphere (where it is the second month of winter) and the warmest month of the year within most of the Southern Hemisphere (where it is the second month of summer). In the Southern hemisphere, January is the seasonal equivalent of July in the Northern hemisphere and vice versa.'

January at Wikipedia: More

  VI.
TV fifty years ago 1965 (updated yearly - last updated Jan. 1 2015)

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 2015)

Best selling books of 1965 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

  • 2015 Postal Holidays More
  • 2015 Official Federal Holidays More

Holidays Worldwide

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