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Today is February 9 2015

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

National Bagels and Lox Day / National Bagel Day: More
Oatmeal Monday / Meal Day: More
Old Scottish university day.

Other celebrations/observances today:
  • National Toothache Day: More
  • National Clean Out Your Computer Day: More
    Second Monday in February
  • Read in the Bathtub Day: More
  • International Epilepsy Day: More
Events in the past on: February 9
  • In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signs a joint resolution of Congress establishing the U.S. Weather Bureau.
    From Wikipedia: 'The National Weather Service (NWS) is an agency of the United States government that is tasked with providing weather forecasts, warnings of hazardous weather, and other weather-related products to organizations and the public for the purposes of protection, safety, and general information. It is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) branch of the Department of Commerce, and is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland (located just outside Washington, D.C.). The agency was known as the United States Weather Bureau from 1890 to 1970, when it adopted its current name.

    'In 1870, the Weather Bureau of the United States was established through a joint resolution of Congress signed by President Ulysses S. Grant with a mission to "provide for taking meteorological observations at the military stations in the interior of the continent and at other points in the States and Territories...and for giving notice on the northern (Great) Lakes and on the seacoast by magnetic telegraph and marine signals, of the approach and force of storms." The agency was placed under the Secretary of War as Congress felt "military discipline would probably secure the greatest promptness, regularity, and accur in the required observations." Within the Department of War, it was assigned to the U.S. Army Signal Service under Brigadier General Albert J. Myer. General Myer gave the National Weather Service its first name: The Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1895, William G. Morgan creates a game called 'Mintonette', which soon becomes 'Volleyball'.
    From Wikipedia: 'William George Morgan (23 January 1870 – 27 December 1942) was the inventor of volleyball, originally called "Mintonette".'

    'He met James Naismith, inventor of basketball, while Morgan was studying at Springfield College, Massachusetts in 1892. Like Naismith, Morgan pursued a career in Physical Education at the YMCA. Influenced by Naismith and basketball, in 1895, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Morgan invented "Mintonette" a less vigorous team sport more suitable for older members of the YMCA but one that still required athletic skill. Later Alfred S. Halstead watched Mintonnette and renamed it "Volleyball" as the point of the game is to "volley" the "ball" back and forth over the net.'
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1895, The first college basketball game took place. Minnesota State School of Agriculture defeated the Porkers of Hamline College, 9-3.
    From Wikipedia: 'The first recorded game between two college teams occurred on February 9, 1895, when Hamline University faced Minnesota A&M (which later became a part of the University of Minnesota). Minnesota A&M won the game, which was played under rules allowing nine players per side, 9–3. The first intercollegiate match using the modern rule of five players per side is often credited as a game between the University of Chicago and the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, Iowa, on January 18, 1896'.
    More
  • In 1900, The 'Davis Cup' (international tennis event) competition is established.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and is contested annually between teams from competing countries in a knock-out format.'

    'The tournament was conceived in 1899 by four members of the Harvard University tennis team who wished to challenge the British to a tennis competition. Once their respective lawn tennis associations agreed, one of the four Harvard players, Dwight F. Davis, designed a tournament format and ordered an appropriate sterling silver trophy from Shreve, Crump & Low, purchasing it from his own funds for about $1,000. They in turn commissioned a classically-styled design from William B. Durgin's of Concord, New Hampshire, crafted by the Englishman Rowland Rhodes. Davis went on to become a prominent politician in the United States in the 1920s, serving as US Secretary of War from 1925 to 1929 and as Governor-General of the Philippines from 1929 to 1932'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1942, Year-round Daylight saving time is re-instated in the United States as a wartime measure to help conserve energy resources.
    From Wikipedia: 'Daylight saving time (DST) or summer time is the practice of advancing clocks during summer months by one hour so that in the evening daylight is experienced an hour longer, while sacrificing normal sunrise times. Typically, regions with summer time adjust clocks forward one hour close to the start of spring and adjust them backward in the autumn to standard time.'

    'During World War I, in an effort to conserve fuel, Germany began observing DST on May 1, 1916. The rest of Europe soon followed. The plan was not adopted in the United States until the Standard Time Act of March 19, 1918, which established standard time zones and set summer DST to begin on March 31, 1918 (reverting October 27). The idea was unpopular and Congress abolished DST after the war, overriding President Woodrow Wilson's veto. DST became a local option and was observed in some states until World War II, when President Franklin Roosevelt instituted year-round DST, called "War Time", on February 9, 1942. It lasted until the last Sunday in September 1945. After 1945 many states and cities east of the Mississippi River (and mostly north of the Ohio and Potomac Rivers) adopted summer DST'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1943, FDR orders minimal 48 hour work week in war industry.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1959, Coasters's 'Charlie Brown' peaks at #2.
    From Wikipedia: '"Charlie Brown" is a popular Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song that was a top-ten hit for The Coasters in the spring of 1959 (released in January, coupled with "Three Cool Cats," Atco 6132). It went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts, and was the first of three top-ten hits for the Coasters that year. It is best known for the phrase, "Why's everybody always pickin' on me?"'.
    More
    On YouTube: More
  • In 1963, The first flight of the Boeing 727.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Boeing 727 is a mid-size narrow-body three-engine jet aircraft built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes from the early 1960s to 1984. It can carry 149 to 189 passengers and later models can fly up to 2,700 nautical miles (5,000 km) nonstop. Intended for short and medium-length flights, the 727 can use fairly short runways at smaller airports. It has three Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines below the T-tail, one on each side of the rear fuselage with a center engine that connects through an S-duct to an inlet at the base of the fin. The 727 is Boeing's only tri-jet aircraft'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1964, The Beatles made their first live appearance on American TV, playing on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'.
    From Wikipedia: 'In late 1963, Sullivan and his entourage happened also to be passing through Heathrow and witnessed how The Beatles' fans greeted the group on their return from Stockholm, where they had performed a television sshow as warmup band to local star Lill Babs. Sullivan was intrigued, telling his entourage it was the same thing as Elvis all over again. He initially offered Beatles manager Brian Epstein top dollar for a single show but the Beatles manager had a better idea—he wanted exposure for his clients: the Beatles would instead appear three times on the show, at bottom dollar, but receive top billing and two spots (opening and closing) on each show.

    'The Beatles appeared on three consecutive Sundays in February 1964 to great anticipation and fanfare as "I Want to Hold Your Hand" had swiftly risen to No. 1 in the charts. Their first appearance on February 9 is considered a milestone in American pop culture and the beginning of the British Invasion in music. The broadcast drew an estimated 73 million viewers, at the time a record for US television'.
    More
    On YouTube: More
  • In 1969, First test flight of the Boeing 747.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial jet airliner and cargo aircraft, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. Its distinctive "hump" upper deck along the forward part of the aircraft makes it among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and it was the first wide-body produced. Manufactured by Boeing's Commercial Airplane unit in the United States, the original version of the 747 had two and a half times greater capacity than the Boeing 707, one of the common large commercial aircraft of the 1960s. First flown commercially in 1970, the 747 held the passenger capacity record for 37 years'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1985, Madonna's album 'Like a Virgin' goes #1 for 3 weeks.
    From Wikipedia: 'Like a Virgin is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter sMadonna, released on November 12, 1984 by Sire Records. It was re-released worldwide in 1985, with the inclusion of the bonus track "Into the Groove". In 2001, Warner Bros. Records released a remastered version with two bonus remix tracks'.
    More
    On YouTube: More
  • In 1987, First ladies restroom at the New York Stock Exchange is installed.
    More
  • In 1986, Halley's Comet last appeared in the inner Solar System. Next will be 28 July 2061.
    From Wikipedia: 'Halley's Comet or Comet Halley (/'hæli/ or /'he?li/), officially designated 1P/Halley, is a short-period comet visible from Earth every 75–76 years. Halley is the only known short-period comet that is clearly visible to the naked eye from Earth, and the only naked-eye comet that might appear twice in a human lifetime. Halley last appeared in the inner parts of the Solar System in 1986 and will next appear in mid-2061'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  II.
Henry's Heads Up! - previous days social media post (updated daily)

Two food holidays tomorrow.
First is 'National Bagels and Lox Day / National Bagel Day'. Lox is thinly sliced cured Salmon.
Second is 'Oatmeal Monday / Meal Day'. An old Scottish university day. Poor students had to provide much of their needs themselves. Food was one of those things. Potatos and oatmeal were staples.
[The Hankster says] Ah, a dorm room staple, much like Ramen Noodles are today.

Oh my, Tomorrow is 'National Toothache Day'.
[The Hankster says] Let's watch that sugar. It is not a directcause of tooth decay, but is what in legal terms would be called 'an accomplice before and after the fact'. Sugar feeds the bacteria. Bacteria excrete the acids. Acids eat away at the teeth. Brush 'um or lose 'um.

Tomorrow is 'National Clean Out Your Computer Day'. Second Monday in February
[The Hankster says] Time to clean out a goodly percent of those old files and programs you don't use. And get an accomplished person to lift the cover and blow the dust off those electronic parts also. Make it run faster and cooler, thus longer.

When you have finished your chores tomorrow, you can enjoy 'Read in the Bathtub Day'.
[The Hankster says] No, I'm not going to suggest a good Sea Tale. But, do be watchful of that innocent looking, smiling rubber ducky of yours. I have seen one collide with a bar of floating soap. The resulting 'waterway rage' is a terrible thing to see.

We have an awareness day tomorrow. It will be 'International Epilepsy Day'.

Audre Lorde once said 'Each time you love, love as deeply as if it were forever.'
[The Hankster says] A noble idea that you can test every day of your life. Of course, on this post, we look back to see if many things, including love survived. I bet it did. We can explore February 9 in the past, and look for the buds that may have come full bloom today or tomorrow and last for eternity.. You may not find it below, but you can add your own experience.

In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signs a joint resolution of Congress establishing the U.S. Weather Bureau.

In 1895, William G. Morgan creates a game called 'Mintonette', which soon becomes 'Volleyball',

In 1900, The 'Davis Cup' (international tennis event) competition is established.

In 1942, Year-round Daylight saving time is re-instated in the United States as a wartime measure to help conserve energy resources.

In 1943, FDR orders minimal 48 hour work week in the war industry.

In 1959, Coasters's 'Charlie Brown' peaks at #2.

In 1964, The Beatles made their first live appearance on American TV, playing on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'.

In 1985,- Madonna's album 'Like a Virgin' goes #1 for 3 weeks.

In 1987, First ladies restroom at the New York Stock Exchange is installed.

In 1969, First test flight of the Boeing 747.

In 1986, Halley's Comet last appeared in the inner Solar System. Next will be 28 July 2061.

 III.
Top Song & Movie 50 years ago today

No. 1 song

  • You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - The Righteous Brothers: More
    'Downtown' has been displaced by 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'', which will hold the no. 1 spot until February 27 1965, when 'This Diamond Ring', takes over.

Top movie

  • My Fair Lady, (returns) More
    Having displaced '36 Hours', it will be there until the weekend box office of February 27, 1965 when, 'The Greatest Story Ever Told', takes over.
  IV.
Today in the Past (reference sites): February 9
   V.
This month February 2015 (updated once a month - last updated - February 1 2015)

Food Holiday:
Berry Fresh Month Canned Food Month Celebration of Chocolate Month Great American Pie Month National Cherry Month National Grapefruit Month National Fiber Focus Month National Fondue Month National Hot Breakfast Month National Snack Food Month Potato Lover’s Month Sweet Potato Month Other:
American Heart Month An Affair to Remember Month Black History Month Creative Romance Month National Children’s Dental Health Month National Heart Healthy Month National Weddings Month


February is:

February origin (from Wikipedia):
'The Roman month Februarius was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification, via the purification ritual Februa held on February 15 (full moon) in the old lunar Roman calendar. January and February were the last two months to be added to the Roman calendar, since the Romans originally considered winter a monthless period. They were added by Numa Pompilius about 713 BC. February remained the last month of the calendar year until the time of the decemvirs (c. 450 BC), when it became the second month. At certain intervals February was truncated to 23 or 24 days, and a 27-day intercalary month, Intercalaris, was inserted immediately after February to realign the year with the seasons. Under the reforms that instituted the Julian calendar, Intercalaris was abolished, leap years occurred regularly every fourth year, and in leap years February gained a 29th day. Thereafter, it remained the second month of the calendar year, meaning the order that months are displayed (January, February, March, ..., December) within a year-at-a-glance calendar. Even during the Middle Ages, when the numbered Anno Domini year began on March 25 or December 25, the second month was February whenever all twelve months were displayed in order. The Gregorian calendar reforms made slight changes to the system for determining which years were leap years and thus contained a 29-day February.'

February is the second month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the shortest month and the only month with fewer than 30 days. The month has 28 days in common years or 29 days in leap years.
February is the third month of meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, February is the third month of summer (the seasonal equivalent of August in the Northern Hemisphere, in meteorological reckoning).

February 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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