Text size Background

Today is February 23 2015

About     Other days


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

National Banana Bread Day: More

Other celebrations/observances today:
  • National Dog Biscuit Day: More
    AKA: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.
  • Play Tennis Day: More
  • Curling Is Cool Day: More
  • Well Child/Tamariki Ora Week: More
    In New Zealand, the first day of week long event 23-28
Events in the past on: February 23
  • In 1455, The traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western book printed with movable type.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Gutenberg Bible (also known as the 42-line Bible, the Mazarin Bible or the B42) was the first major book printed using mass-produced movable type. It marked the start of the "Gutenberg Revolution" and the age of the printed book in the West.' Widely praised for its high aesthetic and artistic qualities, the book has an iconic status. Written in Latin, the Catholic Gutenberg Bible is an edition of the Vulgate, printed by Johannes Gutenberg, in Mainz, in present-day Germany, in the 1450s. Forty-eight copies, or substantial portions of copies, survive, and they are considered to be among the most valuable books in the world, even though no complete copy has been sold since 1978. The 36-line Bible, believed to be the second printed version of the Bible, is also sometimes referred to as a Gutenberg Bible, but is likely the work of another printer'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1836, During the Texas Revolution, The Battle of the Alamo begins in San Antonio, Texas.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas United States), killing all of the Texian defenders. Santa Anna's cruelty during the battle inspired many Texians—both Texas settlers and adventurers from the United States—to join the Texian Army. Buoyed by a desire for revenge, the Texians defeated the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto, on April 21, 1836, ending the revolution.'
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1886, Charles Martin Hall produces the first samples of man-made aluminum.
    From Wikipedia: 'Charles Martin Hall (December 6, 1863 – December 27, 1914) was an American inventor, businessman, and chemist. He is best known for his invention in 1886 of an inexpensive method for producing aluminum, which became the first metal to attain widespread use since the prehistoric discovery of iron. He was one of the founders of ALCOA. Alfred E. Hunt, together with Charles Hall and a group of five other individuals including his partner at the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory, George Hubbard Clapp, his chief chemist, W.S. Sample, Howard Lash, head of the Carbon Steel Company, Millard Hunsiker, sales manager for the Carbon Steel Company, and Robert Scott, a mill superintendent for the Carnegie Steel Company, Hunt raised $20,000 to launch the Pittsburgh Reduction Company which was later renamed Aluminum Company of America and shortened to Alcoa.'
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1896, The Tootsie Roll is invented.
    From Wikipedia: 'Tootsie Roll is chocolate that has been manufactured in the United States since 1896. The candy has qualities similar to both caramels and taffy without being exactly either type, and does not melt while being transported during hot summer months.

    The manufacturer, Tootsie Roll Industries, is based in Chicago, Illinois.

    It was the first penny candy to be individually wrapped.'

    'In 1896, its founder Leo Hirshfield, an Austrian immigrant to the United States of America, started his candy business in a small shop located in New York City.'

    'According to the company website, the original (and still current) recipe calls for the inclusion of the previous day's batch. "As such, there's (theoretically) a bit of Leo's very first Tootsie Roll in every one of the sixty four million Tootsie Rolls that Tootsie produces each day."'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1905, The Rotary Club International is formed in Chicago.
    From Wikipedia: 'Rotary International is an international service organization whose stated human rights purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and to advance goodwill and peace around the world. It is a secular organization open to all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political preference. There are 34,282 member clubs worldwide. 1.2 million individuals called Rotarians have joined these clubs'.

    'The first Rotary Club was formed when attorney Paul P. Harris called together a meeting of three business acquaintances in downtown Chicago, USA, at Harris's friend Gustave E. Loehr's office in the Unity Building on Dearborn Street on February 23, 1905.'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1927, The bill that establishes the 'Federal Radio Commission', later replaced by the 'Federal Communications Commission' which was to regulate the use of radio frequencies in the United States, was signed into law.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Federal Radio Commission (FRC) was a government body that regulated radio use in the United States from its creation in 1926 until its replacement by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1934. The Commission was created to regulate radio use "as the public interest, convenience, or necessity" requires. The Radio Act of 1927 superseded the Radio Act of 1912, which had given regulatory powers over radio communication to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. The Radio Act of 1912 did not mention broadcasting and limited all private radio communications to what is now the AM band.'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1939, At the 11th Academy Award:
    From Wikipedia: 'The 11th Academy Awards were held on February 23, 1939, at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California.[1] It was the first Academy Awards show without any official host. This was also the first ceremony in which a foreign language film (Jean Renoir's Grand Illusion) was nominated for Best Picture'.
    From Wikipedia:
    More
    Outstanding Production is You Can't Take It With You,
    -- At Wikipedia: More
    -- At Internet Movie Database IMDb: More
    -- On YouTube: More
    Best Actor is Spencer Tracy for Boys Town,
    Best Actoress is Bette Davis for Jezebel,
    Best Supporting Actor Walter Brennan for Kentucky,
    Best Supporting Actress is Fay Bainter for Jezebel,
    Best Song is Thanks for the Memory, from The Big Broadcast of 1938.
    -- On YouTube: More
  • In 1940, Woody Guthrie writes 'This Land is Your Land'.
    From Wikipedia: '"This Land Is Your Land" is one of the United States' most famous folk songs. Its lyrics were written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie in 1940 based on an existing melody, in critical response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America", which Guthrie considered unrealistic and complacent. Tired of hearing Kate Smith sing it on the radio, he wrote a response originally called "God Blessed America". Guthrie varied the lyrics over time, sometimes including more overtly political verses in line with his sympathetic views of communism than appear in recordings or publications.'.

    'In 2002, it was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry'.
    More
    On YouTube: More
  • In 1941, Plutonium is first produced and isolated by Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg.
    From Wikipedia: 'Plutonium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air, and forms a dull coating when oxidized. The element normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation states. '

    'Plutonium (specifically, plutonium-238) was first produced and isolated on December 14, 1940, and chemically identified on February 23, 1941, by Glenn T. Seaborg, Edwin McMillan, Joseph W. Kennedy, and Arthur Wahl by deuteron bombardment of uranium in the 60-inch (150 cm) cyclotron at the Berkeley Radiation Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley In the 1940 experiment, neptunium-238 was created directly by the bombardment but decayed by beta emission with a half-life of a little over two days, which indicated the formation of element 94'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1942, During World War II, A Japanese submarine fires artillery shells at the California coastline near Santa Barbara.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Bombardment of Ellwood during World War II was a naval attack by a Japanese submarine against United States coastal targets near Santa Barbara, California. Though damage was minimal, the event was key in triggering the West Coast invasion scare and influenced the decision to intern Japanese-Americans. The event also marked the first shelling of the North American mainland during the conflict'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1945, The U.S. flag is raised on Iwo Jima.
    From Wikipedia: 'On February 19, 1945, the United States military forces invaded Iwo Jima as part of its island-hopping strategy to defeat Japan. Iwo Jima originally was not a target, but the relatively quick fall of the Philippines left the Americans with a longer-than-expected lull prior to the planned invasion of Okinawa. Iwo Jima is located halfway between Japan and the Mariana Islands, where American long-range bombers were based, and was used by the Japanese as an early warning station, radioing warnings of incoming American bombers to the Japanese homeland. The Americans, after capturing the island, weakened the Japanese early warning system, and used it as an emergency landing strip for damaged bombers.

    Iwo Jima is a volcanic island, shaped like a trapezoid. Marines on the island described it as "a large, gray pork chop". The island was heavily fortified, and the invading United States Marines suffered high casualties. The island is dominated by Mount Suribachi, a 546-foot (166 m) dormant volcanic cone situated on the southern tip of the island. Politically, the island is part of the prefecture of Tokyo. It would be the first Japanese homeland soil to be captured by the Americans, and it was a matter of honor for the Japanese to prevent its capture. Tactically, the top of Suribachi is one of the most important locations on the island. From that vantage point, the Japanese defenders were able to spot artillery accurately onto the Americans – particularly the landing beaches. The Japanese fought most of the battle from underground bunkers and pillboxes. It was common for Marines to knock out one pillbox using grenades or a flamethrower, only to experience renewed shooting from it a few minutes later, after more Japanese infantry slipped into the pillbox using a tunnel. The American effort concentrated on isolating and capturing Suribachi first, a goal that was achieved on February 23, 1945, four days after the battle began. Despite capturing Suribachi, the battle continued to rage for many days, and the island would not be declared "secure" until 31 days later, on March 26'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1947, The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was founded.
    From Wikipedia: 'The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations.

    Founded on 23 February 1947, the organization promotes worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial standards. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and as of 2013 works in 164 countries'.
    More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1983, At the 25th Annual Grammy Awards, The 'Song of the Year' is Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson for 'Always on My Mind'.
    From Wikipedia: '"Always on My Mind" is an American country music song by Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson, recorded first by Gwen McCrae (as "You Were Always On My Mind") and Brenda Lee in 1972. Allmusic lists over 300 recorded releases of the song in versions by dozens of performers. While Brenda Lee's version had stalled at #45 on the country charts in 1972, other performers would reach the top 20 in the United States and elsewhere with their own versions: Elvis Presley in 1972; John Wesley Ryles in 1979; Willie Nelson's Grammy Award winning version in 1982; Pet Shop Boys in 1987'.
    More
    On YouTube: More
  • In 2000, At the 42nd Grammy Awards, the 'Song of the Yer' is 'Smooth' by Santana.
    From Wikipedia: '"Smooth" is a collaboration between Latin rock band Santana and Matchbox Twenty vocalist Rob Thomas. The song was written by Thomas, DeGaetano, and Itaal Shur, produced by Matt Serletic and sung by Thomas. It won three Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Not only was it the final number-one Hot 100 hit of the 1990s, it was also the number-two Hot 100 hit of the 20th century. "Smooth" is the only song to appear on two decade-end Billboard charts. As of 2013, "Smooth" is ranked the second most successful song of all time by Billboard'.
    More
    On YouTube: More
  • In 2004, The 45th Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, is 'Don't Know Why' by Norah Jones.
    From Wikipedia: '"Don't Know Why" is a song written by Jesse Harris which originally appeared on his 1999 album, Jesse Harris & the Ferdinandos. It was the second single by American singer Norah Jones from her debut studio album Come Away with Me (2002). Although Jones's version only peaked at number thirty on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, it was a critical s her that helped establish her as a respected new artist, and subsequently her album sold extremely well. The single went on to win three Grammy Awards in 2003 for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal'.
    More
    On YouTube: More
  II.
Henry's Heads Up! - previous days social media post (updated daily)

Tomorrow's food holiday will be 'National Banana Bread Day'.
[The Hankster says]I always called it Banana Nut Bread. Guess it is the same. Great hot and buttered or with some ice cream on top.

We have a doggie food holiday tomorrow. It will be 'National Dog Biscuit Day'. AKA: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.
[The Hankster says] I took a test nibble on one, once. Don't see what all the fuss is about.

Get a new can of tennis balls and get ready for tomorrow. It will be 'Play Tennis Day'.
[The Hankster says] The celebration of the invention of the game by Harry Gem and Augurio Perera, who developed the game on Perera’s lawn in England

If you would rather be on ice and work to sweep a path for something that looks like a tea pot, then tomorrow's 'Curling Is Cool Day' is for you.

We have an awareness day in New Zealand tomorrow. It will be 'Well Child/Tamariki Ora Week'. The first day of week long event 23-28

Elvis Presley once said 'From the time I was a kid, I always knew something was going to happen to me. Didn't know exactly what.'
[The Hankster says] I guess he wasn't sure until he got a git tar for Christmas, instead of a bicycle, when he was twelve. I wonder how many others had a feeling of greatness or notoriety as a child. Maybe we can find some others back on February 23 in the past.

In 1455, The traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western book printed with movable type.

In 1836, During the Texas Revolution, The Battle of the Alamo begins in San Antonio, Texas.

In 1886, Charles Martin Hall produces the first samples of man-made aluminum.

In 1896, The Tootsie Roll is invented.

In 1905, The Rotary Club International is formed in Chicago.

In 1927, The bill that establishes the 'Federal Radio Commission', later replaced by the 'Federal Communications Commission' which was to regulate the use of radio frequencies in the United States, was signed into law.

In 1939, The Academy Award for Best Picture of 1938 was 'You Can't Take It With You'. It was a romantic comedy starring Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, James Stewart, and Edward Arnold. .

In 1940, Woody Guthrie writes 'This Land is Your Land'.

In 1941, Plutonium is first produced and isolated by Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg.

In 1942, During World War II, A Japanese submarine fires artillery shells at the California coastline near Santa Barbara.

In 1945, The U.S. flag is raised on Iwo Jima.

In 1947, The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was founded.

In 1954, The first mass inoculation of children against polio with the Salk vaccine begins.

In 1977, At the 20th Grammy Awards, there is a first and only tie for 'Song of the Year'. Winners were and Barbra Streisand's 'Love Theme from A Star Is Born (Evergreen)' and Debby Boone's 'You Light Up My Life'.

In 1983, At the 25th Annual Grammy Awards, The 'Song of the Year' is Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson for 'Always on My Mind'. This is not the W..N. version.

In 1991, During the Gulf War, Ground troops cross the Saudi Arabian border and enter Iraq, thus beginning the ground phase of the war.

In 2000, At the 42nd Grammy Awards, the 'Song of the Yer' is 'Smooth' by Santana.

In 2004, The 45th Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, is 'Don't Know Why' by Norah Jones.

In 2013, At the 33rd 'Golden Raspberry Awards', The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 wins.

 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 23
   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
Contact: If you wish to make comment, please do so by writing to this: Email address