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Today is May 6 2015

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

National Crepe Suzette Day: More
National Beverage Day: More

Other celebrations/observances today:
  • No Homework Day: More
  • Bike To School Day: More
    Since 2012 as part of National Bike Month.
  • Great American Grump Out: More
    Try not being grumpy for 24 hours.
Awareness / Observance Days on: May 6
  • Health
    • National Nurses Week (May 6-12),
      National Nurses Day / National National RN Recognition Day(First day of National Nurses Week),
      National School Nurse day (Wednesday of School Nurses Week),
      National Student Nurses Day (May 8),
      International Nurses Day (May 12 Florence Nightingale' birthday May 12 1820),
      Other countries celebrate over a different range of days
      From Wikipedia: 'In the U.S., National Nurses Week was first observed from October 11–16, 1954 in honor of the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea. President Nixon later proclaimed a 'National Nurse Week' in 1974. In 1982, President Reagan signed a proposal officially designating May 6 as 'National Recognition Day for Nurses,' now known as National Nurses Day or National RN Recognition Day. I
      In 1990, the American Nurses Association (ANA) expanded the holiday into the current National Nurses Week celebrated from 6 May to 12 May.' : More
    • International No Diet Day: More
      Concerns reasonable expectations of one's own body and the concept of diet.
    • Wishbone Day (Global): More
      From the web site: 'Wishbone Day is an international community awareness effort for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), also known as 'brittle bones'. The event color is yellow.'
  • Other
    • Belonging: National Day to End Bullying: More
      Sponsored by the Boys and Girls Clubs across Canada.
    • National Tourist Appreciation Day: More
      During National Travel and Tourism Week (May 5 - 13. In 32 of the U.S. states, tourism is second only to healthcare as the top business employer..
Events in the past on: May 6
  • In 1889, The Eiffel Tower was officially opened to the public at the Universal Exposition in Paris.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Eiffel Tower (French: Tour Eiffel, is a wrought iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower.

    Constructed in 1889 as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair, it was initially criticized by some of France's leading artists and intellectuals for its design, but it has become a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognisable structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower is the most-visited paid monument in the world; 6.91 million people ascended it in 2015.

    The tower is 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building, and the tallest structure in Paris. Its base is square, measuring 125 metres (410 ft) on each side. During its construction, the Eiffel Tower surpassed the Washington Monument to b ecome the tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years until the Chrysler Building in New York City was finished in 1930.

    Due to the addition of a broadcasting aerial at the top of the tower in 1957, it is now taller than the Chrysler Building by 5.2 metres (17 ft). Excluding transmitters, the Eiffel Tower is the second-tallest structure in France after the Millau Viaduct.

    The main structural work was completed at the end of March 1889 and, on 31 March, Eiffel celebrated by leading a group of government officials, accompanied by representatives of the press, to the top of the tower. Because the lifts were not yet in operation, the ascent was made by foot, and took over an hour, with Eiffel stopping frequently to explain various features. Most of the party chose to stop at the lower levels, but a few, including the structural engineer, Émile Nouguier, the head of construction, Jean Compagnon, the President of the City Council, and reporters from Le Figaro and Le Monde Illustré, completed the ascent. At 2:35 pm, Eiffel hoisted a large Tricolour to the accompaniment of a 25-gun salute fired at the first level.

    There was still work to be done, particularly on the lifts and facilities, and the tower was not opened to the public until nine days after the opening of the exposition on 6 May; even then, the lifts had not been completed. The tower was an instant success with the public, and nearly 30,000 visitors made the 1,710-step climb to the top before the lifts entered service on 26 May. Tickets cost 2 francs for the first level, 3 for the second, and 5 for the top, with half-price admission on Sundays, and by the end of the exhibition there had been 1,896,987 visitors'.
    - At FamousDaily: More
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
    - On YouTube: Moren
  • In 1937, The German zeppelin Hindenburg catches fire and is destroyed within a minute while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Thirty-six people are killed.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Hindenburg disaster occurred on May 6, 1937, as the German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock with its mooring mast at Naval Air Station Lakehurst in Manchester Township, New Jersey, United States. Of the 97 people on board (36 passengers and 61 crewmen), there were 35 fatalities (13 passengers and 22 crewmen). One worker on the ground was also killed, making a total of 36 fatalities.

    The disaster was the subject of spectacular newsreel coverage, photographs, and Herbert Morrison's recorded radio eyewitness reports from the landing field, which were broadcast the next day. A variety of hypotheses have been put forward for both the cause of ignition and the initial fuel for the ensuing fire. The incident shattered public confidence in the giant, passenger-carrying rigid airship and marked the abrupt end of the airship era.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
    - On YouTube: Moren
  • In 1941, At California's March Field, Bob Hope performs his first USO show.
    From Wikipedia: 'Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope, KBE, KC*SG, KSS (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003), was an British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer, dancer, athlete, and author. With a career spanning nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in over 70 films and shorts, including a series of "Road" movies also starring Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. In addition to hosting the Academy Awards 19 times (more than any other host), he appeared in many stage productions and television roles and was the author of fourteen books. The song "Thanks for the Memory" is widely regarded as Hope's signature tune.

    Hope participated in the sports of golf and boxing, and owned a small stake in his hometown baseball team, the Cleveland Indians. He was married to performer Dolores Hope (née DeFina) for 69 years. Hope died at age 100 at his home in Toluca Lake, California.

    'While aboard the RMS Queen Mary when World War II began in September 1939, Hope volunteered to perform a special show for the passengers, during which he sang "Thanks for the Memory" with rewritten lyrics. He performed his first USO show on May 6, 1941, at March Field, California, and continued to travel and entertain troops for the rest of World War II, later during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the third phase of the Lebanon Civil War, the latter years of the Iran–Iraq War, and the 1990–91 Persian Gulf War. His USO career lasted half a century, during which he headlined 57 tours. He had a deep respect for the men and women who served in the military, and this was reflected in his willingness to go anywhere in order to entertain them. During the Vietnam War, Hope had trouble convincing some performers to join him on tour. Anti-war sentiment was high, and Hope's pro-troop stance made him a target of criticism. Some shows were drowned out by boos and others were listened to in silence. The tours were funded by the United States Department of Defense, his television sponsors, and by NBC, the network which broadcast the television specials that were created after each tour.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: Moren
  • In 1954, Roger Bannister becomes the first person to run the mile in under four minutes. The time was 3 min 59.4 sec.
    From Wikipedia: 'Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister, CBE (born 23 March 1929) is an English former middle-distance athlete, physician and academic, who ran the first sub-four-minute mile.

    In the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Bannister set a British record in the 1500 metres but finished fourth. This strengthened his resolve to be the first 4-minute miler.

    He achieved this feat on 6 May 1954 at Iffley Road track in Oxford, with Chris Chataway and Chris Brasher providing the pacing. When the announcer declared "The time was three...", the cheers of the crowd drowned out Bannister's exact time, which was 3 min 59.4 se Bannister's record lasted just 46 days. He had reached this record with minimal training, while practising as a junior doctor.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1957, The television show 'I Love Lucy' has it's last show on CBS after running 6 years.
    From Wikipedia: 'I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on CBS. After the series ended in 1957, however, a modified version continued for three more seasons with 13 one-hour specials, running from 1957 to 1960, known first as The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show and later in reruns as The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour.

    I Love Lucy was the most watched show in the United States in four of its six seasons, and was the first to end its run at the top of the Nielsen ratings (an accomplishment later matched only by The Andy Griffith Show in 1968 and Seinfeld in 1998). The show is still syndicated in dozens of languages across the world and remains popular with an American audience of 40 million each year. A colorized version of its Christmas episode attracted more than 8 million viewers when CBS aired it in prime time in 2013 – 62 years after the show premiered. A second colorized special, featuring the "L.A. At Last!" and "Lucy and Superman" episodes, aired on May 17, 2015, attracting 6.4 million viewers.

    I Love Lucy is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential sitcoms in history. In 2012, it was voted the 'Best TV Show of All Time' in a survey conducted by ABC News and People Magazine'.
    - At FamousDaily: More
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
    - On YouTube (Superman): More
    - On YouTube (Chocolate Factory): More
    - On YouTube (Vitameatavegamin): More
    - On YouTube: Moren
  • In 1994, The opening of the Channel Tunnel.
    From Wikipedia: The Channel Tunnel, mocknamed and shortened to Chunnel) is a 50.5-kilometre (31.4 mi) rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent, in the United Kingdom, with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais, near Calais in northern France, beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is 75 m (250 ft) deep. At 37.9 kilometres (23.5 mi), the tunnel has the longest undersea portion of any tunnel in the world, although the Seikan Tunnel in Japan is both longer overall at 53.85 kilometres (33.46 mi) and deeper at 240 metres (790 ft) below sea level. The speed limit in the tunnel is 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph).

    The tunnel carries high-speed Eurostar passenger trains, the Eurotunnel Shuttle for road vehicles—the largest such transport in the world—and international freight trains. The tunnel connects end-to-end with the LGV Nord and High Speed 1 high-speed railway lines.

    Working from both the English side and the French side of the Channel, eleven tunnel boring machines or TBMs cut through chalk marl to construct two rail tunnels and a service tunnel. The vehicle shuttle terminals are at Cheriton (part of Folkestone) and Coquelles, and are connected to the English M20 and French A16 motorwaysrespectively.
    - At Wikipedia:More
    - On YouTube: Moren
  • In 2004, The final episode of Friends airs on NBC.
    From Wikipedia: Friends is an American television sitcom, created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which originally aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, the show revolves around six friends living in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television. The original executive producers were Kevin S. Bright, Marta Kauffman, and David Crane.

    Kauffman and Crane began developing Friends under the title Insomnia Cafe between November and December 1993. They presented the idea to Bright, and together they pitched a seven-page treatment of the show to NBC. After several script rewrites and changes, including a second title change to Friends Like Us, the series was finally named Friends.

    Friends ranked no. 24 on the Writers Guild of America's 101 Best Written TV Series of All Time and no. 28 on TV Guide's 60 Best TV Series of All Time. In 2014, the series was ranked by Mundo Estranho the Best TV Series of All Time'.
    - FamousDaily: More
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: Moren
  II.
Henry's Heads Up! - previous days social media post (updated daily)

Two food holidays tomorrow:
- ' National Crepe Suzette Day'. A crape (aka thin pancake) with Suzette sauce (caramelized sugar, butter, tangerine or orange juice, zest, and Grand Marnier or orange Curacao liqueur.)
- 'National Beverage Day'.

I'll mention this one, but you are on your own with the public schools. Tomorrow is 'No Homework Day '.

Speaking of schools. Tomorrow is also 'Bike To School Day'. Since 2012 as part of National Bike Month.

Put on a smile for tomorrow It will be 'Great American Grump Out'. Try not being grumpy for 24 hours.
[The Hankster says] Bah, hum bug.

Awareness / Observance Days on: May 6
o Health
- 'National Nurses Week (May 6-12), National Nurses Day / National National RN Recognition Day(First day of National Nurses Week), National School Nurse day (Wednesday of School Nurses Week), National Student Nurses Day (May 8), International Nurses Day (May 12 Florence Nightingale' birthday May 12 1820), Other countries celebrate over a different range of days. From Wikipedia: 'In the U.S., National Nurses Week was first observed from October 11–16, 1954 in honor of the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea. President Nixon later proclaimed a 'National Nurse Week' in 1974. In 1982, President Reagan signed a proposal officially designating May 6 as 'National Recognition Day for Nurses,' now known as National Nurses Day or National RN Recognition Day. I In 1990, the American Nurses Association (ANA) expanded the holiday into the current National Nurses Week celebrated from 6 May to 12 May.' '.

- 'International No Diet Day'. Concerns reasonable expectations of one's own body and the concept of diet.

- 'Wishbone Day (Global)'. From the web site: 'Wishbone Day is an international community awareness effort for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), also known as 'brittle bones'. The event color is yellow.'

o Other
- 'Belonging: National Day to End Bullying'. Sponsored by the Boys and Girls Clubs across Canada.

- 'National Tourist Appreciation Day'. During National Travel and Tourism Week (May 5 - 13. In 32 of the U.S. states, tourism is second only to healthcare as the top business employer..

Albert Einstein once said 'I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false. The hundredth time I am right.'
[The Hankster says] Wow, that is encouraging. I wonder how many others, in the past, had to do secondzies or thirdzies or ninety ninezies. Let's look back and see who finally got it done on May 6 in the past. You can be the judge of the worth of the accomplishment.

In 1889, The Eiffel Tower was officially opened to the public at the Universal Exposition in Paris.

In 1937, The German zeppelin Hindenburg catches fire and is destroyed within a minute while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Thirty-six people are killed out of ninety seven.

In 1941, At California's March Field, Bob Hope performs his first USO show.

In 1954 – Roger Bannister becomes the first person to run the mile in under four minutes. The time was 3 min 59.4 sec.

In 1957, The television show 'I Love Lucy' has it's last show on CBS after running 6 years.

In 1994, The opening of the Channel Tunnel.

In 2004, The final episode of Friends airs on NBC.

 III.
Top Song & Movie 50 years ago today (last updated Apr 25 2015 next May 9 2015

No. 1 song

  • Game of Love - Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders: More
    'I'm Telling You Now' has been displaced by 'Game of Love', which will hold the no. 1 spot until May 11 1965, when 'Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter - Herman's Hermits', takes over.

Top movie

  • The Sound of Music (again) More
    Having displaced 'In Harm's Way', it will be there until the weekend box office of May 9 1965 when, 'Brainstorm', takes over.
  IV.
Today in the Past (reference sites): May 6
   V.
This month May 2015 (updated once a month - last updated - may 1 2015)

Monthly holiday / awareness days in May

Food
Aramanth May Grain of the Month
Gifts From The Garden Month
International / National Mediterranean Diet Month
National Barbeque Month
National Egg Month
National Hamburger Month
National Salsa Month
National Sweet Vidalia Onions Month
National Vinegar Month
National Youth Traffic Safety Month

Health and Well-Being
Descriptions are simple dictionary definitions and are not meant to be a full medical description.
ALS Awareness Month (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
Arthritis Awareness Month
Asthma Awareness Month
Better Hearing and Speech Month (communication disorders)
Borderline Personality Disorder Month
Brain Tumor Awareness Month
Celiac Awareness Month (gluten sensitivity)
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
EDS Awareness Month ((Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - inherited disorder affecting connective tissues)
Family Wellness Month
Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month (musculoskeletal pain, fatigue,)
Global Civility Awareness Month
Global Health and Fitness Month
Heal the Children Month (provides critical medical care to children all around the world)
Healthy Vision Month
Huntington's Disease Awareness Month (hereditary disease marked by degeneration of the brain cells)
Lupus Awareness Month (chronic, autoimmune disease effecting skin, joints, organs)
Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
National Allergy/Asthma Awareness Month
National Better Hearing Month
National Hepatitis Awareness Month (inflammation of the liver)
National High Blood Pressure Education Month
Neurofibromatosis / NF Awareness Month (gentic disorder, most concerned with tumors of the nerves)
Lyme Disease Awareness Month (inflammatory disease transmitted by bacteria via ticks)
National Mental Health Month
National Osteoporosis Prevention Month ( brittle and fragile bone disease)
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Physiotherapy Month
National Stroke Awareness Month
National Toddler Immunization Month
National Tuberous Sclerosis Month
National Water Safety Month
Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month (genetic condition of Infants, slow growth, weakness)
Preeclampsia Awareness Month (a condition in pregnancy)
Strike Out Strokes Month
Tay-Sachs and Canavan Diseases Month (progressive deterioration of nerve cells )
Tourettes Syndrome Awareness (neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics)
Women's Health Care Month

Environmental
American Wetlands Month
Clean Air Month
Gardening for Wildlife Month

Other
APS Awareness Month (American Physical Society)
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Building Safety Month
Creative Beginnings Month
Drum Month (music)
Get Caught Reading Month
Golf Month
Haitian Heritage Month
International Audit Month
International Business Image Improvement Month
Latino Books Month
Motorcycle Safety Month
National Bike Month
National Foster Care Month
National Good Car Keeping Month
National Inventors Month
National Military Appreciation Month
National Photo Month
National Preservation Month (by The National Register of Historic Places)
National Smile Month
Older Americans Month
Personal History Month
Social Security Education Awareness Month
Tennis Month
Young Achievers of Tomorrow Month

Pets
Chip Your Pet Month
Go Fetch! Food Drive for Homeless Animals Month
National Pet Month
National Service Dog Eye Examination Month
Pet Cancer Awareness Month


May is:

May origin (from Wikipedia):
The month May was named for the Greek goddess Maia, who was identified with the Roman era goddess of fertility, Bona Dea, whose festival was held in May. Conversely, the Roman poet Ovid provides a second etymology, in which he says that the month of May is named for the maiores, Latin for 'elders,' and that the following month (June) is named for the iuniores, or 'young people'

May ' is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days.
May is a month of Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and spring in the Northern Hemisphere (Summer in Europe). Therefore May in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of November in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa. '

May 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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