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Today is October 1 2015

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

National Homemade Cookies Day: More

- World Vegetarian Day: More
Since 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society.

Other celebrations/observances today:
  • National Fire Pup Day: More
  • CD Player Day: More
    Release of the world's first commercial compact disc player, the CDP-101, in Japan on Oct 1, 1982.
  • Balloons Around the World Day: More
    Created by Jeff Brown in 2000 as a day to have fun with balloons and to emphasize their use in art.
Awareness / Observance Days on: October 1
  • Health
    • International Day of Older Persons: More
      A U.N. observance since 1950.
    • National Inherited Disorders Day: More
      In South Africa.
  • Animal and Pets
    • International Raccoon Appreciation Day: More
      Concerns understanding those animals that are often considered as just pests.
    • Walk Your Dog Week: More
      Started in 2010 by Celebrity Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal Advocate Colleen Paige.
    • Adopt-A-Dog Month: More
      By the American Humane Association.
  • Other
    • International Music Day: More
      Originally created by Lord Yehudi Menuhin, violinist and conductor. In 1949 it became a day of the International Music Council by UNESCO,
    • National Arbor Day in Bolivia: More
      Since 1995.
    • Children's Day in Guatemala and El Salvador: More
    • Children's Day in Sri Lanka: More
Events in the past on: October 1
  • In 1869, The first postcards are issued (Vienna).
    From Wikipedia: 'A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope. Shapes other than rectangular may also be used. There are novelty exceptions, such as wood postcards, made of thin wood, and copper postcards sold in the Copper Country of the U.S. state of Michigan, and coconut "postcards" from tropical islands.

    In some places, one can send a postcard for a lower fee than for a letter. Stamp collectors distinguish between postcards (which require a stamp) and postal cards (which have the postage pre-printed on them). While a postcard is usually printed by a private company, individual or organization, a postal card is issued by the relevant postal authority.

    The world's oldest postcard was sent in 1840 to the writer Theodore Hook from Fulham in London, England. The study and collecting of postcards is termed deltiology.

    Cards with messages had been sporadically created and posted by individuals since the beginning of postal services. The earliest known picture postcard was a hand-painted design on card, posted in Fulham in London to the writer Theodore Hook in 1840 bearing a penny black stamp. He probably created and posted the card to himself as a practical joke on the postal service, since the image is a caricature of workers in the post office. In 2002 the postcard sold for a record £31,750.

    In the United States, the custom of sending through the mail, at letter rate, a picture or blank card stock that held a message, began with a card postmarked in December 1848 containing printed advertising. The first commercially produced card was created in 1861 by John P. Charlton of Philadelphia, who patented a postal card, and sold the rights to Hymen Lipman, whose postcards, complete with a decorated border, were labeled "Lipman's postal card". These cards had no images.

    In Britain, postcards without images were issued by the Post Office in 1870, and were printed with a stamp as part of the design, which was included in the price of purchase. These cards came in two sizes. The larger size was found to be slightly too large for ease of handling, and was soon withdrawn in favour of cards 13mm (½ inch) shorter. The first known printed picture postcard, with an image on one side, was created in France in 1870 at Camp Conlie by Léon Besnardeau (1829–1914). Conlie was a training camp for soldiers in the Franco-Prussian war. The cards had a lithographed design printed on them containing emblematic images of piles of armaments on either side of a scroll topped by the arms of the Duchy of Brittany and the inscription "War of 1870. Camp Conlie. Souvenir of the National Defence. Army of Brittany". While these are certainly the first known picture postcards, there was no space for stamps and no evidence that they were ever posted without envelopes.

    In the following year the first known picture postcard in which the image functioned as a souvenir was sent from Vienna. The first advertising card appeared in 1872 in Great Britain and the first German card appeared in 1874. Cards showing images increased in number during the 1880s. Images of the newly built Eiffel Tower in 1889 and 1890 gave impetus to the postcard, leading to the so-called "golden age" of the picture postcard in years following the mid-1890s. Early postcards often showcased photography of nude women. These were commonly known as French postcards, due to the large number of them produced in France'.
    - At FamousDaily: More
    - At Wikipedia: More
  • In 1890, Yosemite National Park is established by the U.S. Congress.
    From Wikipedia: 'Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in the central eastern portion of the U.S. state of California. The park, which is managed by the National Park Service, covers an area of 747,956 acres (1,168.681 sq mi; 302,687 ha; 3,026.87 km2) and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. About 4 million people visit Yosemite each year: most spend the majority of their time in the seven square miles (18 km2) of Yosemite Valley. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, lakes, mountains, glaciers, and biological diversity. Almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness. Yosemite was central to the development of the national park idea. First, Galen Clark and others lobbied to protect Yosemite Valley from development, ultimately leading to President Abraham Lincoln's signing the Yosemite Grant in 1864. Later, John Muir led a successful movement to establish a larger national park encompassing not just the valley, but surrounding mountains and forests as well—paving the way for the United States national park system.

    Yosemite is one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada, and the park supports a diversity of plants and animals. The park has an elevation range from 2,127 to 13,114 feet (648 to 3,997 m) and contains five major vegetation zones: chaparral/oak woodland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, subalpine zone, and alpine. Of California's 7,000 plant species, about 50% occur in the Sierra Nevada and more than 20% within Yosemite. There is suitable habitat for more than 160 rare plants in the park, with rare local geologic formations and unique soils characterizing the restricted ranges many of these plants occupy.

    The geology of the Yosemite area is characterized by granitic rocks and remnants of older rock. About 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and then tilted to form its relatively gentle western slopes and the more dramatic eastern slopes. The uplift increased the steepness of stream and river beds, resulting in formation of deep, narrow canyons. About 1 million years ago, snow and ice accumulated, forming glaciers at the higher alpine meadows that moved down the river valleys. Ice thickness in Yosemite Valley may have reached 4,000 feet (1,200 m) during the early glacial episode. The downslope movement of the ice masses cut and sculpted the U-shaped valley that attracts so many visitors to its scenic vistas today.

    The name "Yosemite" (meaning "killer" in Miwok) originally referred to the name of a renegade tribe which was driven out of the area (and possibly annihilated) by the Mariposa Battalion. Before then the area was called "Ahwahnee" ("big mouth") by indigenous people'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
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  • In 1903, The first 'modern' baseball World Series is played. It was between the Boston Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
    From Wikipedia: 'After two years of bitter competition and player raiding (in 1902, the AL and NL champions even went so far as to challenge each other to a tournament in football after the end of the baseball season), the National and American Leagues made peace and, as part of the accord, several pairs of teams squared off for interleague exhibition games after the 1903 season. These series were arranged by the participating clubs, as the 1880s World's Series matches had been. One of them matched the two pennant winners, Pittsburg Pirates of the NL and Boston Americans (later known as the Red Sox) of the AL; that one is known as the 1903 World Series. It had been arranged well in advance by the two owners, as both teams were league leaders by large margins. Boston upset Pittsburg by five games to three, winning with pitching depth behind Cy Young and Bill Dinneen and with the support of the band of Royal Rooters. The Series brought much civic pride to Boston and proved the new American League could beat the Nationals'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
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  • In 1908, Ford puts the Model T car on the market at a price of US$825.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie, T-Model Ford, Model T, T, Leaping Lena, or flivver) is an automobile that was produced by Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, the car that opened travel to the common middle-class American; some of this was because of Ford's efficient fabrication, including assembly line production instead of individual hand crafting.

    The Ford Model T was named the most influential car of the 20th century in the 1999 Car of the Century competition, ahead of the BMC Mini, Citroën DS, and Volkswagen Type 1. With 16.5 million sold it stands eighth on the top ten list of most sold cars of all time as of 2012'.
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  • In 1919, World Series begins as a best of 9 affair, White Sox intentionally throw this series to satisfy gamblers (Black Sox Scandal).
    From Wikipedia: 'The Black Sox Scandal took place during the play of the 1919 World Series. The Chicago White Sox lost the series to the Cincinnati Reds, and eight White Sox players were later accused of intentionally losing games in exchange for money from gamblers. The players were acquitted in court but were nevertheless banned for life from baseball.

    Club owner Charles Comiskey was widely disliked by the players and was resented for his miserliness. Comiskey long had a reputation for underpaying his players, even though they were one of the top teams in the league and had already won the 1917 World Series. Because of baseball's reserve clause, any player who refused to accept a contract was prohibited from playing baseball on any other professional team. Because of the clause, players were prevented from changing teams without permission from their team, and without a union the players had no bargaining power. Comiskey was probably no worse than most owners—in fact, Chicago had the largest team payroll in 1919. In the era of the reserve clause, gamblers could find players on many teams looking for extra cash—and they did. In addition, the clubhouse was divided into two factions. One group resented the more straitlaced players (later called the "Clean Sox"), a group that included players like second baseman Eddie Collins, a graduate of Columbia College of Columbia University, catcher Ray Schalk, and pitcher Red Faber. By contemporary accounts, the two factions almost never spoke to each other on or off the field, and the only thing they had in common was a resentment of Comiskey.

    Third baseman George "Buck" Weaver was one of those who attended a meeting where a fix was discussed. However, he decided not to take part and played to the best of his ability during the series, batting .324 with 11 hits in 34 at-bats, which was higher than some of his batting averages in previous years. Weaver's career batting average was .272.

    A meeting of White Sox ballplayers—including those committed to going ahead and those just ready to listen—took place on September 21, in Chick Gandil's room at the Ansonia Hotel in New York. It was a meeting that would eventually shatter the careers of eight ballplayers, although whether all eight were actually in attendance is a matter of dispute. Weaver was the only player to attend the meetings who did not receive money. Nevertheless, he was later banned with the others for knowing about the fix but not reporting it.

    The rumors dogged the White Sox throughout the 1920 season as they battled the Cleveland Indians for the American League pennant, and stories of corruption touched players on other clubs as well. At last, in September 1920, a grand jury was convened to investigate; Eddie Cicotte and Shoeless Joe Jackson confessed their participation in the scheme to the grand jury on September 28'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1940, The Pennsylvania Turnpike, often considered the first superhighway in the United States, opens to traffic.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A controlled-access highway, it runs for 360 miles (580 km) across the state. The turnpike begins at the Ohio state line in Lawrence County, where the road continues west into Ohio as the Ohio Turnpike. It ends at the New Jersey border at the Delaware River–Turnpike Toll Bridge over the Delaware River in Bucks County, where it continues east as the Pearl Harbor Memorial Extension of the New Jersey Turnpike.

    During the 1930s the Pennsylvania Turnpike was designed to improve automobile transportation across the mountains of Pennsylvania, using seven tunnels built for the abandoned South Pennsylvania Railroad in the 1880s. The road opened on October 1, 1940 between Irwin and Carlisle as the first long-distance limited-access highway in the United States, leading to the construction of other limited-access toll roads and the Interstate Highway System'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
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  • In 1942, Little Golden Books (children's books) begins publishing.
    From Wikipedia: 'Little Golden Books is a popular series of inexpensive, well-illustrated, high-quality children's books. The eighth book in the series, The Poky Little Puppy, is the top-selling children's book of all time. Many of the Little Golden Books have become bestsellers, including The Poky Little Puppy, Tootle, Scuffy the Tugboat, and The Little Red Hen. Several of the illustrators for the Little Golden Books later became staples within the picture book industry, including Corinne Malvern, Tibor Gergely, Gustaf Tenggren, Feodor Rojankovsky, Richard Scarry, Eloise Wilkin, and Garth Williams.

    Many books in the Little Golden Books series deal with nature and science, Bible stories, nursery rhymes, and fairy tales. Christmas titles are popular every year. Some Little Golden Books and related products have featured popular children's icons from other media, e.g. Sesame Street, the Muppets, Disney, Looney Tunes, Barbie, Power Rangers, etc. Television and movie tie-ins have been particularly popular. Over the years Hopalong Cassidy, Cheyenne, Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, Captain Kangaroo, Mister Rogers, and even Donny and Marie Osmond have appeared in Little Golden Books. That many old titles remain in print shows the strong nostalgia appeal of the series.

    The series originated with Simon and Schuster; Western Printing and Lithographing Company in Racine, Wisconsin was Simon and Schuster's partner in the Little Golden Books venture, with Western handling the actual printing. Ownership and control of the series has changed several times since; Little Golden Books are currently published by Penguin Random House'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
  • In 1947, The North American F-86 Sabre flies for the first time.
    From Wikipedia: 'The North American F-86 Sabre, sometimes called the Sabrejet, is a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as the United States' first swept wing fighter that could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high-speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War (1950–1953). Considered one of the best and most important fighter aircraft in that war, the F-86 is also rated highly in comparison with fighters of other eras. Although it was developed in the late 1940s and was outdated by the end of the '50s, the Sabre proved versatile and adaptable, and continued as a front-line fighter in numerous air forces until the last active operational examples were retired by the Bolivian Air Force in 1994.

    Its success led to an extended production run of more than 7,800 aircraft between 1949 and 1956, in the United States, Japan and Italy. Variants were built in Canada and Australia. The Canadair Sabre added another 1,815 airframes, and the significantly redesigned CAC Sabre (sometimes known as the Avon Sabre or CAC CA-27), had a production run of 112. The Sabre was by far the most-produced Western jet fighter, with total production of all variants at 9,860 units'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
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  • In 1952, The TV show 'This is Your Life' began airing on NBC-TV. It ran from October 1, 1952 – 1961.
    From Wikipedia: 'This Is Your Life is an American Reality documentary series broadcast on NBC radio 1948 to 1952, and on NBC television 1952 to 1961. It was originally hosted by its creator and producer Ralph Edwards. In the show, the host would surprise guests and then proceed to take them through their lives in front of an audience. That included special guest appearances by colleagues, friends and family. Edwards revived the show in 1971-72, while Joseph Campanella hosted a version in 1983. Edwards returned for some specials in the late 1980s, before his death in 2005.

    The idea for This Is Your Life arose while Edwards was working on Truth or Consequences. He had been asked by the U.S. Army to "do something" for paraplegic soldiers at Birmingham General Hospital, a Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California Army rehabilitation hospital (a site later converted into a high school). Edwards chose a "particularly despondent young soldier and hit on the idea of presenting his life on the air, in order to integrate the wreckage of the present with his happier past and the promise of a hopeful future." Edwards received such positive public feedback from the "capsule narrative" of the soldier he gave on Truth or Consequences that he developed This Is Your Life as a new radio show. In the show, Edwards would surprise each guest by narrating a biography of the subject. The show "alternated in presenting the life stories of entertainment personalities and 'ordinary' people who had contributed in some way to their communities." The host, consulting his "red book", would narrate while presenting the subject with family members, friends, and others who had affected his or her life.

    By the 1950s, the show was aired live before a theater audience. The guests were surprised by Ralph Edwards and confronted by the microphone and cameras. They made their way to the studio during the first commercial break. Most of the honorees quickly got over their initial shock and enjoyed meeting bygone friends again, as with Don DeFore on May 6, 1953. Movie producer Mack Sennett's response was typical: he hated being caught off-guard, but as the tribute progressed he relaxed, and by the end of the show he was quite pleased with the experience.

    Planning for the broadcast meant that some would know in advance about the surprise. Carl Reiner later admitted that he knew beforehand about his appearance. In some cases the episode was not a surprise: Eddie Cantor had a heart condition, so the show's producers made sure that he was not surprised'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
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  • In 1955, The TV show 'The Honeymooners' premieres. It starred Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, Art Carney, Joyce Randolph. It ran for 1 season for 39 ep. from October 1, 1955 – September 22, 1956.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Honeymooners is an American sitcom, based on a recurring 1951–55 sketch of the same name. It originally aired on the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars, Jackie Gleason's variety show and subsequently on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show, which was filmed in front of a live audience. It debuted as a half-hour series on October 1, 1955. Although initially a ratings success—becoming the #2 show in the United States during its first season—it faced stiff competition from The Perry Como Show, and eventually dropped to #19, ending its production after only 39 episodes (now referred to as the "Classic 39"). The final episode of The Honeymooners aired on September 22, 1956. Creator/producer Jackie Gleason revived the series sporadically until 1978.The Honeymooners was one of the first U.S. television shows to portray working-class married couples in a gritty, non-idyllic manner (the show is set mostly in the Kramdens' kitchen, in a neglected Brooklyn apartment building). The program is also popular internationally, particularly in Canada, Poland and Scandinavian countries Norway and Sweden'.
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  • In 1958, NASA is created to replace NACA.
    From Wikipedia: 'The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research.

    President Dwight D. Eisenhower established NASA in 1958 with a distinctly civilian (rather than military) orientation encouraging peaceful applications in space science. The National Aeronautics and Space Act was passed on July 29, 1958, disestablishing NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The new agency became operational on October 1, 1958.

    Since that time, most US space exploration efforts have been led by NASA, including the Apollo moon-landing missions, the Skylab space station, and later the Space Shuttle. Currently, NASA is supporting the International Space Station and is overseeing the development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, the Space Launch System and Commercial Crew vehicles. The agency is also responsible for the Launch Services Program (LSP) which provides oversight of launch operations and countdown management for unmanned NASA launches.

    NASA science is focused on better understanding Earth through the Earth Observing System, advancing heliophysics through the efforts of the Science Mission Directorate's Heliophysics Research Program, exploring bodies throughout the Solar System with advanced robotic spacecraft missions such as New Horizons, and researching astrophysics topics, such as the Big Bang, through the Great Observatories and associated programs. NASA shares data with various national and international organizations such as from the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite'.
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  • In 1961, The United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is formed, becoming the country's first centralized military espionage organization.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is an external intelligence service of the United States specializing in defense and military intelligence. A component of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the United States Intelligence Community (IC), DIA informs national civilian and defense policymakers about the military intentions and capabilities of foreign governments and non-state actors. It also provides intelligence assistance, integration and coordination across uniformed military service intelligence components, which remain structurally separate from DIA. The agency's role encompasses the collection and analysis of military-related foreign political, economic, industrial, geographic, and medical and health intelligence. DIA produces approximately one-fourth of all intelligence content that goes into the President's Daily Brief.

    DIA's intelligence operations extend beyond the zones of combat, and approximately half of its employees serve overseas at hundreds of locations and U.S. Embassies in 140 countries. The agency specializes in collection and analysis of human-source intelligence (HUMINT), both overt and clandestine, while also handling American military-diplomatic relations abroad. DIA concurrently serves as the national manager for the highly technical measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) and the Defense Department manager for counterintelligence programs. The agency has no law enforcement authority, but it is sometimes portrayed so in American popular culture.

    DIA is a national-level intelligence organization that does not belong to a single military element or the traditional chain of command, instead answering to the Secretary of Defense directly through the USDI. Three-quarters of the agency's 17,000 employees are career civilians who are experts in various fields of Defense and military interest or application; although no formal military background is required, 48% of agency employees have some past military service. DIA has a tradition of marking unclassified deaths of its employees on the organization's Memorial Wall.

    Established in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy by Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, DIA has been involved in U.S. intelligence efforts throughout the Cold War and rapidly expanded, both in size and scope, since the September 11 attacks. Due to the sensitive nature of its work, the spy organization has been embroiled in numerous controversies, including those related to its intelligence-gathering activities, its role in torture, as well as attempts to expand its activities on U.S. soil'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
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  • In 1962, The TV comedy 'The Lucy Show' premieres. It starred Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance, Gale Gordon, Mary Jane Croft, Candy Moore, Ralph Hart, Jimmy Garrett. It ran for 6 seasons for 156 ep. from October 1, 1962 – March 11, 1968.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Lucy Show is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962–68. It was Lucille Ball's follow-up to I Love Lucy. A significant change in cast and premise for the 1965–66 season divides the program into two distinct eras; aside from Ball, only Gale Gordon, who joined the program for its second season, remained. For the first three seasons, Vivian Vance was the co-star.

    The earliest scripts were entitled The Lucille Ball Show, but when this title was rejected by CBS, producers thought of calling the show This Is Lucy or The New Adventures of Lucy, before deciding on the title The Lucy Show. Ball won consecutive Emmy Awards as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the series' final two seasons, 1966–67 and 1967–68'.
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  • In 1962, The TV show 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'. debuted. It ran for 30 seasons for 4,531 ep. from October 1, 1962 – May 22, 1992.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from October 1, 1962 through May 22, 1992.

    It originally aired during late-night. For its first decade, Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show was based at Thirty Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, with some episodes recorded at NBC-TV's West Coast studios in Burbank, California; on May 1, 1972, the show moved to Burbank as its main venue and remained there exclusively after May 1973 until Carson's retirement. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked No. 12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time and in 2013, it was ranked No. 22 on their list of 60 Best Series'.
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  • In 1971, Walt Disney World, Florida, opens.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Walt Disney World Resort is an entertainment complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando and Kissimmee. The resort is the flagship destination of Disney's worldwide corporate enterprise. Opened on October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World is the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an attendance of over 52 million people annually.

    Designed to supplement Disneyland in Anaheim, California, which had opened in 1955, the complex was developed by Walt Disney in the 1960s. "The Florida Project", as it was known, was intended to present a distinct vision with its own diverse set of rides. Walt Disney's original plans also called for the inclusion of an "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow" (Epcot), a planned community intended to serve as a test bed for new city living innovations. After extensive lobbying, the Government of Florida created the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special government district that essentially gave The Walt Disney Company the standard powers and autonomy of an incorporated city. Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966, before construction began. Without Disney spearheading the construction, the company created a resort similar to Disneyland, abandoning experimental concepts for a planned community'.
    - At FamousDaily: More
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  • In 1964, Japanese Shinkansen (bullet trains) begin high-speed rail service from Tokyo to Osaka.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Shinkansen (????, new trunk line) is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by five Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tokaido Shinkansen (515.4 km, 320.3 mi) in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of 2,764.6 km (1,717.8 mi) of lines with maximum speeds of 240–320 km/h (150–200 mph), 283.5 km (176.2 mi) of Mini-shinkansen lines with a maximum speed of 130 km/h (80 mph), and 10.3 km (6.4 mi) of spur lines with Shinkansen services. The network presently links most major cities on the islands of Honshu and Kyushu, and Hakodate on northern island of Hokkaido, with an extension to Sapporo under construction and scheduled to commence in March 2031. The nickname bullet train is sometimes used in English for these high-speed trains'.
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  • In 1971, The first brain-scan using x-ray computed tomography (CT or CAT scan) is performed at Atkinson Morley Hospital in Wimbledon, London.
    From Wikipedia: 'A CT scan makes use of computer-processed combinations of many X-ray images taken from different angles to produce cross-sectional (tomographic) images (virtual "slices") of specific areas of a scanned object, allowing the user to see inside the object without cutting.

    Digital geometry processing is used to generate a three-dimensional image of the inside of the object from a large series of two-dimensional radiographic images taken around a single axis of rotation. Medical imaging is the most common application of X-ray CT. Its cross-sectional images are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in various medical disciplines.

    The first commercially viable CT scanner was invented by Sir Godfrey Hounsfield in Hayes, United Kingdom, at EMI Central Research Laboratories using X-rays. Hounsfield conceived his idea in 1967. The first EMI-Scanner was installed in Atkinson Morley Hospital in Wimbledon, England, and the first patient brain-scan was done on 1 October 1971. It was publicly announced in 1972.

    The original 1971 prototype took 160 parallel readings through 180 angles, each 1° apart, with each scan taking a little over 5 minutes. The images from these scans took 2.5 hours to be processed by algebraic reconstruction techniques on a large computer. The scanner had a single photomultiplier detector, and operated on the Translate/Rotate principle'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
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  • In 1982, Sony launches the first consumer compact disc player (model CDP-101).
    From Wikipedia: 'In 1979 the Walkman brand was introduced, in the form of the world's first portable music player using the compact cassette format. Sony introduced the MiniDisc format in 1992 as an alternative to Philips DCC or Digital Compact Cassette and as a successor to the compact cassette. Since the introduction of MiniDisc, Sony has attempted to promote its own audio compression technologies under the ATRAC brand, against the more widely used MP3. Until late 2004, Sony's Network Walkman line of digital portable music players did not support the MP3 standard natively.

    In 2004, Sony built upon the MiniDisc format by releasing Hi-MD. Hi-MD allows the playback and recording of audio on newly introduced 1 GB Hi-MD discs in addition to playback and recording on regular MiniDiscs. In addition to saving audio on the discs, Hi-MD allows the storage of computer files such as documents, videos and photos'.
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  • In 1992, Cartoon Network begins broadcasting.
    From Wikipedia: 'Cartoon Network (abbreviated as CN) is an American basic cable and satellite television channel that is owned by Time Warner through the Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary. The channel airs primarily children's show - mostly animated programming, ranging from action to animated comedy. It was launched on October 1, 1992.

    It is primarily aimed at children and young teenagers between the ages of 7 to 15, and targets older teens and adults with mature content during its late night daypart Adult Swim, which is treated as a separate entity for promotional purposes and as a separate channel by Nielsen for ratings purposes. A Spanish language audio track for select programs is accessible via SAP; some cable and satellite companies offer the Spanish feed as a separate channel. It is also the related channel of Turner-owned Boomerang.

    As of February 2015, Cartoon Network is available to approximately 96.4 million pay television households (82.8% of households with television) in the United States'.
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  II.
Henry's Heads Up! - previous days social media post (updated daily)

In the US, the birth flower of October is Calendula/Marigold.
The bird stone for October is opal, aquamarine.

Two food holidays for tomorrow.
- 'National Homemade Cookies Day'.
[The Hankster says] Oh my, yes. Wait for it, wait for it, and a tall cold glass of milk.

- World Vegetarian Day'. Since 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society.
[The Hankster says] Cool If you don't use vegetable oil in those cookies, you can make and eat all you want, right? A three course cookie dinner is what I'm talking about.


Tomorrow is 'CD Player Day'. It celebrates the release of the world's first commercial compact disc player, the CDP-101, in Japan on Oct 1, 1982.

'Balloons Around the World Day'. Created by Jeff Brown in 2000 as a day to have fun with balloons and to emphasize their use in art.


Awareness / Observance Days on: October 1
o Health
- 'International Day of Older Persons'. A U.N. observance since 1950.

- 'National Inherited Disorders Day'. In South Africa.

o Animal and Pets
- 'International Raccoon Appreciation Day'. Concerns understanding those animals that are often considered as just pests.

- 'Walk Your Dog Week '. Started in 2010 by Celebrity Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal Advocate Colleen Paige.

- 'Adopt-A-Dog Month' By the American Humane Association.

o Other
- 'International Music Day', Originally created by Lord Yehudi Menuhin, violinist and conductor. In 1949 it became a day of the International Music Council by UNESCO,

- 'National Arbor Day in Bolivia'. Since 1995.

- 'Children's Day in Guatemala and El Salvador'.

- 'Children's Day in Sri Lanka'.


Historical events in the past on: October 1

In 1869, The first postcards are issued (Vienna).

In 1890, Yosemite National Park is established by the U.S. Congress.

In 1903, The first 'modern' baseball World Series is played. It was between the Boston Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 1908, Ford puts the Model T car on the market at a price of US$825.

In 1919, World Series begins as a best of 9 affair, White Sox intentionally throw this series to satisfy gamblers (Black Sox Scandal).

In 1920, Scientific American reports that radio will soon be used to transmit music to the home.

In 1940, The Pennsylvania Turnpike, often considered the first superhighway in the United States, opens to traffic.

In 1942, Little Golden Books (children books) begins publishing.

In 1947, The North American F-86 Sabre flies for the first time.

In 1952, The TV show 'This is Your Life' began airing on NBC-TV. It ran from October 1, 1952 – 1961.

In 1955, The TV show 'The Honeymooners' premieres. It starred Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, Art Carney, Joyce Randolph. It ran for 1 season for 39 ep. from October 1, 1955 – September 22, 1956.

In 1958, NASA is created to replace NACA.

In 1961, The United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is formed, becoming the country's first centralized military espionage organization.

In 1962, The TV comedy 'The Lucy Show' premieres. It starred Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance, Gale Gordon, Mary Jane Croft, Candy Moore, Ralph Hart, Jimmy Garrett. It ran for 6 seasons for 156 ep. from October 1, 1962 – March 11, 1968.

In 1962, The TV show 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson' debuted. It ran for 30 seasons for 4,531 ep. from October 1, 1962 – May 22, 1992.

In 1971, Walt Disney World, Florida, opens.

In 1964, Japanese Shinkansen (bullet trains) begin high-speed rail service from Tokyo to Osaka.

In 1971, The first brain-scan using x-ray computed tomography (CT or CAT scan) is performed at Atkinson Morley Hospital in Wimbledon, London.

In 1982, Sony launches the first consumer compact disc player (model CDP-101).

In 1992, Cartoon Network begins broadcasting.

 III.
Top Song & Movie 50 years ago today (last updated Sep 26 2015 next Oct 2 2015

No. 1 song

  • Eve of Destruction - Barry McGuire: More
    'Like a Rolling Stone' has been displaced by 'Eve of Destruction', which will hold the no. 1 spot until October 2 1965, when 'Hang on Sloopy - The McCoys', takes over.

Top movie

  • How to Murder Your Wife More
    Having displaced 'Once a Thief', it will be there until the weekend box office of Oct 3 1965 when, 'Mickey One', takes over.
  IV.
Today in the Past (reference sites): October 1
   V.
This month October 2015 (updated once a month - last updated - October 1 2015)

Monthly holiday / awareness days in October

Adopt a Dog Month
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
American Cheese Month
American Magazine Month
American Pharmacists Month
Antidepressant Death Awareness Month
Bat Appreciation Month
Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
Campaign for Healthier Babies Month
Car Care Month
Celebrating the Bilingual Child Month
Celiac Disease Awareness Month
Celiac Sprue Awareness Month
Child Health Month
Children's Magazine Month
Christmas Seal Campaign Church Library Month
Church Safety and Security Month
Class Reunion Month
Clergy Appreciation Month
Computer Learning Month
Consumer Information Month
Cookbook Month
Co-op Awareness Month
Country Music Month
Crime Prevention Month
Cut Out Dissection Month
Dollhouse and Miniatures Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Eat Better, Eat Together Month
Eat Country Ham Month
Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month
Emotional Wellness Month
Employee Ownership Month
Energy Awareness Month
Energy Management is a Family Affair - Improve Your Home Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month
Fair Trade Month
Family Health Month
Feral Hog Month
or Hog Out Month
Financial Planning Month
Fire Prevention Month
Gay and Lesbian History Month
German-American Heritage Month
Global Diversity Awareness Month
Go Hog Wild-Eat Country Ham Month
Halloween Safety Month
Head Start Awareness Month
Health Literacy Month
Healthy Lung Month
Home Eye Safety Month
Hunger Awareness Month
International Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) International Starman Month
International Strategic Planning Month
Long-Term Care Planning Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month
Mental Illness Awareness Month
Month
of Freethought National AIDS Awareness Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Apple Month
National Applejack Month
National Audiology Awareness Month
National Bake and Decorate Month
National Book Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
National Caramel Month
National Chili Month
National Chiropractic Health Month
National Cookie Month
National Crime Prevention Month
National Cyber Security Awareness Month
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Depression Education and Awareness Month
National Dessert Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
National Ergonomics Month
National Family Sexuality Education Month
- Let's Talk National Farm to School Month
National Gain the Inside Advantage Month
National Go on a Field Trip Month
National Kitchen and Bath Month
National Liver Awareness Month
National Medical Librarians Month
National Orthodontic Health Month
National Pasta Month
National Pet Wellness Month
National Physical Therapy Month
National Pickled Peppers Month
National Pit Bull Awareness Month
National Pizza Month
National Popcorn Month
National Popcorn Poppin' Month
National Pork Month
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
National Pretzel Month
National Protect Your Hearing Month
National Reading Group Month
National Roller Skating Month
National RSV Awareness Month
National Sarcastic Awareness Month
National Seafood Month
National Service Dog Month
National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
National Spinning and Weaving Month
National Stamp Collecting Month
National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month
National Window Covering Safety Month
National Work and Family Month
Organize Your Medical Information Month
Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month
Pear and Pineapple Month
Persimmons Month
Photographer Appreciation Month
Polish-American Heritage Month
Positive Attitude Month
Quality Month
Raptor Month
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
Rhizomes Month
Right Brainers Rule Month
Sausage Month
Self-Promotion Month
Sexuality Education Month
SIDS, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
Spina Bifida Prevention Month
Spinach Lovers Month
Spinal Health Month
Squirrel Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Month
Tackling Hunger Month
Talk about Prescriptions Month
UNICEF Month
Vegetarian Awareness Month
Vegetarian Month
Wishbones for Pets Month
Workplace Politics Awareness Month
World Animal Month
World Blindness Awareness Month
World Menopause Month
Youth Against Tobacco Month



October is:

October origin (from Wikipedia): October is the tenth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days. The eighth month in the old Roman calendar, October retained its name (from the Greek meaning 'eight') after January and February were inserted into the calendar that had originally been created by the Romans. "
October is commonly associated with the season of autumn in the Northern hemisphere and spring in the Southern hemisphere, where it is the seasonal equivalent to April in the Northern hemisphere and vice versa.

October 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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