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Today is March 12 2016

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   I.
Today's Holidays and Historical Events (updated daily)
Today's Food Holiday
  • National Baked Scallops Day: More
    From Wikipedia: ". 'Scallops are a cosmopolitan family of bivalves, found in all of the world's oceans, though never in freshwater. They are one of very few groups of bivalves to be primarily "free-living"; many species are capable of rapidly swimming short distances and even of migrating some distance across the ocean floor. A small minority of scallop species live cemented to rocky substrates as adults, while others are more simply attached by means of a filament they secrete called a byssal thread. The majority of species, however, live recumbent on sandy substrates, and when they sense the presence of a predator such as a starfish, they are able to escape by swimming swiftly but erratically through the water using a form of jet propulsion created by repeatedly clapping their shells together. '

    'In Galician cuisine, scallops are baked with bread crumbs, ham, and onions. In Japanese cuisine, scallops may be served in soup or prepared as sashimi or sushi. In a sushi bar, hotategai (???, ??) is the traditional scallop on rice, and while kaibashira (??) may be called scallops, it is actually the adductor muscle of any kind of shellfish, e.g., mussels, oysters, or clams. Dried scallop is known in Cantonese Chinese cuisine as conpoy (???, ??, ??). Smoked scallops are sometimes served as appetizers or as an ingredient in the preparation of various dishes and appetizers'.
Other celebrations/observances today:
  • National Plant a Flower Day: More
    It's that time of year.
  • National Girl Scout Day: More
    Founding day, in 1912, of the Girl Scouts of America. See 1912 in the history section.
  • International Fanny Pack Day: More
    Second Saturday of March. Since 2007 by Nick Yates.
  • Genealogy Day: More
    Saturday of Celebrate Your Name Week.
Awareness / Observance Days on: March 12
  • Health
    • Brain Day Dunedin: More
      By the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand. A focus on current brain disease research.
    • Disabled Access Day: More
      In Great Britain.
  • Other
    • World Day Against Cyber Censorship: More
      An online event to emphasize government censorship of the Internet.
    • Arbor Day in China and Taiwan: More
Events in the past on: March 12
  • In 1894, Coca-Cola is bottled and sold for the first time in Vicksburg, Mississippi, by local soda fountain operator Joseph Biedenharn.
    From Wikipedia: 'Joseph Augustus Biedenharn (December 13, 1866 – October 9, 1952) was an American businessman and confectioner credited in the summer of 1894 with having first bottled the soda fountain drink, Coca-Cola, at his wholesale candy company building in Vicksburg, Mississippi. As he expanded this business, he created a model of bottling-distributor franchises and built his company through this state, as well as Louisiana and Texas'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1912, The 'Girl Guide's (later renamed the 'Girl Scouts' of the USA) are founded in the United States.
    From Wikipedia: ". 'Girl Scouting in the United States of America began on March 12, 1912 when Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low organized the first Girl Guide troop meeting of 18 girls in Savannah, Georgia. It has since grown to 3.7 million members. Low, who had met Baden-Powell in London while she was living in the United Kingdom, dreamed of giving the United States and the world "something for all the girls." She envisioned an organization that would bring girls out of their homes to serve their communities, experience the out-of-doors, and have the opportunity to develop "self-reliance and resourcefulness." From its inception, the Girl Scouts has been organized and run exclusively by women, for girls and women'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt addresses the nation for the first time as President of the United States. This is also the first of his 'fireside chats.'.
    From Wikipedia: 'Fireside chats is the term used to describe a series of 30 evening radio addresses given by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt between 1933 and 1944. The fireside chats represent the first time in history that a chief executive communicated directly with a large number of citizens. Roosevelt spoke with familiarity to millions of Americans about the promulgation of the Emergency Banking Act in response to the banking crisis, the recession, New Deal initiatives, and the course of World War II. On radio, he was able to quell rumors and explain his policies comprehensibly. His tone and demeanor communicated self-assurance during times of despair and uncertainty. Roosevelt was one of radio's greatest communicators, and the fireside chats kept him in high public regard throughout his presidency'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1939, Artie Shaw and his band recorded 'Deep Purple'.
    From Wikipedia: '"Deep Purple" was the biggest hit written by pianist Peter DeRose, who broadcast, 1923 to 1939, with May Singhi as "The Sweethearts of the Air" on the NBC radio network. "Deep Purple" was published in 1933 as a piano composition. The following year, Paul Whiteman had it scored for his suave "big band" orchestra that was "making a lady out of jazz" in Whiteman's phrase. "Deep Purple" became so popular in sheet music sales that Mitchell Parish added lyrics in 1938:

    'Larry Clinton and His Orchestra recorded one of the most popular versions of the song on 23 December 1938. Featuring vocalist Bea Wain, the Clinton version was a huge hit. Released in January 1939 on Victor Records, the Clinton recording was number one on the U.S. popular music charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1939. The next most popular version was made by Artie Shaw with vocalist Helen Forrest. The song was also a top ten hit for Guy Lombardo in 1939. The song is a sentimental ballad. The tune was a favorite of Babe Ruth, and Peter DeRose performed the song at Ruth's birthday parties for about a decade'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1964, At the 6th Grammy Awards:
    -- Record of the Year is Henry Mancini for 'Days of Wine and Roses'.
      --- Days of Wine and Roses at Wikipedia: More
      --- Days of Wine and Roses on YouTube: More
    -- Album of the Year Barbra Streisand for 'The Barbra Streisand Album'.
    -- Song of the Year is 'Days of Wine and Roses' performed by Henry Mancini.
    -- Best New Artist is Ward Swingle for 'The Swingle Singers'.
    -- Best Comedy Performance is Allan Sherman for 'Hello Mudduh, Hello Faddah'.
    -- Best Country and Western Recording is Bobby Bare for 'Detroit City'.
    -- Best Folk Recording is Peter, Paul and Mary for 'Blowin' in the Wind'.
    -- Best Rock and Roll Recording April Stevens and Nino Tempo for 'Deep Purple'.
    -- Best Rhythm and Blues Recording is Ray Charles for 'Busted'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
  • In 1969, At the 11th Grammy Awards:
    -- Record of the Year is Simon and Garfunkel for 'Mrs. Robinson'.
      --- Mrs. Robinson at Wikipedia: More
      --- Mrs. Robinson on YouTube: More
    -- Album of the Year is Glen Campbell for 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix'.
    -- Song of the Year is 'Little Green Apples' performed by Roger Miller / O.C. Smith.
      --- Little Green Apples at Wikipedia: More
      --- Little Green Apples on YouTube: More
    -- Best New Artist is José Feliciano.
    -- Best Comedy Performance is Bill Cosby for 'To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With'.
    -- Best Country Song is 'Little Green Apples' performed by Roger Miller / O.C. Smith.
    -- Best Folk Performance is Judy Collins for 'Both Sides Now'.
    -- Best Rhythm and Blues Song is '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' performed by Otis Redding.
    - At Wikipedia: More
  • In 1985, At the 11th People's Choice Awards,
    -- Favorite Motion Picture is 'Beverly Hills Cop'.
    -- Favorite Motion Picture Actor is Clint Eastwood.
    -- Favorite Motion Picture Actress is Meryl Streep.
    -- Favorite All-Around Male Entertainer is Eddie Murphy, Tom Selleck.
    -- Favorite All-Around Female Entertainer is Barbara Mandrell.
    -- Favorite TV Comedy Program is 'The Cosby Show'.
    -- Favorite TV Dramatic Program is 'Dynasty'.
    -- Favorite Female TV Performer is Joan Collins, Linda Evans.
    -- Favorite Male TV Performer is Tom Selleck.
    -- Favorite New TV Comedy Program i s 'The Cosby Show'.
    -- Favorite New TV Dramatic Program is 'Miami Vice'.
    -- Favorite New Song is 'Purple Rain'.
    - At PeoplesChoice.com: More
  • In 1986, 'Les Miserables' moves to the Broadway Theater. It has a 17 year run.
    From Wikipedia: 'Set in early 19th-century France, it is the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant, and his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail for having stolen a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child. Valjean decides to break his parole and start his life anew after a kindly bishop inspires him by a tremendous act of mercy, but he is relentlessly tracked down by a police inspector named Javert. Along the way, Valjean and a slew of characters are swept into a revolutionary period in France, where a group of young idealists make their last stand at a street barricade'.

    'The musical opened as a pre-Broadway tryout at the Kennedy Center's Opera House in Washington D.C. on December 27, 1986. It ran for eight weeks through February 14, 1987.

    The musical then premiered on Broadway on March 12, 1987 at The Broadway Theatre. Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle reprised their roles from the London production. The $4.5 million production had a more than $4 million advance sale prior to its New York opening'.
    - At FamousDaily.com: More
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  II.
Henry's Heads Up! - previous days social media post (updated daily)

Tomorrw's food holiday is 'National Baked Scallops Day'.
From Wikipedia: ". 'Scallops are a cosmopolitan family of bivalves, found in all of the world's oceans, though never in freshwater. They are one of very few groups of bivalves to be primarily "free-living"; many species are capable of rapidly swimming short distances and even of migrating some distance across the ocean floor. A small minority of scallop species live cemented to rocky substrates as adults, while others are more simply attached by means of a filament they secrete called a byssal thread. The majority of species, however, live recumbent on sandy substrates, and when they sense the presence of a predator such as a starfish, they are able to escape by swimming swiftly but erratically through the water using a form of jet propulsion created by repeatedly clapping their shells together. '

'In Galician cuisine, scallops are baked with bread crumbs, ham, and onions. In Japanese cuisine, scallops may be served in soup or prepared as sashimi or sushi. In a sushi bar, hotategai (???, ??) is the traditional scallop on rice, and while kaibashira (??) may be called scallops, it is actually the adductor muscle of any kind of shellfish, e.g., mussels, oysters, or clams. Dried scallop is known in Cantonese Chinese cuisine as conpoy (???, ??, ??). Smoked scallops are sometimes served as appetizers or as an ingredient in the preparation of various dishes and appetizers'.
[The Hankster says] Baked or broiled are my favorites.


Other celebrations/observances tomorrow:

- 'National Plant a Flower Day'. It's that time of year.
[The Hankster says] No, plant several flowers.

- 'National Girl Scout Day'. Founding day, in 1912, of the Girl Scouts of America. See 1912 in the history section.
[The Hankster says] This brings up the nagging question. What did the US do for cookies, before 1912?

- International Fanny Pack Day'. Second Saturday of March. Since 2007 by Nick Yates.
[The Hankster says] Too hard to reach the trail mix.

- 'Genealogy Day'. Saturday of Celebrate Your Name Week.
[The Hankster says] Document that family history for yourself and your relatives.


Awareness / Observance Days on: March 12
o Health
- 'Brain Day Dunedin'. By the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand. A focus on current brain disease research.

- 'Disabled Access Day'. In Great Britain.

o Other
- 'World Day Against Cyber Censorship'. An online event to emphasize government censorship of the Internet.

- 'Arbor Day in China and Taiwan'.


Historical events in the past on: March 12

- In 1894, Coca-Cola is bottled and sold for the first time in Vicksburg, Mississippi, by local soda fountain operator Joseph Biedenharn. From Wikipedia: 'Joseph Augustus Biedenharn (December 13, 1866 – October 9, 1952) was an American businessman and confectioner credited in the summer of 1894 with having first bottled the soda fountain drink, Coca-Cola, at his wholesale candy company building in Vicksburg, Mississippi. As he expanded this business, he created a model of bottling-distributor franchises and built his company through this state, as well as Louisiana and Texas'.

- In 1912, The 'Girl Guide's (later renamed the 'Girl Scouts' of the USA) are founded in the United States. From Wikipedia: ". 'Girl Scouting in the United States of America began on March 12, 1912 when Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low organized the first Girl Guide troop meeting of 18 girls in Savannah, Georgia. It has since grown to 3.7 million members. Low, who had met Baden-Powell in London while she was living in the United Kingdom, dreamed of giving the United States and the world "something for all the girls." She envisioned an organization that would bring girls out of their homes to serve their communities,experience the out-of-doors, and have the opportunity to develop "self-reliance and resourcefulness." From its inception, the Girl Scouts has been organized and run exclusively by women, for girls and women'.

- In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt addresses the nation for the first time as President of the United States. This is also the first of his 'fireside chats.'. From Wikipedia: 'Fireside chats is the term used to describe a series of 30 evening radio addresses given by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt between 1933 and 1944. The fireside chats represent the first time in history that a chief executive communicated directly with a large number of citizens. Roosevelt spoke with familiarity to millions of Americans about the promulgation of the Emergency Banking Act in response to the banking crisis, the recession, New Deal initiatives, and the course of World WarII. On radio, he was able to quell rumors and explain his policies comprehensibly. His tone and demeanor communicated self-assurance during times of despair and uncertainty. Roosevelt was one of radio's greatest communicators, and the fireside chats kept him in high public regard throughout his presidency'.

- In 1939, Artie Shaw and his band recorded 'Deep Purple'. From Wikipedia: '"Deep Purple" was the biggest hit written by pianist Peter DeRose, who broadcast, 1923 to 1939, with May Singhi as "The Sweethearts of the Air" on the NBC radio network. "Deep Purple" was published in 1933 as a piano composition. The following year, Paul Whiteman had it scored for his suave "big band" orchestra that was "making a lady out of jazz" in Whiteman's phrase. "Deep Purple" became so popular in sheet music sales that Mitchell Parish added lyrics in 1938:

'Larry Clinton and His Orchestra recorded one of the most popular versions of the song on 23 December 1938. Featuring vocalist Bea Wain, the Clinton version was a huge hit. Released in January 1939 on Victor Records, the Clinton recording was number one on the U.S. popular music charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1939. The next most popular version was made by Artie Shaw with vocalist Helen Forrest. The song was also a top ten hit for Guy Lombardo in 1939. The song is a sentimental ballad. The tune was afavorite of Babe Ruth, and Peter DeRose performed the song at Ruth's birthday parties for about a decade'.

- In 1964, At the 6th Grammy Awards:
-- Record of the Year is Henry Mancini for 'Days of Wine and Roses'.
--- Days of Wine and Roses at Wikipedia'.
--- Days of Wine and Roses on YouTube'.
-- Album of the Year Barbra Streisand for 'The Barbra Streisand Album'.
-- Song of the Year is 'Days of Wine and Roses' performed by Henry Mancini.
-- Best New Artist is Ward Swingle for 'The Swingle Singers'.
-- Best Comedy Performance is Allan Sherman for 'Hello Mudduh, Hello Faddah'.
-- Best Country and Western Recording is Bobby Bare for 'Detroit City'.
-- Best Folk Recording is Peter, Paul and Mary for 'Blowin' in the Wind'.
-- Best Rock and Roll Recording April Stevens and Nino Tempo for 'Deep Purple'.
-- Best Rhythm and Blues Recording is Ray Charles for 'Busted'. - At Wikipedia'.

- In 1969, At the 11th Grammy Awards:
-- Record of the Year is Simon and Garfunkel for 'Mrs. Robinson'.
--- Mrs. Robinson at Wikipedia'.
--- Mrs. Robinson on YouTube'.
-- Album of the Year is Glen Campbell for 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix'.
-- Song of the Year is 'Little Green Apples' performed by Roger Miller / O.C. Smith.
--- Little Green Apples at Wikipedia'.
--- Little Green Apples on YouTube'.
-- Best New Artist is José Feliciano.
-- Best Comedy Performance is Bill Cosby for 'To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With'.
-- Best Country Song is 'Little Green Apples' performed by Roger Miller / O.C. Smith.
-- Best Folk Performance is Judy Collins for 'Both Sides Now'.
-- Best Rhythm and Blues Song is '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' performed by Otis Redding.

- In 1985, At the 11th People's Choice Awards,
-- Favorite Motion Picture is 'Beverly Hills Cop'.
-- Favorite Motion Picture Actor is Clint Eastwood.
-- Favorite Motion Picture Actress is Meryl Streep.
-- Favorite All-Around Male Entertainer is Eddie Murphy, Tom Selleck.
-- Favorite All-Around Female Entertainer is Barbara Mandrell.
-- Favorite TV Comedy Program is 'The Cosby Show'.
-- Favorite TV Dramatic Program is 'Dynasty'.
-- Favorite Female TV Performer is Joan Collins, Linda Evans.
-- Favorite Male TV Performer is Tom Selleck.
-- Favorite New TV Comedy Program i s 'The Cosby Show'.
-- Favorite New TV Dramatic Program is 'Miami Vice'.
-- Favorite New Song is 'Purple Rain'.

- In 1986, 'Les Miserables' moves to the Broadway Theater. It has a 17 year run. From Wikipedia: 'Set in early 19th-century France, it is the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant, and his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail for having stolen a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child. Valjean decides to break his parole and start his life anew after a kindly bishop inspires him by a tremendous act of mercy, but he is relentlessly tracked down by a police inspector named Javert. Along the way, Valjean and a slew of characters are swept into arevolutionary period in France, where a group of young idealists make their last stand at a street barricade'.

'The musical opened as a pre-Broadway tryout at the Kennedy Center's Opera House in Washington D.C. on December 27, 1986. It ran for eight weeks through February 14, 1987.

The musical then premiered on Broadway on March 12, 1987 at The Broadway Theatre. Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle reprised their roles from the London production. The $4.5 million production had a more than $4 million advance sale prior to its New York opening'.

 III.
Top Song & Movie 50 years ago today (last updated Mar 6 2016 next Mar 13 2016

No. 1 song

  • Ballad of the Green Beretsr - SSgt. Barry Sadle'
    On YouTube: More
    At Wikipedia: More
    'These Boots Are Made for Walkin' has been displaced by 'Ballad of the Green Beretsr', which will hold the no. 1 spot until Apr 2 1966, when '19th Nervous Breakdown - The Rolling Stones', takes over.
    From Wikipedia: '"The Ballad of the Green Berets" is a patriotic song in the ballad style about the Green Berets, an elite special force in the U.S. Army. It is one of the very few songs of the 1960s to cast the military in a positive light and in 1966 it became a major hit, reaching No. 1 for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and four weeks on Cashbox. It was also a crossover smash, reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart and No. 2 on Billboard's Country survey'.

Top movie

  • The Group
    At Wikipedia:  More
    On IMDb: More
    On YouTube (trailer): More
    Having displaced 'Harper', it will be there until the weekend box office of Mar 13 1966 when, 'Johnny Reno', takes over.
    From Wikipedia:' 'The Group is a 1966 ensemble film directed by Sidney Lumet based on the novel of the same name by Mary McCarthy about a group of female graduates from a Vassar-like college during the early 1930s'.
  IV.
Today in the Past (reference sites): March 12
   V.
This month March 2016 (updated once a month - last updated - March 1 2016)

Monthly holiday / awareness days in March

Food
National Frozen Food Month
National Noodle Month
National Nutrition Month
National Peanut Month

Health
Alport Syndrome Awareness Month
American Red Cross Month
Brain Injury Awareness Month
Colic Awareness Month
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Month
Endometriosis Month
Malignant Hypertension Awareness and Training Month
National Caffeine Awareness Month
National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
National Essential Tremor Awareness Month
National Eye Donor Month
National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month
National Kidney Month
Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Save Your Vision Month
Vascular Abnormalities Awareness Month
Workplace Eye Wellness Month

Animal / Pet
Adopt A Rescued Guinea Pig Month

Other
Credit Education Month
Employee Spirit Month
Expanding Girls' Horizons in Science and Engineering Month
Honor Society Awareness Month
Humorists Are Artists Month
International Expect Success Month
International Ideas Month
International Mirth Month
Irish-American Heritage Month
Mad for Plaid Month
Music In Our Schools Month
National Cheerleading Safety Month
National Craft Month
National Ethics Awareness Month
National Kite Month (3/28-5/3)
National March Into Literacy Month
National Social Work Month
National Umbrella Month
National Women's History Month
Optimism Month
Play The Recorder Month
Women's History Month
Youth Art Month


March is:

March origin (from Wikipedia):
'The name of March comes from Latin Martius, the first month of the earliest Roman calendar. It was named for Mars, the Roman god of war who was also regarded as a guardian of agriculture and an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus. '

March 'is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is one of seven months that are 31 days long. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March. The March equinox on the 20th or 21st marks the astronomical beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, where September is the seasonal equivalent of the Northern Hemisphere's March. '

March at Wikipedia: More

  VI.
TV fifty years ago 1966 (updated yearly - last updated Jan. 1 2016)

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 2016)

Best selling books of 1966 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

  • 2016 Postal Holidays More
  • 2016 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