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Today is September 11 2016

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Today's Holidays and Historical Events (updated daily)
Today's Food Holiday
  • National Hot Cross Bun Day: More
    A sweet spicy bun baked with currants or raisins an topped with a cross of icing.
    - From Wikipedia (Hot cross bun): 'A hot cross bun is a spiced sweet bun made with currants or raisins, marked with a cross on the top, and traditionally eaten on Good Friday in Australia, British Isles, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and some parts of America. The buns mark the end of Lent and different parts of the hot cross bun have a certain meaning, including the cross representing the crucifixion of Jesus, and the spices inside signifying the spices used to embalm him at his burial. They are now available all year round in some places. Hot cross buns may go on sale in Australia and New Zealand as early as New Year's Day or after Christmas'.
Other celebrations/observances today:
  • Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance: More
    Remembrance of the 9/11 attacks in the U.S.A. First established on October 23 2001, by the U.S. House of Representatives Joint Resolution 71. Then on December 18 2001, the president designated September 11 of each year as 'Patriot Day', Public Law 107-89. Then in 2010 a proclamation renamed the day as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance.
    - From Wikipedia (): 'In the United States, Patriot Day, observed as the National Day of Service and Remembrance, occurs on September 11 of each year in memory of the 2,977 people killed in the 2001 September 11 attacks.

    In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, President George W. Bush, proclaimed Friday September 14, 2001, as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001.

    A bill to make September 11 a national day of mourning was introduced in the U.S. House on October 25, 2001, by Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY) with 22 co-sponsors, among them eleven Democrats and eleven Republicans. The bill requested that the President designate September 11 of each year as Patriot Day. Joint Resolution 71 passed the House by a vote of 407–0, with 25 members not voting. The bill passed the Senate unanimously on November 30. President Bush signed the resolution into law on December 18 as Pub.L. 107–89 . On September 4, 2002, President Bush used the authority of the resolution to proclaim September 11, 2002, as the first Patriot Day.

    In observance of Pub.L. 111–13 , the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, each year since 2009 President Barack Obama has (by presidential proclamation) designated September 11 as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance'.
  • National Make Your Bed Day: More
    Can't find the creator, so you have your choice. It is a reminder to make that bed each morning or it is a time to make that nebulous idea a reality and stick to it (make your bed and lie in it)
  • I Want to Start My Own Business Day: More
    Not for everyone, but it's your chance if you have been thinking about it.
  • National No News Is Good News Day: More
    Drop the news media for a day.
  • National Grandparent’s Day: More
    Sunday after Labor Day. Since 1978.
    - From Wikipedia (National Grandparents Day): 'National Grandparents Day is a secular holiday celebrated in the United States since 1978 and officially recognized in a number of countries on various days of the year, either as one holiday or sometimes as a separate Grandmothers' Day and Grandfathers' Day (for the first time Grandma's Day was celebrated in Poland in 1965,see below for dates by country). One celebrates both paternal and maternal grandparents.

    Marian McQuade of Oak Hill, West Virginia, has been recognized nationally by the United States Senate – in particular by Senators Jennings Randolph; and Robert Byrd – and by President Jimmy Carter, as the founder of National Grandparents Day. McQuade made it her goal to educate the youth in the community about the important contributions seniors have made throughout history. She also urged the youth to "adopt" a grandparent, not just for one day a year, but rather for a lifetime.

    In 1973, Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WV) introduced a resolution to the senate to make Grandparents' Day a national holiday. West Virginia's Governor Arch Moore had proclaimed an annual Grandparents' Day for the state, at the urging of Marian McQuade. When Senator Randolph's resolution in the U.S. Senate died in committee, Marian McQuade organized supporters and began contacting governors, senators, and congressmen in all fifty states. She urged each state to proclaim their own Grandparents' Day. Within three years, she had received Grandparents' Day proclamations from forty-three states. She sent copies of the proclamations to Senator Randolph.

    In February 1977, Senator Randolph, with the concurrence of many other senators, introduced a joint resolution to the senate requesting the president to "issue annually a proclamation designating the first Sunday of September after Labor Day of each year as 'National Grandparents' Day'." Congress passed the legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents' Day and, on August 3, 1978, then-President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation. The statute cites the day's purpose: "...to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer"'.
Awareness / Observance Days on: September 11
  • Health
    • Kidney Health Research Walk: More
      In Australia. By Kidney Health Australia
    • Disability Action Week: More
      September 11-17 in Australia.
  • Animal and Pets
    • National Pet Memorial Day – Second Sunday in September: More
      By the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories..
    • National Hug Your Hound Day: More
      Second Sunday in September. Created by Ami Moore. A focus on accepting dogs in public places.
  • Other
    • Sustainable House Day in Australia: More
      A focus on energy efficiency and sustainable living.
    • Emergency Number Day: More
      A 1987 presidential proclamation concerning the United States public safety communication. The 9-1-1 call sequence became official in 1968 but not widely used until the 1970's.
Events in the past on: September 11
  • In 1847, Stephen Foster's song 'Oh! Susanna' is first performed at a saloon in Pittsburgh.
    From Wikipedia: '"Oh! Susanna" is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster (1826–1864), first published in 1848. It is among the most popular American songs ever written. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

    In 1846, Stephen Foster moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and became a bookkeeper with his brother's steamship company. While in Cincinnati, Foster wrote "Oh! Susanna", possibly for his men's social club. The song was first performed by a local quintet at a concert in Andrews' Eagle Ice Cream Saloon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 1847. It was first published by W. C. Peters and Co. in Cincinnati in 1848. Other minstrel troupes performed the work, and, as was common at the time, many registered the song for copyright under their own names. As a result, it was copyrighted and published at least 21 times from February 25, 1848, through February 14, 1851. Foster earned just $100 ($2,653 in 2012 dollars) for the song, but its popularity led the publishing firm Firth, Pond and Company to offer him a royalty rate of two cents per copy of sheet music sold, convincing him to become America's first fully professional songwriter.

    The name Susanna may refer to Foster's deceased sister Charlotte, whose middle name was Susannah. There are however others that dispute that.

    The song blends together a variety of musical traditions. The opening line refers to "a banjo on my knee", but the song takes its beat from the polka, which had just reached the U.S. from Europe. Glenn Weiser suggests the song was influenced by an existing work, "Rose of Alabama" (1846), with which it shares some similarities in lyrical theme and musical structure.

    The first two phrases of the melody are based on the major pentatonic scale.

    The lyrics are largely nonsense, as characterized by lines such as "It rain'd all night the day I left, The weather it was dry, The sun so hot I froze to death..." (first verse) and "I shut my eyes to hold my breath..." (second verse). It is one of the few songs by Foster that use the word "nigger" (others are "Old Uncle Ned" and "Oh! Lemuel", both also among Foster's early works), ,,'
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube (not the original verses): More
  • In 1903, The first race at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin is held. It is the oldest major speedway in the world.
    From Wikipedia: 'The track was a 1 mile (1.6 km) private horse racing track by 1876. In 1891, the site was purchased by the Agricultural Society of the State of Wisconsin to create a permanent site for the Wisconsin State Fair (which it still is).

    The first motorsports event was held on September 11, 1903. William Jones of Chicago won a five lap speed contest, and set the first track record with a 72-second, 50 mph (80 km/h) lap. There were 24-hour endurance races in 1907 and 1908. Louis Disbrow won the first 100-mile (160 km) event in 1915, averaging 62.5 mph (100.6 km/h)'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
  • In 1961, The World Wildlife Fund is founded.
    From Wikipedia: 'The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961, working in the field of the wilderness preservation, and the reduction of humanity's footprint on the environment. It was formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States.

    It is the world's largest conservation organization with over 5 million supporters worldwide, working in more than 100 countries, supporting around 1,300 conservation and environmental projects. WWF is a foundation, with 55% of funding from individuals and bequests, 19% from government sources (such as the World Bank, DFID, USAID) and 8% from corporations in 2014.

    The group's mission is "to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature." Currently, much of its work focuses on the conservation of three biomes that contain most of the world's biodiversity: oceans and coasts, forests, and freshwater ecosystems. Among other issues, it is also concerned with endangered species, sustainable production of commodities and climate change'.
    - At FamousDaily: More
    - At Wikipedia: More
  • In 1961, Hurricane Carla strikes the Texas coast as a Category 4 hurricane, the second strongest storm ever to hit the state.
    From Wikipedia: 'Hurricane Carla ranks as the most intense U.S. tropical cyclone landfall on the Hurricane Severity Index. The third named storm and first Category 5 hurricane of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season, Carla developed from an area of squally weather in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on September 3. Initially a tropical depression, it strengthened slowly while heading northwestward, and by September 5, the system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Carla. About 24 hours later, Carla was upgraded to a hurricane. Shortly thereafter, the storm curved northward while approaching the Yucatán Channel. Late on September 7, Carla entered the Gulf of Mexico while passing just northeast of the Yucatán Peninsula. By early on the following day, the storm became a major hurricane after reaching Category 3 intensity. Resuming its northwestward course, Carla continued intensification and on September 11, it was upgraded to a Category 5 hurricane. Later that day, Carla weakened slightly, but was still a large and intense hurricane when the storm made landfall near Port O'Connor, Texas. It weakened quickly inland and was reduced to a tropical storm on September 12. Heading generally northward, Carla transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 13, while centered over southern Oklahoma. Rapidly moving northeastward, Carla's remnants reached the Labrador Sea, Canada and dissipated on September 17, 1961.

    While crossing the Yucatán Channel, the outer bands of Carla brought gusty winds and severe local flooding in western Cuba and the Yucatán Peninsula, though no damage or fatalities were reported. Although initially considered a significant threat to Florida, the storm brought only light winds and small amounts of precipitation, reaching no more than 3.15 in (80 mm). In Texas, wind gusts as high as 170 mph (280 km/h) were observed in Port Lavaca. Additionally, several tornadoes spawned in the state caused notable impacts, with the most destructive twister resulting in 200 buildings severely damaged, of which at least 60 were destroyed, and 8 deaths and 55 injuries. Throughout the state, Carla destroyed 1,915 homes, 568 farm buildings, and 415 other buildings. Additionally, 50,723 homes, 5,620 farm buildings, and 10,487 other buildings suffered damage. There were 34 fatalities and at least $300 million (1961 USD) in losses in Texas alone. Several tornadoes also touched down in Louisiana, causing the destruction of 140 homes and 11 farms and other buildings, and major damage to 231 additional homes and 11 farm and other buildings. Minor to moderate damage was also reported to 748 homes and 75 farm and other buildings. Six deaths and $25 million in losses in Louisiana were attributed to Carla. Heavy rainfall occurred in several other states, especially in Kansas, where flash flooding severely damaged crops and drowned 5 people. Overall, Carla resulted in $325.74 million in losses and 43 fatalities'
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1967, The Carol Burnett Show premiered on CBS.
    From Wikipedia: 'The Carol Burnett Show (also Carol Burnett and Friends in syndication) is an American variety/sketch comedy television show starring Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner. In 1975, frequent guest star Tim Conway became a regular when Waggoner left this show due to a mutual agreement with the producer about the series not having reruns. In 1977, Dick Van Dyke replaced Korman for much of its final season. The show originally ran on CBS from September 11, 1967, to March 29, 1978, for 279 episodes, and again with nine episodes in the fall of 1991. The series originated in CBS Television City's Studio 33 and won 25 prime-time Emmy Awards, was ranked No. 16 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time in 2002, and in 2007 was listed as one of Time magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All Time".

    In 2013, TV Guide ranked The Carol Burnett Show No. 17 on their list of the 60 Greatest Shows of All Time'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1970, The last 'Get Smart' episode aired on CBS-TV. It ran from September 18, 1965, to September 11, 1970.
    From Wikipedia: 'Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre released on September 18, 1965. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show stars Don Adams (as Maxwell Smart, Agent 86), Barbara Feldon (as Agent 99), and Edward Platt (as Thaddeus, the Chief). Henry said they created the show by request of Daniel Melnick, who was a partner, along with Leonard Stern and David Susskind, of the show's production company, Talent Associates, to capitalize on "the two biggest things in the entertainment world today"—James Bond and Inspector Clouseau. Brooks said: "It's an insane combination of James Bond and Mel Brooks comedy."

    During the show's run, it generated a number of popular catchphrases, including "Would you believe...", "Missed it by that much!", "Sorry about that, Chief", "The Old (such-and-such) Trick", "And... loving it", and "I asked you not to tell me that".

    The show was followed by the films The Nude Bomb (a theatrical release) and Get Smart, Again! (a made-for-TV sequel to the series), as well as a 1995 revival series, and a 2008 film remake. In 2010, TV Guide ranked Get Smart's opening title sequence at No. 2 on its list of TV's Top 10 Credits Sequences as selected by readers.

    The show ended its 4½-year run on May 15, 1970, having a total of 5 seasons and 138 episodes'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube (Cone of Silence): More
  • In 1974, 'Little House On The Prairie' made its television debut. It ran through the 1983 season.
    From Wikipedia: 'Little House on the Prairie is an American western drama television series, starring Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert, and Karen Grassle, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show is an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books. Television producer and NBC executive Ed Friendly became aware of the story in the early 1970s. He asked Michael Landon to direct the pilot movie. Landon agreed on the condition that he could also play Charles Ingalls.

    The regular series was preceded by the two-hour pilot movie, which first aired on March 30, 1974. The series premiered on the NBC network on September 11, 1974, and last aired on May 10, 1982. During the 1982–83 television season, with the departure of Landon and Grassle, the series was broadcast with the new title Little House: A New Beginning.

    In 1997, TV Guide ranked the two-part episode "I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away" at 97 on its 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time list'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1995, Janet Jackson's 'Runaway' made history by becoming the first single by a woman to make its debut in the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100.
    From Wikipedia: '"Runaway" is a song recorded by American singer Janet Jackson for her first greatest hits album, Design of a Decade: 1986–1996 (1995). Written and produced by Jackson and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the track was released as the album's lead single on August 29, 1995, by A and M Records

    "Runaway" was created to be a possible duet with Jackson's brother Michael Jackson, but they chose "Scream" instead. "Runaway" blends hard pop-hip hop beats with influences from African and Asian music, and has a similar sound to her previous hits "Escapade" and "Whoops Now". Towards the end of the song, Jackson breaks the fourth wall with the lyric, "Ooh, didn't quite hit the note/That wasn't such a good time". Africa, Nairobi, Tuscany, Australia, Mexico, Spain, and Paris are mentioned in the song'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 1997, NASA's Mars Global Surveyor reaches Mars. It goes into a polar orbit, mapping the same region over and over, looking for changes. It operated for a few days less than 10 years and provided information for future Mars probes and landers.
    From Wikipedia: 'Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) was an American robotic spacecraft developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and launched November 1996. Mars Global Surveyor was a global mapping mission that examined the entire planet, from the ionosphere down through the atmosphere to the surface. As part of the larger Mars Exploration Program, Mars Global Surveyor performed monitoring relay for sister orbiters during aerobraking, and it helped Mars rovers and lander missions by identifying potential landing sites and relaying surface telemetry.

    It completed its primary mission in January 2001 and was in its third extended mission phase when, on 2 November 2006, the spacecraft failed to respond to messages and commands. A faint signal was detected three days later which indicated that it had gone into safe mode. Attempts to recontact the spacecraft and resolve the problem failed, and NASA officially ended the mission in January 2007'.
    - At FamousDaily: More
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  • In 2001, Two hijacked aircraft crash into the World Trade Center in New York City, while a third smashes into The Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, and a fourth into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in a series of coordinated suicide attacks by 19 members of al-Qaeda. In total 2,996 people are killed.
    From Wikipedia: 'The September 11 attacks (also referred to as 9/11) were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda on the United States on the morning of September 11, 2001. The attacks killed 2,996 people and injured over 6,000 others and caused at least $10 billion in property and infrastructure damage and $3 trillion in total costs.

    Four passenger airliners operated by two major U.S. passenger air carriers (United Airlines and American Airlines)—all of which departed from airports on the northeastern United States bound for California—were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists, losing one of their passports in the WTC area. Two of the planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. Within an hour and 42 minutes, both 110-story towers collapsed, with debris and the resulting fires causing partial or complete collapse of all other buildings in the World Trade Center complex, including the 47-story 7 World Trade Center tower, as well as significant damage to ten other large surrounding structures. A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon (the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense) in Arlington County, Virginia, leading to a partial collapse of the building's western side. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, initially was steered toward Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers tried to overcome the hijackers. It was the deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the history of the United States, with 343 and 72 killed respectively.

    Suspicion for the attack quickly fell on al-Qaeda. The United States responded to the attacks by launching the War on Terror and invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, which had harbored al-Qaeda. Many countries strengthened their anti-terrorism legislation and expanded the powers of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to prevent terrorist attacks. Although al-Qaeda's leader, Osama bin Laden, initially denied any involvement, in 2004 he claimed responsibility for the attacks. Al-Qaeda and bin Laden cited U.S. support of Israel, the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, and sanctions against Iraq as motives. Having evaded capture for almost a decade, bin Laden was located and killed by SEAL Team Six of the U.S. military in May 2011.

    The destruction of the World Trade Center and nearby infrastructure caused serious damage to the economy of Lower Manhattan and had a significant effect on global markets, closing Wall Street until September 17 and the civilian airspace in the U.S. and Canada until September 13. Many closings, evacuations, and cancellations followed, out of respect or fear of further attacks. Cleanup of the World Trade Center site was completed in May 2002, and the Pentagon was repaired within a year. On November 18, 2006, construction of One World Trade Center began at the World Trade Center site. The building was officially opened on November 3, 2014. Numerous memorials have been constructed, including the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington County, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania'.
    - At Wikipedia: More
    - On YouTube: More
  II.
Henry's Heads Up! - previous days social media post (updated daily)

<> Tomorrow's food holidays(s):


* 'National Hot Cross Bun Day'. . A sweet spicy bun baked with currants or raisins an topped with a cross of icing. - From Wikipedia (Hot cross bun): 'A hot cross bun is a spiced sweet bun made with currants or raisins, marked with a cross on the top, and traditionally eaten on Good Friday in Australia, British Isles, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and some parts of America. The buns mark the end of Lent and different parts of the hot cross bun have a certain meaning, including the cross representing the crucifixion of Jesus, and the spices inside signifying the spices used to embalm him at his burial. They are now available all year round in some places. Hot cross buns may go on sale in Australia and New Zealand as early as New Year's Day or after Christmas'.
[The Hankster says] It seems like, that for the first meal of the day, you would rather have a warm-tempered bun. Why not .. hang on a minute ...I've just been informed that the hot is from baking and the cross is not a state of bad temper. Never mind, enjoy your bun.


<> Other holidays / celebrations


* 'Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance'. Remembrance of the 9/11 attacks in the U.S.A. First established on October 23 2001, by the U.S. House of Representatives Joint Resolution 71. Then on December 18 2001, the president designated September 11 of each year as 'Patriot Day', Public Law 107-89. Then in 2010 a proclamation renamed the day as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. - From Wikipedia (): 'In the United States, Patriot Day, observed as the National Day of Service and Remembrance, occurs on September 11 of each year in memory of the 2,977 people killed in the 2001 September 11 attacks.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, President George W. Bush, proclaimed Friday September 14, 2001, as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001.

A bill to make September 11 a national day of mourning was introduced in the U.S. House on October 25, 2001, by Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY) with 22 co-sponsors, among them eleven Democrats and eleven Republicans. The bill requested that the President designate September 11 of each year as Patriot Day. Joint Resolution 71 passed the House by a vote of 407–0, with 25 members not voting. The bill passed the Senate unanimously on November 30. President Bush signed the resolution into law on December 18 as Pub.L. 107–89 . On September 4, 2002, President Bush used the authority of the resolution to proclaim September 11, 2002, as the first Patriot Day.

In observance of Pub.L. 111–13 , the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, each year since 2009 President Barack Obama has (by presidential proclamation) designated September 11 as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance'.


* 'National Make Your Bed Day'.
[The Hankster says] Can't find the creator, so you have your choice. It is a reminder to make that bed each morning or it is a time to make that nebulous idea a reality and stick to it (make your bed and lie in it)


* 'I Want to Start My Own Business Day'.
[The Hankster says] Not for everyone, but it's your chance if you have been thinking about it.


* 'National No News Is Good News Day'. Drop the news media for a day.
[The Hankster says] You would be surprised how more contented you will feel a the end of the day. If the world ends and you missed it on the 6 o'clock news, it won't matter, now will it?


* 'National Grandparent’s Day'. Sunday after Labor Day. Since 1978. - From Wikipedia (National Grandparents Day): 'National Grandparents Day is a secular holiday celebrated in the United States since 1978 and officially recognized in a number of countries on various days of the year, either as one holiday or sometimes as a separate Grandmothers' Day and Grandfathers' Day (for the first time Grandma's Day was celebrated in Poland in 1965). One celebrates both paternal and maternal grandparents.

Marian McQuade of Oak Hill, West Virginia, has been recognized nationally by the United States Senate – in particular by Senators Jennings Randolph and Robert Byrd – and by President Jimmy Carter, as the founder of National Grandparents Day. McQuade made it her goal to educate the youth in the community about the important contributions seniors have made throughout history. She also urged the youth to adopt a grandparent, not just for one day a year, but rather for a lifetime.

In 1973, Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WV) introduced a resolution to the senate to make Grandparents' Day a national holiday. West Virginia's Governor Arch Moore had proclaimed an annual Grandparents' Day for the state, at the urging of Marian McQuade. When Senator Randolph's resolution in the U.S. Senate died in committee, Marian McQuade organized supporters and began contacting governors, senators, and congressmen in all fifty states. She urged each state to proclaim their own Grandparents' Day. Within three years, she had received Grandparents' Day proclamations from forty-three states. She sent copies of the proclamations to Senator Randolph.

In February 1977, Senator Randolph, with the concurrence of many other senators, introduced a joint resolution to the senate requesting the president to issue annually a proclamation designating the first Sunday of September after Labor Day of each year as 'National Grandparents' Day'. Congress passed the legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents' Day and, on August 3, 1978, then-President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation. The statute cites the day's purpose'..to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer'.
[The Hankster says] One of my favorite things as a kid was our annual vacation to OHIO, to see relatives and grandparents. My grandmother Ratliff would always prepare a large dinner for the occasion. My grandmother Jennings would take me to the store for candy.I just whish that I had spent more time learning about their lives. There is a lot of family history lost to me.


<> Awareness / Observances:

o Health
* 'Kidney Health Research Walk'. In Australia. By Kidney Health Australia


* 'Disability Action Week'. September 11-17 in Australia.

o Animal and Pet:
* 'National Pet Memorial Day – Second Sunday in September'. By the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories..


* 'National Hug Your Hound Day'. Second Sunday in September. Created by Ami Moore. A focus on accepting dogs in public places.

o Other:
* 'Sustainable House Day in Australia'. A focus on energy efficiency and sustainable living.


* 'Emergency Number Day'. A 1987 presidential proclamation concerning the United States public safety communication. The 9-1-1 call sequence became official in 1968 but not widely used until the 1970's.


<> Historical events on September 11


* 'In 1961, The World Wildlife Fund is founded. . - From Wikipedia: 'The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961, working in the field of the wilderness preservation, and the reduction of humanity's footprint on the environment. It was formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States.

It is the world's largest conservation organization with over 5 million supporters worldwide, working in more than 100 countries, supporting around 1,300 conservation and environmental projects. WWF is a foundation, with 55% of funding from individuals and bequests, 19% from government sources (such as the World Bank, DFID, USAID) and 8% from corporations in 2014.

The group's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. Currently, much of its work focuses on the conservation of three biomes that contain most of the world's biodiversity: oceans and coasts, forests, and freshwater ecosystems. Among other issues, it is also concerned with endangered species, sustainable production of commodities and climate change'.


* 'In 1847, Stephen Foster's song 'Oh! Susanna' is first performed at a saloon in Pittsburgh. . - From Wikipedia: 'Oh! Susanna is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster (1826–1864), first published in 1848. It is among the most popular American songs ever written. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

In 1846, Stephen Foster moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and became a bookkeeper with his brother's steamship company. While in Cincinnati, Foster wrote Oh! Susanna, possibly for his men's social club. The song was first performed by a local quintet at a concert in Andrews' Eagle Ice Cream Saloon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 1847. It was first published by W. C. Peters and Co. in Cincinnati in 1848. Other minstrel troupes performed the work, and, as was common at the time, many registered the song for copyright under their own names. As a result, it was copyrighted and published at least 21 times from February 25, 1848, through February 14, 1851. Foster earned just $100 ($2,653 in 2012 dollars) for the song, but its popularity led the publishing firm Firth, Pond and Company to offer him a royalty rate of two cents per copy of sheet music sold, convincing him to become America's first fully professional songwriter.

The name Susanna may refer to Foster's deceased sister Charlotte, whose middle name was Susannah. There are however others that dispute that.

The song blends together a variety of musical traditions. The opening line refers to a banjo on my knee, but the song takes its beat from the polka, which had just reached the U.S. from Europe. Glenn Weiser suggests the song was influenced by an existing work, Rose of Alabama (1846), with which it shares some similarities in lyrical theme and musical structure.

The first two phrases of the melody are based on the major pentatonic scale.

The lyrics are largely nonsense, as characterized by lines such as It rain'd all night the day I left, The weather it was dry, The sun so hot I froze to death... (first verse) and I shut my eyes to hold my breath... (second verse). It is one of the few songs by Foster that use the word nigger (others are Old Uncle Ned and Oh! Lemuel, both also among Foster's early works), ,,'


* 'In 1903, The first race at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin is held. It is the oldest major speedway in the world. . - From Wikipedia: 'The track was a 1 mile (1.6 km) private horse racing track by 1876. In 1891, the site was purchased by the Agricultural Society of the State of Wisconsin to create a permanent site for the Wisconsin State Fair (which it still is).

The first motorsports event was held on September 11, 1903. William Jones of Chicago won a five lap speed contest, and set the first track record with a 72-second, 50 mph (80 km/h) lap. There were 24-hour endurance races in 1907 and 1908. Louis Disbrow won the first 100-mile (160 km) event in 1915, averaging 62.5 mph (100.6 km/h)'.


* 'In 1961, Hurricane Carla strikes the Texas coast as a Category 4 hurricane, the second strongest storm ever to hit the state. . - From Wikipedia: 'Hurricane Carla ranks as the most intense U.S. tropical cyclone landfall on the Hurricane Severity Index. The third named storm and first Category 5 hurricane of the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season, Carla developed from an area of squally weather in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on September 3. Initially a tropical depression, it strengthened slowly while heading northwestward, and by September 5, the system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Carla. About 24 hours later, Carla was upgraded to a hurricane. Shortly thereafter, the storm curved northward while approaching the Yucatán Channel. Late on September 7, Carla entered the Gulf of Mexico while passing just northeast of the Yucatán Peninsula. By early on the following day, the storm became a major hurricane after reaching Category 3 intensity. Resuming its northwestward course, Carla continued intensification and on September 11, it was upgraded to a Category 5 hurricane. Later that day, Carla weakened slightly, but was still a large and intense hurricane when the storm made landfall near Port O'Connor, Texas. It weakened quickly inland and was reduced to a tropical storm on September 12. Heading generally northward, Carla transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 13, while centered over southern Oklahoma. Rapidly moving northeastward, Carla's remnants reached the Labrador Sea, Canada and dissipated on September 17, 1961.

While crossing the Yucatán Channel, the outer bands of Carla brought gusty winds and severe local flooding in western Cuba and the Yucatán Peninsula, though no damage or fatalities were reported. Although initially considered a significant threat to Florida, the storm brought only light winds and small amounts of precipitation, reaching no more than 3.15 in (80 mm). In Texas, wind gusts as high as 170 mph (280 km/h) were observed in Port Lavaca. Additionally, several tornadoes spawned in the state caused notable impacts, with the most destructive twister resulting in 200 buildings severely damaged, of which at least 60 were destroyed, and 8 deaths and 55 injuries. Throughout the state, Carla destroyed 1,915 homes, 568 farm buildings, and 415 other buildings. Additionally, 50,723 homes, 5,620 farm buildings, and 10,487 other buildings suffered damage. There were 34 fatalities and at least $300 million (1961 USD) in losses in Texas alone. Several tornadoes also touched down in Louisiana, causing the destruction of 140 homes and 11 farms and other buildings, and major damage to 231 additional homes and 11 farm and other buildings. Minor to moderate damage was also reported to 748 homes and 75 farm and other buildings. Six deaths and $25 million in losses in Louisiana were attributed to Carla. Heavy rainfall occurred in several other states, especially in Kansas, where flash flooding severely damaged crops and drowned 5 people. Overall, Carla resulted in $325.74 million in losses and 43 fatalities'


* 'In 1967, The Carol Burnett Show premiered on CBS. . - From Wikipedia: 'The Carol Burnett Show (also Carol Burnett and Friends in syndication) is an American variety/sketch comedy television show starring Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner. In 1975, frequent guest star Tim Conway became a regular when Waggoner left this show due to a mutual agreement with the producer about the series not having reruns. In 1977, Dick Van Dyke replaced Korman for much of its final season. The show originally ran on CBS from September 11, 1967, to March 29, 1978, for 279 episodes, and again with nine episodes in the fall of 1991. The series originated in CBS Television City's Studio 33 and won 25 prime-time Emmy Awards, was ranked No. 16 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time in 2002, and in 2007 was listed as one of Time magazine's 100 Best TV Shows of All Time

In 2013, TV Guide ranked The Carol Burnett Show No. 17 on their list of the 60 Greatest Shows of All Time'.


* 'In 1970, The last 'Get Smart' episode aired on CBS-TV. It ran from September 18, 1965, to September 11, 1970. - From Wikipedia: 'Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre released on September 18, 1965. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show stars Don Adams (as Maxwell Smart, Agent 86), Barbara Feldon (as Agent 99), and Edward Platt (as Thaddeus, the Chief). Henry said they created the show by request of Daniel Melnick, who was a partner, along with Leonard Stern and David Susskind, of the show's production company, Talent Associates, to capitalize on the two biggest things in the entertainment world today—James Bond and Inspector Clouseau. Brooks said: It's an insane combination of James Bond and Mel Brooks comedy.

During the show's run, it generated a number of popular catchphrases, including Would you believe..., Missed it by that much!, Sorry about that, Chief, The Old (such-and-such) Trick, And... loving it, and I asked you not to tell me that

The show was followed by the films The Nude Bomb (a theatrical release) and Get Smart, Again! (a made-for-TV sequel to the series), as well as a 1995 revival series, and a 2008 film remake. In 2010, TV Guide ranked Get Smart's opening title sequence at No. 2 on its list of TV's Top 10 Credits Sequences as selected by readers.

The show ended its 4½-year run on May 15, 1970, having a total of 5 seasons and 138 episodes'.


* 'In 1974, 'Little House On The Prairie' made its television debut. It ran through the 1983 season. . - From Wikipedia: 'Little House on the Prairie is an American western drama television series, starring Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert, and Karen Grassle, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show is an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books. Television producer and NBC executive Ed Friendly became aware of the story in the early 1970s. He asked Michael Landon to direct the pilot movie. Landon agreed on the condition that he could also play Charles Ingalls.

The regular series was preceded by the two-hour pilot movie, which first aired on March 30, 1974. The series premiered on the NBC network on September 11, 1974, and last aired on May 10, 1982. During the 1982–83 television season, with the departure of Landon and Grassle, the series was broadcast with the new title Little House: A New Beginning.

In 1997, TV Guide ranked the two-part episode I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away at 97 on its 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time list'.


* 'In 1995, Janet Jackson's 'Runaway' made history by becoming the first single by a woman to make its debut in the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100. .

- From Wikipedia: 'Runaway is a song recorded by American singer Janet Jackson for her first greatest hits album, Design of a Decade: 1986–1996 (1995). Written and produced by Jackson and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the track was released as the album's lead single on August 29, 1995, by A and M Records

Runaway was created to be a possible duet with Jackson's brother Michael Jackson, but they chose Scream instead. Runaway blends hard pop-hip hop beats with influences from African and Asian music, and has a similar sound to her previous hits Escapade and Whoops Now Towards the end of the song, Jackson breaks the fourth wall with the lyric, Ooh, didn't quite hit the note/That wasn't such a good time Africa, Nairobi, Tuscany, Australia, Mexico, Spain, and Paris are mentioned in the song'.


* 'In 1997, NASA's Mars Global Surveyor reaches Mars. It goes into a polar orbit, mapping the same region over and over, looking for changes. It operated for a few days less than 10 years and provided information for future Mars probes and landers. . - From Wikipedia: 'Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) was an American robotic spacecraft developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and launched November 1996. Mars Global Surveyor was a global mapping mission that examined the entire planet, from the ionosphere down through the atmosphere to the surface. As part of the larger Mars Exploration Program, Mars Global Surveyor performed monitoring relay for sister orbiters during aerobraking, and it helped Mars rovers and lander missions by identifying potential landing sites and relaying surface telemetry.

It completed its primary mission in January 2001 and was in its third extended mission phase when, on 2 November 2006, the spacecraft failed to respond to messages and commands. A faint signal was detected three days later which indicated that it had gone into safe mode. Attempts to recontact the spacecraft and resolve the problem failed, and NASA officially ended the mission in January 2007'.


* 'In 2001, Two hijacked aircraft crash into the World Trade Center in New York City, while a third smashes into The Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, and a fourth into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in a series of coordinated suicide attacks by 19 members of al-Qaeda. In total 2,996 people are killed. - From Wikipedia: 'The September 11 attacks (also referred to as 9/11) were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda on the United States on the morning of September 11, 2001. The attacks killed 2,996 people and injured over 6,000 others and caused at least $10 billion in property and infrastructure damage and $3 trillion in total costs.

Four passenger airliners operated by two major U.S. passenger air carriers (United Airlines and American Airlines)—all of which departed from airports on the northeastern United States bound for California—were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists, losing one of their passports in the WTC area. Two of the planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. Within an hour and 42 minutes, both 110-story towers collapsed, with debris and the resulting fires causing partial or complete collapse of all other buildings in the World Trade Center complex, including the 47-story 7 World Trade Center tower, as well as significant damage to ten other large surrounding structures. A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon (the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense) in Arlington County, Virginia, leading to a partial collapse of the building's western side. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, initially was steered toward Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers tried to overcome the hijackers. It was the deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the history of the United States, with 343 and 72 killed respectively.

Suspicion for the attack quickly fell on al-Qaeda. The United States responded to the attacks by launching the War on Terror and invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, which had harbored al-Qaeda. Many countries strengthened their anti-terrorism legislation and expanded the powers of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to prevent terrorist attacks. Although al-Qaeda's leader, Osama bin Laden, initially denied any involvement, in 2004 he claimed responsibility for the attacks. Al-Qaeda and bin Laden cited U.S. support of Israel, the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, and sanctions against Iraq as motives. Having evaded capture for almost a decade, bin Laden was located and killed by SEAL Team Six of the U.S. military in May 2011.

The destruction of the World Trade Center and nearby infrastructure caused serious damage to the economy of Lower Manhattan and had a significant effect on global markets, closing Wall Street until September 17 and the civilian airspace in the U.S. and Canada until September 13. Many closings, evacuations, and cancellations followed, out of respect or fear of further attacks. Cleanup of the World Trade Center site was completed in May 2002, and the Pentagon was repaired within a year. On November 18, 2006, construction of One World Trade Center began at the World Trade Center site. The building was officially opened on November 3, 2014. Numerous memorials have been constructed, including the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington County, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania'.

 III.
Top Song & Movie 50 years ago today (last updated Sep 10 2016 next Sep 17 2016

No. 1 song

  • Yellow Submarine - The Beatles
    - On YouTube: More
    - At Wikipedia: More
    'Sunshine Superman' has been displaced by 'Yellow Submarine', which will hold the no. 1 spot until Sep 17 1966, when 'You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes', takes over.- From Wikipedia: '"Yellow Submarine" is a 1966 song by the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon–McCartney), with lead vocals by Ringo Starr. It was included on the Revolver (1966) album and issued as a single, coupled with "Eleanor Rigby". The single went to number one on every major British chart, remained at number one for four weeks, and charted for 13 weeks. It won an Ivor Novello Award "for the highest certified sales of any single issued in the UK in 1966". In the US, the song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became the most successful Beatles song to feature Starr as lead vocalist.

    It became the title song of the animated United Artists film, also called Yellow Submarine (1968), and the soundtrack album to the film, released as part of the Beatles' music catalogue. Although intended as a nonsense song for children, "Yellow Submarine" received various social and political interpretations at the time. "'.

Top movie

  • Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (returns)
    - At Wikipedia:  More
    - On IMDb: More
    - On YouTube (trailer): More
    Having displaced 'Fantastic Voyage', it will be there until the weekend box office of Oct 2 1966 when, 'The Bible: In the Beginning', takes over.- From Wikipedia: 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a 1966 American black comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols. The screenplay by Ernest Lehman is an adaptation of the play of the same title by Edward Albee. The film stars Elizabeth Taylor as Martha and Richard Burton as George, with George Segal as Nick and Sandy Dennis as Honey.

    The film was nominated for thirteen Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Mike Nichols, and is one of only two films to be nominated in every eligible category at the Academy Awards (the other being Cimarron). All of the film's four main actors were nominated in their respective acting categories.

    The film won five awards, including a second Academy Award for Best Actress for Elizabeth Taylor and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Sandy Dennis. However, the film lost to A Man for All Seasons for the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay awards, and both Richard Burton and George Segal failed to win in their categories.

    In 2013, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant"'.
  IV.
Today in the Past (reference sites): September 11
   V.
This month September 2016 (updated once a month - last updated - Sep 11 2016)

Monthly holiday / awareness days in September

Food
All American Breakfast Month
Go Wild During California Wild Rice Month
Histiocytosis Awareness Month
Hunger Action Month
National Honey Month
National Mushroom Month
National Organic Harvest Month
National Prime Beef Month
kNational Rice Month
National Shake Month
Whole Grains Month
Wild Rice Month

Health
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month
Atrial Fibrillation Month
888222707Baby Safety Month
Backpack Safety America Month
Blood Cancer Awareness Month
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Cholesterol Education Month
Great American Low-Cholesterol, Low-fat Pizza Bake Month
Gynecology Cancer Awareness Month
ITP Awareness Month
World Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month
Mold Awareness Month
National Campus Safety Awareness Month
National Chicken Month
National Child Awareness Month
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
National DNA, Geonomics and Stem Cell Education Month
National Head Lice Prevention Month
National Infant Mortality Awareness Month
National ITP Awareness Month
National Osteopathic Medicine Month
National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
National Sickle Cell Month
National Pediculosis Prevention Month
National Skin Care Awareness Month
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Pain Awareness Month
Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month
Self Improvement Month
September Is Healthy Aging Month
Sports and Home Eye Health and Safety Month
Superior Relationships Month
Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month
World Alzheimer's Month

Animal / Pets
AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Month
Happy Cat Month
International/National Guide Dogs Month
National Pet Memorial Month
National Save A Tiger Month
National Service Dog Month
Save The Koala Month
World Animal Remembrance Month

Other
Be Kind To Editors and Writers Month
Childrens' Good Manners Month
College Savings Month
Fall Hat Month
International People Skills Month
International Self-Awareness Month
International Speak Out Month
International Strategic Thinking Month
International Square Dancing Month
International Women's Friendship Month
Library Card Sign-up Month
National Coupon Month
National Home Furnishings Month
National Passport Awareness Month
National Sewing Month
National Translators Month
National Piano Month
National Wilderness Month
Shameless Promotion Month
Update Your Resume Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month


September is:

September origin (from Wikipedia): Originally September (Latin septem, "seven") was the seventh of ten months on the oldest known Roman calendar.
September in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of March in the Southern Hemisphere.
After the calendar reform that added January and February to the beginning of the year, September became the ninth month, but retained its name. It had 29 days until the Julian reform, which added a day.

September 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
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