<> Tomorrow's food holidays(s):
* 'National Chocolate Day'. . Chocolate what? Anything chocolate. Created
by the National Confectioners Association.
- From Wikipedia (Chocolate):
'Chocolate is a typically sweet, usually brown, food preparation of
Theobroma cacao seeds, roasted and ground, often flavored, as with vanilla.
It is made in the form of a liquid, paste, or in a block, or used as a
flavoring ingredient in other foods. Cacao has been cultivated by many
cultures for at least three millennia in Mesoamerica. The earliest evidence
of use traces to the Mokaya (Mexico and Guatemala), with evidence of
chocolate beverages dating back to 1900 BCE. In fact, the majority of
Mesoamerican people made chocolate beverages, including the Maya and
Aztecs, who made it into a beverage known as xocolatl Nahuatl
pronunciation: , a Nahuatl word meaning bitter water The seeds of the cacao
tree have an intense bitter taste and must be fermented to develop the
flavor.
After fermentation, the beans are dried, cleaned, and roasted. The shell is
removed to produce cacao nibs, which are then ground to cocoa mass, pure
chocolate in rough form. Because the cocoa mass is usually liquefied before
being molded with or without other ingredients, it is called chocolate
liquor. The liquor also may be processed into two components: cocoa solids
and cocoa butter. Unsweetened baking chocolate (bitter chocolate) contains
primarily cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions. Much of the
chocolate consumed today is in the form of sweet chocolate, a combination
of cocoa solids, cocoa butter or other fat, and sugar. Milk chocolate is
sweet chocolate that additionally contains milk powder or condensed milk.
White chocolate contains cocoa butter, sugar, and milk, but no cocoa
solids.
Cocoa solids are a source of flavonoids and alkaloids, such as theobromine,
phenethylamine and caffeine. Chocolate also contains anandamide.
Chocolate has become one of the most popular food types and flavors in the
world, and a vast number of foodstuffs involving chocolate have been
created, particularly desserts including cakes, pudding, mousse, chocolate
brownies, and chocolate chip cookies. Many candies are filled with or
coated with sweetened chocolate, and bars of solid chocolate and candy bars
coated in chocolate are eaten as snacks. Gifts of chocolate molded into
different shapes (e.g., eggs, hearts) have become traditional on certain
Western holidays, such as Easter and Valentine's Day. Chocolate is also
used in cold and hot beverages such as chocolate milk and hot chocolate and
in some alcoholic drinks, such as creme de cacao.
Although cocoa originated in the Americas, recent years have seen African
nations assuming a leading role in producing cocoa. Since the 2000s,
Western Africa produces almost two-thirds of the world's cocoa, with Ivory
Coast growing almost half of that. In 2009, the Salvation Army
International Development Department stated that child labor and the human
trafficking and slavery of child laborers are used in African cocoa
cultivation'.
[The Hankster says] You know me by now. Yes, I will have to sample each kind before I can say which I like best. As it stands, now, I prefer dark chocolate.
* 'National Breadstick Day'. . Last Friday in October.
- From Wikipedia (Breadstick):
'Breadsticks (grissini, dipping sticks) are generally pencil-sized sticks
of crisp, dry bread originating in Turin and the surrounding area in Italy.
They are originally thought to have been created in the 14th century
although according to a local tradition, they were invented by a baker in
Lanzo Torinese (northern Italy) in 1679.
Breadsticks may be offered at the table in restaurants as an appetizer. In
some instances or regions they may be a type that is larger than
pencil-sized. They may also be combined with ingredients such as prosciutto
as an hors d'œuvre. In many restaurants breadsticks are frequently topped
with garlic sauces and parmesan cheese when served as appetizers as a
dessert item, they are often topped with cinnamon sugar and icing.
Regions that consume breadsticks include the Americas, Europe (mainly
Spain, Italy and Greece), and parts of Asia.
Pre-made, dried breadsticks may sometimes be sold in markets as a kind of
snack or a pre-meal appetizer for home use, somewhat similar to a cracker.
Another recipe for breadsticks, called rosquilletas, exists in Comunitat
Valenciana (Spain)'.
[The Hankster says] I wonder if a chocolate bread stick is considered as a dessert or appetizer. Oh, I can see that there is more sampling ahead.
<> Other holidays / celebrations
* 'International Animation Day'.
Since 2002 by The International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) on the
anniversary of the first public performance in 1892 of the Théâtre Optique,
presented by Charles-Émile Reynaud.
- From Wikipedia (International Animation Day):
'October 28, the International Animation Day (IAD) was proclaimed in 2002
by the ASIFA as the main global event to celebrate the art of animation.
This day commemorates the first public performance of Charles-Émile
Reynaud's Théâtre Optique at the Grevin Museum in Paris, 1892. In 1895, the
Cinematograph of the Lumière brothers outshone Reynaud's invention, driving
Émile to bankruptcy. However, his public performance of animation entered
the history of optical entertainments as shortly predating the camera-made
movies.
In recent years, the event has been observed in more than 50 different
countries with more than 1000 events, on every continent, all over the
world. IAD was initiated by ASIFA, International Animated Film Association,
a member of UNESCO. During International Animation Day cultural
institutions are also invited to join in by screening animated films,
organizing workshops, exhibiting artwork and stills, providing technical
demonstrations, and organizing other events helping to promote the art of
animation. Such a celebration is an outstanding opportunity of putting
animated films in the limelight, making this art more accessible to the
public.
ASIFA also commissions an artist to create an original art poster
announcing the event each year. It is then adapted for each country in
order to guarantee a worldwide view of the event. Previous editions
involved the work of animators such as Iouri Tcherenkov, Paul Driessen, Abi
Feijo, Eric Ledune, Noureddin Zarrinkelk, Michel Ocelot, Nina Paley, Raoul
Servais, Ihab Shaker and Gianluigi Toccafondo.
Full length animation films, historical features, animated shorts, and
student films, all variety of animation art are shown in the
workshops.These films display an extraordinary range of techniques –
drawing, painting, animating puppets and objects, using clay, sand, paper,
and computer. Because many animated films are non-verbal, it is a rich
opportunity for cross cultural expression and communication'.
* 'National Frankenstein Friday'.
Last Friday in October. Since 1997.
[The Hankster says] Three days before Halloween. I guess it takes a while to wait for that 'just right' bolt of lightning.
* 'Plush Animal Lover's Day'.
Give your favorite stuffed toy a hug.
[The Hankster says] I wonder what ever happened to my Teddy, Andy and Brownie?
<> Awareness / Observances:
o Other:
* 'World Teachers' Day in Australia'. Last Friday in October.
- From Wikipedia (World Teachers' Day):
'World Teachers' Day, also known as International Teachers Day, is held
annually on October 5 since 1994, commemorates teacher organizations
worldwide. Its aim is to mobilize support for teachers and to ensure that
the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers'.
<> Historical events on October 28
* 'In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba on his first voyage. .
- From Wikipedia: 'Before the arrival of the Spanish, Cuba was inhabited by
three distinct tribes of American Indian people. The Taíno (an Arawak
people), the Guanajatabey, and the Ciboney people.
The ancestors of the Ciboney migrated from the mainland of South America,
with the earliest sites dated to 5,000 BP.
The Taíno arrived from Hispanola sometime in the 3rd century A.D. When
Columbus arrived they were the dominant culture in Cuba, having an
estimated population of 150,000.
The name Cuba comes from the native Taíno language. It is derived from
either coabana meaning great place, or from cubao meaning where fertile
land is abundant
The Taíno were farmers, while the Ciboney were farmers as well as fishers
and hunter-gatherers.
After first landing on an island then called Guanahani, Bahamas on October
12, 1492, Christopher Columbus commanded his three ships: La Pinta, La Niña
and the Santa María, to land on Cuba's northeastern coast on October 28,
1492. (This was near what is now Bariay, Holguin province.) Columbus
claimed the island for the new Kingdom of Spain and named it Isla Juana
after Juan, Prince of Asturias.
In 1511, the first Spanish settlement was founded by Diego Velázquez de
Cuéllar at Baracoa. Other towns soon followed, including San Cristobal de
la Habana, founded in 1515, which later became the capital. The native
Taíno were forced to work under the encomienda system, which resembled a
feudal system in Medieval Europe. Within a century the indigenous people
were virtually wiped out due to multiple factors, primarily Eurasian
infectious diseases, to which they had no natural resistance (immunity),
aggravated by harsh conditions of the repressive colonial subjugation. In
1529, a measles outbreak in Cuba killed two-thirds of those few natives who
had previously survived smallpox'.
* 'In 1538, The first university in the New World (in present-day Dominican
Republic), the Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino, is established. .
- From Wikipedia: 'The Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino (St. Thomas
Aquinas University) founded in 1538 in Santo Domingo, in the Caribbean
island of Hispaniola, present-day Dominican Republic, was the first
institution of higher education in the western hemisphere. It ceased to
operate in 1823.
Founded during the reign of Charles I of Spain, it was originally a
seminary operated by Catholic monks of the Dominican Order. Later, the
institution was reorganized as a university by a papal bull (In Apostulatus
Culmine dated 28 October 1538 by Pope Paul III) however, it was not
officially recognized by Royal Decree until 1558. It was then called
Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino (University of Saint Thomas Aquinas).
The Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino' was created by the Papal Bull In
Apostolatus St Thomas Aquinas Culminates with the name of University, on
October 28, 1538. With this act by Pope Paul III, it became the first
university in the Western Hemisphere.
Prior to its conversion into a full university, the institution had been a
Studium Generate (seminary), founded in 1518 and operated by the Dominican
Order.
In its structure and purpose the new university was modeled after the
University of Alcalá in the city of Henares, Spain. In this capacity it
became a standard-bearer for the medieval ideology of the Spanish Conquest,
and received royal recognition in 1558. In this royal decree, the
university was given the name University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
(Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino).
The university was closed in 1801 under the French, but reopened in 1815 as
a secular institution. It closed for good during the Haitian Unification of
Hispaniola, when all students were ordered into military services'.
* 'In 1636, The first college in what would become the United States was
established. Later named Harvard University. .
- From Wikipedia: 'Harvard University is a private, Ivy League research
university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established in 1636, whose history,
influence, and wealth have made it one of the world's most prestigious
universities.
Established originally by the Massachusetts legislature and soon thereafter
named for John Harvard (its first benefactor), Harvard is the United
States' oldest institution of higher learning, and the Harvard Corporation
(formally, the President and Fellows of Harvard College) is its first
chartered corporation. Although never formally affiliated with any
denomination, the early College primarily trained Congregationalist and
Unitarian clergy. Its curriculum and student body were gradually
secularized during the 18th century, and by the 19th century Harvard had
emerged as the central cultural establishment among Boston elites.
Following the American Civil War, President Charles W. Eliot's long tenure
(1869–1909) transformed the college and affiliated professional schools
into a modern research university Harvard was a founding member of the
Association of American Universities in 1900. James Bryant Conant led the
university through the Great Depression and World War II and began to
reform the curriculum and liberalize admissions after the war. The
undergraduate college became coeducational after its 1977 merger with
Radcliffe College.
The University is organized into eleven separate academic units—ten
faculties and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study—with campuses
throughout the Boston metropolitan area: its 209-acre (85 ha) main campus
is centered on Harvard Yard in Cambridge, approximately 3 miles (5 km)
northwest of Boston the business school and athletics facilities, including
Harvard Stadium, are located across the Charles River in the Allston
neighborhood of Boston and the medical, dental, and public health schools
are in the Longwood Medical Area. Harvard's $37.6 billion financial
endowment is the largest of any academic institution.
Harvard is a large, highly residential research university. The nominal
cost of attendance is high, but the University's large endowment allows it
to offer generous financial aid packages. It operates several arts,
cultural, and scientific museums, alongside the Harvard Library, which is
the world's largest academic and private library system, comprising 79
individual libraries with over 18 million volumes. Harvard's alumni include
eight U.S. presidents, several foreign heads of state, 62 living
billionaires, 335 Rhodes Scholars, and 242 Marshall Scholars. To date, some
150 Nobel laureates, 18 Fields Medalists and 13 Turing Award winners have
been affiliated as students, faculty, or staff'.
* 'In 1858, R. H. Macy and Co opens it's first store, at 6th Ave. in NYC.
The gross receipts for the day was $11.06 ($301.45 in today's valuation). .
- From Wikipedia: 'Macy's, originally R. H. Macy and Co., is a department
store owned by Macy's, Inc. It is one of two divisions owned by the
company, with the other being Bloomingdale's. As of January 2014, the
Macy's division operates 789 department store locations in the continental
United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam, including the prominent
Herald Square flagship location in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.:35
Macy's was founded by Rowland Hussey Macy, who between 1843 and 1855 opened
four retail dry goods stores, including the original Macy's store in
downtown Haverhill, Massachusetts, established in 1851 to serve the mill
industry employees of the area. They all failed, but he learned from his
mistakes. Macy moved to New York City in 1858 and established a new store
named R. H. Macy and Co. on Sixth Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets,
which was far north of where other dry goods stores were at the time.:1102
On the company's first day of business on October 28, 1858 sales totaled
US$11.08, equal to $303.00 today. From the beginning, Macy's logo has
included a star, which comes from a tattoo that Macy got as a teenager when
he worked on a Nantucket whaling ship, the Emily Morgan.
As the business grew, Macy's expanded into neighboring buildings, opening
more and more departments, and used publicity devices such as a store Santa
Claus, themed exhibits, and illuminated window displays to draw in
customers.:945–6 It also offered a money back guarantee, although it
accepted only cash into the 1950s. The store also produced its own
made-to-measure clothing for both men and women, assembled in an on-site
factory.:1102
In 1902, the flagship store moved uptown to Herald Square at 34th Street
and Broadway, so far north of the other main dry goods emporia that it had
to offer a steam wagonette to transport customers from 14th Street to 34th
Street. Although the Herald Square store initially consisted of just one
building, it expanded through new construction, eventually occupying almost
the entire block bounded by Seventh Avenue on the west, Broadway on the
east, 34th Street on the south and 35th Street on the north, with the
exception of a small pre-existing building on the corner of 35th Street and
Seventh Avenue and another on the corner of 34th Street and Broadway. This
latter 5-story building was purchased by Robert H. Smith in 1900 for
$375,000 (equivalent to $10.7 million in 2016) – an incredible sum at the
time – with the idea of getting in the way of Macy's becoming the largest
store in the world: it is largely supposed that Smith, who was a neighbor
of the Macy's store on 14th Street, was acting on behalf of Siegel-Cooper,
which had built what they thought was the world's largest store on Sixth
Avenue in 1896. Macy's ignored the tactic, and simply built around the
building, which now carries Macy's shopping bag sign by lease arrangement.
In 1912, Isidor Straus died in the sinking of Titanic at age of 67 with his
wife, Ida.
The original Broadway store was designed by architects De Lemos and Cordes,
was built in 1901–02 by the Fuller Company and has a Palladian facade, but
has been updated in many details. There were further additions to the west
in 1924 and 1928, and the Seventh Avenue building in 1931, all designed by
architect Robert D. Kohn, the newer buildings were increasingly Art Deco in
style. In 2012, Macy's began the first full renovation of the iconic Herald
Square flagship store at a reported cost of US$400,000,000 (equivalent to
$413 million in 2016). STUDIO V Architecture, a New York-based firm, was
the overall Master Plan architect of the project. STUDIO V's fresh design
of the department store raised controversy over the nature of contemporary
design and authentic restoration.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a
National Historic Landmark in 1978. The store has several wooden escalators
still in operation'.
* 'In 1882, The moving picture, Théâtre Optique, is presented by
Charles-Émile Reynaud.
- From Wikipedia: 'The Théâtre Optique was a moving picture show presented
by Charles-Émile Reynaud in 1892. It was the first presentation of
projected moving images to an audience, predating Auguste and Louis
Lumière's first public performance by three years.
In 1876, Reynaud, a French inventor, had created the Praxinoscope, an
improvement of the Zoetrope. The Praxinoscope replaced the narrow viewing
slits of the Zoetrope with an inner circle of 12 mirrors (equal to the
number of images), allowing a clearer and less distorted view of the moving
image. Several people could watch the performance at the same time. After
Reynaud licensed his invention in 1877, it sold well in a number of the
large Paris department stores.
In 1878 Reynaud produced the Praxinoscope Theatre. This improved version
included a glass viewing screen which allowed the moving image to be
superimposed over a changeable background. He continued to improve the
design and in 1880 created the first projection version. The Projection
Praxinoscope used a lantern to project the moving images onto a small
screen, allowing a larger audience to view it, but was still limited to 12
images.
In 1888, he perfected a large scale projection version, that was similar in
design to the projectors that would be used for cinema projection a few
years later. Glass plates, individually painted by Reynaud himself, were
mounted in leather bands. Each of the bands were connected by a metal strip
with a hole through it which allowed it to locate on a pin on the rotating
drum and align the image with the projecting lantern. By mounting the
connected image strips on a pair of wheels similar to modern film reels,
Reynaud was able to create a continuous series of moving images rather than
restricting himself to 12 images, as had been the limit previously.
On 28 October 1892 he gave the first public performance of a moving picture
show at the Musée Grévin in Paris. The show, billed as Pantomimes
Lumineuses, included three cartoons, Pauvre Pierrot, Un bon bock, and Le
Clown et ses chiens, each consisting of 500 to 600 individually painted
images and lasting about 15 minutes. Reynaud acted as the projectionist and
the show was accompanied by a piano player. Although the films shown by the
Lumière Brothers in 1895 eclipsed it, the show stayed at the Musée Grévin
until 1900 by which time over 500,000 people had seen it'.
* 'In 1886, The Statue of Liberty, in New York Harbor, is dedicated by
President Cleveland. .
- From Wikipedia: 'The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World
French: La Liberté éclairant le monde) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture
on Liberty Island in New York Harbor in New York City, in the United
States. The copper statue, designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, a French
sculptor, was built by Gustave Eiffel and dedicated on October 28, 1886. It
was a gift to the United States from the people of France. The statue is of
a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess, who bears a
torch and a tabula ansata (a tablet evoking the law) upon which is
inscribed the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4,
1776. A broken chain lies at her feet. The statue is an icon of freedom and
of the United States, and was a welcoming sight to immigrants arriving from
abroad.
Bartholdi was inspired by French law professor and politician Édouard René
de Laboulaye, who is said to have commented in 1865 that any monument
raised to American independence would properly be a joint project of the
French and American peoples. He may have been minded to honor the Union
victory in the American Civil War and the end of slavery. Due to the
post-war instability in France, work on the statue did not commence until
the early 1870s. In 1875, Laboulaye proposed that the French finance the
statue and the Americans provide the site and build the pedestal. Bartholdi
completed the head and the torch-bearing arm before the statue was fully
designed, and these pieces were exhibited for publicity at international
expositions.
The torch-bearing arm was displayed at the Centennial Exposition in
Philadelphia in 1876, and in Madison Square Park in Manhattan from 1876 to
1882. Fundraising proved difficult, especially for the Americans, and by
1885 work on the pedestal was threatened due to lack of funds. Publisher
Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World started a drive for donations to
complete the project that attracted more than 120,000 contributors, most of
whom gave less than a dollar. The statue was constructed in France, shipped
overseas in crates, and assembled on the completed pedestal on what was
then called Bedloe's Island. The statue's completion was marked by New
York's first ticker-tape parade and a dedication ceremony presided over by
President Grover Cleveland.
The statue was administered by the United States Lighthouse Board until
1901 and then by the Department of War since 1933 it has been maintained by
the National Park Service. Public access to the balcony surrounding the
torch has been barred for safety reasons since 1916'.
* 'In 1919, The U.S. Congress enacted the Volstead Act, also known as the
National Prohibition Act (Eighteenth Amendment). Prohibition was repealed
in 1933 with the passing of the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. .
- From Wikipedia: 'The National Prohibition Act, known informally as the
Volstead Act, was enacted to carry out the intent of the Eighteenth
Amendment, which established prohibition in the United States. The
Anti-Saloon League's Wayne Wheeler conceived and drafted the bill, which
was named for Andrew Volstead, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee,
who managed the legislation'.
* 'In 1929, 'Black Monday', a day in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, saw
major stock market upheaval. The stock market fell by 12-13 percent. A 16
percent sell off is yet to come on the next day, Black Tuesday. .
- From Wikipedia: 'On September 20, the London Stock Exchange crashed when
top British investor Clarence Hatry and many of his associates were jailed
for fraud and forgery. The London crash greatly weakened the optimism of
American investment in markets overseas. In the days leading up to the
crash, the market was severely unstable. Periods of selling and high
volumes were interspersed with brief periods of rising prices and recovery.
Selling intensified in mid October. On October 24 (Black Thursday), the
market lost 11 percent of its value at the opening bell on very heavy
trading. The huge volume meant that the report of prices on the ticker tape
in brokerage offices around the nation was hours late, so investors had no
idea what most stocks were actually trading for at that moment, increasing
panic. Several leading Wall Street bankers met to find a solution to the
panic and chaos on the trading floor. The meeting included Thomas W.
Lamont, acting head of Morgan Bank Albert Wiggin, head of the Chase
National Bank and Charles E. Mitchell, president of the National City Bank
of New York. They chose Richard Whitney, vice president of the Exchange, to
act on their behalf.
With the bankers' financial resources behind him, Whitney placed a bid to
purchase a large block of shares in U.S. Steel at a price well above the
current market. As traders watched, Whitney then placed similar bids on
other blue chip stocks. This tactic was similar to one that ended the Panic
of 1907. It succeeded in halting the slide. The Dow Jones Industrial
Average recovered, closing with it down only 6.38 points for the day. The
rally continued on Friday, October 25, and the half day session on Satur
day the 26th but, unlike 1907, the respite was only temporary.
Over the weekend, the events were covered by the newspapers across the
United States. On October 28, Black Monday, more investors facing margin
calls decided to get out of the market, and the slide continued with a
record loss in the Dow for the day of 38.33 points, or 13%.
The next day, Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, about 16 million shares
traded as the panic selling reached its peak. Some stocks actually had no
buyers at any price that day (air pockets). The Dow lost an additional 30
points, or 12 percent. The volume of stocks traded on October 29, 1929 was
a record that was not broken for nearly 40 years. On October 29, William C.
Durant joined with members of the Rockefeller family and other financial
giants to buy large quantities of stocks to demonstrate to the public their
confidence in the market, but their efforts failed to stop the large
decline in prices. Due to the massive volume of stocks traded that day, the
ticker did not stop running until about 7:45 p.m. that evening. The market
had lost over $30 billion in the space of two days which included $14
billion on October 29 alone'.
* 'In 1941, The movie, How Green Was My Valley, based on the novel by
Richard Llewellyn, directed by John Ford and starring Walter Pidgeon,
Maureen O'Hara, Anna Lee, Donald Crisp, and Roddy McDowall, premieres in
New York. It won Best Picture in 1942. .
- From Wikipedia: 'How Green Was My Valley is a 1941 drama film directed by
John Ford. The movie, based on the 1939 Richard Llewellyn novel of the same
name, was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and scripted by Philip Dunne. The
movie features Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Anna Lee, Donald Crisp, and
Roddy McDowall. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning five,
including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography and Best
Supporting Actor.
The movie tells of the Morgans, a hard-working Welsh mining family living
in the heart of the South Wales Valleys during the 19th century. The story
chronicles life in the South Wales coalfields, the loss of that way of life
and its effects on the family. The fictional village in the movie is based
on Gilfach Goch Llewellyn spent many summers there visiting his
grandfather, and it served as the inspiration for the novel. During 1990,
the movie was selected for preservation in the United States National Film
Registry of the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, or
aesthetically significant The Academy Film Archive preserved How Green Was
My Valley during 1998'.
* 'In 1942, The Alaska Highway (Alcan Highway) is completed through Canada
to Fairbanks, Alaska.
- From Wikipedia 'The Alaska Highway (also known as the Alaskan Highway,
Alaska-Canadian Highway, or ALCAN Highway) was constructed during World War
II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska
through Canada'. .
- From Wikipedia: 'The Alaska Highway (also known as the Alaskan Highway,
Alaska-Canadian Highway, or ALCAN Highway) was constructed during World War
II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska
through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in
Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via
Whitehorse, Yukon. Completed in 1942 at a length of approximately 1,700
miles (2,700 km), as of 2012 it is 1,387 mi (2,232 km) long. The difference
in distance is due to constant reconstruction of the highway, which has
rerouted and straightened out numerous sections. The highway was opened to
the public in 1948. Legendary over many decades for being a rough,
challenging drive, the highway is now paved over its entire length.
An informal system of historic mileposts developed over the years to denote
major stopping points Delta Junction, at the end of the highway, makes
reference to its location at Historic Milepost 1422. It is at this point
that the Alaska Highway meets the Richardson Highway, which continues 96 mi
(155 km) to the city of Fairbanks. This is often regarded, though
unofficially, as the northern portion of the Alaska Highway, with Fairbanks
at Historic Milepost 1520. Mileposts on this stretch of highway are
measured from Valdez, rather than the Alaska Highway. The Alaska Highway is
popularly (but unofficially) considered part of the Pan-American Highway,
which extends south (despite its discontinuity in Panama) to Argentina'.
* 'In 1948, Paul Muller is awarded the Nobel Prize for the insecticidal use
of DDT. It was banned in the US and other countries due to the fact that it
would build up in tissue over time. .
- From Wikipedia: 'DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is a colorless,
crystalline, tasteless and almost odorless organochlorine known for its
insecticidal properties and environmental impacts. DDT has been formulated
in multiple forms, including solutions in xylene or petroleum distillates,
emulsifiable concentrates, water-wettable powders, granules, aerosols,
smoke candles and charges for vaporizers and lotions.
First synthesized in 1874, DDT's insecticidal action was discovered by the
Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Müller in 1939. It was used in the second half
of World War II to control malaria and typhus among civilians and troops.
After the war, DDT was also used as an agricultural insecticide and its
production and use duly increased. Müller was awarded the Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of the high efficiency of DDT as a
contact poison against several arthropods in 1948.
In 1962, Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring was published. It cataloged the
environmental impacts of widespread DDT spraying in the United States and
questioned the logic of releasing large amounts of potentially dangerous
chemicals into the environment without understanding their effects on the
environment or human health. The book claimed that DDT and other pesticides
had been shown to cause cancer and that their agricultural use was a threat
to wildlife, particularly birds. Its publication was a seminal event for
the environmental movement and resulted in a large public outcry that
eventually led, in 1972, to a ban on DDT's agricultural use in the United
States. A worldwide ban on agricultural use was formalized under the
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, but its limited and
still-controversial use in disease vector control continues, because of its
effectiveness in reducing malarial infections, balanced by environmental
and other health concerns.
Along with the passage of the Endangered Species Act, the United States ban
on DDT is cited by scientists as a major factor in the comeback of the bald
eagle (the national bird of the United States) and the peregrine falcon
from near-extinction in the contiguous United States'.
* 'In 1956. Elvis Presley's song, Love Me Tender, became the No. 1
Billboard Pop Hit. He became the first artist to follow himself into the
No. 1 position. The song, Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog, had been the No. 1 song
for 11 weeks. .
- From Wikipedia: 'Love Me Tender is a 1956 song recorded by Elvis Presley
and published by Elvis Presley Music from the eponymous 20th Century Fox
film. The words and music are credited to Ken Darby under the pseudonym
Vera Matson, the name of his wife, and Elvis Presley. The RCA Victor
recording by Elvis Presley was no. 1 on both the Billboard and Cashbox
charts in 1956. The song was adapted from the tune of Aura Lee, a
sentimental Civil War ballad. The song is also featured in countless other
films such as FM, Touched By Love, This is Elvis, Porky's Revenge, Wild at
Heart, Die Hard 2, Honeymoon in Vegas, Backbeat, Gaudi Afternoon, Machine
Gun Molly, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, William Eggleston in
the Real World, California Dreamin', Love in Space, Devil's Due, Just
Before I Go, and 90 Minutes in Heaven'.
* 'In 1962, The Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev informed the U.S. that he
had ordered the dismantling of Soviet missile bases in Cuba. This
effectively ended the Cuban Missile Crisis. .
- From Wikipedia: 'On October 27, after much deliberation between the
Soviet Union and Kennedy's cabinet, Kennedy secretly agreed to remove all
missiles set in southern Italy and in Turkey, the latter on the border of
the Soviet Union, in exchange for Khrushchev removing all missiles in Cuba.
There is some dispute as to whether removing the missiles from Italy was
part of the secret agreement, although Khrushchev wrote in his memoirs that
it was nevertheless, when the crisis had ended McNamara gave the order to
dismantle the missiles in both Italy and Turkey.
At 9:00 am EST, on October 28, a new message from Khrushchev was broadcast
on Radio Moscow. Khrushchev stated that, the Soviet government, in addition
to previously issued instructions on the cessation of further work at the
building sites for the weapons, has issued a new order on the dismantling
of the weapons which you describe as 'offensive' and their crating and
return to the Soviet Union.
At 10:00 am, October 28, Kennedy first learned of Khrushchev's solution to
the crisis: Remove the 15 Jupiters in Turkey and Russia will remove the
rockets from Cuba. The Soviet premier had made the offer in a public
statement for the world to hear. Despite almost solid opposition from his
senior advisers, Kennedy quickly embraced the Soviet offer. This is a
pretty good play of his, Kennedy said, according to a tape recording he
made secretly of the Cabinet Room meeting. Kennedy had deployed the
Jupiters in March of the year, causing a stream of angry outbursts from the
Soviet premier. Most people will think this is a rather even trade and we
ought to take advantage of it, Kennedy said. Vice President Lyndon Johnson
was the first to endorse the missile swap but others continued to oppose
the offer. Finally, Kennedy ended the debate. We can't very well invade
Cuba with all its toil and blood, Kennedy said,when we could have gotten
them out by making a deal on the same missiles on Turkey. If that's part of
the record, then you don't have a very good war.
Kennedy immediately responded, issuing a statement calling the letter an
important and constructive contribution to peace. He continued this with a
formal letter.. '
* 'In 1965, Construction on the St. Louis Arch (Gateway Arch) is completed.
- From Wikipedia 'The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot (192 m) monument in St.
Louis in the U.S. state of Missouri. Clad in stainless steel and built in
the form of an inverted, weighted catenary arch, it is the world's tallest
arch, the tallest monument in the Western Hemisphere, and Missouri's
tallest accessible building. Built as a monument to the westward expansion
of the United States, it is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National
Expansion Memorial and has become an internationally famous symbol of St.
Louis'.
No. 1 song
Top movie
Monthly holiday / awareness days in October
Food
American Cheese Month
Apple Month
Corn Month
Go Hog Wild - Eat Country Ham
National Bake and Decorate Month
National Caramel Month
National Cookbook Month
National Popcorn Poppin' Month
National Pork Month
Pizza Month
Sausage Month
Spinach Lovers Month
Vegetarian Month
Health
AIDS Awareness Month
American Pharmacists Month
Antidepressant Death Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Bullying Prevention Month
World Blindness Awareness Month
Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
Celiac Disease Awareness Month
Christmas Seal Campaign
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month
Emotional Wellness Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month
Global ADHD Awareness Month
Global Diversity Awareness Month
Health Literacy Month
Home Eye Safety Month
Long Term Care Planning Month
National AIDS Awareness Month
National Audiology/Protect Your Hearing Month
National Critical Illness Awareness Month
National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Depression Education and Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Down Syndrome Month
National Liver Awareness Month
National Medical Librarian Month
National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month
National Orthodontic Health Month
National Physical Therapy Month
National Protect Your Hearing Month
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
National Stop Bullying Month
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
Organize Your Medical Information Month
Talk About Prescriptions Month
World Menopause Month
Animal and Pet
Adopt A Dog Month
Adopt A Shelter Dog Month
Bat Appreciation Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
Wishbones for Pets Month
Other
Celebrating The Bilingual Child Month
Children's Magazine Month
Class Reunion Month
Country Music Month
Employee Ownership Month
Energy Management is a Family Affair
Fair Trade Month
Financial Planning Month
German-American Heritage Month
Halloween Safety Month
Head Start Awareness Month
Italian-American Heritage Month
International Strategic Planning Month
International Walk To School Month
Intergeneration Month
Learn To Bowl Month
National Arts and Humanities Month
National Chili Month
National Crime Prevention Month
National Cyber Security Awareness Month
National Ergonomics Month
National Field Trip Month
National Kitchen and Bath Month
National Reading Group Month
National Roller Skating Month
National Stamp Collecting Month
National Work and Family Month
Photographer Appreciation Month
Polish American Heritage Month
Self-Promotion 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
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
Best selling books of 1966 More
Sites for downloading or reading free Public Domain eBooks. Available in various formats. More