Halloween 2010

Today is the 304th day of the year. There are 61 days remaining until the end of the year (55 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Scorpio.

A very happy Halloween to all and may the bags of all the trick-or-treaters out there be filled with goodies of the type that they enjoy. In somewhat fitting fashion, the day is also National Caramel Apple Day, National UNICEF Day (due to the UNICEF box collections on Halloween), and Books for Treats Day. If you are interested in the history of Halloween, Samhain was a Gaelic festival held on October 31–November 1 to mark the end of the harvest and during which people would wear costumes and masks, in an attempt to placate or ward off harmful spirits. When this pagan festival got intertwined with the Christian All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, it exerted huge influence upon the secular customs now associated with Halloween, a Scottish shortening of All-Hallows-Even.

In memory of magician Harry Houdini's death on October 31, 1926, today is National Magic Day, to commemorate him and the craft of magic which he practiced to entertain others. In 1966, the week leading up to National Magic Day was officially declared National Magic Week.

If you are like me and appreciate corny jokes, then today, as National Knock-Knock Jokes Day, is a great day to enjoy and/or share some of your favorite knock-knock humor.

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Feature for October 31, 2010

National Candy Corn Day 2010

Today is the 303rd day of the year. There are 62 days remaining until the end of the year (56 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Scorpio.

Whether or not candy corn is worthy of its own day could probably be debated at length. It wouldn't matter, however, because candy corn does have its own special day, and it's aptly chosen as today, the day before Halloween.

On the birthday of Charles Atlas, the famous bodybuilder, who was born on this date in 1893, some also celebrate Bodybuilders Day today. If you are into planning your end-of-life event, October 30th is Create a Great Funeral Day. Depending upon where you are, the night before Halloween is Mischief night, Gate Night, Devil's Night, Goosey Night, Cabbage Night, or Mizzy Night and many pranks and much mischief are carried out. Also along the Halloween theme, tonight is listed as Haunted Refrigerator Night. If you are a believer in lists, today is National Checklist Day. As today is National Forgiveness Day, it is a good day to be forgiving to others.

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Feature for October 30, 2010

Internet Day 2010

Today is the 302nd day of the year. There are 63 days remaining until the end of the year (57 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Scorpio.

Today is debatably the 41st birthday of the Internet. On October 29, 1969, researchers developing the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) sent a message from a computer on the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus to a computer on the Stanford campus. The ARPANET eventually grew and evolved into today's Internet.

Eighty-one years ago, the U.S. Stock Market endured "Black Tuesday" (October 29, 1929), during which a then record 16 million shares were traded, as share prices on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) collapsed.

A mere 12 years ago, John Glenn became the oldest man ever in space when he traveled on the Space Shuttle Discovery.

The last Friday in October is Frankenstein Friday, to celebrate he birth of Frankenstein and its creator, Mary Shelley.

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Feature for October 29, 2010

National Chocolate Day 2010

Today is the 301st day of the year. There are 64 days remaining until the end of the year (58 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Scorpio.

All of you chocolate lovers, today is your day. For those who need some justification, how about the argument that because chocolate comes from the Cacao tree found in rainforests it could be considered a vegetable.

October 28th is also St Jude's Day (St. Jude Thaddaeus is the patron saint of desparate cases).

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Feature for October 28, 2010

Cranky Co-Workers Day 2010

Today is the 300th day of the year. There are 65 days remaining until the end of the year (59 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Scorpio.

Do you have any co-workers that are cranky? If so, then today is the day to embrace them and their attitude. If you are not normally cranky, today might be your day to emulate those who are.

In the United States, October 27th used to be (and is still celebrated by some as) Navy Day. The Navy League of the United States organized the first Navy Day in 1922, holding it on President Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. After World War II, when the Department of Defense was formed, Armed Forces Day in May became the official day to celebrate all branches of the military. The Navy League, however, as a civilian organization, continued the Navy Day tradition. In the 1970s, the "birthday" of the Continental Navy was found to be October 13, 1775, and so CNO Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt worked with the Navy League to define October 13 as the new date of Navy Day.

The World Series opens tonight with Game 1 of the Texas Rangers vs. the San Francisco Giants.

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Feature for October 27, 2010

Howl At the Moon Night 2010

Today is the 299th day of the year. There are 66 days remaining until the end of the year (60 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Scorpio.

Ever feel like howling at the moon? If yes, than tonight is a good night to do so. The idea of the holiday's organizers is to get a group of friends together (a howl party?), gather under the moonlit sky at 9 p.m., take a deep breath, and call out into the night.

To commemorate a delivery of donkeys to America on October 26, 1785, today is designated as Mule Day (a mule is a cross between a donkey and a horse).

Microsoft's Office for Mac 2011 is scheduled to be released today. Today, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton turns 63 and Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak turns 64.

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Feature for October 26, 2010

Sourest Day 2010

Today is the 298th day of the year. There are 67 days remaining until the end of the year (61 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Scorpio.

If you're a cynic, today is a day for you. As the opposite of Sweetest Day (third Saturday in October), Sourest Day allows pessimsists to gripe and complains about the lemons that life has dealt them.

October 25th is also Saint Crispin's Day, the religious feast day for twins who were martyred around 286 A.D., but the day is most famous for two battles that occured on this day. In "Henry V," Shakespeare writes about the Battle of Agincourt, in 1415. This play features a St. Crispin's Day Speech in which Henry inspired his much outnumbered English forces to fight the French. The Battle of Balaklava (Charge of the Light Brigade) during the Crimean War in 1854 and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Pacific theater in 1944 also both happened on this day. Ironically, Saints Crispin and Crispinian were removed from the liturgical calendar (but not declared to no longer be saints) during the Catholic Church's Vatican II reforms.

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Feature for October 25, 2010

Mother-in-Law's Day 2010

Today is the 297th day of the year. There are 68 days remaining until the end of the year (62 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Scorpio.

In 2002, the tradition of honoring mothers-in-law on the fourth Sunday in October was started. According to a recent iVillage poll, however, 51 percent of respondents would would rather clean the house than spend the day with their mother-in-law.

October 24th is also United Nations Day. The UN was founded 65 years ago on this date. According to the UN, today is also World Development Information Day. In addition, the anniversary of the stock market crash of 1929 (Black Thursday) is today.

This is week 7 of the NFL's 2010 season.

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Feature for October 24, 2010

iPod Day 2010

Today is the 296th day of the year. There are 69 days remaining until the end of the year (63 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Scorpio.

The Apple iPod is 9 years old today - Happy Birthday! Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, introduced the first Apple iPod, on this date in 2001, with the tagline: “1,000 songs in your pocket.” The one-and-only 5GB model cost $399. It was hard-drive based and FireWire only (a Mac-only device).

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of community service, held annually on the fourth Saturday in October. For the geeks out there, Mole Day commemorates Avogadro's Number (6.02 x 10^23), which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry. One mole of a given molecule weighs a mass (in grams) whose number is equal to the atomic mass for that molecule. Also, it caught my eye, that the fourth Saturday in October is the Hogeye festival in Elgin, TX. The events include a Road Hog Car Show, a barbecue pork cook-off, the crowning of King Hog or Queen Sowpreme, and Cow Patty Bingo.

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Feature for October 23, 2010

CAPS LOCK DAY 2010

Today is the 295th day of the year. There are 70 days remaining until the end of the year (64 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

IF YOU CELEBRATE THAT KIND OF THING, TODAY IS DESIGNATED AS A DAY TO TURN ON YOUR CAPS LOCK.

October 22nd is also Fechner Day, the 160th anniversary of the conception of psychophysics by Gustav-Theodor Fechner. For those who may be wondering, psychophysics is a discipline within psychology that quantitatively investigates the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they affect.

According to the followers of William Miller, religious leader and creator of a movement known as Millerism, today was identified as the day the world will end.

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Feature for October 22, 2010

International Day Of The Nacho 2010

Today is the 294th day of the year. There are 71 days remaining until the end of the year (65 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

Nachos originated in the city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, just over the border from Eagle Pass, Texas, at a restaurant called the Victory Club. In 1943, the maître d', Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya, invented a new snack with what little he had available in the kitchen: tortillas and cheese. Anaya cut the tortillas into triangles, added longhorn cheddar cheese, quickly heated them, and added sliced jalapeño peppers. Anaya went on to work at the Moderno Restaurant in Piedras Negras, which still uses the original recipe. He also opened his own restaurant, "Nacho's Restaurant", in Piedras Negras. His original recipe was printed in the 1954 St. Anne's Cookbook. Ignacio Anaya died in 1975. In his honor, a bronze plaque was erected in Piedras Negras, and October 21 was declared the International Day of the Nacho.

In the UK, October 21st is Apple Day. The Credit Union National Association (CUNA) has set aside the third Thursday in October as International Credit Union Day. In a similar vein, the American Bankers Association has designated the third Thursday in October as Get Smart About Credit Day. Since 1998, October 22nd has also been International Stuttering Awareness Day.

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Feature for October 21, 2010

Missouri Day 2010

Today is the 293rd day of the year. There are 72 days remaining until the end of the year (66 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

On March 22, 1915, the third Wednesday in October was set aside each year as "Missouri Day." In the state of Missouri, it is a time for schools to honor the state and for the people to celebrate the achievements of all Missourians.

The third Wednesday in October is also Hagfish Day and National Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day.

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Feature for October 20, 2010

Yorktown Day 2010

Today is the 292nd day of the year. There are 73 days remaining until the end of the year (67 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

On October 19, 1781, more than 7,000 English and Hessian troops, led by British general Lord Cornwallis, surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, VA, effectively ending the war between Britain and its American colonies. Today, people gather to celebrate the anniversary of this victory that assured American independence.

This date has also been designated Evaluate Your Life Day.

"Happy Days" dad Tom Bosley died at age 83. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell back below 11,000 today after losing a substantial 165.07. The NFL docked Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison $75,000, New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather $50,000, and Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson $50,000 for their violent hits from games on Sunday. Someone fired shots at the Pentagon this morning, hitting the building and causing minor damage. The Giants took a 2-1 lead in the NL Championship Series this afternoon with a 3-0 win over the Phillies.

For those watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "No Ordinary Family" (ABC, 8/7c), "Millionaire Matchmaker" (Bravo, 9/8c), "Parenthood" (NBC, 10/9c), "30 for 30" (ESPN, 8/7c), "Scream 2010" (Spike, 9/89c), "Frontline" (PBS, 9/8c), and "Mad Mel: The Rise and Fall of a Hollywood Icon" (Bio, 9/8c). Game 4 of the MLB AL Championship Series (Rangers vs. Yankees) is also on TBS tonight.

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Feature for October 19, 2010

Alaska Day 2010

Today is the 291st day of the year. There are 74 days remaining until the end of the year (68 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

Today is the anniversary of the transfer of Alaska on October 18, 1867, from Russia to the United States. This is a holiday in Alaska; when it falls on a weekend it is observed on the following Monday. Today is also World Menopause Day and, in Canada, Persons Day (a day to commemorate the anniversary of the 1929 ruling that declared women to be persons in Canada). In addition, today is National Chocolate Cupcake Day (yum).

President Obama will appear on a December 8th episode of the "MythBusters" science TV show. Mark Twain forbade publication of his last book -- a three-volume autobiography -- until now, 100 years after his death (he actually died on April 21, 1910). The book will be officially published on November 15th.

For those watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "The Talk" (CBS, 2/1c), "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 8/7c), "House" (FOX, 8/7c), "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS, 8/7c), "Monday Night Football - Tennessee vs. Jacksonville" (ESPN, 8:30/7:30c), "Cake Boss" (TLC, 9/8c), and "Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It" (VH1, 10/9c).

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Feature for October 18, 2010

Mulligan Day 2010

Today is the 290th day of the year. There are 75 days remaining until the end of the year (69 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

Today is a day for giving yourself or another a second chance; a day for a “do-over.”

The US Census Bureau reported that the 300 millionth American was born in the early hours of Oct 17, 2006. A baby girl born in Chicago, IL, at 5:58 am was probably that American—although there was a margin of error of a few hours. The US population now increases by one every 11 seconds. The 200 millionth American was born Nov 20, 1967.

Barbara Billingsley, of June Cleaver fame on "Leave it to Beaver," died yesterday at age 94. This is week 6 of the NFL 2010 season. Tonight is also the second game of the Giants vs. Phillies NL Championship series.

For those watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "Desperate Housewives" (ABC, 9/8c), "Mad Men" (AMC, 10/9c), "Rubicon" (AMC, 9/8c), "Sunday Night Football - Colts vs. Redskins" (NBC, 8:15/7:15c), "Sonny with a Chance" (Disney, 8/7c), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (ABC, 8/7c), and "Luther" (BBC America, 10/9c).

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 17, 2010

Dictionary Day 2010

Today is the 289th day of the year. There are 76 days remaining until the end of the year (70 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

As the birthday of Noah Webster, today is designated as a day to encourage regular dictionary use. Primarily in the Great Lakes region, and parts of the Northeast United States, Sweetest Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in October, as a day to give candy to others. October 16th, is also World Food Day, a worldwide event designed to increase awareness, understanding and informed, year-around action to alleviate hunger. In addition, as the Saturday near the first quarter moon between mid-September and mid-October, today is also Fall Astronomy Day. If jumping off of bridges excites you (or just the beauty of bridges over beautiful canyons), at New River Gorge, West Virginia, today is their 31st annual Bridge Day.

The Texas Rangers could not hold a 5-1 lead going into the eighth inning last night and lost Game 1 of the AL Championship series to the New York Yankees. Military medical researchers are optimistic that they have developed a blood test that can detect if someone has suffered a concussion or a mild traumatic brain injury. In NCAA football today, major matchups include Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, Arkansas vs. Auburn, Iowa vs. Michigan, Texas vs. Nebraska, Missouri vs. Texas A&M, Illinois vs. Michigan State, South Carolina vs. Kentucky, Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech, Nevada vs. Hawaii, and Air Force vs. San Diego State.

For those watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "Pit Boss" (Animal Planet, 10/9c), "Bo Burnham: Words, Words, Words" (Comedy Central, 11/10c), "Iconoclasts" (Sundance, 9/8c), "Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster" (Cartoon Network, 7/6c), "NASCAR Racing" (ABC, 7:30/6:30c), "MLB NL Championship Series Game 1 - Phillies vs. Giants (FOX, 7:30/6:30c), and "Fantastic Mr. Fox" (Cinemax, 10/9c).

In the movie world, this is the opening weekend for both "Jackass 3D" and "Red."

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 16, 2010

National Boss Day 2010

Today is the 288th day of the year. There are 77 days remaining until the end of the year (71 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

The weekday closest to Oct 16 is observed as a day for all employees to honor their bosses. By Presidential Proclamation since 1964 (PL 88–628 of Oct 6, 1964), October 15th is also White Cane Safety Day. In addition, the third Friday of October every year is National Mammography Day and October 15 annually is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Rememberance Day.

The Treasury Department reported that the official U.S. budget deficit for the 2010 fiscal year, which ended two weeks ago, is $1,294,000,000,000 (roughly $1.3 trillion) and the national debt is now $13.6 trillion, or $13,600,000,000,000. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicated that temperatures for the first nine months of 2010 tied with the same period of 1998 for the warmest on record. After 14 years of construction the 57 km (34 mile) Gotthard Base Tunnel in the Swiss Alps was completed when the last two meters of rock were drilled through.

For those watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "CSI: NY" (CBS, 9/8c), "School Pride" (NBC, 8/7c), "Smallville" (CW, 8/7c), "Ghost Adventures" (Travel, 9/8c), "Sanctuary" (SyFy, 10/9c), "MLB AL Championship Series Game 1 - Yankees vs. Rangers (TBS, 8/7c), and "Teach: Tony Danza" (A&E, 10/9c).

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Feature for October 15, 2010

Be Bald and Be Free Day 2010

Today is the 287th day of the year. There are 78 days remaining until the end of the year (72 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

Vice President Biden told The New York Times, today, that President Obama has asked him to stay on the ticket for the 2012 presidential race. Google reported a 32% higher quarterly profit of $2.2 billion on revenue that rose 23% to $7.3 billion. On "The View," today, arguments with guest Bill O'Reilly's caused Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar to stomp off the stage.

For those watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "Bones" (FOX, 8/7c), "30 Rock" (NBC, 8:30/7:30c), "Project Runway" (Lifetime, 9/8c), "Monica & David" (HBO, 8/7c), "The Vanilla Ice Project" (Do It Yourself, 9/8c), "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 9/8c), and "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" (Bravo, 10/9c).

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Feature for October 14, 2010

Navy Birthday 2010

Today is the 286th day of the year. There are 79 days remaining until the end of the year (73 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

Happy 235th birthday to the United States Navy today! The U.S. Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which the Continental Congress established on 13 October 1775, by authorizing two armed vessels to cruise in search of munitions ships supplying the British Army in America.

Today is also National Bring Teddy Bear to Work Day and International Top Spinning Day. On a more serious note, in 1989, the United Nations General Assembly designated the second Wednesday of October as International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction and, in 2001, decided to maintain the observance.

The rescue of the trapped miners in Chile went well today. In midtown Atlanta, rapper T.I. helped police persuade a man not to jump off the roof of high-rise hotel. Stocks rallied today, as the Dow Jones industrial average closed up another 76 points.

For those watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "The Middle" (ABC, 8/7c), "Survivor: Nicaragua" (CBS, 8/7c), "Hell's Kitchen" (FOX, 8/7c), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC, 9/8c), "CNBC Titans" (CNBC, 9/8c), "Storm Chasers" (Discovery, 10/9c), and "What's Eating You?" (E!, 10/9c).

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 13, 2010

Face Your Fears Day 2010

Today is the 285th day of the year. There are 80 days remaining until the end of the year (74 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

Today is a day to confront and overcome the fears that hold you back. It is also Freethought Day, the annual observance by freethinkers and secularists of the anniversary of the effective end of the Salem Witch Trials. In a different but similar vein, October 12th is also designated International Moment of Frustration Scream Day, when all the exasperated folks in the world were invited to let off steam by going outdoors at 1200 Greenwich time and screaming their heads off for 30 seconds.

As a reminder that hurricane season is not quite over yet, Hurricane Paula strengthened today into a Category 2 storm with top sustained winds of 100 mph off the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

For those watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "Life Unexpected" (CW, 9/8c), "Dancing with the Stars - Results" (ABC, 9/8c), "
Nick Swardson's Pretend Time" (Comedy Central, 10/9c), "The Good Wife" (CBS, 10/9c), "Teen Mom" (MTV, 10/9c), "Detroit 1-8-7" (ABC, 10/9c), and "Parking Wars" (A&E, 10/9c). The MLB playoffs also continue on TBS (Rangers vs. Rays Game 5).

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 12, 2010

Columbus Day Federal Holiday 2010

Today is the 284th day of the year. There are 81 days remaining until the end of the year (75 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

Although the traditional Columbus Day is October 12th, in the United States, the second Monday in October is observed as the Federal holiday. In April 1934, as a result of lobbying by the Knights of Columbus, Congress and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt made October 12 a federal holiday under the name Columbus Day. Since 1971, the holiday has been fixed to the second Monday in October, coincidentally the same day as Thanksgiving in neighboring Canada (which was fixed to that date in 1959). Three states do not recognize Columbus Day: Hawaii, South Dakota, and Nevada. Hawaii instead celebrates Discoverer's Day. South Dakota celebrates the day as officially a state holiday known as "Native American Day." in Nevada, although Columbus Day is not a legal holiday, it is observed, but schools and state, city and county government offices are open. The city of Berkeley, California has replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day since 1992. Virginia celebrates two legal holidays today, Columbus Day and Yorktown Victory Day, which honors the final victory at the Siege of Yorktown in the Revolutionary War.

October 11th is also designated National Coming Out Day to promote civil awareness for coming out and discussion about gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, as well as National Kick Butt Day, the day we get our butts in gear and move forward in our lives.

Yesterday, someone literally threw a book at President Obama during a Philadelphia campaign rally. The Coast Guard is searching off the coast of New Jersey for six men who failed to return from a weekend overnight fishing trip. Search engine giant Google announced yesterday that it has been testing robotic cars on U.S. city streets. Virgin Galactic's space tourism rocket SpaceShipTwo achieved its first solo glide flight yesterday.

For those watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "Chuck" (NBC, 8/7c), "Giuliana & Bill" (Style, 8/7c), "Monday Night Football - Vikings vs. Jets" (ESPN, 8:30/7:30c), "Reviving Ophelia" (Lifetime, 9/8c), "Carlos" (Sundance, 9/8c), "God in America" (PBS, 9/8c), and "Hawaii Five-0" (CBS, 10/9c). The MLB playoffs also continue on TBS (Giants vs. Braves Game 4).

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 11, 2010

Ten-Ten-Ten

Today is the 283rd day of the year. There are 82 days remaining until the end of the year (76 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

Today is Oct. 10, 2010, or 10/10/10 as Americans write out dates.

The United Nations has declared this as World Mental Health Day. Today is also Clergy Appreciation Day and National Cake Decorating Day. On this day in 1886, Griswold Loril-lard of Tuxedo Park, NY, fashioned the first tuxedo for men by cutting the tails off a tailcoat.

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is today. We are now in Week 5 of the NFL 2010 season.

For those watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "Amazing Race 17" (CBS, 8/7c), "Sunday Night Football - Eagles vs. 49ers" (NBC, 8:15/7:15c), "Cleveland Show" (FOX, 8:30/7:30c), "Boardwalk Empire" (HBO, 9/8c), "Dexter" (Showtime, 9/8c), "Mad Men" (AMC, 10/9c), and "Brothers & Sisters" (ABC, 10/9c). The MLB playoffs also continue on TBS (Rays vs. Rangers Game 4, Giants vs. Braves Game 3, and Phillies vs. Reds Game 3).

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 10, 2010

Leif Erikson Day 2010

Today is the 282nd day of the year. There are 83 days remaining until the end of the year (77 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

October 9th is not associated with any particular event in Leif Erikson's life. The date was chosen because the ship Restauration, coming from Stavanger, Norway, arrived in New York Harbor on October 9, 1825, at the start of the first organized immigration from Norway to the United States. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge gave recognition to Leif Erikson as the Discoverer of America. In 1930, Wisconsin adopted Leif Erikson Day as a state holiday. A year later, Minnesota followed suit. By 1956, Leif Erikson Day had been made an official observance in seven states (Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Illinois, Colorado, Washington, and California) and one Canadian province (Saskatchewan). In 1964, Congress adopted a bill to observe Leif Erikson Day nationwide. In 1964, the United States Congress authorized and requested the President to create the observance through an annual proclamation. Lyndon B. Johnson and each President since have done so.

Today is also the fourth annual Universal Music Day, World Post Day (marks the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union's establishment in 1874), and would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday.

National Fire Prevention Week has been sponsored by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) since 1922 on the Sunday to Saturday period each year in which October 9th falls (3-9 October this year). This date is chosen to commemorate the tragic Great Chicago Fire on October 8th and 9th, in 1871. While the Great Chicago Fire was more well known, the Peshtigo Fire, over this same two-day period, was bigger, burning down sixteen towns in northeastern Wisconsin, killing 1152 people and scorching 1.2 million acres.

Tomorrow features another slate of NCAA football games. Some key matchups include: top ranked Alabama vs. South Carolina, LSU vs. Florida, Florida State vs. Miami, and Michigan State vs. Michigan. The NHL season opened for hockey fans this weekend (games started on Thursday).

If you're watching TV tonight, Saturday Night Live is hosted by actress and comedian Jane Lynch with musical guest Bruno Mars. The rest of the TV Guide Hot List includes: "After the Fall " (Hallmark, 8/7c), "Monster Wolf" (SyFy, 9/8c), "Auctioneer$" (TLC, 10/9c), "College Football - Stanford vs. USC" (ABC, 8/7c), "Public Enemies" (Cinemax, 10/9c), and "Houston, We Have a Problem" (PlanetGreen, 10/9c). The MLB playoffs also continue on TBS (Rays vs. Rangers Game 3 and Twins vs. Yankees Game 3).

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 9, 2010

National Pierogi Day 2010

Today is the 281st day of the year. There are 84 days remaining until the end of the year (78 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

Today, we commemorate the day in 1952 that pierogies were first delivered to a grocery store in Shenandoah, PA — marking the emergence of the traditionally eastern European food as a mainstream American meal staple.

October 8th is also Alvin C. York Day. On this day in 1918, in the Argonne Forest, France, Sergeant Alvin C. York became separated from his patrol but killed 20 enemy soldiers and captured a hill, 132 enemy soldiers and 35 machine guns. He was awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor and French Croix de Guerre. Ironically, York had petitioned for exemption from the draft as a conscientious objector but was turned down by his local draft board.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 11,000 for the first time in five months. Elisabeth Hasselbeck, "The View" co-host, is joining "Good Morning America" to cover family, lifestyle and child-rearing issues. Federal regulators urged airlines to take additional care handling airborne shipments of lithium batteries and confirmed that the fire that broke out in the cargo hold and downed a UPS jet last month in the United Arab Emirates did contain large quantities of lithium batteries.

If you're watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "Blue Bloods" (CBS, 10/9c), "Dog Whisperer" (National Geographic, 8/7c), "
Smallville" (CW, 8/7c), "The Good Guys" (FOX, 9/8c), "Gigantic" (TeenNick, 10/9c), "Invitation Only" (CMT, 10/9c), and "Haven" (SyFy, 10/9c). The MLB playoffs also continue on TBS (Reds vs. Phillies Game 2 and Braves vs. Giants Game 2).

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 8, 2010

National Depression Screening Day 2010

Today is the 280th day of the year. There are 85 days remaining until the end of the year (79 days till Christmas). If your birthday is today, you are a Libra.

As part of Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 3-9, today is denoted as an observance to promote awareness of depression as a disease and the screening programs in place to ensure that accurate diagnosis and effective treatment can be provided with careful monitoring and follow-up. This is also the nine year anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. On October 7, 2001, the United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom along with the British military and other coalition forces in response to the attacks a little less than one month earlier on September 11th of that year.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie killed the largest public works project in the United States today. The Access to the Region's Core project, to build a new $8.7 billion tunnel beneath the Hudson River to connect New Jersey with New York's Manhattan island Thursday, was aimed at doubling the number of commuter trains between New York and New Jersey and increasing the number of Amtrak trains serving the Northeast Corridor. As it was likely to cost up to $5 billion more than estimated, the potential cost overruns made the project "completely unthinkable."

President Obama vetoed a bill that could have made it easier for courts to clear foreclosures. To ensure that the effects the bill might have upon making it more difficult to challenge the quality of foreclosure records don't harm consumers, the president will send the bill back to Congress.

Rescuers expect to be able to evacuate the trapped miners in Chile by Saturday. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and cosmonauts Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka are expected to be launched into space on a Russian rocket this evening, in order to take up long-term posts as members of the International Space Station's Expedition 25 crew. The American, Scott Kelly has a twin brother, Mark, who is also an astronaut and is due to fly aboard the space shuttle Endeavour on the STS-134 mission in February.

If you're watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "Nikita" (CW, 9/8c), "Fringe" (FOX, 9/8c), "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 9/8c), "30 Rock" (NBC, 8:30/7:30c), "The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town" (HBO, 9/8c), "The Mentalist" (CBS, 10/9c), and "Jersey Shore" (MTV, 10/9c). The MLB playoffs also continue on TBS (Rangers vs. Rays Game 2,Yankees vs. Twins Game 2, and Braves vs. Giants Game 1).

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 7, 2010

National German-American Day 2010

Today is the 279th day of the year. There are 86 days remaining until the end of the year (80 days till Christmas).

Observed since the 19th century, German-American Day honors the contributions of German immigrants to US culture and history. On this date in 1683, thirteen Mennonite families from Krefeld, Germany, disembarked near Philadelphia, PA, and later founded Germantown, PA. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan was the first U.S. president to proclaim October 6th as German-American Day.

Facebook announced the rollout of a new groups feature to help members partition their online friendships. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that this will result in a fundamental shift of how people use Facebook. The Minnesota Vikings traded a third round draft pick to the Patriots for wide receiver Randy Moss. Chemists Richard Heck, 79, of the University of Delaware, Ei-ichi Negishi, 75, of Purdue University, and Akira Suzuki, 79, of Japan's Hokkaido University will equally share a $1.5 million Nobel prize for pioneering the use of palladium catalysts, which are used to spur room-temperature reactions between carbon molecules. These catalysts are now an essential tool for making pharmaceuticals, such as the drug naproxen, and plastics.

If you're watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "Modern Family" (ABC, 9/8c), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC, 9/8c), "The Challenge: Cutthroat" (MTV, 10/9c), "Steven Seagal Lawman" (A&E, 10/9c), "Harry Loves Lisa" (TV Land, 10/9c), "South Park" (Comedy Central, 10/9c), and "MLB Playoffs" (TBS, 1:30/12:30c).

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 6, 2010

World Teachers Day 2010

Today is the 278th day of the year. There are 87 days remaining until the end of the year (81 days till Christmas).

World Teachers Day was founded in 1994 and commemorates the anniversary of the signing in 1966 of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization/International Labour Organization (UNESCO/ILO) Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers. Over 100 countries acknowledge, on this day, an awareness, understanding and appreciation for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and improvement of their people and communities.

Stocks rose sharply today (DJIA was up 193.45) following news that activity expanded in the U.S. services sector last month. The Pakistani immigrant who tried to set off a car bomb in Times Square received a life sentence. Government official announced that solar panels, to heat water and supply some electricity, will be installed on the roof of the White House by spring of 2011. Members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra went on strike yesterday over a substantial pay cut. Major League Baseball playoffs begin tomorrow. In the American League, its Texas vs. Tampa Bay and the Yankees vs. the Twins. In the National League, the Cincinnati Reds are in the playoff for the first time in 15 years to face the Philadephia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves will play the San Francisco Giants.

If you're watching TV tonight, the TV Guide Hot List includes: "Biggest Loser" (NBC, 8/7c), "30 for 30" (ESPN, 8/7c), "Life Unexpected" (CW, 9/8c), "Caprica" (Syfy, 10/9c), "POV" (PBS, 9/8c), "Dancing With The Stars" - results (ABC, 9/8c), and "Sons of Anarchy" (FX, 10/9c).

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 5, 2010

Ten-Four Day 2010

Today is the 277th day of the year. There are 88 days remaining until the end of the year (82 days till Christmas).

Today's a big ten four, good buddy. Today is also Child Health Day (designated in 1928 by Presidential Proclomation as the first Monday in October), World Habitat Day (designated by the United Nations as the first Monday of October every year), Improve Your Office Day, National Taco Day, National Vodka Day, and Cinnamon Roll Day (Kanelbulle Dag in Sweden).

The Supreme Court started its new term with a new justice, Elena Kagan, today. Verizon Wireless will issue up to $90M in refunds split between about 15 million customers, due to mistaken past data charges. Dog the Bounty Hunter was injured on a hunt while kicking a door in. He was taken to UCLA Medical Center where he was treated for internal bleeding because the muscle in his leg separated from the bone.

Tonight on Monday Night Football, the Dolphins and Patriots battle. According to TV Guide, the shows topping tonight's TV offerings are: "House" (FOX), "Lie To Me" (FOX), "The Event" (NBC), "Real Housewives of Atlanta" (Bravo), "Sins of My Father" (HBO), "Two and a Half Men" (CBS), and "American Masters" (PBS). "Dancing With the Stars" (ABC) also continues tonight.

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 4, 2010

Intergeneration Day 2010

Today is the 276th day of the year. There are 89 days remaining until the end of the year (83 days till Christmas).

Forty-two states recognize the first Sunday in October as Intergeneration Day. As the strengths of one generation can meet the needs of another, an age-integrated community leads to a healthy community

This is week 4 of the NFL's 2010 season. A State Department travel alert advises U.S. citizens living or traveling in Europe to take more precautions about their personal security because of information suggesting a possible al-Qaeda terrorist attack. The U.S. Ryder Cup team isn't faring too well this weekend as Europe is taking command of the golf competition. Yesterday, in downtown Los Angeles, 1,580 people broke the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest gathering of costumed crime-fighters during a stunt staged by DreamWorks Animation to promote its upcoming comedy Megamind, featuring Will Ferrell. Also yesterday, at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp assembled 14 additional acts (including Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney and Norah Jones) for Farm Aid 25 to raise money and awareness on behalf of family farmers.

According to USA Today critic Robert Bianco, the TV shows topping tonights scheduled offerings include "The Amazing Race" (CBS, 8 ET/PT), "Dexter" (Showtime, 9 ET/PT), "CSI: Miami" (CBS, 10 ET/PT), and "The Glades" (A&E, 10 ET/PT).

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 3, 2010

Phileas Fogg's Wager Day 2010

Today is the 275th day of the year. There are 90 days remaining until the end of the year (84 days till Christmas).

Today is the anniversary of the famous wager upon which the Jules Verne’s book "Around the World in Eighty Days" is based. Phileas Fogg bets twenty thousand pounds on Wednesday, the second of October that he will circle the globe in eighty days or less and return to London by Saturday, the twenty-first of December, at 8:45 pm.

Today is also World Farm Animals Day (the 2010 theme is Exposing the Dirty Secrets of Animal Agribusiness), World Card Making Day (sponsored by Paper Crafts Magazine), Guardian Angels Day, National Custodial Workers Day, and an International Day of Non-Violence (United Nations declared in 2007 on the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth)

CNN fired news anchor Rick Sanchez yesterday, a day after he called Jon Stewart a bigot in a radio show interview where he also questioned whether Jews should be considered a minority. In a ploy to rid Guam of its population of invasive brown tree snakes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is bombing the island with drugged frozen mice. The mice are given acetaminophen (Tylenol), which is toxic to the snakes who will likely eat the mice. John McCain, who will be 76 in 2012, the next presidential election, announced that he will not run for President again. Today holds another full slate of NCAA football matchups. Key matchups include Stanford vs. Oregon, Texas vs. Oklahoma, Wisconsin vs. Michigan State, and Penn State vs. Iowa.

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 2, 2010

World Smile Day 2010

Welcome to October. Today is the 274th day of the year. There are 91 days remaining until the end of the year (85 days till Christmas).

Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts created the smiley face in 1963 and later declared that the first Friday in October each year would henceforth be World Smile Day®, a day devoted to smiles and kind acts throughout the world. After Harvey died in 2001, the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation was created to honor his name and memory. The Foundation continues as the official sponsor of World Smile Day® each year.

Today is also World Vegetarian Day (founded by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977), National Diversity Day (established by diversitypromotions.com in 2005), and the start of Dalton Defenders Days (this weekend Coffeyville Kansas celebrates the four people who gave their lives defending their town when the Dalton Gang tried to rob two banks there on October 5, 1892 but were defeated when all but one of them was shot and killed).

Rahm Emanuel is out and Pete Rouse is in as President Obama's Chief of Staff. Now that it's October, the Major League Baseball regular season is almost over and the playoffs are looming. The tightest race is in the NL East, where the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays are tied. BP announced that they have spent $11.2 billion so far in responding to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The Facebook movie "The Social Network" opened in theaters today. According to TV Guide, tonights most promising TV offerings include "Medium" on CBS, "Smallville" on CW, "Say Yes to the Dress: Big Bliss" on TLC, "Todd Margaret" on IFC, "Teach: Tony Danza" on A&E, and "Friday Night Alright" on VH1.

New York Times - On this Day

Feature for October 1, 2010