On This Day October 24th

 OTD

October 24th is the 297th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 68 days remain until the end of the year.

 

Events

1590 – John White, the governor of the second Roanoke Colony, returns to England after an unsuccessful search for the "lost" colonists.

1795 – Russia, Prussia, and Austria entirely consume Poland.

1857 – Sheffield F.C., the world's oldest association football club still in operation, is founded in England.

1861 – The first transcontinental telegraph line across the United States is completed.

1911 – Orville Wright remains in the air for nine minutes and 45 seconds in a glider at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.

1926 – Harry Houdini's last performance takes place at the Garrick Theatre in Detroit.

1931 – The George Washington Bridge opens to public traffic over the Hudson River.

1957 – The United States Air Force started the X-20 Dyna-Soar crewed space program.

1980 – The government of Poland legalizes the Solidarity trade union.

2003 – Concorde makes its last commercial flight.

 

Birthdays

1503 – Isabella of Portugal (d. 1539)

1650 – Steven Blankaart, Dutch entomologist (d. 1704)

1838 – Annie Edson Taylor, American stuntwoman and educator (d. 1921)

1906 – Alexander Gelfond, Russian mathematician and cryptographer (d. 1968)

1911 – Sonny Terry, American singer and harmonica player (d. 1986)

1915 – Bob Kane, American author and illustrator (d. 1998)

1926 – Y. A. Tittle, American football player (d. 2017)

1930 – The Big Bopper, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1959)

1985 – Wayne Rooney, English footballer

 

Holiday Spotlight

Bat Appreciation Day

The term bat is derived from the Latin word “Blatta”. Scientists state that bats, the early ancestors of the bat family, must have been around 50 million years ago. Some theories suggest that they might have evolved from the rodent family and gained the ability to fly over millions of years.

 

From flying foxes and trident bats to horseshoe bats, fruit bats, and bulldog bats, about 900 species of bats are currently on Earth. Bats have had a significant influence on society and cultures throughout history. In Medieval times, bats were seen as a symbol of darkness and witchcraft. People often associate bats with the feeling of night and foreboding.

 

Bats symbolized death for the Aztecs; however, in China, bats were seen as a symbol of good fortune. Since movies came into existence, bats have been portrayed as harmful elements. Movies and T.V. shows would depict bats flying around dilapidated buildings, ruins, or old castles. The stories of vampires became popular, and thus, the character of Dracula was born. Bats have also been accused of being carriers of viruses and spreading illnesses.

 

Many people do not know that bats are essential in the food chain and contribute significantly to a healthier ecosystem. Bats eat many insects, including cotton earworms and cotton bollworms, helping farmers protect their crops. Yet, humans have executed bats, causing many species to become endangered.

 

Bat Conservation International was formed in 1982 by biologist Merlin Devere Tuttle to counter extinction possibilities and preserve ecosystems. This non-profit organization conducts research workshops and publishes books for the protection and conservation of bats. The group created Bat Appreciation Week to spread further awareness of the importance of bats within the ecosystem.

 

Others Include

40-Hour Work Week Week

Accounting Day

Black Thursday

Dussehra

Food Day

Good and Plenty Day

National Bologna Day

National Crazy Day

Record Store Day

Recycle Your Mercury Thermostat Day

Take Back Your Time Day

United Nations Day

World Development Information Day

World Polio Day

World Tripe Day

Zambia Independence Day

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