On This Day August 17th

  OTD

August 17th is the two-hundredth-twenty-ninth day of the year, and there are 136 days remaining until the end of the year.

 

Events

 1488 – Konrad Bitz, the Bishop of Turku, marks the date of his preface to Missale Aboense, the oldest known book of Finland.

1585 – A first group of colonists sent by Sir Walter Raleigh under the charge of Ralph Lane lands in the New World to create Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina.

1668 – The magnitude 8.0 North Anatolia earthquake causes 8,000 deaths in northern Anatolia, Ottoman Empire.

1784 – Classical composer Luigi Boccherini receives a pay raise 12,000 from his employer, the Infante Luis, Count of Chinchón.

1807 – Robert Fulton's North River Steamboat leaves New York City for Albany, New York, on the Hudson River, inaugurating the first commercial steamboat service in the world.

1863 – American Civil War: In Charleston, South Carolina, Union batteries and ships bombard Confederate-held Fort Sumter.

1945 – The novella Animal Farm by George Orwell is first published.

1958—Pioneer 0, America's first attempt at lunar orbit, is launched using the first Thor-Able rocket and fails. Notably, It is one of any country's first attempted launches beyond Earth orbit.

2008 – American swimmer Michael Phelps is the first to win eight gold medals at one Olympic Games.

 

Birthdays

 1582 – John Matthew Rispoli, Maltese philosopher (d. 1639)

1753 – Josef Dobrovský, Bohemian philologist and historian (d. 1828)

1786 – Davy Crockett, American soldier and politician (d. 1836)

1887 – Marcus Garvey, the Jamaican journalist and activist, founded Black Star Line (d. 1940)

1911 – Mikhail Botvinnik, Russian chess player and engineer (d. 1995)

1918 – Ike Quebec, American saxophonist and pianist (d. 1963)

1929 – Francis Gary Powers, American captain and pilot (d. 1977)

1936 – Margaret Heafield Hamilton, American computer scientist, systems engineer, and business owner.

1963 – Jon Gruden, American football player, coach, and sportscaster.

  

Holiday Spotlight

 Black Cat Appreciation Day

Have you ever been spooked by a black cat crossing your path? This superstition goes way back when folks thought it spelled trouble. But black cats were seen as good omens in many cultures and throughout history. National Black Cat Appreciation Day was created to squash these myths and is celebrated on August 17 every year.

Nowadays, black cats are stars in pop culture. Think about sarcastic Thackery Binx in "Hocus Pocus," Salem in "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," and the classic cartoon black cat, Luna, in "Sailor Moon." Black cats are known as loyal sidekicks, just like how they were valued in many cultures throughout history.

So, who's to blame for these spooky superstitions about black cats? It's all thanks to, you guessed it, superstition! Back in the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church linked witches with shape-shifting black cats, which led to a negative reputation. Unfortunately, that stuck around for a long time.

But not everyone sees black cats as bad news. In fact, many people welcome them with open arms. For some, spotting a black cat brings good luck; for others, it symbolizes prosperity or romance. In certain cultures, black cats are even venerated. Long story short, there's no reason to be scared of them. Today, we celebrate our cuddly feline friends, no matter their fur color!

Holidays And Observance.

Baby Boomers Recognition Day

Balloon Airmail Day

Break the Monotony Day  

Chef's Appreciation Day  

Clear the Shelters Day  

International Geocaching Day  

International Homeless Animals Day  

Meaning of "Is" Day

National #2 Pencil Day

National Black Cat Appreciation Day

National Homeless Animals Day  

National Honey Bee Day  

National I Love My Feet Day

National Non-Profit Day

National Thrift Shop Day

National Vanilla Custard Day

World Honey Bee Day     

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In This Day December 3rd

  O.T.D December 3rd is the three hundred thirty-third day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 33 days remain until the end of the year. Events 1775—American Revolutionary War: The USS Alfred becomes the first vessel to fly the Grand Union Flag (the precursor to the Stars and Stripes); John Paul Jones hoists the flag. 1800 – United States presidential election: The Electoral College casts votes for president and vice president that result in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. 1854 – Battle of the Eureka Stockade: More than 20 gold miners at Ballarat, Victoria, are killed by state troopers in an uprising over mining licenses. 1898 – The Duquesne Country and Athletic Club defeats an all-star collection of early football players 16–0 in the first all-star game for professional American football. 1904 – Charles Dillon Perrine discovers the Jovian moon Himalia at California's Lick Observatory. 1910 – Georges Claude first demonstrates modern neon lighting at the Paris Moto...
Read more

The Lightning Mind of Benjamin Franklin: Innovator, Statesman, and Sage

Image
   Benjamin Franklin, one of the most extraordinary figures in American history, was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. His life spanned an era of remarkable change and progress, and Franklin himself was a driving force behind much of this transformation.  Franklin's thirst for knowledge was evident from a young age. Born into a modest family, he had limited formal education but compensated for this with an insatiable curiosity and a passion for self-learning. His early exposure to books and learning, mainly through his apprenticeship at his brother's printing shop, laid the foundation for his lifelong pursuit of knowledge.  Regarding Franklin's IQ, it's important to note that the concept of IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and IQ tests were not developed during Franklin's lifetime. Thus, it's impossible to accurately state his IQ. However, his broad range of achievements and intellectual pursuits indicate high intelligence and creativity.  Franklin e...
Read more

On This Day January 13th

 OTD January 13th is the Thirteenth day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 352 days remain until the end of the year.   Events 27 BC – Octavian transfers the state to the Roman Senate's and the people's free disposal. He receives Spain, Gaul, and Syria as his province for ten years. 532 – The Nika riots break out during the racing season at the Hippodrome in Constantinople because of discontent with the rule of Emperor Justinian 1815 – War of 1812: British troops capture Fort Peter in St. Mary’s, Georgia, the only battle of the war to take place in the state. 1888 – The National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C. 1910 – The first public radio broadcast takes place; a live performance of the operas Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci is sent out over the airwaves from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. 1920 – The Reichstag Bloodbath of January 13, 1920, the bloodiest demonstration in German history. 1966 – Robert C. Weaver became the f...
Read more