FYI: Any blue text is a link. Click to check it out!
⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘
Jan 1, 2018 Week: 01\ Day: 1
86004 Today: H 61° \ L 18° \ Average Sky Cover: 80%
Wind ave.: 6mph\Gusts: 15mph Visibility: 10 mi
Record High: 61°[1981] Record Low: -21°[1919]
Jan Averages: 50°\23°
Jan Records: H: 66° (1971) L: -30° (1937)
⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘
Today’s Quote
Harper’s Index
Percentage change between 2016 and 2017 in the arrests of US immigrants with criminal convictions: +18%
Of immigrants without criminal convictions: +156%
⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘
Observances This Week
1-8
Diet Resolution Week
National Lose Weight/Feel Great Week
New Year's Resolutions Week
Silent Record Week
⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘
Observances for Today
Copyright Law Day
Commitment Day Link
Divorce Monday Link
Ellis Island Day
Euro Day
First Foot Day Link
Global Family Day Link
Mummer's Parade
New Year's Day
New Year's Dishonor List Day
Polar Bear Plunge or Swim Day Link (Cony Island NY & Vancouver, BC)
Public Domain Day Link
Rose Bowl Game
Tournament of Roses Parade Day
World Day of Peace Link
Z Day
⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘
UN International Years: A good reminder of the UN at work.
2018
No designation
2017
International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
2016
International Year of Pulses
2015
International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies
International Year of Soils
2014
International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
International Year of Small Island Developing States
International Year of Crystallography
International Year of Family Farming
2013
International Year of Water Cooperation
International Year of Quinoa
2012
International Year of Cooperatives
International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
2011
International Year for People of African Descent
International Year of Chemistry
International Year of Forests
International Year of Youth
2010
International Year of Youth (12 August 2010 — 11 August 2011)
International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures
International Year of Biodiversity
International Year of the Seafarer
2009
International Year of Reconciliation
International Year of Natural Fibres
International Year of Human Rights Learning
International Year of Astronomy
Year of the Gorilla [UNEP and UNESCO]
2008
International Year of Planet Earth
International Year of Languages
International Year of Sanitation
International Year of the Potato
2007-2008
International Polar Year (WMO)
2006
International Year of Deserts and Desertification
2005
International Year of Microcredit
International Year for Sport and Physical Education
International Year of Physics
2004
International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition
International Year of Rice
2003
Year of Kyrgyz Statehood
International Year of Freshwater
United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage
International Year of Mountains
International Year of Ecotourism
2001
United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations
International Year of Volunteers
International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
2000
International Year of Thanksgiving
International Year for the Culture of Peace
1999
International Year of Older Persons
1998
International Year of the Ocean
1996
International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
1995
United Nations Year for Tolerance
World Year of Peoples’ Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War
1994
International Year of the Family
International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal
1993
International Year for the World's Indigenous People
1992
International Space Year
1990
International Literacy Year
1987
International Year of Shelter for The Homeless
1986
International Year of Peace
1985
Year of the United Nations
International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace
1983
World Communications Year; Development of Communication Infrastructures
1982
International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions Against South Africa
1981
International Year for Disabled Persons
1979
International Year of The Child
1978/79
International Anti-Apartheid Year
1975
International Women's Year
1974
World Population Year
1971
International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Prejudice
1970
International Education Year
1968
International Year for Human Rights
1967
International Tourist Year
1965
International Co-operation Year
1961
International Health and Medical Research Year
1959/1960
World Refugee Year
Today’s Significant US Historical Events
Today’s Significant International Historical Events
400’s
404 Last gladiator competition in Rome
600’s
630 The Prophet Muhammad sets out toward Mecca with the army that captures it bloodlessly.
1600’s
1600 Scotland begins its numbered year on January 1 instead of 25 March.
1610 German astronomer Simon Marius 1st discovers the Jupiter moons, but does not officially report it, Galileo does on July 1 1610 1651 Charles II Stuart crowned king of Scotland
1673 Regular mail delivery begins between NY & Boston
1700’s
1758 The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature establish the "starting point" for standardized species names across the animal kingdom, based on the binomial nomenclature by Carolus Linnaeus 10th edition of Systema Naturae
1772 First traveler's cheques go on sale in London, can be used in 90 European cities
1785 "Daily Universal Register" (Times of London) publishes 1st issue
1797 Albany replaces New York City as capital of New York
1800’s
1801 The Irish Parliament votes to join the Kingdom of Great Britain, forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
1803 Emperor Gia Long orders all bronze wares of the Tây Sơn Dynasty to be collected and melted into nine cannons for the Royal Citadel in Huế, Vietnam.
1804 Haiti gains independence from France (National Day)
1808 Congress prohibits importation of slaves
1818 Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" is published anonymously by the small London publishing house of Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones
1840 1st recorded bowling match in US, Knickerbocker Alleys, NYC
1846 Yucatan declares independence from Mexico
1847 Michigan is 1st state to abolish capital punishment
1854 Lincoln University, a black college, chartered (Oxford, Pennsylvania)
1858 Canada begins using decimal currency system
1861 President-elect of the United States Abraham Lincoln declares slavery in Confederate states unlawful (US Civil War)
1863 Emancipation Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln to free slaves in US confederate states
1874 New York City annexes the Bronx
1886 1st Tournament of Roses (Pasadena California)
1890 Eritrea is consolidated into a colony by the Italian government
1898 Brooklyn merges with NY to form present City of NY
1899 Cuba liberated from Spanish rule by the US, American occupation continues till 1902
1900’s
1902 1st Rose Bowl: Michigan beats Stanford 49-0
1903 In Delhi, a great durbar, or formal reception, marks the coronation of King Edward VII as Emperor of India; the British release some 16,000 prisoners in honor of the occasion
1907 US President Theodore Roosevelt shakes a record 8,513 hands in 1 day
1908 1st time, ball signifying new year dropped at Times Square
1912 Sun Yat-sen forms the Republic of China
1917 T. E. Lawrence joins the forces of the Arabian sheik Feisal al Husayn, beginning his adventures that will lead him to Damascus by October, 1918
1928 1st US air-conditioned office building opens, San Antonio
1935 1st Sugar Bowl: Tulane beats Temple, 20-14
1935 1st Orange Bowl: Bucknell beats Miami (FL), 26-0
1950 Ho Chi Minh begins offensive against French troops in Indo China
1958 European Economic Community, better known as the European Common Market starts operation
1960 Johnny Cash plays first of many free concerts behind bars
1962 United States Navy SEALs established.
1966 Simon & Garfunkel's "Sounds of Silence" reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
1983 'New age music' radio program "Hearts of Space" makes its national syndication debut on U.S. National Public Radio
1985 The Internet's Domain Name System is created.
1999 The Euro currency is introduced.
2000’s
2017 Portuguese politician and diplomat António Guterres becomes United Nations Secretary General, replacing South Korean Ban Ki-moon
⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘
My Rambling Thoughts
Planning a quiet evening at home for the new year to arrive. I called city hall and informed them I would not be attending the annual pinecone drop downtown. They were understandingly upset, but said the pinecone drop would go on as planned. I expected as much.
Looking forward to 2018. One good thing is that I don’t have to spend the first week of the new year teaching kids to use the right year on their papers. Another good thing, I don’t write many checks—1 or 2 a year—so I don’t have to change the 7 to an 8.
I spent a little time cleaning out my bedroom closet. Amazing how many things I have saved over the years, expecting to use them again, and just leaving them on the shelf. Guess Big Brothers & Sisters will be happy to accept the good stuff.
⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘
Birthdays Today
@- indicates age at death
90’s
@91- E. M. Forster,
English writer and novelist (Howards End, Passage to India),
born in Marylebone, Middlesex
born in Marylebone, Middlesex
(d. 1970)
@91- J[erome] D[avid] Salinger,
American novelist (Catcher in the Rye),
born in NYC, New York
(d. 2010)
@90- Xavier Cugat,
Spanish American bandleader (married Abbe Lane, Charo),
born in Girona, Catalonia
(d. 1990)
80’s
@89- Barry Goldwater,
(Sen-R-Az, 1953-65, 69- )/Presidential candidate (R) 1964)
(d. 1998)
@87- Ty Hardin,
American actor (Riptide, Bronco),
born in NYC,
(d. 2017)
@84- Betsy Ross [Elizabeth Griscom],
American seamstress widely credited with making the first American flag,
born in Philadelphia
(d. 1836)
@83- Dana Andrews,
American actor (Battle of the Bulge, Laura),
born in Covington County, Mississippi
(d. 1992)
@83- Paul Revere,
American silversmith and patriot who alerted the colonial militia to the approach of British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord,
born in Boston, Massachusetts
(d. 1818)
70’s
@77- J. Edgar Hoover,
first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (1924-72),
born in Washington, D.C.
heart attack (d. 1972)
76- Country Joe McDonald, California, rock guitarist/vocalist (& the Fish)
@71- Rocky Graziano,
US boxer (Middleweight champ) and entertainer (Pantomime Quiz, Miami Undercover),
born in New York City
heart failure (d. 1990)
60’s
65- Gary Johnson,
American businessman, politician, Libertarian Party nominee for President 2016,
born in Minot, North Dakota
62- Christine Lagarde,
French lawyer and politician, 1st female head of the IMF, born in Paris
50’s
@51- John Smith,
explorer; early settler
(d. 1631)
40’s
49- Morris Chestnut,
actor (Boyz N the Hood)
42- Chai Jing,
Chinese broadcaster, author and documentary maker (Under the Dome),
born in Linfen, Shanxi Province
⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘
Historical Obits Today
90’s
@92-1998 Helen Wills Moody,
American tennis player (31 Grand Slams)
80’s
@86-2001 Ray Walston,
American actor (My Favorite Martian, Damn Yankees)
@86-1994 Cesar Romero,
American actor (Batman, Ocean's 11)
@85-2013 Patti Page [Clara Ann Fowler],
American pop singer
@85-1992 Grace Hopper,
American computer scientist and US Navy admiral who invented the first compiler for a universal computer programming language and is credited with coining the phrase 'debugging’
@82-2015 Mario Cuomo,
American Democratic Party politician and the 52nd Governor of New York (1983-95)
@82-2015 Donna Douglas,
American actress (Elly May Clampett-The Beverly Hillbillies)
@80-2005 Shirley Chisholm,
1st African American Congresswoman (Rep-D-NY) and presidential candidate
40’s
@43-1982 Victor Buono,
actor (Mr Schubert-Man from Atlantis),
heart attack
20’s
@29-1953 Hank Williams,
country singer (Cold Cold Heart),
hemorrhages
⌘⌘⌘⌘⌘
Disclaimer: All opinions are mine…feel free to agree or disagree.
All ‘data’ info is from the internet sites and is usually checked with at least one other source, but I have learned that every site contains mistakes and sadly once the information is out there, many sites simply copy it and is therefore difficult to verify. Also for events occurring before the Gregorian calendar was adopted [1582] the dates may not be totally accurate.
☼☼☼☼…And That Is All for Now…☼☼☼☼
