Pencil Day
Today we celebrate the issuance the first patent on the modern pencil. On this day in 1858, Hymen Lipman was issued a patent for a pencil with an eraser to be used for writing and drawing. Pencils are usually made out of wood with a graphite or charcoal center, though modern day inventions have also create plastic mechanical pencils for usage.
Did you know that one single wooden pencil can write 45,000 words or draw a line that is 35 miles long. It can also write in zero gravity, upside down, or under water. Pencils have been mass produced in Europe since 1622, but they weren't in production in the United States until 1812. Pencils began being painted yellow because yellow is a color often associated with royalty and respect. During that time, a yellow pencil became known as the best type of pencil you could buy.
On this Pencil Day commemorate the history and usefulness of pencils by putting your laptop aside and instead use a pencil and paper to write!
March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month
On this day in History:
1858 - Hyman L. Lipman of Philadelphia patented the pencil.
1867 - The U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million dollars.
1870 - The 15th amendment, guaranteeing the right to vote regardless of race, was passed by the U.S. Congress.
1964 - "Jeopardy" debuted on NBC-TV.
1967 - The cover of the Beatles' "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was staged and photographed.
1987 - Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" was bought for $39.85 million.
Quote of the Day:
"Life is like a ten-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use."
--Charles Schultz
I had no idea Jeopardy is that old!
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