Today is...
Halloween!

Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve, can be traced back to an ancient Celtic pagan festival called “Samhain,” which was celebrated over 2,000 years ago. The Celtic calendar began on November 1, and the Celts believed that as the old year faded and the new year emerged, the boundaries between the living and the dead became unstable. On the night of October 31, the spirits of the deceased could walk the earth and provoke sickness or damage crops. To combat these evil spirits and ward off wandering ghosts, the Celts built huge bonfires, left bowls of food outside their homes, and wore costumes and masks.
Although there are still plenty of ghosts and ghouls, Halloween has evolved into a secular, family-friendly event. One quarter of all the candy sold in the United States is purchased for Halloween, and over 40 million children trick-or-treat in their neighborhood each year. Want a quick and easy way to celebrate? Send free eCards for Halloween to all your family and friends! Happy Halloween!

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Today is also National Caramel Apple Day

October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month

This week is International Magic Week

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History for October 31 1868 - Postmaster General Alexander Williams Randall approved a standard uniform for postal carriers. 1922 - Benito Mussolini became prime minister of Italy. 1940 - The British air victory in the Battle of Britain prevented Germany from invading Britain. 1941 - 14 years of work was completed on Mount Rushmore. At the time the 60-foot busts of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln were finished. 1952 - The U.S. detonated its first hydrogen bomb. 1968 - U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered a halt to all U.S. bombing of North Vietnam. ______________________________________________________ "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the triumph of great achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory or defeat." --Theodore Roosevelt

Today is...
National Candy Corn Day!

Did you know that candy corn has been around for more than 100 years and has never changed its look, taste, or design?
George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company created candy corn in the 1880s. It was made to mimic a kernel of corn and became instantly popular because of its innovative design. It was one of the first candies to feature three different colors!
Today, candy corn is a favorite American treat to enjoy during the Halloween season. The National Confectioners Association estimates that 20 million pounds of candy corn are sold annually. Grab a handful to celebrate National Candy Corn Day!

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October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month

This week is International Magic Week

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History for October 30 1893 - The U.S. Senate gave final approval to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890. 1894 - The time clock was patented by Daniel M. Cooper of Rochester, NY. 1945 - The U.S. government announced the end of shoe rationing. 1961 - The Soviet Union tested a hydrogen bomb with a force of approximately 58 megatons. 1978 - The movie "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park" aired on NBC-TV. ______________________________________________________ "The secret of happiness? Enjoy small pleasures." --Samuel Smiles

Today is...
National Cat Day!

“What greater gift than the love of a cat?” Charles Dickens once mused. Cats are one of the most beloved human companions of all time. They were first domesticated in the Middle East’s Fertile Crescent as early as 12,000 years ago. When humans relied on hunting as their main source of food, dogs were most useful, but when the first agricultural societies emerged, cats became invaluable. Domesticated cats became responsible for keeping grain stores free of mice and other rodents. Today, cats can be found in 34% of American households, making them the most popular house pet in the United States.
Pet lifestyle expert and animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige established National Cat Day in 2005. In honor of the occasion, celebrate cats and the unconditional love and companionship they give to their owners. If you don't own a cat, volunteer at your local animal shelter or make a donation. It’s the purrrrfect way to show you care!

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Today is also National Oatmeal Day

October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month

This week is International Magic Week

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History for October 29 1682 - William Penn landed at what is now Chester, PA. He was the founder of Pennsylvania. 1863 - The International Committee of the Red Cross was founded. 1956 - "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" premiered on NBC. 1960 - Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) won his first professional fight. 1995 - Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers) became the NFL's career leader in receiving yards with 14,040 yards. 1998 - The space shuttle Discovery blasted off with John Glenn on board. Glenn was 77 years old. In 1962 he became the first American to orbit the Earth. ______________________________________________________ "For the happiest life, days should be rigorously planned, nights left open to chance." --Mignon McLauglin

Today is...
Wild Foods Day!

Wild Foods Day is a celebration of wild plants, fruits, and vegetables. Humans have been eating plants and harvesting food from the wild for thousands of years. Due to a popular trend, wild plants now often appear on menus in gourmet restaurants and raw food restaurants. Wild foods are free of preservatives and pesticides, and eating them is part of an eco-friendly lifestyle. Today, take part in an age-old tradition and take a walk in the woods to find some edible wild plants to eat. Make sure you learn how to properly identify and prepare the wild plants before you consume them. You should also learn where to find them and if they have any nutritional value. Happy Wild Foods Day!

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Today is also Global Champagne Day

October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month

This week is International Magic Week

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History for October 28 1636 - Harvard College was founded in Massachusetts. The original name was Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony. It was the first school of higher education in America. 1886 - The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor by U.S. President Cleveland. The statue weighs 225 tons and is 152 feet tall. 1904 - The St. Louis Police Department became the first to use fingerprinting. 1949 - U.S. President Harry Truman swore in Eugenie Moore Anderson as the U.S. ambassador to Denmark. Anderson was the first woman to hold the post of ambassador. 1956 - Elvis Presley's song "Love Me Tender" became the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit. He became the first artist to follow himself into the No. 1 position. The song "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" had been the No. 1 song for 11 weeks. 1962 - Soviet leader Nikita Khrushev informed the U.S. that he had ordered the dismantling of Soviet missile bases in Cuba. 1965 - The Gateway Arch along the waterfront in St. Louis, MO, was completed. ______________________________________________________ "What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner." --Colette

Today is...
Frankenstein Friday!

Celebrated each year on the last Friday of October, Frankenstein Friday pays homage to one of the greatest gothic stories of all time. In 1818, Mary Shelley wrote a novel about a young scientist named Victor Frankenstein who discovers how to give life to inanimate bodies. He creates a monster that pursues him to the ends of the earth and eventually destroys everything he holds dear.
People often mistakenly use the name “Frankenstein” to refer to the hideous monster (famously played by Boris Karloff in the 1931 film), but Victor Frankenstein never gives his creation a name. Read a chapter from the book, send a free ecard monster to your friends, or create a mad scientist Halloween costume to celebrate Frankenstein Friday!

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Today is also  National Greasy Foods Day

October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month

This week is International Magic Week

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History for October 25 1415 - England won the Battle of Agincourt over France during the Hundred Years' War. Almost 6000 Frenchmen were killed while fewer than 400 were lost by the English. 1812 - During the War of 1812, the U.S. frigate United States captured the British vessel Macedonian. 1955 - The microwave oven, for home use, was introduced by The Tappan Company. 1962 - American author John Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. 2000 - AT&T Corp. announced that it would restructure into a family of four separately traded companies (consumer, business, broadband and wireless). ______________________________________________________ "Life is what we are alive to. It is not length but breadth. To be alive only to appetite, pleasure, pride, money-making, and not to goodness, kindness, purity, love, history, poetry, music, flowers, stars, God and eternal hope is to be all but dead." --Maltbie D. Babcock

Today is...
National Bologna Day!

 Bologna is a lunchtime favorite for sandwich lovers across the country. Although this American sausage is spelled bologna, it is commonly pronounced "baloney." In some parts of the country it is also referred to as “jumbo.”
Bologna can be made with beef, pork, chicken, or turkey. It is cooked and smoked with a wonderful bouquet of spices that add to its delicious flavor. There are many different variations including German bologna and Kosher bologna.
Did you know that Americans eat 800 million pounds of bologna annually? Add a slice or two to your sandwich today to celebrate National Bologna Day!

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Today is also Good and Plenty Day

October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month

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History for October 24 1901 - Daredevil Anna Edson Taylor became the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel. She was 63 years old. 1929 - In The U.S., investors dumped more than 13 million shares on the stock market. The day is known as "Black Thursday." 1939 - Nylon stockings were sold to the public for the first time in Wilmington, DE. 1945 - The United Nations (UN) was formally established less than a month after the end of World War II. 1963 - The Beatles left Great Britain for their first tour outside of their homeland. 1992 - The Toronto Blue Jays became the first non-U.S. team to win the World Series. ______________________________________________________ "If you don’t get satisfaction from doing it on a small scale, you won’t get satisfaction doing it on a global scale. Nothing, multiplied by six billion, is still nothing." --Peter McWilliams

Today is...
National Boston Cream Pie Day!

Celebrate National Boston Cream Pie Day! A French chef named Sanzian invented Boston cream pie in 1856. He worked at the Parker House Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, which is also where the Parker House roll originated.
In 1996, Boston cream pie became the official dessert of Massachusetts in a bill sponsored by Norton High School. This bill defeated both Indian Pudding and Toll House cookies as the state's official dessert. Boston cream pie is now also a popular doughnut, coffee, and ice cream flavor.
Although it is called a pie, Boston cream pie is actually a cake. It consists of two round layers of sponge cake with a thick vanilla custard filling. It is usually frosted with a chocolate glaze but it can also be topped with confectionary sugar. The dessert is served in wedges just like a pie. Enjoy a big slice today to celebrate National Boston Cream Pie Day!

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October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month

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History for October 23 1910 - Blanche S. Scott became the first woman to make a public solo airplane flight. 1946 - The United Nations General Assembly convened in New York for the first time. 1958 - Russian poet and novelist Boris Pasternak was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. He was forced to refuse the honor due to negative Soviet reaction. Pasternak won the award for writing "Dr. Zhivago". 1998 - Japan nationalized its first bank since World War II. ______________________________________________________ "Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work." --H.L. Hunt

Today is...
International Caps Lock Day!

It's a whole day dedicated to something that drives most people crazy—text that is written in ALL CAPITALIZED LETTERS.
International Caps Lock Day was created in 2000 by Derek Arnold of Iowa. This holiday began as a parody. It was intended to poke fun at those individuals who unnecessarily capitalize letters, words, and phrases.The day became so popular with internet users that it is now celebrated twice a year—on June 28 and on October 22.
Hit your caps lock button and celebrate INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY!

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     Today is also National Nut Day

October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month

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History for October 22 1746 - The College of New Jersey was officially chartered. It later became known as Princeton University. 1883 - The New York Horse show opened. The first national horse show was formed by the newly organized National Horse Show Association of America. 1954 - The Federal Republic of Germany was invited to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 1961 - Chubby Checker appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show" and performed "The Twist." 1962 - U.S. President Kennedy went on radio and television to inform his nation about his order to send U.S. forces to blockade Cuba. The blockade was in response to the discovery of Soviet missile bases on the island. 1995 - The 50th anniversary of the United Nations was marked by a record number of world leaders gathering. ______________________________________________________ "Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still." --Henry David Thoreau

Today is...
National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day!

During the autumn months, festive pumpkin-flavored treats are everywhere. You can find all sorts of goodies like pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin soup, pumpkin beer, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cookies, and (today's reason to celebrate) pumpkin cheesecake!
Pumpkin cheesecake is traditionally made with a graham cracker crust and a pumpkin purée cheesecake filling. Did you know that cheesecakes were popular in Greece as early as 2000 BC? Today there are hundreds of variations all over the world.
Find out if your local bakery is serving pumpkin cheesecake! Pay homage to a fall favorite and enjoy a delicious slice in honor of National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day.

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October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month

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History for October 21 1797 - "Old Ironsides," the U.S. Navy frigate Constitution, was launched in Boston's harbor. 1917 - The first U.S. soldiers entered combat during World War I near Nancy, France. 1944 - During World War II, the German city of Aachen was captured by U.S. troops. 1958 - Buddy Holly recorded his last studio session. Holly and the Crickets recorded "True Love Ways," "Moondreams," "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," and "Raining in my Heart." 1961 - Bob Dylan recorded "Bob Dylan," his first album. He was 20 years old when he did the recording for Columbia Records. The cost to produce the session was $400. 1980 - The Philadelphia Phillies won their first World Series. 1998 - The New York Yankees set a major league baseball record of 125 victories for the regular and postseason combined. ______________________________________________________ "If only we’d stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time." --Edith Wharton

Today is...
National Chocolate Cupcake Day!

Chocolate cupcakes are a delightful treat served at gourmet bakeries and kitchen tables across the country.
Cupcakes first emerged during the 19th century in the United States. There are two theories about how they got their name. One claims that the miniature cakes were originally baked in cups. The other suggests that the name comes from the recipe, which was measured out by the cup—one cup butter, two cups sugar, three cups flour, four eggs, one cup milk, one spoonful baking soda.
Cupcakes are now made with a variety of flavors, ingredients, and decorations, but simple chocolate cupcakes remain a perennial favorite. Bake, frost, and decorate a batch today to celebrate National Chocolate Cupcake Day!

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October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month

This week is National Baking Week & National Cereal Lovers Week

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History for October 18 1867 - The U.S. took formal possession of Alaska from Russia. The land was purchased for $7 million dollars (2 cents per acre). 1943 - The first broadcast of "Perry Mason" was presented on CBS Radio. The show went to TV in 1957. 1950 - Connie Mack announced that he was going to retire after 50 seasons as the manager of the Philadelphia Athletics. 1967 - "How I Won the War," starring John Lennon, premiered in London. 1971 - After 34 years the final issue of "Look" magazine was published. 1977 - Reggie Jackson tied Babe Ruth's record for hitting three homeruns in a single World Series game. Jackson was only the second player to achieve this. ______________________________________________________ "The fear of life is the favorite disease of the 20th century." --William Lyon Phelps