Ridley's Believe It Or Not--This Day In History

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

October 21 History Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Prevention Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—October 21, 2015, 457 days to go in President Obama’s term. Trust your Hump Day is proving to be a great one; as always I hope you enjoy Tuesday’s holidays and observances, factoids of interest, a music video by Rod Stewart, a relevant quote from Ida B. Wells, looking forward to enjoying a slice of pumpkin cheesecake, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable event like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.
1. Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Prevention Day—creating awareness of the need to iodize salt to prevent a host of maladies caused by a lack of iodine from goiters to dwarfism.

2. Back to the Future Day—celebrating Marty McFly’s travel to this day in the movie Back to the Future II released in 1989 which predicted among other things the Cubs winning the World Series which will be very difficult to come to fruition.

3. 1971 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1971 on a

run of 5 weeks in that position Maggie Mae by Rod Stewart. Here is a link to Rod Stewart performing Maggie Mae: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9dlG-iq3F8

4. National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day—celebrating another great way to utilize pumpkin as we approach Halloween.

5. Poison Ivy Works In The Interior Day—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1946 of Lux Interior who with his wife Poison Ivy whom he met while she was hitchhiking founded the punk rock band The Cramps. He left us in 2009.

On this day in:

a. 1797 the oldest still commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy, the USS Constitution, a 44 gun frigate also known as Old Ironsides, was launched.

b. 1824 Joseph Aspdin received a patent for Portland cement.

c. 1921 President Warren Harding became the first sitting president to deliver a speech against lynching Afro-Americans in the South.

d. 1967 more than 100,000 anti-Vietnam War protestors peacefully assembled at the Lincoln Memorial and then marched to the Pentagon to protest the Vietnam War.

e. 2011 in a chilling reminder of the costs of rapid industrialization record smog exceeding even the pollution levels in Beijing reduced visibility to less than 50 feet in the city of Harbin, China and closed down schools, roads and the airport.

Reflections on the stain of lynching on our history: “No nation, savage or civilized, save only the United States of America, has confessed its inability to protect its women save by hanging, shooting, and burning alleged offenders.” Ida B. Wells, noted African-American journalist and early member of the Civil Rights Movement during the 2oth Century

Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join 164 growing followers and please follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance or go to Ridley's Believe It Or Not for just This Day In History.

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Tuesday, October 20, 2015

October 20 History World Osteoporosis

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—October 20, 2015, 458 days to go in President Obama’s term. Trust your Taco Tuesday is proving to be a great one; as always I hope you enjoy Tuesday’s holidays and observances, factoids of interest, a music video by The Jackson Five, a relevant quote from Jolie Carmadella, looking forward to enjoying a small portion of brandied fruit, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable event like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.
1. World Osteoporosis Day—created by the International Osteoporosis Society in 1997 to create awareness of the bone disease osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases and should be celebrated by drinking a glass of milk and taking a calcium pill.

2. World Statistics Day—celebrating the importance of official statistics in creating policies to better the lives of millions—better data means better lives.

3. 1970 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1970 on a

run of 5 weeks in that position I’ll Be There by The Jackson Five. Here is a link to The Jackson Five (with a very young Michael Jackson) performing I’ll Be There: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6pAxF2br_U

4. National Brandied Fruit Day—celebrating another great way to enjoy fruit albeit in moderation and not before driving.

5. Sounds Of Eternal Silence Day—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1984 of multi-tattooed deathcore singer and founder of the band Suicide Silence, Mitch Lucker, who after a night of heavy drinking rode his motorcycle and was killed while riding it.

On this day in:

a. 1803 the U.S. Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase.

b. 1873 Yale, Princeton, Rutgers and Columbia drafted the rules for football.

c. 1947 the House Un-American Activities Committee began its investigation of Communist infiltration of Hollywood which resulted in the creation of the blacklist which barred individuals listed on it from working in Hollywood for years.

d. 1973 in what became known as the “Saturday Night Massacre” President Richard Nixon fired Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus after they failed to fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox who had to be dismissed by the Solicitor General Richard Bork (definitely one reason in addition to his conservative views that his nomination by President Reagan to the Supreme Court was blocked by Democrats in 1987).

e. 2011 in a chilling preview of what would occur on the collapse of Assad in Syria, Khadafy was captured and quickly killed by Libyan rebels.

Reflections on why drinking and driving should not mix: “He was an alcoholic, and it's been a big battle. I tried to stop him. I was in front of him begging him not to leave the house. Begging him. 'Just seriously, for us, don't leave.' And he did. And this is what happened...He was an amazing man. He was a wonderful father and a great husband. And now he's gonna miss out on watching [his five-year-old daughter] Kenadee grow, because he decided to drink and ride.” Jolie Carmadella, wife of Mitch Lucker at the candlelight vigil marking his death. How true and how tragic!

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Monday, October 19, 2015

October 19 History National Forest Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—October 19, 2015, 459 days to go in President Obama’s term. Trust your weekend was a great one to be surpassed by Monday and you won big bucks with your fantasy teams today before the feds and states regulate the games out of existence; as always I hope you enjoy Monday’s holidays and observances, factoids of interest, a music video by The Temptations, a relevant quote from Charles, Prince of Wales, looking forward to enjoying a bowl of seafood bisque, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable event like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.
1. National Clean Your Virtual Desk Day—celebrated on the third Monday of October to encourage those whose physical desks are a virtual mess of clutter to break the habit and clean up one’s desktop on the computer.

2. National Rainforest Day—promoting awareness of the importance of rainforests to the human and animal ecology and promote efforts to preserve them.

3. 1969 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1969 on a

run of 2 weeks in that position I Can’t Get Next To You by The Temptations. Here is a link to The Temptations performing I Can’t Get Next To You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RfGe6MvY84

4. National Seafood Bisque Day—celebrating another great way to enjoy seafood.

5. Mad Max Day—celebrating not Mel Gibson’s great performance in Mad Max but rather the birthday on this day in 1937 of an iconic pop artist Peter Max whose family had the foresight to flee Nazi Germany before the commencement of World War II.

On this day in:

a. 1781 Lord Cornwallis surrendered his British Army at Yorktown which prompted the British Parliament to vote to end offensive actions and seek peace.

b. 1914 the U.S. Postal Service uses an automobile for the first time to deliver mail.

c. 1943 the antibiotic streptomycin, the first antibiotic to treat tuberculosis, was isolated at Rutgers University.

d. 1960 in response to Castro’s nationalization of all assets held by American corporations, the U.S. banned all exports and travel to Cuba.

e. 1973 OPEC declares an embargo of exports of oil to the United States due to its support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War.

Reflections on the importance of rainforests: “Forests...are in fact the world’s air-conditioning system—the very lungs of the planet—and help to store the largest body of freshwater on the planet…essential to produce food for our plant’s growing population. The rainforests of the world also provide the livelihoods of more than a billion of the poorest people on this Earth. In simple terms, the rainforests, which encircle the world, are our very life-support system--and we are on the verge of switching it off.” Charles, Prince of Wales Astute remarks from someone who is wondering how long his mother will continue to rule.

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

October 18 History Alaska Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—October 18, 2015, 460 days to go in President Obama’s term. Trust your weekend is proving to be a good one and you will win big bucks with your fantasy teams today before the feds and states regulate the games out of existence; as always I hope you enjoy Sunday’s holidays and observances, factoids of interest, music videos by The Beatles and Chuck Berry, a relevant quote from Maya Angelou, looking forward to enjoying some chocolate cupcakes, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable event like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.
1. Alaska Day—celebrated in Alaska as a state holiday marking the formal transfer by Russia of the territory of Alaska to the United States and bemoaned by Putin.

2. Black Poetry Day—commemorating the poetic works of black poets around the globe and observed on October 17 (mea culpa as I missed this yesterday but to paraphrase the slogan of the United Negro College Fund—“a day honoring poets is a terrible thing to waste”), the birthday on this day in 1711 of Jupiter Hammon America’s first black poet.

3. 1968 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1968 on a long

run of 9 weeks in that position Hey Jude by The Beatles. Here is a link to The Beatles performing Hey Jude: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r777Uz6EDGA

4. National Chocolate Cupcake Day—celebrating another good way to deliver chocolate.

5. Be Good Day—commemorating not an exhortation to all be show great behavior in their dealings with people but rather the birthday on this day in 1926 of noted rock pioneer Chuck Berry famous for Maybellene and Johnny B. Goode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFo8-JqzSCM

On this day in:

a. 1648 shoemakers in Boston formed America’s first labor organization.

b. 1775 African-American poet Phillis Wheatley was freed from slavery.

c. 1954 Texas Instruments announced the first transistor radio.

d. 1968 the U.S. Olympic Committee suspended Tommie Smith and John Carlos for giving the Black Power Salute during their medal award ceremony during the Mexico City Olympics.

e. 1969 the FDA banned the use of cyclamates (artificial sweeteners).

Reflections from one of America’s great black poets: “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” Maya Angelou

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Saturday, October 17, 2015

October 17 History International Eradication of Poverty Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—October 17, 2015 Trust your weekend is off to a great start; as always I hope you enjoy Saturday’s holidays and observances, factoids of interest, a music video by Lulu, a relevant quote from Kofi Annan, looking forward to a serving of pasta, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable event like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.
1. National Edge Day—celebrated by hard core punk rock fans but who eschew recreational drugs, tobacco in response to the larger punk rock culture that uses them to great excess.

2. International Eradication of Poverty Day—recognized by the UN to promote the idea that whenever the population is doomed to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated; unfortunately the basic premise that capitalism and entrepreneurship free of stifling taxes and regulations have limited millions upon millions out of poverty.

3. 1967 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1967 on a

run of 5 weeks in that position To Sir With Love by Lulu. Here is a link to Lulu performing To Sir With Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTapoA5RQyo

4. National Pasta Day—celebrating that great dish especially when combined with one’s favorite sauces and in the Alaskanpoet’s case clams.

5. Wish Over Cars Not Stars—commemorating not all those who dream of acquiring a top of the line car, but rather the birthday on this day in 1938 of famous motorcycle stunt man and annuity for orthopedic surgeons Evel Knievel famous for leaping over large numbers of cars and buses and surviving albeit with great numbers of broken bones.

On this day in:

a. 1888 Thomas Edison filed for a patent for the optical phonograph (movie).

b. 1907 Marconi began the first transatlantic wireless communications service between Nova Scotia and Ireland.

c. 1931 noted mobster Al Capone was convicted of federal income tax evasion.

d. 1933 Albert Einstein fearing Nazi oppression of the Jews fled Germany and moved to America—his letter to Franklin Delano Roosevelt indicating the feasibility of creating the atomic bomb through the fission of uranium was instrumental in the approval of the Manhattan Project and the creation of the atomic bomb which ended the war in the Pacific.

e. 1956 the world’s first commercial nuclear power plant was opened by Elizabeth II at Sellafield in Cumbria, England.

Reflections on the impact of poverty "On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, let us recognize that extreme poverty anywhere is a threat to human security everywhere. Let us recall that poverty is a denial of human rights. For the first time in history, in this age of unprecedented wealth and technical prowess, we have the power to save humanity from this shameful scourge. Let us summon the will to do it." –Kofi Annan, Ghanaian diplomat who served as the Secretary General of the United Nations from 1997-2006 He may be right on the amount of wealth and technical prowess but if in trying to eradicate poverty we forget how that wealth was created efforts to reduce poverty are doomed.

Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join 164 growing followers and please follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance. Go to Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times for comments on important and breaking news events that should be of interest. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com Ridley's Believe It Or Not Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times

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Friday, October 16, 2015

October 16 History World Food Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—October 16, 2015 Trust your Friday is proving to be a great one with your weekend plans all set; as always I hope you enjoy Friday’s holidays and observances, factoids of interest, a music video by Four Tops, a relevant quote from Jared Diamond, looking forward to a serving of an after dinner drink as a perfect host, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable event like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.
1. World Food Day—commemorating the founding on this day in 1945 of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization formed to promote global food security; sadly, given the amount of famine and hunger that plagues the world, FAO has a lot more work to do.

2. World Anesthesia Day—commemorating the first successful surgery on this day in 1846.

3. 1966 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1966 on a

run of 2 weeks in that position Reach Out I’ll Be There by Four Tops. Here

is a link to Four Tops performing Reach Out I’ll Be There: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SpkOcbVYS0

4. National Liqueur Day—celebrating for those who enjoy topping off a great dinner with an after dinner drink like brandy or Chambord.

5. Velvet Underground—commemorating the birthday on this day in 1938 of German rock singer Rico who performed with the Velvet Underground but was a heroin addict who after 15 years went on methadone therapy and started to bike as part of her rehab only to die in a bike accident in Spain.

On this day in:

a. 1909 President William Howard Taft and Mexican Porfirio Diaz held the first summit meeting between a U.S. and a Mexican president and managed to escape an assassination attempt.

b. 1916 Margaret Sanger in Brooklyn, New York the first family planning clinic which evolved into Planned Parenthood which is the focus of scandal today over the sale of fetal body parts harvested from the close to 400,000 abortions it performs today and the 500 million dollars it receives from the federal government.

c. 1964 China detonated its first nuclear weapon, joining the U.S., Great Britain, the Soviet Union and France as members of the nuclear club.

d. 1975 a two year old girl, Rahima Banu from Kuralia, Bangladesh became the last known human being to have been infected with naturally occurring smallpox.

e. 1984 Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Reflections on what history might have been in North and South America had Jenner developed the small pox vaccination before Columbus landed in North America: “ Infectious diseases introduced with Europeans, like smallpox and measles, spread from one Indian tribe to another, far in advance of Europeans themselves, and killed an estimated 95% of the New World's Indian population.” Jared Diamond, noted historian and author

Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join 164 growing followers and please follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance. Go to Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times for comments on important and breaking news events that should be of interest. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com Ridley's Believe It Or Not Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times

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Thursday, October 15, 2015

October 15 History White Cane Safety Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—October 15, 2015 Trust your Thursday is proving to be a great one and if in Southern California you have found ways to beat the heat; as always I hope you enjoy Thursday’s holidays and observances, factoids of interest, a music video by The Beatles, a relevant quote from Jim Webb, looking forward to a serving of roast pheasant, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable event like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.
1. Global Handwashing Day—promoting awareness of a surefire way to minimize the spread of disease—washing one’s hands.

2. National White Cane Safety Day—created by a joint resolution of Congress in 1964 to promote the accomplishments of blind and visually impaired persons easily recognizable by their use of a long white cane.

3. 1965 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1965 on a

run of 4 weeks in that position Yesterday by The Beatles. Here

is a link to the very young Fab Four,The Beatles, performing Yesterday:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S09F5MejfBE

4. National Roast Pheasant Day—celebrating a great tasting fowl and the exercise associated therewith if trooping through the fields with shotgun at the ready with a trusty bird dog pointing out where pheasant may be concealed.

5. Marshall Your Pennies—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1943 of Penny Marshall of Laverne and Shirley fame who achieved success as a director and who became the first director of a film directed by a female to gross over 100 million dollars which is an awful lot of pennies.

On this day in:

a. 1878 the Edison Electric Light Company began operations.

b. 1904 Russian Baltic Fleet sets sail from Estonia heading to Port Arthur in the Pacific and its almost total destruction by the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese War.

c. 1956 Fortran the first modern computer language was released to the software coding public.

d. 1966 Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale formed the Black Panther Party.

e. 1969 the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam was held in Washington, D.C. and in cities across the land. Over 2,000,000 citizens demonstrated to no immediate avail as the end of the war along with the Nixon Presidency was still some four years in the future along with thousands of additional lives lost and bodies maimed and wounded.

Reflections on two generations: “World War II brought the Greatest Generation together. Vietnam tore the Baby Boomers apart.” Jim Webb former Secretary of the Navy and currently a candidate for President of the United States on the Democratic ticket.

Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join 163 growing followers and please follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance. Go to Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times for comments on important and breaking news events that should be of interest. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com Ridley's Believe It Or Not Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times

Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare

Rhymes for All the Memorable Times
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift