Friday, August 24, 2012

Pluto Demoted Day -- but there will be waffles

On this day in 2006, the International Astronomical Union voted to demote Pluto from "planet" to "dwarf planet."

Ever since the IAU's vote, die-hards have steadfastly insisted that Pluto should remain a planet. Their eloquent protests may be found elsewhere on the Web. For the IAU's side of the story, click here.

Today is also National Waffle Day -- referring not to waffling over whether Pluto should or should not remain a planet but, rather, referring to the breakfast batter cake prepared in a waffle iron, a device patented by Cornelius Swarthout on this day in 1869.

Mr. Breakfast.com provides a careful explanation of the difference between today's observance of National Waffle Day and the August 5 observance of International Waffle Day

Wait a minute. International Waffle Day was August 5? Our crack research staff seems to have missed that....

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If you'd rather stick with Debbie Downer theme we've established here at The Blog of Days recently... well, on this day in A.D. 79, Mt. Vesuvius blew its top, destroying Pompeii and Herculaneum. Pliny the Elder was just the most famous victim of Vesuvius's 16,000 or so victims on this occasion.

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