Would you like fries with that? Today is National Fast Food Day

Usual Suspect Punchbowl.com proclaims today National Fast Food Day.

Fast food has come under increasingly harsh attack from so many quarters in recent years -- the Mayor of New York recently presumed to decide how big soft drink cups may be in the Big Apple -- an employee of the Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section of the California Department of Public Health attempted (unsuccessfully) to bring a class action suit against McDonald's because she found it difficult to say 'no' to her six-year old daughter when the little girl wanted to go to Mickey D's for a Happy Meal -- we could go on, but you already have the idea.

Well, today especially, you can ignore these many and increasingly scurrilous attacks on one of our few thriving industries: Order your burgers with extra grease today. Supersize your fries without shame.

And for all the vegans and foodies and health nuts out there tsk-tsk-tsking, we say today is also the International Day for Tolerance. Technically, the United Nations set this day aside to "to encourage tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples," but don't bluenoses and fast food afficionados increasingly seem to belong to different civilizations, even when they are next door neighbors?

We here at The Blog of Days, in the spirit of compromise and public service, venture to offer this suggestion: Today, fast-food-eaters, after you've had your quota of Big Macs or Whoppers, knock on the door of the health nut next door -- and invite him or her to accompany you on a nice, long walk. You see, today is also Take a Hike Day. Work off some of those fries and turn the route of your hike into common ground.

America Recycles Day

Today is America Recycles Day.

Look, we here at The Blog of Days understand that recycling can be a big pain. Sorting and saving one's garbage seems... unseemly. And schlepping old batteries here, newspapers there, and plastics somewhere else besides gets old, especially when the trash collector comes to the curb or to the alley behind the house.

But, on America Recycles Day, make a vow -- take a pledge -- promise to do something more than you're doing now. Cut back on your plastic bags; consider reusable cloth bags for your groceries whenever possible. A lot of grocers recycle plastic bags -- take your old bags with you (and your new cloth bags) when you next head out to the store. In Chicago, it seems as if every school is collecting newspapers (and old junk mail). Why throw this stuff out when places nearby are begging for your stuff?

And, if you're still in the mood for taking pledges, today is the 37th Great American Smokeout.

Looking for something to celebrate that doesn't involve taking a pledge? Today is also I Love to Write Day, a microminiholidayette founded in 2002 by John Riddle, a Delaware author and ghostwriter. Of course Mr. Riddle wants you to write more, but he's not demanding any pledges.

We thought yesterday was too crowded with too many minor events. Usual Suspect Hallmark may have agreed. Hallmark says today is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. If you choose to observe this microminiholidayette today, we do hope you recycle any glass jars or aluminum foil that you pull out of the fridge.

National Pickle Day -- and all sorts of other microminiholidayettes

Today is like a typical cable TV channel search: There are all sorts of listings, but nothing is really on.

It's a crowded field today, in other words, but a weak one. National Pickle Day may be the most exciting on today's list.

Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day is another contender. Not terrible advice -- just not a really exciting holiday idea.

And the list gets even more mediocre: One of our favorite Usual Suspects, brownielocks.com, points out that the U.N. marks today as World Children's Day and World Diabetes Day. Brownielocks.com also suggests that today is National Educational Support Professionals Day (meaning hug your teacher's aide today?) or International Girls Day (half the population of Earth gets one day?) or National American Teddy Bear Day.

Think about that one for a moment: Girls get one day (which they have to share with children and diabetics), but this is at least the third teddy bear day we've picked up on here at The Blog of Days. No, seriously, there was Take Your Teddy Bear Somewhere Day at some point in October (there was some controversy as to when the day actually fell, and where the teddy bear should be taken) and Teddy Bear Picnic Day in July.

Usual Suspect Gone-ta-pott.com promotes today as Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. But leave the pickles alone? At least for today?

World Kindness Day, Actors' Day

Many of the Usual Suspects proclaim today World Kindness Day, an observance promoted by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. (If you're planning ahead, Random Acts of Kindness Week will be February 11-17, 2013.)

On the other hand, Usual Suspect Days of the Year says that today is Actors' Day, a day for theatrical pretending.

If you wish to combine the observances, but are an ordinary run-of-the-mill grouch, you might perhaps pretend to be kind today. Perhaps you will stay in character tomorrow.

For Hindus, today is the first day of Diwali, the "Festival of Lights."

And, our crack research staff assures us, today is also the 30th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Technically, today isn't Veterans Day

A lot of Americans have the day off today anyway, however.

Nevertheless, we here at The Blog of Days like to be precise. Therefore, we feel compelled to state that Veterans Day was actually yesterday -- just in case you couldn't tell from all the newscasts, observances during the football games, veteran-themed commercials, etc.

Veterans Day was the name given to Armistice Day after World War II (see, yesterday's post) and then it got moved to the fourth Monday in October as part of the federal Monday Holiday bill. The move was unpopular, so Veterans Day got un-moved, back to November 11, where it still is... except that, when November 11 is on a Sunday, everything is closed on Monday.

Confusing? We don't think the concepts are that hard to master. And if you do have the day off, you have all day now to think about it.

If you don't have today off, American Greetings says today is Happy Hour Day. That seems a tad hardcore for a Monday, but if that appeals to you, go for it. You were probably going to the local after work anyway; now, at least, you have some sort of excuse.

Anchovies on pizza?  Not today, apparently.

Today is also National Pizza With Everything (Except Anchovies) Day. Our crack research staff has yet to discover why anchovies are to be excluded from garbage pizza. The Usual Suspects are in complete accord on keeping out the anchovies. It strikes us as rather mean-spirited. If there is an Anchovy Day to make up for it, we'll try and promote it.

It is also Chicken Soup for the Soul Day. Apparently the wildly successful book of some years back has spawned an entire library of Chicken Soup books. We never knew -- but now we know where priests, ministers, and rabbis go looking for sermon material....

Armistice Day

Fighting along the Western Front ended on this day in 1918 -- at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Most of us mark that as the end of World War I.

World War I was also called the "War to End All Wars." Unfortunately, that didn't work out so well.

World War I was not necessarily even the first world war. No less an authority than Winston Churchill suggested that the "Seven Years' War" (1756-1763) might more properly be seen as the first. (The French and Indian War, which was started, according to some accounts, by George Washington himself, began earlier but was soon overshadowed by the larger conflict).

Wikipedia has a list of several wars which might be considered world wars before the Great War of 1914-1918. On Wikipedia's list are:

• the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648)
• the Dutch-Portuguese War (1602-1663)
• the Nine Years' War (1688–1697), also called the "War of the Grand Alliance" or "War of the Palatine Succession"
• the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714)
• the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748)
• the Seven Years' War (1756–1763),
• the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783)
• the French Revolutionary Wars (1792–1802) and
• the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815).

In America, the move to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day came after World War II (or World War XI if you want to accept the entire Wikipedia list). Although today is legally Veterans Day, most of America will observe that holiday tomorrow, so this year, if you'd like, Armistice Day can be remembered all by itself.

The USMC turns 237, Sesame Street turns 43

The United States Marine Corps was founded in Philadelphia on November 10, 1775 when Samuel Nicholas formed two battalions of Continental Marines as naval infantry.

Marines were shipboard soldiers -- being put ashore for missions or defending their ship from boarders back in the days when ships could wind up fighting each other deck to deck. In fact, in some navies, marines were needed to protect a ship from her own sailors -- the British Navy, for example, back in the day, was exactly the opposite of an 'all volunteer force' -- and mutiny was more than a theoretical possibility.

We have heard that, even today, there are those who say that marines exist because sailors can't be trusted with any gun not bolted to a deck. If you encounter any sailors or marines at your local tonight, however, it may be best not to explore that line of inquiry.

Today is also Sesame Street Day, commemorating the day (43 years ago!) when Sesame Street first aired. Even in this day of GPS and Google Maps, people are still asking directions (can you you show me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?)

Area Code Day is also observed today. The "area code" are the first three digits of your phone number. Once upon a time, kids, the area code defined where you lived (hence, use of the word "area"). There weren't very many area codes. There was only one area code in each big city. At one time in the not-so-distant past the area code for Chicago and all of its suburbs was 312.

No, seriously, it was.

From the webcomic xkcd, by Randall Munroe

Times have certainly changed.

Chaos or an uncharred Irish saint

Today is Chaos Never Dies Day, the idea being that we should all surrender today to the idea that our crazy and hectic lives will remain crazy and hectic and to admit, if only to ourselves, that we'd probably go crazy if things got too peaceful.

We wanted to see if our crack research staff agreed with our understanding of today's microminiholidayette, but when we peered inside their office, they were all peacefully asleep at their desks. (A frequent sight here at The Blog of Days.) Perhaps today should be Chaos Never Dies Day... except in our crack research staff's rumpus room.

Photo by Andreas F. Borchert, from Wikipedia.

Today is also the Feast Day of St. Benignus of Armagh, an early Irish disciple of St. Patrick and supposedly his favorite.

Some favorite.

According to Wikipedia, on Easter Sunday in 433, Patrick and King Laoghaire argued at Tara over their respective religions. To settle their dispute, one of them proposed a trial by fire. Laoghaire grabbed a spare druid and Patrick volunteered Benignus.

Benignus and his druid counterpart were locked in a building that no one seemed to need very much and the building was set ablaze. The druid was reduced to a pile of ash, but Benignus escaped unscathed. Presumably, however, he was more suspicious thereafter when Patrick volunteered him for anything.

X-Ray Day and National Dunce Day

National Dunce Day? Wasn't Election Day Tuesday? No matter, says Hallmark; National Dunce Day is observed today.

Most of the Usual Suspects line up on today being X-Ray Day, commemorating the discovery of x-rays on this date in 1895, by German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen. X-ray specs followed in 1909, firing the imaginations (but improving neither the knowledge nor moral fiber) of young teenage boys all across America. An "improved" design was patented in 1971 by Harold von Braunhut, who also gave the world the Amazing Sea Monkeys.

Today is also Cook Something Bold Day. We'd recommend against serving up Amazing Sea Monkeys, whether fried or filleted.

Notary Public Day

November 7 is Notary Public Day. Our crack research staff tried to affix their seal to this post and did considerable damage to our limited stock of equipment.

It's also International Tongue Twister Day. Repeat after us -- quickly now -- she sells sea shells by the sea shore. You'll want more of these, of course, especially after a couple of recreational pops at your neighborhood local tonight after work. So here are lists of tongue twisters from think.com and something called uebersetzung.at.

Not enough? Well, some of the Usual Suspects mention that today is Hug A Bear Day. Our crack research staff encourages us to mention that one should not hug real bears, today or any other day.

Today is Election Day, but it's also...

Marooned Without A Compass Day. Of course, that sounds like it might have an Election Day tie-in... but our crack research staff believes that most of the Usual Suspects think Marooned With A Compass Day has something to do with finding one's own sense of direction, whether literally (can you get home tonight without your GPS?) or figuratively (start figuring out some direction for your life).

Today is also Saxophone Day. While that might have had an election tie-in in 1992 or 1996 (see, Bill Clinton's appearance on the old Arsenio Hall show, below) it appears to stand or fall on its own today.



Today is also National Nachos Day. Chip away at the day. Leave a trail of chip fragments behind you so don't get marooned without a compass. But don't play a saxophone with a mouth full of chips.

Today is Job Action Day

No, this is not a call for a general strike, although one can see that the name Job Action Day might suggest such a thing. Instead, according to its promoters (an employment agency in Washington State), "Job Action Day is a day for all job-seekers and workers to take stock of their situations and make plans and/or take action steps to improve their careers." The theme for this year's Job Action Day is "Build Your Career Brand."

We don't know what the heck 'building a career brand' means. But, if it means to distinguish yourself in the office, you might try bringing a box or two of doughnuts to work this morning in honor of National Doughnut Day.

Usual Suspect Hallmark says today is American Football Day, supposedly to mark the anniversary of the formation of the old American Football League. The Blog of Days marked the NFL's birthday in August; we'd be willing to get behind American Football Day, too, only our crack research staff could find nothing to substantiate Hallmark's claim that today has any significance in AFL history. (OK, the crack research staff merely read the AFL's Wikipedia entry, but still....)

The Brits celebrate today as Guy Fawkes Day, commemorating the exposure of the "Gunpowder Plot." Catholic opponents of King James I planned to blow up Parliament and the King; Guy Fawkes was caught guarding a store of gunpowder beneath the House of Lords on this date in 1605. The Stuarts may not have been the most popular of English dynasties, but in a contest with Catholics, they'd prevail every time... until, of course, a number of the Stuarts converted to Catholicism. (Charles II formally converted on his deathbed; his brother and successor, King James II, was Britain's last Catholic monarch, kicked out in the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688. A grandson of James II, Henry, would become a Catholic priest and, eventually, a Cardinal of the Catholic Church, rising to Dean of the College of Cardinals.)

Candy Day? Isn't it too soon?

After all, Halloween was just a few days ago. Nevertheless, most of the Usual Suspects insist that today is Candy Day.

We wondered whether this microminiholidayette would be better rendered as Leftover Candy Day -- but our crack research could find no support for this proposition.

Today also marks the end of Daylight Savings Time in most parts of the United States, or, if you prefer, the beginning of Standard Time. We prefer that this weekend is one hour longer than other standard, two day weekends.

There may be a tie-in between the end of Daylight Savings Time and Zero Tasking Day, another microminiholidayette offered for your convenience today. Usual Suspect The Days of the Year says it's unfair to expect us to work through that extra hour today, especially when it's just going to be snatched back from us in the Spring. The extra hour today should be devoted to "rest, relaxation and a distinct lack of work."

Sounds good to us.

November 3 Potpourri

The Wikipedia entry for November 3 says that the Federal Income Tax was introduced in the U.S.A. on this date in 1913.

Our crack research staff has been unable to confirm this, but this is probably the anniversary of the effective date of the Revenue Act of 1913, signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson on October 3, 1913. Our current income tax regime was made possible by the passage of the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; Secretary of State Philander Knox declared the amendment ratified on February 25, 1913 -- in case you want to get started now in planning a centennial celebration.

It's certainly understandable that the anniversary of the introduction of the income tax would not be particularly well celebrated this close to an American presidential election.

Our crack research staff wanted you to know that, as originally constituted, the income tax was a tax on the rich -- until World War II, most taxpayers never even had to file a return.

Photo obtained from Wikipedia.

Today is also the 10th anniversary of the death of English skiffle king Lonnie Donegan. Skiffle music, and Donegan in particular, has been cited as a major influence on all of the major British Invasion bands of the 1960s -- yes, including the Beatles. And yet, poor Mr. Donegan went to his grave never really sure whether the chewing gum loses its flavor on the bedpost overnight.

Most of the Usual Suspects proclaim today Sandwich Day. You may wonder why the sandwich needs its own day -- and history supplies the answer. Today is the anniversary of the birth, in 1718, of John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. The Earl was said to have 'invented' the sandwich by instructing his servants to save some meat from an earlier and serve it to him between bread slices so that he could refuel while not missing a hand in a late night card game.

Sandwich did more than play cards, however. He also held a number of ministerial positions in several British governments, including three stints as First Lord of the Admiralty, the last of these during the American Revolution. The linked Wikipedia article notes that Sandwich's biographer provides another explanation for the origin of the sandwich: He may have invented it to keep working at his desk at the Admiralty.

And here's a fun fact for you today: The current Earl of Sandwich, John Edward Hollister Montagu, the 11th Earl of Sandwich, is a founder and co-owner of an American franchise restaurant operation called (have you guessed already?) the Earl of Sandwich.

But back to John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich for a moment: As First Lord, Sandwich was a patron and supporter of Captain James Cook. Cook honored his patron in putting Sandwich's name on dots all over the map -- the Hawaiian Islands, you may recall, were originally known as the Sandwich Islands.

And speaking of dots on the map, today is Independence Day in the Federated States of Micronesia, a chain of some 607 islands extending over 1,800 miles east of the Philippines. The Federated States of Micronesia became an independent country on this date in 1986 (they were formerly governed as a trust territory by the United States of America).

November 2 is the Feast of All Souls

Here is the most democratic holiday on the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church.

Very few among us deserve to be called 'saints,' but religious persons believe that all of us have souls. Today, All Souls Day, is our day.

It is also a day to remember those we have lost, those who have gone on to their reward. In Mexico, Día de los Muertos is a national holiday -- celebrated yesterday and today -- yesterday being more for children who have died and who can safely be remembered with the saints. There are graveyard picnics and sugar skulls and other things that some may find a tad creepy and more than a little pagan.

So we won't tell such people where Christmas trees come from, OK?

All Saints Day

Yesterday was Halloween. Halloween means the Eve of All Hallows Day or, in more modern parlance, All Saints Day.

A saint is merely someone who is recognized by all and sundry as one who lives an exemplary life, an inspiration to others, and one who is clearly right with God. In other words, sainthood is really easy to define -- and really hard to achieve.

Hard, that is, except for mothers everywhere, at least judging by what our teachers told us when we were small. "Your mothers must be saints," they'd tell us in moments of particular frustration, "to put up with the likes of you!"

Men, if you'd like to make a bid for your own halo, today is also National Men Make Dinner Day. Ten points if you make dinner at home tonight -- 100 points if you clean up after, too.

And what is today besides Halloween?

Sure, Halloween dominates the calendar today, but did you know that today is also the anniversary of the proclamation of Romulus Augustus as Western Roman Emperor? He is judged by many historians to have been the last Western Roman Emperor. He was deposed by the "barbarian" Odoacer in 476, reigning less than a year.

The linked Wikipedia article says there is controversy about whether Romulus Augustus should be really considered the last true Western Roman Emperor since his reign was so short and because he was only a teenager (installed by his father, Orestes, a general, who really ran things, to the extent that they could be run in that time of collapse). Apparently, some historians would consider Romulus's predecessor, Julius Nepos, as a better candidate for the "last" emperor (even Odoacer claimed to be ruling in the name of Julius Nepos, at first).

But these historians have no sense of style. If Romulus Augustus hadn't existed, he'd have to have been invented: Named for the mythical founder (and first King) of Rome and for the first Emperor, poor little R.A. serves as a perfect punctuation mark for the end of classical Roman history and the start of Europe's Middle Ages. Sic transit gloria mundi.

Other observances today tend to tie more into Halloween.

For example, today is National Carmel Apple Day. It's also Magic Day -- and (probably related) today is the anniversary of the date on which Harry Houdini died (in 1926).

In what surely would have been his greatest escape, Houdini promised to communicate from beyond the grave -- if he could. So far... nothing.

It's a shame, of course, but magic is bunk.

How can we say this with such authority? Well, today is also National Knock Knock Joke Day. If magic were real, surely someone would have made knock-knock jokes disappear by now.

National Candy Corn Day, Mischief Night

Most of the Usual Suspects designate today as National Candy Corn Day. Usual Suspect Punchbowl.com explains that candy corn was invented in the 1880s by George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company. Candy corn "was made to mimic a kernel of corn and became instantly popular because of its innovative design."

It remains popular today -- and candy corn will be very popular tomorrow, of course, on Halloween, when it will show up in all sorts of trick-or-treat bags.

Candy Corn Day seems nice and harmless -- unless you're a stressed mom coping with kids on a candy-corn-fueled sugar high -- but when the Sun sets tonight things become a little more... sinister.

Tonight is Mischief Night -- a night originally for kids' pranks. For a number of years, Mischief Night was carried to its illogical extreme in Michigan -- Detroit in particular -- where it became known as "Devil's Night" -- a stupid, thoughtless festival of arson. Free advice: Leave the gasoline in the cars, kids.

And here's some more good advice: Shaving cream and TP are largely harmless, but eggs can permanently stain and otherwise damage roof shingles, brickwork, and good relations in the neighborhood.

Also, keep in mind that American Greetings proclaims today Bodybuilder's Day. Kids, don't be attempting any mischief tonight at the home of a bodybuilder, not if you want your teeth available to chew tomorrow night's candy haul....

Another one of those amazing calendar coincidences

Today is Internet Day (the anniversary of the day, in 1969, when the first-ever computer-to-computer link was established on ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet). Although it would have made a great story, it is not true that the first computer-to-computer communication was a picture of a kitten and a silly caption.

If you'd rather wait until Al Gore's Birthday (March 31) to celebrate the birth of the Internet, almost all of the Usual Suspects suggest that today is also National Cat Day.

OK, that could be another Halloween tie-in -- witch's familiars and all that -- but then we noticed that today is also National Hermit Day. Now how appropriate is that?

Without the Internet, how would you find out about all these cool calendar coincidences?

November: There's a whole 'nother month 'twixt Halloween and Christmas

You wouldn't know it from the commercials on your television, of course, but there really is an entire, standard-size month sandwiched in the calendar after Halloween and before Christmas. Kids, if you're skeptical about this (and who can blame you?) check your calendars at home. We'll wait right here while you check.
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OK, now do you believe us?

November is Family Literacy Month, National Adoption Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

November is also International Impotency Awareness Month. Oh, great! There might be more Viagra or Cialis commercials this month? Well, maybe not: After all, there are a lot of Christmas commercials to air. So there is -- finally -- one good thing to say about early Christmas commercials.

This will also be National Family Caregiver Month.

Celebrate November by writing the Great American Novel. It's National Novel Writing Month.

But there are some observances planned for November that we here at The Blog of Days can not get behind. To wit: The organizers of World Vegan Month failed to take into account that the United States celebrates Thanksgiving in November. Of course, maybe turkeys are behind World Vegan Month.

Mother-in-Law Day and the Statue of Liberty

A number of the Usual Suspects declare today Mother-in-Law Day.

We'll let you at home decide whether Mother-in-Law Day belongs in the same category as Grouches Day, Sourest Day, and Cranky Co-Workers' Day. (Be careful where you vocalize any conclusions you might reach in this regard).

It was also on this day in 1886 that President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty. For this reason, some of the Usual Suspects consider today Statue of Liberty Day.

In addition, today marks the anniversary of the first college football game to be broadcast across the country on radio. The year was 1922, and the Princeton Tigers had traveled to the Midwest to play the University of Chicago Maroons. Princeton won. Unfortunately, we do not know if either team ran the Statue of Liberty play that day.

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Image obtained from Wikipedia.

Rerun Saturday... or the Battle of the Milvian Bridge

No, nobody has designated today as Rerun Saturday, not even us.

It's just... well, several of the Usual Suspects declare today to be Cranky Co-Workers Day -- after we've just had Grouch Day and, this week, Sourest Day.

Enough, already.

Besides, what are you going to do? Go to the home of some annoying co-worker on a day off to spend more time with someone who probably makes everyone in your whole row of cubicles miserable from Monday to Friday? Are you crazy?

And some of the Usual Suspects also declare today to be Navy Day.

Nothing against the Navy, mind you, but we just celebrated the U.S. Navy's Birthday two weeks ago today.

Some of the Usual Suspects proclaim today as Boxer Shorts Day because, supposedly, that rather personal garment was first marketed on this day in 1901. Well, semper ubi, sub ubi say we, but didn't we commemorate Underwear Day just this past August 5?

Why, yes, we did.

Punchbowl.com would have us believe that today is American Beer Day -- not that we have anything against beer, of course, and especially on a Saturday afternoon -- but International Beer Day was also commemorated on August 5.

Thus... in our opinion... Rerun Saturday.

Image obtained from Wikipedia

If you're looking for something more substantive, today is also the 1,700th anniversary of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.

Not ringing a bell? It was on this day in 312 that the Emperor Constantine defeated his co-emperor Maxentius, marking the beginning of Constantine's consolidation of power.

Now, true, Roman emperors and Roman wanna-be-emperors were constantly battling one another, around this bridge or that one, but this battle stands out in history because, supposedly, on the eve of battle, Constantine received a vision that if he fought in the name of Christ he would prevail (in hoc signo vinces). Whatever Constantine saw or may have seen, it is a matter of historical fact that, during his subsequent reign, for better or worse, Christianity would emerge from the catacombs to become the state religion of the Roman Empire.

You know we're getting close to Halloween when...

Today is Frankenstein Friday, Pumpkin Day, and Howl at the Moon Day.

All of these are observed today.

And, speaking of really scary stuff, today is also the anniversary of the day on which President Bush signed the Patriot Act into law.

Interestingly, according to Wikipedia, the terrifying (and inappropriately named) Transportation "Safety" Agency was not created by the Patriot Act, but rather by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, an entirely separate (if equally panicked) response by the President and Congress to the infamous crimes of September 11, 2001.

And, if you must know, the Department of Homeland Security wasn't created by the Patriot Act either: According to Wikipedia again, the Department was foisted upon the America public by the Homeland Security Act. And the Department was created in 2002 -- after most reasonable folks should have calmed down a bit.

Of course, we are talking now about politicians....

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Image obtained from Wikipedia.

If October 20 was Sweetest Day, can you guess what today is?

Most of the Usual Suspects proclaim today Sourest Day.

Why? Who knows? And didn't we just celebrate National Grouch Day here at The Blog of Days? (Why, yes, yes, we did.)

Image obtained from pablopicasso.org

Personally, we think the grouches and the sourpusses should get together and choose just one day that we could promote the heck out of. And, then, just as soon as we type that sentence, we realize how unlikely it is that grouches are ever going to agree with sourpusses.

Today has been designated as Greasy Foods Day in some quarters and World Pasta Day in others.

Today is also the Birthday of Pablo Picasso, if that's not too abstract a concept for you, and also National Denim Day. For you art students out there, Picasso had a "Blue Period," not a "Blue Jeans Period."

United Nations Day... and also Bologna Day

We couldn't make up these coincidences if we tried. Today really is United Nations Day, celebrated every year on October 24 because October 24, 1945 was the "effective date" of the U.N. Charter.

Some might argue that anyone who thinks the U.N. has ever been effective about anything must be full of bologna. And, wouldn't you know? Today is also National Bologna Day (although, as the link to Usual Suspect Punchbowl.com will reassure you, the Bologna Day observance is supposed to be about lunchmeat, not politics).

Photo obtained from Wikipedia

If you want to avoid any political entanglement, you may choose to remember instead that today is the anniversary of Annie Edson Taylor's successful 1901 plunge over Niagara Falls -- in a barrel.

You think that was a downer -- today is also the anniversary of "Black Thursday," the beginning of the Wall Street Collapse of 1929.

And the Concorde last flew on this date in 2003.

The United States, the alleged world leader in aviation and aviation technology, never did have a supersonic transport plane -- and now there are none in the world.

That's progress?