National Meteor Day

So, it’s National Meteor day today, and I have a question for you. Why did the man dump a bowl of ground beef on his head while taking a shower? Because he wanted a meatier shower! You’re welcome.

A meteor is “a small particle from a comet or asteroid.” Meteors can range in size from tiny to particles to as big as 1 meter. Sometimes, meteors give off a sort of trailing glow, which is what we classify as a shooting or falling star. A group of meteors is called a meteor shower (not to be confused with a meatier shower as noted above!).

Fun Meteor Fact: Every year, it is estimated that approximately 15 000 tonnes of meteor particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere. The Boston Globe suggests that between 5-10 times a year a meteor will actually strike the Earth. Earlier in the year Russians experienced this first hand!

Russia isn’t the only area in recent history to have been impacted by a meteor hit! Since 1992, there have been 4 notable hits. Peekskill, New York was hit on October 9, 1992. See the video below, and note the greenish light trailing the meteor(s). In 2009 there were 2 significant meteor events; one in Bone, Indonesia and another in the Southwestern United States. The event in the US was reportedly viewed in multiple areas, including California, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, and Colorado. These things are pretty impressive!

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National Camera Day

Say “Cheese,” it’s National Camera Day! A camera is “an optical instrument that records images that can be stored directly, transmitted to another location, or both.”

It was Chinese Mo Ti philosopher that discovered “that a pinhole can form an inverted and focused image, when light passes through the hole and into a dark area.” This was the 5^th Century B.C., and this also led to the first understanding of imagery manipulation. The first camera, however, came many years later – an item by the name of camera obscura, created in 1604 by Johannes Kepler. A man named Johann Zahn introduced the first portable form of this invention in 1685. The more popular version of the camera (what we know today) was developed (haha get it) in the 1800s. Since then many variations have been created, including the introduction of the digital camera. It’s amazing to think that such an invention has actually come from such a simple beginnings – but it still is a concept I can’t wrap my head around!

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National Paul Bunyan Day

Well, here’s another odd one for the books – it’s National Paul Bunyan Day!

For those of you who do not know, Paul Bunyan is “a lumberjack figure in North American folklore and tradition. One of the most famous and popular North American folklore heroes, he is usually described as a giant as well as a lumberjack of unusual skill, and is often accompanied in stories by his animal companion, Babe the Blue Ox.” 

(Image found at: http://media-1.web.britannica.com/eb-media/27/92827-004-02F9B322.jpg)

The tale of Paul Bunyan originated in the Northeastern States and Eastern Canada. 1906, James MacGillvary was responsible for first publishing the story in a Michigan newspaper. Since then, the tale of Paul Bunyan has become popularized through various mediums such as film and several novels. The myth behind his birth states that it was somewhat unusual, requiring 5 storks to carry him! Apparently, when he learned to laugh and clap, the sound created such vibration that it broke windows! That’s pretty intense if you ask me! You know what’s also intense (aside from the cloud of children screeching outside my window as I write this)? The daily poll! Click here to vote.

*Note: The Daily Poll may not actually be intense. However, your participation is appreciated. 

National Sunglasses Day/Industrial Workers of the World Day

Wooo! If only there were sunshine today, because its National Sunglasses Day!

Sunglasses are “a form of protective eyewear designed primarily to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from damaging or discomforting the eyes.” These now fashionable accessories have quite an extensive history! The Inuit used flattened walrus ivory in prehistoric times, in an effort to reduce their exposure to the sun’s rays. 

(Image found at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkXnjWTv9gYbw-_fL2mrJR5Gs8YkCqZ1FvxLRazdI-OGneoNDNdHEq90NoB1JxT7tpKKCcyk2USoZh1e2-pKSixHEFVuRFsRr9ScbBJXuroLvbRl_iW43hz5db5NuyNQyEuLBv7mEDENh/s1600/220px-Eskimo_snowgoggles.jpg)

The Chinese used smoky quartz in the 12^th century for the same purpose; however, this did not provide any protection. It wasn’t until the mid-18^th century that James Ayscough experimented with the process of tinting glass. Ayscough’s experimentation was not in search of a method to reduce the impact of harmful UV-rays, but rather as a means to correct visual impairments. Through Ayscough’s discoveries, the early 1900s brought about the sunglasses we know today.

Fun Sunglasses Fact: In the 19^th and 20^th centuries, yellow and brown tinted lenses were prescribed for individuals facing light sensitivities as a result of contracting syphilis!

While there is still so much to cover on the topic of sunglasses (who knew?!), there is another important celebration to mention today – it’s Industrial Workers of the World Day! The Industrial Workers of the World is a global union that was formed in Chicago, in 1905! The IWW “contends that all workers should be united as a social class and that capitalism and wage labor should be abolished.” The organization is still operational today, 108 years later, although with lower membership than when it first was established. The IWW has seen its fair share of backlash from governments, as well. There are many reports of conspiracy-related accounts of union members being killed in questionable manners. This is to be expected, of course, after so many years of existence and with the views and mandate of the organization. Regardless, it is an interesting history!

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National Chocolate Pudding Day

Happy National Chocolate Pudding Day! No, that’s right, not just any pudding will do! Not you vanilla. Nor you butterscotch! Today is all about chocolate! Wikipedia defines this delightful dessert as “a class of dessert with chocolate flavors.” While I’m not sure there is much else to say about chocolate pudding, I encourage you all to have a little taste in honour of today’s Day!

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