Aleksei Stachanov Mined 102 Tonnes of Coal

On August 31, 1935, Aleksei Stachanov reportedly mined 102 tonnes (112 tons) of coal in six hours. A diligent Russian miner, Stachanov became involved in a campaign for increasing worker productivity as part of the Socialist movement. He was hailed as a hero, awarded several medals, and given more responsibility. His picture even appeared on Time magazine December 16, 1935. In the time since, questions have been raised as to the validity of the claims that he had actually done the work by himself. How to celebrate today? Today is a great day to try to do the impossible. Is there a difficult task you’ve been dreading? Tackle it today. Is there something you’ve always wanted to do but were afraid to try? Make the effort today. Make today your day!

Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

~N

 

Frankenstein Day

No, it’s not Halloween yet. August 30 is known as Frankenstein Day because this is the day Mary Shelley, author of the book, Frankenstein, was born in 1797. She wrote the book while on vacation with her future husband, Lord Shelley, and two friends. To amuse themselves the four challenged each other to see who could write the best horror story—Mary won, and her story has thrilled and intrigued generations of readers ever since. The story illustrates the ongoing struggles between science and morality. It’s not a long book, so challenge yourself and read Frankenstein. Find out how the book compares to the movie versions and see where your sentiments lie—with the scientist or the monster he creates.

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. Proverbs 12:10

~C

According to Hoyle Day

August 29 is According to Hoyle Day. Edmund Hoyle was born in London about 1671. He wrote A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist in 1742. He also wrote about the rules for backgammon, chess, and other games. He became known as the authority on card games and games of chance, and rules were cited “according to Hoyle.” He died at the age of 97 on August 29, 1679. A book about Hoyle, gaming rules, and the history of games, titled According to Hoyle, was published 50 years ago. Celebrate today by playing a card game or a board game, downloading a game, or getting a game app. And have fun!

Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets

~N

Clare Hollingworth Reports Germany’s Preparation to Invade Poland 1939

On August 28, 1939, Clare Hollingworth, an English journalist, was driving along the German-Poland border. She saw German troops, tanks, and armored cars amassed on the Polish border when a gust of wind lifted the camouflage cloths covering them. She reported the build-up, and her report was first page news on the Daily Telegraph the following day. She also was the reporter breaking the news on September 1 that Germany had invaded Poland. For the next forty-two years, she reported on wars around the world, although women were usually barred from being war correspondents in those years. Her career was truly illustrious. She died at the age of 105 in January 2017.

Take a few minutes to think about the courageous woman who dared to follow her dream, and celebrate today by taking steps to make your dreams come true.

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

~N

The Duchess Who Wasn’t Day

Margaret Hungerford (right) and Her Sister

August 27 is The Duchess Who Wasn’t Day, a day to honor Margaret Wolfe Hungerford. Hungerford was a prolific Irish author who published anonymously under the name The Duchess. Her best-known book is Molly Brawn. She wrote many other books including A Little Rebel, Phyllis, and Faith and Unfaith, as well as many short stories. She is credited with penning the phrase, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and making it famous. One of the few Victorian women who was able to combine a career as a highly productive writer with motherhood, she was the mother of six children. She died of typhoid fever at age 42 in 1897.

Many other women wrote anonymously in earlier times due to the constraints on women. Some of those are the Brontë sisters, who wrote under the names Currer Bell (Charlotte), Ellis Bell (Emily), and Acton Bell (Anne); Jane Austen, who wrote as The Lady; and Mary Ann Evans who wrote Middlemarch as George Elliot.

Celebrate today by reading The Duchess or one of the other early women authors.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

~N

National Dog Day

August 26, National Dog Day, not only makes us more aware of the need for adopting dogs, but also helps us appreciate all that dogs do in our lives. It’s a day to honor service dogs, police dogs, Army dogs, rehab dogs, and family dogs. There are so many ways dogs help protect us, guide us, alert us, comfort us, and bring us joy. Dogs are loved by so many people—the National Dog Day Facebook page has over 83,000 likes! Celebrate today by adopting a dog or donating to a shelter that cares for dogs.

Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens? Job 35:11

~C

National Park Service Day

1938 Yellowstone National Park Poster

August 25 is National Park Service Day. There are 59 National Parks and hundreds of designated national areas, monuments, and historical sites. Yellowstone is the oldest, and Pinnacles National Forest is the newest. There is incredible diversity in the parks, including caves, bays, canyons, archaeological sites, forests, swamps, mountains, volcanoes, islands, and deserts. If you put seeing all of them on your bucket list, you can get one of the best bargains in the country when you turn 62. Citizens 62 and older can pay $20.00 and get a senior lifetime pass to all of them.

Psalm 95:4-5 In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land…

~N

National Waffle Day

On this day in 1869, Cornelius Swarthout patented the first U.S. waffle iron, which he called “a device to bake waffles.” In America, we celebrate Waffle Day on August 24 to honor that memorable moment in history. It wasn’t until 1953 that frozen waffles were sold in stores, and there was no pressing need for a waffle iron. Internationally, particularly in Sweden, Waffle Day is celebrated on March 25. Celebrate with a waffle today!

And wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart. Psalm 104:15

~C

Valentino Day

August 23 is Valentino Day to honor Rudolph Valentino, who died on this date in 1926. He was only 31 years old at the time of his death, but he was already the heart throb of millions of female fans. He is considered one of the first major male sex symbols in Hollywood. He immigrated to the United States from Italy in 1913 and worked at several different jobs before going to Hollywood as a vaudeville dancer in 1917. He had minor roles in several films before starring in The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in 1921 and soaring to stardom. Celebrate today by watching Valentino on Youtube, dance the tango, or watch a modern movie with one of the current Hollywood leading men.

Psalms 149:3 Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.

~N

 

Take Your Cat to the Vet Day

Make a note—it’s time for the cat’s annual checkup. According to the American Humane Society, dogs are taken to the veterinarian almost twice as many times as cats. Why? Maybe it’s because cats are known for their independence and aloofness and so we let them be. Today is a reminder to take charge, find the cat, and take him in for a wellness check!

A righteous man takes care of his animal….Proverbs 12:10

~C