Today is National Apple Betty Day, kicking off fall – which officially began on September 23 – the sweet aroma of apples baked in cinnamon and oats. We called this a cobbler when I was growing up, but according to National Day Calendar:
“Similar to what is known as apple crisp, crumble, or cobbler, the American variant known as the Betty or Brown Betty dates from colonial times. Most Apple Betty recipes call for cinnamon, sugar, and butter to make the crumbs that top sliced apples. Sometimes oats or flour are added, too.”
Here is a yummy looking recipe from Insanely Good Recipes, in case you’re now craving a Betty. Unfortunately, many apple varieties are up as much as 30%. Anyone have an apple tree?
Additionally, it’s National Do something Nice Day, which is similar to Random Acts of Kindness Day which will be observed in February, as well as National Get Funky Day, which encourages you to “break out of your funk and get funky.”
Today in History
1905: The Wright Flyer III Flies 24 Miles
Since we’ve had so much plane history this week, it only makes sense that we’d also have a Wright Brother’s accomplishment. The aviation pioneers’ Wright Flyer III made a “circling flight” 24.2 miles in 39 minutes and 23 seconds.
I honestly don’t know how this thing works. Thankfully, they didn’t make this trip on October 2!
Today 1931 held the first non-stop transatlantic flight, a journey from Japan to Washington. Unfortunately, there were also two plane crashes. 61 died when an Eastern Airlines flight crashed in Boston Harbor, and a military transport crash at Jakarta in 1991 left 133 dead.
Remind me why everyone says flying is so safe?
1923: Hubble Identifies Cepheid Variable Star
Astronomer Edwin Hubble identified the first Cepheid variable star in the Andromeda galaxy. According to the space scientists, this proved that the Andromeda galaxy was not part of the Milky Way galaxy. According to the European Space Agency:
“A Cepheid variable star is one of a class of variable stars whose periods (i.e., the time for one cycle) of variation are proportional to their luminosity. Because of this correlation (discovered by Henrietta Swan Leavitt in 1912), Cepheid variables can be used as a standard to determine the distance to their host globular clusters or galaxies. Since the period-luminosity relation can be calibrated with great precision using the nearest Cepheid stars, the distances found with this method are among the most accurate available.”
Hubble (allegedly) changed our understanding of space, and October 5 has lots of other space milestones including the birth of Robert H. Goddard in 1882, who invented and built the first liquid-fueled rocket and, 100 years later, the unmanned rocket sled reached 9,851 – using liquid fuel. There was also the launch of Challenger 6, the 13th NASA Space Shuttle Mission in 1984, and on board was Marc Garneau, the first Canadian in space.
In 1997, Atlantis 20 (STS 86) landed safely back on earth, and in 2021, Russia launched an actor and director to the International Space Station to make the first film in orbit, though it could be argued that they’ve all been actors and directors.
1932: Detroit Falcons Change Name to Detroit Red Wings
As an Avalanche fan, I have nothing nice to say about the Red Wings, so let’s move onto Baseball. In 1956, Yogi Berra became the 4th NY Yankee to hit a World Series grand slam.
This was also the day in 2007 when, after years of lies by Marion Jones, the triple gold medal sprinter admitted to using steroids, pled guilty to lying to federal investigators, and announced retirement while crying to reporters.
She returned her medals to the US Olympic Committee in disgrace, though it’s unknown if she attended Narcotics Anonymous, which was also founded on this day in 1953.
1947: The First Televised Presidential Address
In 1945, Meet the Press premiered on radio for the first time and, exactly two years later, the first Presidential address aired on television.
This is incredible footage. The very first televised presidential address in history was Harry Truman telling Americans to make sacrifices and go without because we have to support other countries and foreign entanglements. From the transcript:
“I am confident that it will have the support of every American. The situation in Europe is grim and forbidding as winter approaches. Despite the vigorous efforts of the European people, their crops have suffered so badly from droughts, floods, and cold that the tragedy of hunger is a stark reality. The nations of Western Europe will soon be scraping the bottom of the food barrel.”
Seriously, this could be a Biden speech. It continues with an epic gaslight:
“They cannot get through the coming winter and spring without help – generous help – from the United States and from other countries which have food to spare. I know every American feels in his heart that we must help to prevent starvation and distress among our fellow men in other countries. But more than this, the food-saving program announced tonight offers an opportunity to each of you to make a contribution to the peace.”
Exactly two years after Truman’s address, in 1949, many local TV stations held their first broadcasts. It’s incredible how quickly media became accessible, and October 5 marks several milestones towards our current screen dependency. In 1970, for example, PBS became a thing.
Exactly 22 years later, in 1992, congress voted to override George H. W. Bush's veto of a bill regulating cable TV companies.
This override marked the first time and only time the elder Bush was overturned, while his son had four vetoes overturned, the most of any president in recent memory. In fact, George W. Bush’s veto override percentage, at 33%, is the third highest of any US president, behind 14th President Franklin Pierce (56%) and 17th President Andrew Johnson (52%).
The Bush dynasty cannot be allowed to rise again.
1962: Dr. No Premieres in London
Dr. No is the first film in the James Bond series and stars Sean Connery. Although it was the first of the Bond books to be made into a film, Dr. No was the sixth of author Ian Fleming's series. The first was Casino Royale. Reportedly, Connery did not fit Fleming’s vision for the character.
A year earlier, in 1961, Breakfast at Tiffany's was released, seven years after Dr. No, in 1969, Monty Python's Flying Circus premiered on the BBC.
Unfortunately, entertainment has gone downhill as, in 2005, Stephenie Meyer published Twilight. Then in 2018, rich people found a new way to set their money on fire when Girl With Balloon sold for one million USD and then automatically shred itself.
1958: US & Russia Hold Parallel Nuclear Tests
Yesterday, the US and Russia both performed emergency preparedness tests on the same day. Many wondered if this was pure coincidence or if there was some hidden meaning for the parallel testing.
Strangely, on October 5, 1958, the US and Russia both performed nuclear tests on the same day, at the Nevada Test Site and Novaya Zemlya, USSR, respectively. Then exactly 24 years later in 1982, China performed nuclear test at Lop Nor, PRC.
Why are nuclear tests so popular in early October? Anyway, in 1960, the British Labour party demanded unilateral nuclear disarmament. It’s going well.
1962: The Beatles release their first record, "Love Me Do"
The “British Invasion” is legendary and on October 5, 1962, the Beatles released their first album, “Love Me Do.” Elton John also released his seventh album on this day in 1973, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”
Now it’s time to dance!
Birth, Death & Destruction
Birthdays
1829: Chester A. Arthur (21st President)
1934: Angelo Buono, Jr. (Serial Killer)
1943: Steve Miller (Musician)
1958: Neil deGrasse Tyson (Scientist, allegedly)
1965: Patrick Roy & Mario Lemieux (Hockey Legends)
Deaths
1787: Thomas Stone (Signer of the Declaration of Independence)
1805: Charles Cornwallis (British General)
1892: Bob Dalton (Outlaw, Dalton Gang)
2004: Rodney Dangerfield (Comedian)
2011: Steve Jobs (Cofounder of Apple)
Destruction
1864: Estimated 60,000 die when most of Calcutta is destroyed by cyclone
1942: 5,000 Jews of Dubno, Russia massacred
1942: 90 French-Jewish women beaten to death at Auschwitz sub-camp
1945: Hollywood strike turns into a bloody riot at Warner Brothers' studios
1972: Herbert Mullin first kills, claiming it was to prevent earthquakes
2015: CA Governor Jerry Brown signs "right to die bill
Other Notables
1953: Earl Warren sworn in as 14th Chief Justice of SCOTUS
1966: Nigeria Gifts "The Awakening" to the UN
1988: Chile passes in Pinochet referendum, ending his 16½ years in power
2017: NY Times publishes investigation into Harvey Weinstein
2018: US unemployment hit 3.7%, lowest level since 1969
2020: Trump discharged from his Walter Reed Covid Stay
I bet when Trump was discharged, he felt like dancing.
Have a great day!
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