#Delaware County Fair

[weirdestbooks]

What's In A Name? (Wattpad | Ao3)

for @collar-cat, who has gotten me on a writing streak of baby American colonies.

Virginia hated that their life had to be full of so much death. It was bad enough so many of their siblings had died over the years, but the recent deaths seemed to be the worst. First, it was Massachusetts Bay and Maine, something Plymouth had never forgiven himself for, something that haunted him so, made him withdrawn and quiet.

Then, it was West Jersey. Her death haunted New Jersey the same way that Massachusetts Bay and Maine’s deaths haunted Plymouth. At the very least, New Jersey had New York and Delaware, both of which could pull the third member of their little trio out of his grieving shell and get him to interact with the world again.

Now, it was Carolina. Carolina, who was so kind, with a wicked sense of humor. Carolina, another one of Virginia’s siblings killed by circumstances outside of his control.

The only good thing about Carolina’s death was the fact that it brought new life. Unlike with West Jersey, Maine, and Massachusetts Bay, his colony was not being absorbed by another but instead divided in two.

Virginia had hoped, like when West Jersey was born, that Carolina would remain and that they were simply going to get a new sibling.

Life was not that kind, and Carolina died and divided in two.

North Carolina and South Carolina were adorable, and Virginia knew they would never take the blame for their father’s death. At least, she assumed Carolina would have been their father since they came from his divided land. There was simply no way to tell for sure.

Virginia had been there in Carolina’s final moments, and now it was her job to introduce the two children to the rest of their family. 

“Come on, dears. I am going to introduce you to everyone else,” Virginia said, holding out her hands, which the younger two colonies took, before leading them off to where the others had gathered. As she approached, she saw New York leap up from his seat on the ground, grabbing Delaware and dragging him over.

“More twins?” New York asked excitement in his voice but sadness in his eyes. Virginia nodded. 

“Hello. I’m Lower Counties on the Delaware, but you can call me Delaware. Me and my idiot bror over there are twins like you,” Delaware said, crouching down to the height of the Carolinas—and by God, if that name didn’t send a pang of pain through Virginia.

North Carolina gasped, excitement in her eyes, and she jumped at Delaware, pulling him into a hug. Delaware laughed, looking upwards at New York.

“York, hjälp mig! We need to prove we are the superior twins!” Delaware said. New York just shook his head in amusement before picking up North Carolina. The newborn colony was only physically five, and New York carried her with ease.

“That’s not fair!” South Carolina said, crossing his arms in the most adorable pout Virginia had ever seen, “You’re big!”

“And thus we are superior—ow!” Delaware’s claim was cut off by South Carolina kicking him in the side, and Virginia couldn’t help but laugh at his plight.

“How about we settle this later? We still have many people to introduce North and South Carolina to,” the older twins nodded, with Delaware picking himself off the ground, rubbing at his side. At the same time, New York lifted North Carolina above his head.

“Look North! You’re flying!” New York said before picking up the pace of his walking, causing North Carolina to let out peals of laughter. 

“Hey, I wanna fly,” South Carolina said before kicking Delaware in the shin, “Make me fly.”

“Why are you so violent?” Delaware said, staring at his newborn brother in shock.

“Make me fly!” South Carolina just said, crossing his arms.

“I can’t. I’m sorry. I’m not tall or strong enough,” Delaware said. Delaware’s status was weird. He was not an official colony of his own right and was actually a part of Pennsylvania. He had enough autonomy to exist, but he was weak and often felt sick. Some days, it was hard for him to do anything because of the weakness his status gave him. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York tried to help, but Delaware was still limited.

“Why not?” South Carolina asked, looking upset.

“Delaware is very sick, South. If it says he can’t do something, he can’t. You can ask New York if he can make you fly when North Carolina is done, but Delaware cannot do that for you.” Virginia explained, her voice gentle. South Carolina didn’t look happy about it, but he didn’t complain, just marched angrily away.

“I’m sorry, G—”

“You didn’t ask to be sick. It’s not your fault,” Virginia said, ruffling Delaware’s hair as he leaned into her side. 

“I know. I just…I wish I didn’t have to be sick. I wish I could be my own colony and not have to go to bed wondering if I’ll be able to wake up the next morning.” Delaware said. Virginia pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.

“I can’t do anything to help relieve those fears but remember, Portsmouth, Warwick, and Newport are still around because they have enough influence as cities to be around. You have far more than them. You will live,” Virginia said. Delaware pulled away, crossing his arms.

“But they don’t have to be sick.”

“Del—”

“It’s fine. I don’t…I don’t want to talk about it. It’s too soon after Carey.” Delaware said before walking off. Virginia shot a concerned look at her brother before rushing over to the newborn twins. New York had placed North Carolina back onto the ground, and Uncle James was standing by them. The rest of her siblings stood by awkwardly, and Delaware quickly joined them, leaning against New Jersey.

“I’ll do you after you’re introduced to everyone else, I promise.” New York was telling South Carolina as she approached. South Carolina nodded.

“Are you ready to be introduced to everyone else?” Virginia asked.

“I already said hi to Uncle James. He’s funny!” South Carolina said, his grumpy mood gone and replaced by a cheerful grin, “He says he’ll help me and Northie become the superior twins.”

“Verraad! Verraad! Betrayal by my dearest Oom? I can’t believe it,” New York said, smiling amusedly at their uncle. Uncle James rolled his eyes, but he was smiling too.

“Oh, are we taking Yorkie down a notch? I volunteer to help.” Connecticut said, walking up to them, before smiling down at the younger two, “Hi, my name is Connecticut.”

“You would you—” Virginia cut off New York by clapping her hands together.

“Okay, we can save this chitchat for later. Can we please just get through introductions before we all scatter and probably cause great harm to York.”

“Uh, we don’t have to do the last thing—”

“Great, glad we’re all in agreement about needing to do introductions,” Virginia said, cutting off New York again and getting an overdramatic gasp in return from the colony, “North, South, these are your older siblings, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations—”

“Wow, that’s a long name!” North Carolina said, her eyes wide with shock. Newport laughed.

“That’s because my brother here is trying to make up for his height by having a long time,” he said, pulling Rhode Island and Providence Plantations into a side hug. Rhode Island and Providence Plantations scowled and pushed Newport away.

“Fuck off, you’re smaller than me,” he said. Newport laughed again, dancing away to hide behind Warwick. It was nice to see the cities laughing and joking around. They were quiet more often than not, and they would have periods of time where they would sleep for years and not be around. 

They always seemed to know when someone was about to die, though. They were always awake for that.

“Rhode Island is what we call him. His name’s a bit too long,” New Hampshire added, “I’m New Hampshire, by the way. The shortie making fun of Rhode Island’s height is Newport.”

“And I’m New Jersey, a great way to add to the very confusing list of people who have new in their names,” New Jersey chimed in, a forced grin on his face. He wasn’t all that used to his new name. Of course, he was actually using it, unlike Plymouth.

Virginia gave a concerned look to said brother, not liking how…blank his face looked. She would have to talk to him later. Between West Jersey and Carolina, he was only becoming more withdrawn. 

Virginia was worried he would start disappearing and sleeping for long periods like the cities were doing.

Virginia was broken out of her thoughts when Warwick and Portsmouth introduced themselves. 

“And who’s that?” North Carolina asked, pointing at Plymouth. 

“That’s the countryhuman of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, but his name is—” Virginia was cut off by South Carolina walking over to Plymouth and sticking out his hand.

“Hi, Massachusetts Bay!” he said loudly. The world seemed to freeze, and Plymouth flinched, a shudder going through his body and Virginia watched her little brother begin to fall apart again. Plymouth’s face was consumed by so much pain that it looked like it physically hurt him.

“Actually, South, his name is—” Virginia began, desperate to salvage the situation before Plymouth started begging for God to strike him now again, a prayer she had heard far too many times over the last twenty years.

“No Gin. It’s okay.” Plymouth cut off, causing Virginia to recoil in shock.

“What?” she gasped incredulously. Plymouth willingly wanted to be called Massachusetts Bay? He wasn’t going to protest it? To scream and cry and break down in her arms again? 

“I…I…” Plymouth began before stopping, licking his lips, “I need to get used to it. And…it’s better for the young ones to know me as what I am, not as what I was. It’ll prevent…confusion.”

“Are you sure?” Virginia pressed, concerned. She knew that Plymouth felt he needed to get used to the name eventually, or at the very least before they got through to their father about their existence, but the reaction he just had to being called Massachusetts Bay was visceral.

“Yes,” Plymouth said harshly before turning to North and South Carolina. “My name…name is Mass…Massachusetts…Bay. Just….call me Massa…Massachusetts.”

Every word sounded like it hurt him to say, like it caused him physical agony to force them out of his mouth. Virginia was going to be talking to him later about that. Once they were alone. It seemed Plymouth didn’t want to make a scene. 

Sharing a look with Uncle James, Virginia could tell he felt the same.

━─━────༺༻────━─━

“Plym, we need to talk,” Virginia said, cornering Plymouth a few days after the birth of the twins.

“No, we don’t,” Plymouth said, turned away. 

“Okay, let me rephrase that. Massachusetts Bay,” she said harshly, noting Plymouth’s full-body flinch. “We’re going to talk.”

Plymouth stopped, turning back to face her, eyes wet and face distraught.

“I have to, Mom. I have to,” Plymouth said. Virginia walked over and embraced him.

“I know, I know,” Virginia said, hating how she could feel her own voice breaking, “But not like this, not when it hurts you.”

“But I need to. I’ve been Mass’s land for twenty years now, and I’m still clinging to the name I used to go by. You don’t hear Delly or York calling themselves New Sweden or New Netherlands, do you? I’m being stupid,” Plymouth said, pulling away and refusing to make eye contact with Virginia.

“That’s different, and you know it. Del and York are both replacements. They don’t remember much about who New Sweden and New Netherlands were because they are different people! You were born to be Plymouth. Of course, you will cling to that, especially since you became Massachusetts Bay against your will. Those situations are nothing alike, so you shouldn’t compare them.” Virginia said, grabbing Plymouth’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

“I’m never going to be ready unless I make myself do this,” Plymouth said, sounding so broken that it hurt Virginia to hear him this way.

“It’s okay if you’re never ready. It’s okay if you want to be called Plymouth. There’s not any humans demanding anything from you because we’re in Father’s head. You can be Plymouth for the rest of your life if that’s what you need. No one will make you be Massachusetts Bay if you don’t want to.” Virginia said. She saw tears begin to drip off Plymouth’s chin, and when he spoke, there was a raw pain in his voice.

“I need to. Massachusetts Bay died and…I need to honor him and make sure he didn’t die for nothing, and by denying the name and role he gave me, I’m being selfish!” Plymouth said.

“It’s not your fault,” Virginia said. Plymouth looked up at her, eyes red from crying.

“Yes, it is,” he said, voice resolute before he stormed off. Virginia shook her head, her own tears falling now.

“Oh, Plym,” she muttered, “No one has ever blamed you.”

The only person who blamed Plymouth was Plymouth, and he had been torturing himself about it ever since.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 8.27

Holidays

Anti-Rent Insurrection Anniversary Day (Delaware)

The Duchess Who Wasn't Day

Film and Movies Day (Russia)

First Kiss Day

Good Sex Day

Harvest’s End (Elder Scrolls)

Hydrogen Balloon Flight Anniversary Day

International Boobs Day (Italy)

International Boxing Day

International Gamecock Day

International Lottery Day

Just Because Day

Karam Puja (Assam, India)

Kiss Me Day

Krakatoa Day

Ladder Day (French Republic)

Lyndon Baines Johnson Day (Texas)

Motorist Consideration Day

National Radio Day (Argentina)

Nativity of Isis (Egyptian Goddess of Fertility)

Oil & Gas Industry Appreciation Day

Petroleum Day

Pharmacy Day (Iran)

Russian Cinema Day

Senior Race Day (Isle of Man)

Tarzan Day

Three-Thousandth Thnork of the Year (Fairy)

World Rock Paper Scissors Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Crab Soup Day

National Banana Lovers Day

National Peach Day

National Pots de Creme Day

Salo Day (Ukraine)

Independence & Related Days

Declaration of the Rights of Man (Adopted by French Assembly; 1789)

Moldova (a.k.a. Ziua Republicii); from USSR, 1991)

Yungtaria (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

4th & Last Tuesday in August

Lammas Fair Day (Ballycastle, Ireland) [Last Tuesday]

Prophetic Prayer Day [4th Tuesday]

Taco Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Target Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Tater Tot Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Tell the Truth Tuesday [4th Tuesday of Each Month]

Teriyaki Tuesday [Last Tuesday of Each Month]

Thai Tuesday [4th Tuesday of Each Month]

Touch-A-Heart Tuesday [Tuesday of Be Kind to Humankind Week]

Transformation Tuesday [Last Tuesday of Each Month]

Trivia Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Two For Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Festivals Beginning August 27, 2024

Farm Progress Show (Boone, Iowa) [thru 8.29]

Free Earth Festival (Asprovalta, Greece) [thru 9.2]

Van Wert County Fair (Van Wert, Ohio) [thru 9.2]

Feast Days

Alexandra Nechita (Artology)

Baculus of Sorrento (Christian; Saint)

Caesarius of Arles (Christian; Saint)

Calasanetius (Christian; Saint)

Day Sacred to Consus (God of Graineries; Ancient Rome)

Decuman (Christian; Saint)

Devaki Day (Indian Mother-Goddess; Everyday Wicca)

Euthalia (Christian; Saint)

Feast Day of Pan (Ancient Greece)

Feast of Incandescent Rebellion

Funella Furchester (Muppetism)

Gebhard of Constance (Christian; Saint)

Harris Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Hugh if Lincoln (Christian; Saint)

Inspiration Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Jeanette Winterson (Writerism)

John of Pavia (Christian; Saint)

Joseph Calasanctius (Christian; Saint)

Juan Fernando Cobo (Artology)

Klebold Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Little St.Hugh of Lincoln (Christian; Saint)

Lycerius (a.k.a. Glycerius, Lizier; Christian; Saint)

Máel Ruba (a.k.a. Rufus, Malrubius) of Scotland (Christian; Saint)

Man Ray (Artology)

Marcellus and His Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Margaret the Barefooted (Christian; Saint)

Monica of Hippo (mother of Augustine of Hippo; Christian; Saint) [Alcoholics]

Murray Matisse (Muppetism)

Narnus (Christian; Saint)

Phallogia (Pagan)

Phanourios of Rhodes (Christian; Saint)

Poëmen (a.k.a. Pastor; Christian; Saint)

Rufus and Carpophorus (Christian; Saints)

Stevin (Positivist; Saint)

Syagrius of Autun (Christian; Saint)

Theodore Dreiser (Writerism)

Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle (Episcopal Church)

The Threethousandth Thnork of the Year (Shamanism)

Tithi of Sri Sri Madhabdeva (Assam, India)

Udon Day (Pastafarian)

Usuki Stone Buddhas Fire Festival (Japan)

Volturnalia (Festival to the God of Waters & Fountains; Ancient Rome)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 239 [52 of 72]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

The African Queen, by C.S. Forester (Novel; 1935)

A-Lad-In Bagdad (WB MM Cartoon; 1938)

Bill & Ted Face the Music (Film; 2020)

Camouflage (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1943)

A Cat, a Man, and Two Women, by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (Novella; 1937)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Film; 1958)

The Centaur, by John Updike (Novel; 1963)

Cheaper by the Dozen, by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. (Novel; 1948)

Cherish, by The Association (Song; 1966)

Circus (Ub Iwerks MGM Cartoon; 1932)

The Dippy Diplomat (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1945)

Dizzy Newsreel (Phantasies Cartoon; 1943)

Dudley Do-Right (Film; 1999)

Egyptian Melodies (Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1931)

El Salón México, by Aaron Copland (Symphonic Composition; 1937)

Fright to the Finish (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1954)

Games People Play, by Eric Berne (Psychology Book; 1963)

A Ham in a Role (WB LT Cartoon; 1949)

Hamlet 2 (Film; 2008)

Hollywood Graduation (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1938)

Hyde and Hare (WB LT Cartoon; 1955)

I’m Gonna Send Your Vote to College (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 2002)

In the Heat if the Night, by Pat Benatar (Album; 1979)

Martin (TV Series; 1992)

Mary Poppins (Film; 1964)

Niagara Fools (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1956)

No Code, by Pearl Jam (Album; 1996)

Old Blackout Joe (Phantasies Cartoon; 1942)

Pigmalion, by Jean-Philippe Rameau (Opera/Ballet; 1748)

Presidential Minute, a.k.a. The Campaign Trail (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 2002)

Prométhée, by Gabriel Fauré (Tragédie Lyrique (Grand Cantata); 1900)

Rabbit Redux, by John Updike (Novel: 1971) [Rabbit #2]

Roman Holiday (Film; 1953)

The Shepherds Crown, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 2015) [Discworld #41]

The Simulacra, by Philip K. Dick (Novel; 1964)

South Pole Pals (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1966)

Spinach vs. Hamburgers (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1948)

Swing Time (Film; 1936)

Tarzan of the Apes (Novel; 1912)

Ten, by Pearl Jam (Album; 1991)

Toomorrow (Film; 1970)

Vacation Friends (Film; 2021)

Wet Blanket Policy (Andy Panda Cartoon; 1948)

Wholly Smoke (WB LT Cartoon; 1938)

Today’s Name Days

Gebhard, Margareta, Monika, Vivian (Austria)

Anđelka, Bogoljub, Monika (Croatia)

Otakar (Czech Republic)

Gebhardus (Denmark)

Maime, Maimi, Maimo, Maimu (Estonia)

Rauli (Finland)

Monique (France)

Gebhard, Monika, Vivian (Germany)

Arcadia, Arcadios, Fanourios, Liberios, Osios (Greece)

Gáspár (Hungary)

Cesario, Monica, Rocco (Italy)

Jorens, Ragnars, Valdmiers, Žanis (Latvia)

Aušrinė, Cezarijus, Cezaris, Tolvydas (Lithuania)

Roald, Rolf (Norway)

Angel, Angelus, Cezary, Gebhard, Józef, Kalasanty, Małgorzata, Przybymir, Rufus, Teodor (Poland)

Silvia (Slovakia)

Mónica (Spain)

Raoul, Rolf (Sweden)

Caesar, Cesar, King, Kingsley, Lyndon, Sheri, Sherri, Sherry, Sheryl (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 240 of 2024; 126 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of Week 35 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Coll (Hazel) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 7 (Ren-Shen), Day 24 (Guy-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 23 Av 5784

Islamic: 21 Safar 1446

J Cal: 30 Purple; Lastday [30 of 30]

Julian: 14 August 2024

Moon: 37%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 14 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Vaucanson]

Runic Half Month: Rad (Motion) [Day 5 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 69 of 94)

Week: 4th Full Week of August

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 6 of 32)

[desidesidesi]

10 out of 12, I'm Honduran American and have lived my whole life in America. Wish they'd tell me which ones I missed 🤔

I feel like this is a little unfair to say Americans suck at Geography as if that's just inherently and American thing. We're pretty America focused, yes, cuz we're flipping huge. There's the national capital, 50 states (and Puerto Rico), each state has its own capital, each state also having counties ranging from 3 (Hawaii/Delaware) to 254 (Texas) with a total of 3143 counties in all, Louisiana being special with Parishes (64 of them), each county/parish having a county seat/parish seat, and endless towns and cities, and we've got to navigate at least the ones around us if not more if we travel for a living. Hell I have to be pretty well-versed in the surrounding towns/counties for my job.

By the time we're out of school, we're lucky to have covered much outside of the basics of geography for the mostly Western World History that was taught to us because Standardized Testing kinda murdered any creative teaching for our public schools.

And to be fair to us! Here are Brits trying to label the states in America:

sitting here thinking about how stupid americans are at geography yup

[brookston]

Holidays 11.7

Holidays

American Choral Society Day

Ben Ali Commemoration Day (Tunisia)

Climate Action Day

Commemoration Day (Tunisia)

Day of Accord and Reconciliation (Russia)

Day of the Hungarian Opera (Hungary)

Days of History and Memory (Kyrgyzstan)

Dunce Day

Employee Brotherhood Day (SpongeBob Squarepants)

European Radon Day

Gastrointestinal Day (Germany)

Gentian Day

Good Tummy Day (Japan)

Hug a Bear Day

Hungarian Opera Day (Hungary)

International African Writers’ Day (a.k.a. Pan African Writers’ Day)

International Day of Medical Physics

International Inuit Day

Little League Girls Day

Magazine Day

Medical Science Liaison Awareness and Appreciation Day

Melbourne Cup Day (Victoria, Australia)

Meteorite Day

National Bassist Day

National Cancer Awareness Day (India)

National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day

National Day for the Victims of Communism

National Day in Northern Catalonia (France)

National Day of Remembrance for Ka Otis (Philippines)

National Food Fortification Day (Philippines)

National Inuit Day (Canada)

National Keith Day

National Lori Day

National Programmatic Advertising Day

National Railway Day (Canada)

National Retinol Day

National Revolution and Solidarity Day (Bangladesh)

Notary Public Day

N7 Day (from “Mass Effect”)

Outdoor Classroom Day (UK)

Red Cup Day

Republican Elephant Day

Return Day (Delaware)

Social Revolution Day (Kyrgyzstan)

Stay Away from Anyone Named Honest John Day

Students’ Day (Maharashtra, India)

Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day (UK)

Tajik Theatre Day (Tajikistan)

Treaty of the Pyrenees Day (Northern Catalonia, France)

Victims of Communism Day (Florida, Missouri)

Watercress Day (French Republic)

Williams Syndrome Day (UK)

World Cancer Awareness Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Mud Cake Day (Sweden)

International Merlot Day

Martini Day

National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

National Kumquat Day

World Pad Thai Day (UK)

Independence & Related Days

October Revolution Day (Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Transdniestria, former U.S.S.R.; 1917)

Revolution Day (Bangladesh; 1971)

1st Thursday in November

International Day Against Violence & Bullying at School including Cyberbullying [1st Thursday]

International Project Management Day (a.k.a. IPM Day) [1st Thursday]

International Stout Day [1st Thursday]

Kid Lit Art Postcard Day [1st Thursday]

National Cash Back Day [1st Thursday]

National Casting Day [1st Thursday]

National Men Make Dinner [1st Thursday]

National Non-Fiction Day (UK) [1st Thursday]

Thankful Thursday [1st Thursday of Each Month]

Thanksgiving Day (Liberia) [1st Thursday]

Therapy Thursday [1st Thursday of Each Month]

Thirsty Thursday [Every Thursday]

Three for Thursday [Every Thursday]

Thrift Store Thursday [Every Thursday]

Throwback Thursday [Every Thursday]

World Digital Preservation Day [1st Thursday]

Weekly Holidays beginning November 7 (1st Full Week of November)

Dear Santa Letter Week (thru 11.13)

National Book Awards Week

Volusia County Fair (DeLand, Florida) [thru 11.17]

Festivals Beginning November 7, 2024

Caribbean Food and Wine Festival (Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands) [thru 11.10]

Cork International Film Festival (Cork, Ireland) [thru 11.17]

Creativa Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain) [thru 11.10]

Dharamshala International Film Festival (Dharamshala, India) [thru 11.10]

Gatlinburg Winter Magic and Chili Cookoff (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)

International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg (Mannheim, Germany) [thru 11.17]

PizzaCon (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Port Barre Cracklin Festival (Port Barre, Louisiana) [thru 11.10]

Spinach Festival (Crystal City, Texas) [thru 11.10]

Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards (Taipei, Taiwan) [thru 11.24]

Taste of the Ozarks (Springfield, Missouri)

Taste of the Town (Pasadena, Texas)

The WhiskyX (Austin, Texas)

World Food Championships (Indianapolis, Indiana) [thru 11.12]

World Film Festival of Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand) [thru 11.17]

Feast Days

Albert Camus (Writerism)

All Dominican Saints and Blesseds (Christian)

Armstrong Sperry (Artology)

Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg (Lutheran)

Billy the Grownup (Muppetism)

Birth of Baháʼu'lláh (Baha'i) [2 Muharram]

Charles Baudelaire Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Engelbert II of Berg (Christian; Saint)

Feat of All Saints of the Dominican Order

Feast of Blessed John Duns Scotus (The Subtle Doctor)

Feast of Stolen Fire

Festivals of the Twin Birthdays, Day 2 (Baha'i)

Florentius (Christian; Saint)

Francisco de Zurbarán (Artology)

Hawaiian Harvest Festival to Lomo (Ancient Hawai’i)

Herculanus of Perugia (Christian; Saint)

Jan Matulka (Artology)

John Christian Frederick Heyer (Lutheran)

John Duns Scotus (Christian; Blessed)

Lesser Ury (Artology)

Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen (Lutheran)

Makahikii Festival (Ancient Hawai’i)

Night of Hecate (Ancient Greece; Everyday Wicca)

Norah McGuinness (Artology)

Paul Peel (Artology)

Philippe de Comines (Positivist; Saint)

Prosdocimus (Christian; Saint)

Storm of Fears Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Tentacle Day (Pastafarian)

Tiamat’s Day (Pagan)

Tokhu Emong (Lotha Nada people of India)

Vicente Liem de la Paz (Christian; One of Vietnamese Martyrs)

Werenfrid (Christian; Saint)

Willibrord (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Prime Number Day: 311 [64 of 72]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 51 of 60)

Premieres

Aerial, by Kate Bush (Album; 2005)

Alice In Chains, by Alice In Chains (Album; 1995)

Big Hero 6 (Animated Film; 2014)

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Radio Series; 1932)

…But Seriously, Phil Collins (Album; 1989)

The Divine Miss M, by Bette Midler (Album; 1972)

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, by Chicago (Song; 1970)

Don’t Look Now (WB MM Cartoon; 1936)

Elf (Film; 2003)

Feast (Disney Cartoon; 2014)

Fifty Cents Lost or Get That Half Back (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 123; 1961)

The Flintstones: Fred’s Final Fling (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1980)

Green, by R.E.M. (Album; 1988)

Hogfather, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1996) [Discworld #20]

It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (Film; 1963)

Job, by Joseph Roth (Novel; 1930)

London Gazette (Weekly Gazette; 1665)

Love Actually (Film; 2003)

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Animated Film; 2008)

Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party (TV Series; 2016)

Mater and the Ghostlight (Pixar Cartoon; 2006)

The Midnight Line, 22nd Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2017)

Miss Fritter’s Racing Skool (Pixar Cartoon; 2017)

Mister Magoo (Animated TV Series; 1960)

Raising Steam, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 2013) [Discworld #40]

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, by Sergei Rachmaninoff (Conertante; 1934)

Role Models (Film; 2008)

The Rose (Film; 1979)

Safari So good (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1947)

The Scheme Misfires of You Can Planet Better Than That (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 124; 1961)

Sid and Nancy (Film; 1986)

Something Wild (Film; 1986)

A Son Unique, by Wu-Tang Clan (Album; 2006)

Southern Fried Hospitality (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1960)

Starship Troopers (Film; 1997)

Studio One (Radio Series; 1948)

Ten Hail Marys & Ten How’s Your Fathers, by Elvis Costello (Album; 1980)

The Theory of Everything (Film; 2014)

Ummagumma, by Pink Floyd (Album; 1969)

Uncle Vanya, by Anton Chekov (Play; 1899)

Whole Lotta Love, by Led Zeppelin (Song; 1969)

Wild Honey or How to Get Along Without a Ration Book (Barney Bear MGM Cartoon; 1942)

The Winds of War, by Herman Wouk (Novel; 1971)

Winter’s Heart, by Robert Jordan (Novel; 2000) [Wheel of Time #9]

Zot, Parts 3 & 4 (Underdog Cartoon, S1, Eps. 11 & 12; 1964)

Today’s Name Days

Carina, Engelbert, Willibrord (Austria)

Anđelko, Baldo, Florencije, Zdenka (Croatia)

Saskie (Czech Republic)

Engelbrecht (Denmark)

Kiira, Kiiri, Kirke (Estonia)

Erin, Taisto (Finland)

Carine (France)

Engelbert, Carina, Willbir, Tina (Germany)

Athinodoros, Ernest, Theagenis, Themelios (Greece)

Rezső (Hungary)

Ernesto, Prosdocimo (Italy)

Helma, Lotars (Latvia)

Ernestas, Gotautė, Karina, Sirtautas (Lithuania)

Ingebrigt, Ingelin (Norway)

Achilles, Antoni, Engelbert, Florentyn, Melchior, Przemił (Poland)

René (Slovakia)

Carina, Ernesto (Spain)

Ingegerd, Ingela (Sweden)

Engelbert, Graham, Hollis, Holm, Holmes, Holt (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 312 of 2024; 54 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of Week 45 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 12 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Yi-Hai), Day 7 (Yi-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 6 Heshvan 5785

Islamic: 5 Jumada I 1446

J Cal: 12 Wood; Foursday [11 of 30]

Julian: 25 October 2024

Moon: 36%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 4 Frederic (12th Month) [Isabella of Castille]

Runic Half Month: Nyd (Necessity) [Day 1 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 46 of 90)

Week: 1st Full Week of November

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 15 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Nyd (Necessity) [Half-Month 22 of 24; Runic Half-Months] (thru 11.21)

[kats-kreepy-tales]

Kat's Kreepy Tales

Pennsylvania Witch Trials

In 1684 two women, Margaret Malson and Mrs Gethro Hendrickson, were put on trial for witchcraft in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. This was 8 years before the infamous Salem witch trials in Massachusetts. The women were accused of bewitching livestock of English settlers that had moved to their land known as "New Sweden".

The Pennsylvania trial went completely different from the Salem trials. Governor William Penn proceeded over the trial and made every effort to ensure that the women received a fair trial. He loaded the jury with Swedish and Finnish immigrants. The women were found guilty of witch like behavior but not of bewitching the livestock. They were both fined but with good behavior they were able to earn the money back.

Pennsylvania didn't have any official laws against witchcraft until 1718 when they adopted English law. These laws ended in the 1750's. There is no record of any other witch trials in the Commonwealth. The Witch of Ridley Creek legend goes on to this day.

[isabelwcna]

Jumpstart Your Healthcare Career: Fair Acres CNA Program Unveiled

**Jumpstart Your‍ Healthcare Career: Fair Acres CNA Program Unveiled**

Are you looking to kickstart a⁣ rewarding career in the ⁢healthcare industry? If so, the Fair Acres CNA Program might be just what you need. Becoming a ‍Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is⁤ a fantastic way to enter⁣ the healthcare ‍field ‌and make ​a real difference in people’s ​lives. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the details of the Fair Acres CNA Program and how it can help you achieve your career goals.

**Introduction to the Fair Acres CNA ‍Program**

The Fair Acres CNA Program is designed to provide aspiring healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills‍ needed to excel​ in their roles as CNAs. Located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Fair Acres is a state of the art facility dedicated to providing quality care for its residents.⁢ The⁣ CNA Program at Fair​ Acres is highly regarded for its comprehensive ⁤curriculum and hands-on training.

**Benefits of the Fair Acres CNA Program**

– Comprehensive Curriculum: The Fair Acres CNA Program ⁢covers a wide range ‌of topics, including patient ⁣care, infection control, medical terminology, and more. – Hands-On Training: Students have the​ opportunity to practice their skills in a real-world healthcare setting under the⁤ supervision of⁤ experienced instructors. – Job Placement Assistance: Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive job placement assistance to help them secure a position as a CNA. – Competitive Tuition Rates: The Fair Acres CNA Program‌ offers ⁢competitive tuition rates, making it an affordable option for those looking to pursue a career in healthcare. – Flexible​ Scheduling: The program offers⁢ flexible scheduling options to accommodate students with busy lives.

**Practical Tips for Succeeding in the Fair Acres CNA Program**

– Stay organized and manage your time effectively to‌ keep up with the coursework. – Take advantage of hands-on training opportunities to practice your skills and gain valuable experience. – Build strong ⁤relationships with ⁢your instructors and ⁢classmates ⁣to create a supportive learning environment. – Stay motivated and focused on your long-term career goals⁣ to keep yourself on track.

**Real-Life Success Stories**

Maria, ​a recent graduate of the Fair Acres CNA Program, shares her‌ experience: “The Fair Acres CNA Program was a stepping stone for me in my healthcare career. The hands-on training and supportive instructors helped me⁢ build the confidence I⁣ needed to succeed as a CNA. I am now working in a nursing home, providing‌ quality care to residents every day.”

**Conclusion**

If you are⁤ passionate about helping ‍others and are looking to start a fulfilling ​career in healthcare, the Fair Acres ⁤CNA Program could be‌ the perfect fit for you. With its comprehensive curriculum, hands-on training, and job placement assistance, this program provides the tools⁤ and support you need to⁣ succeed as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Take the first step towards your healthcare career today ‌with the ‍Fair Acres CNA Program.

https://coursescna.com/jumpstart-your-healthcare-career-fair-acres-cna-program-unveiled/

[stealth-liberal]

I'm American, I was born and raised in Rhode Island (which, to be fair is a state so blue that's it's navy blue) and the labor movement was a LARGE part of US history and was in our textbooks. I grew up in a union family, but none of them taught me the history of the labor movement. That I learned in school.

What a lot of people forget about the US is that it is functionally a group of small countries that decided to band together and sort of get along. Our states have far more power to do things their own way than states/provinces/counties/prefectures etc. have in virtually any other country. This includes education. This extremely includes education.

You will hear a lot about the educational practices of red/conservative/republican states, and it's bad. All the history suppression you've heard about. However, there's this urge to conflate Texas, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Florida, to name a few, with the whole country. It's inaccurate. You don't hear too much about the educational practices of Rhode Island, Delaware, Wisconsin, and Oregon, to name a few, because by and large, there isn't much to say. They are going about their business teaching history correctly.

The United States is MASSIVE, and what people were taught in history classes is going to largely depend on what state they grew up in.

okay because i am DEATHLY curious about this, please select from the options below. reblog with your country of origin as well please.

ETA BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING SNARKY: i am asking it this specific way with these specific poll options (american vs non-american) because it's my understanding and experience that most US state public schools actively suppress any teaching of labor history in any concrete way to the point of editing textbooks. i'm not trying to be an american exclusionist here or say that there weren't non-american labor movements. i'm saying that as a historian with degrees i have noticed that there is a very different attitude towards teaching labor history in the united states than there is in other countries. for fuck's sake.

[delawarecounty]

Divorce Lawyers Near Me - What Every Individual Should Look Into

Divorce cases are frequently very emotional and fraught with emotion when it comes to legal dispute. If a marriage is at an impasse and the parties involved may require the assistance of a combative divorce attorney--someone who will make the effort of ensuring that their clients obtain a just settlement. A lawyer with experience successfully and effectively managing the intricate divorce proceedings is known as an aggressive divorce attorney. Their primary goal is to protect their customers' rights and stand up for them during this tense period. With an intense focus on each detail and an in-depth understanding regarding family law adamant divorce lawyer thoroughly examines every aspect of every case, making sure there is no doubt. To determine a fair division of debts and assets, they look into the financial history of assets, liabilities, and other obligations of their clients as well as their spouses. Attorneys work to ensure a just division of assets, including vehicles, homes, investment and companies, using skilled negotiation. They strive to make sure their clients get their fair share since they know the worth of these possessions. Are you hunting for delaware county pa divorce lawyer? Look at the previously discussed website.

Another important aspect of divorce proceedings is child custody, and a combative divorce attorney is adept at defending the best interests of their clients' children. They compile information and make convincing arguments to demonstrate that their clients can create a safe and secure atmosphere. Their goal is to advance the stability and well being of the children who are involved, as well as protect the rights of parents for their client. Additionally, a litigious divorce attorney fights for alimony or spousal support. To ensure that their clients receive an equitable and reasonable amount of support, they advocate for their client's interests through bringing up issues like income inequality, earning capacity, and the length of the marriage. They seek to build an enduring foundation by expertly communicating the financial realities. The active divorce lawyer is always a dependable ally who can provide assistance and direction throughout the legal procedure. They are a source of support during these trying times because they are aware of the emotional toll divorce may affect their clients.

They know the stress their customers go through and are focused on the legal details. A divorce lawyer who is combative exhibits their legal prowess in the courtroom. In order to get the best result for their clients, they put together powerful arguments, make evidence, and cross examine witnesses. Their determination to fight for what is fair and right is the reason for their ferocious manner of speaking. The divorce lawyer who is combative works behind the scenes outside from the courts. They review documents, look over the law, and map their next step. Their unwavering focus is on getting their clients the best possible outcomes. When it comes to divorce, an assertive divorce lawyer is crucial to ensure that their clients receive what is right. They fight for fair distribution of assets, the child's custody arrangement, and spouse support, while navigating the complexity of legal system with skill, tenacity and a steadfast commitment. They offer assistance throughout an emotional time and serve as the client's loyal all-arounder.

[2013venjix]

I know the American story.  Again and again, I’ve seen the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our nation, between those who want to pull America back to the past and those who want to move America into the future. 

My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, a future based on core values that have defined America — honesty, decency, dignity, and equality; to respect everyone; to give everyone a fair shot; to give hate no safe harbor. 

Now, other people my age see it differently. The American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution.

That’s not me.  I was born amid World War Two, when America stood for the freedom of the world.  I grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, among working-class people who built this country.  

I watched in horror as two of my heroes — like many of you did — Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy, were assassinated.  And their legacies inspired me to pursue a career in service. 

I left a law firm and became a public defender because my city of Wilmington was the only city in America occupied by the National Guard after Dr. King was assassinated because of the riots.  And I became a county councilman almost by accident.

I got elected to the United States Senate when I had no intention of running, at age 29. 

Then vice president to our first Black president.  Now a president to the first woman vice president. 

In my career, I’ve been told I was too young. By the way, they didn’t let me on the Senate elevators for votes sometimes. 

And I’ve been told I am too old. 

Whether young or old, I’ve always been known — I’ve always known what endures.  I’ve known our North Star.  The very idea of America is that we’re all created equal, deserves to be treated equally throughout our lives. 

We’ve never fully lived up to that idea, but we’ve never walked away from it either.  And I won’t walk away from it now. 

My fellow Americans, the issue facing our nation isn’t how old we are; it’s how old are our ideas. 

Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are the oldest of ideas.  But you can’t lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back.  To lead America, the land of possibilities, you need a vision for the future and what can and should be done. 

Tonight, you’ve heard mine. 

I see a future where [we’re] defending democracy, you don’t diminish it.

I see a future where we restore the right to choose and protect our freedoms, not take them away. 

I see a future where the middle class has — finally has a fair shot and the wealthy have to pay their fair share in taxes. 

I see a future where we save the planet from the climate crisis and our country from gun violence. 

Above all, I see a future for all Americans.  I see a country for all Americans.  And I will always be President for all Americans because I believe in America.  I believe in you, the American people. You’re the reason we’ve never been more optimistic about our future than I am now. 

So, let’s build the future together.  Let’s remember who we are. 

We are the United States of America.  And there is nothing — nothing beyond our capacity when we act together. 

-President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

[college-girl199328]

A group of 25 California counties has sued Elon Musk's Tesla, claiming the electric vehicle maker mishandled hazardous waste at its facilities across the state.

The lawsuit from Los Angeles, Alameda, San Joaquin, San Francisco, and other counties was filed on Tuesday in California state court. It seeks civil penalties and an injunction that would require the company to properly handle its waste in the future.

The counties accused Tesla of violating state unfair business and hazardous waste management laws by improperly labeling waste and sending the materials to landfills that cannot accept hazardous material. California's hazardous waste management law carries potential civil penalties as high as $70,000 per violation per day.

Waste produced or handled at the facilities includes paint materials, brake fluids, used batteries, antifreeze, and diesel fuel, the counties said.

The lawsuit claims that violations have occurred at as many as 101 facilities, including at Tesla's manufacturing plant in Fremont.

Spokespeople for the counties did not immediately provide additional details about the case.

The lawsuit is not the first time Tesla has faced allegations related to its hazardous waste management practices.

The company reached a settlement in 2019 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over alleged federal hazardous waste violations at its Fremont plant. In that deal, Tesla agreed to take steps to properly manage waste at the facility and pay a $31,000 fine.

Tesla later reached a deal with the EPA in 2022 in which it agreed to pay a $275,000 penalty after the federal agency said the company was failing to keep records and to implement plans to minimize air pollutants from painting operations at the Fremont plant.

A Delaware judge on Tuesday voided the $56 billion pay package of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, ruling that the company's board of directors failed to prove "that the compensation plan was fair" or show much evidence that they had even negotiated with him.

Tesla's share price slid about 3% in after-hours trading Tuesday following news of the decision in the lawsuit filed by Richard Tornetta, a shareholder in the electric automaker.

Chancery Court Chancellor Kathleen McCormick told the parties in the lawsuit to confer on what would be a final order directing Musk to return the compensation he has received under the plan.

The pay package that Tesla granted Musk in 2018 was the largest compensation plan in public corporate history, McCormick noted in her 200-page ruling.

The package made the Tesla and SpaceX boss a centimillionaire and the richest person on the planet.

That plan had offered Musk the chance to secure 12 tranches of Tesla stock options, which would vest if the company's market capitalization increased by $50 billion and Tesla achieved a revenue target.

McCormick ruled that Tornetta had proved that Musk "controlled Tesla" and that the process leading to the board's approval of his compensation was "deeply flawed."

She wrote that Musk had "extensive ties" with the people who were negotiating for Tesla on the package, including members of management "who were beholden to Musk," among them General Counsel Todd Maron, his former divorce attorney.

In a tweet late Tuesday afternoon, Musk wrote, "Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware."

In a later tweet, he started a poll with the question, "Should Tesla change its state of incorporation to Texas, home of its physical headquarters?"

Tornetta's lawyer, Greg Varallo, said in a statement, "We are enormously grateful for the Court's thorough and extraordinarily well-reasoned decision in turning back the Tesla board's absurdly outsized pay package for Musk."

McCormick's ruling hinged on the finding that Musk, rather than its board of directors and shareholders, controlled Tesla, at least when it came to the question of setting his compensation.

The judge wrote: "In addition to his 21.9% equity stake, Musk was the paradigmatic 'Superstar CEO,' who held some of the most influential corporate positions (CEO, Chair, and founder), enjoyed thick ties with the directors tasked with negotiating on behalf of Tesla and dominated the process that led to board approval of his compensation plan."

Tesla and Musk's attorneys, the court decided, "were unable to prove that the stockholder vote was fully informed because the proxy statement inaccurately described key directors as independent and misleadingly omitted details about the process."

That’s Wall Street’s reaction to the quarterly results on Tuesday from Alphabet and Microsoft. Both companies reported revenue and earnings that exceeded estimates, yet the stocks sold off after hours, a drop that carried over into Wednesday’s trading session.

In investor speak, the stocks were priced for perfection. Before earnings, Alphabet was up 56% for the year and climbed to a fresh high last week, exceeding the prior record from late 2021, the peak of the tech boom. Microsoft was up 70% over the past 12 months, reaching a fresh high recently and surpassing Apple as the most valuable publicly traded company.

The companies generated excitement last year by riding the artificial intelligence wave and were also lauded by shareholders for their dramatic cost-cutting efforts, which included eliminating thousands of jobs.

In the weeks heading into their earnings reports, investors were buying as if they expected positive surprises. They were left disappointed and nitpicking the numbers.

Alphabet on Tuesday reported 13% revenue growth, the fastest rate of expansion since early 2022. Sales of $86.31 billion topped the average estimate of $85.33 billion, according to LSEG, formerly known as Refinitiv. Earnings per share of $1.64 beat estimates by 5 cents.

Revenue at Microsoft increased 18% to $62.02 billion, topping the $61.12 billion average analyst estimate. EPS of $2.93 was 15 cents above consensus.

Both companies also beat expectations in their cloud businesses, with Google Cloud reporting 25% growth and Microsoft’s larger Azure and other cloud services expanding 30%.

The one disappointment from Alphabet was in Google’s ad business, which delivered revenue of $65.52 billion, trailing analysts’ estimates of $65.94 billion, according to StreetAccount. Within ads, YouTube came in just shy of expectations.

Stifel analysts, who recommend buying the stock, said in a quick-take report on Tuesday that Alphabet produced “healthy advertising results, but not enough.”

Brian Wieser, an analyst at media and advertising consultancy Madison and Wall, said the market has unrealistic expectations for Google given its size and dominance.

Alphabet shares dropped 7.5% on Wednesday. Microsoft’s decline was less severe, with the stock falling 2.7%.

Microsoft’s outlook was a bit light, overshadowing the earnings and revenue beat. The company called for fiscal third-quarter sales between $60 billion and $61 billion, while analysts polled by LSEG had expected $60.93 billion.

Shares of chipmaker AMD also dropped despite better-than-expected revenue numbers and profits that met estimates. The stock, which was up 137% in the past year on excitement about its artificial intelligence processors, fell almost 6% after the announcement.

Attention now turns to Thursday, when Amazon, Apple, and Meta all report quarterly results. Similar to Alphabet and Microsoft, Meta shares have climbed to a record this month. Apple hit its all-time high in December, while Amazon remains about 6% below its record from 2022.

[phillyhomeinvestorpa]

Philly Home Investor: We buy homes in Delaware

Are you struggling to sell your property in Delaware County? Look no further than Philly Home Investor! We buy homes Delaware County, regardless of their condition or location. Whether you're dealing with foreclosure, divorce, or simply looking to upgrade or downgrade your living situation, we can help. Our team of experienced professionals understands the complexities of the real estate market, and we're ready to offer you a fair, all-cash offer for your property.

At Philly Home Investor, we pride ourselves on our commitment to customer satisfaction. We understand that selling a home can be a stressful and emotional process, which is why we aim to make the experience as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Our team will work with you every step of the way, from the initial consultation to the closing process. We'll answer any questions you have and provide you with the guidance you need to make informed decisions about your property.

[columbushousesale]

Even if an agent can’t sell your house, we can. (Sometimes selling a house through a real estate agent isn’t for everyone.)

Are you looking to sell your house fast? Do you want to get rid of your property quickly and get the most money for it? Sell My House Fast Columbus OH offers a range of services that can help you sell your house fast.

And as a bonus:

you don’t need to clean up or repair the property

you don’t need to waste time finding an agent who you trust and who can deliver on their promise to sell your house quickly

you won’t need to sign a contract that binds you to an agent for a certain term

you won’t need to deal with the paperwork and the waiting

We’ll know very quickly if we can help you, and unlike selling through an agent, you don’t have to wait to see if the buyer can get financing. We’re ready to buy right now!

All the hassles around selling a house can add up to a lot of stress and lead to a process that lasts months. After paying expensive agent fees, you may or may not be ahead of the game.

We work differently at EASTON BUYS HOUSES. When you contact us and submit the short property information form (below), we’ll give you a fair all-cash offer on your house within 24 hours and the best part is: we can close whenever YOU choose to close – it’s entirely up to you. The condition of the house doesn’t matter. Even if there are tenants that you can’t get rid of, don’t worry about it. We’ll take care of it for you. If you need the cash quickly, we can close in as little as 7 days because we buy houses with cash and don’t have to rely on traditional bank financing. We are the top cash buyer in Columbus City, Franklin County, and Delaware County!

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 11.7

Holidays

American Choral Society Day

Ben Ali Commemoration Day (Tunisia)

Climate Action Day

Commemoration Day (Tunisia)

Day of Accord and Reconciliation (Russia)

Day of the Hungarian Opera (Hungary)

Days of History and Memory (Kyrgyzstan)

Dunce Day

Employee Brotherhood Day (SpongeBob Squarepants)

European Radon Day

Gastrointestinal Day (Germany)

Gentian Day

Good Tummy Day (Japan)

Hug a Bear Day

Hungarian Opera Day (Hungary)

International African Writers’ Day (a.k.a. Pan African Writers’ Day)

International Day of Medical Physics

International Inuit Day

Little League Girls Day

Magazine Day

Medical Science Liaison Awareness and Appreciation Day

Melbourne Cup Day (Victoria, Australia)

Meteorite Day

National Bassist Day

National Cancer Awareness Day (India)

National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day

National Day for the Victims of Communism

National Day in Northern Catalonia (France)

National Day of Remembrance for Ka Otis (Philippines)

National Food Fortification Day (Philippines)

National Inuit Day (Canada)

National Keith Day

National Lori Day

National Programmatic Advertising Day

National Railway Day (Canada)

National Retinol Day

National Revolution and Solidarity Day (Bangladesh)

Notary Public Day

N7 Day (from “Mass Effect”)

Outdoor Classroom Day (UK)

Red Cup Day

Republican Elephant Day

Return Day (Delaware)

Social Revolution Day (Kyrgyzstan)

Stay Away from Anyone Named Honest John Day

Students’ Day (Maharashtra, India)

Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day (UK)

Tajik Theatre Day (Tajikistan)

Treaty of the Pyrenees Day (Northern Catalonia, France)

Victims of Communism Day (Florida, Missouri)

Watercress Day (French Republic)

Williams Syndrome Day (UK)

World Cancer Awareness Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Mud Cake Day (Sweden)

International Merlot Day

Martini Day

National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

National Kumquat Day

World Pad Thai Day (UK)

Independence & Related Days

October Revolution Day (Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Transdniestria, former U.S.S.R.; 1917)

Revolution Day (Bangladesh; 1971)

1st Thursday in November

International Day Against Violence & Bullying at School including Cyberbullying [1st Thursday]

International Project Management Day (a.k.a. IPM Day) [1st Thursday]

International Stout Day [1st Thursday]

Kid Lit Art Postcard Day [1st Thursday]

National Cash Back Day [1st Thursday]

National Casting Day [1st Thursday]

National Men Make Dinner [1st Thursday]

National Non-Fiction Day (UK) [1st Thursday]

Thankful Thursday [1st Thursday of Each Month]

Thanksgiving Day (Liberia) [1st Thursday]

Therapy Thursday [1st Thursday of Each Month]

Thirsty Thursday [Every Thursday]

Three for Thursday [Every Thursday]

Thrift Store Thursday [Every Thursday]

Throwback Thursday [Every Thursday]

World Digital Preservation Day [1st Thursday]

Weekly Holidays beginning November 7 (1st Full Week of November)

Dear Santa Letter Week (thru 11.13)

National Book Awards Week

Volusia County Fair (DeLand, Florida) [thru 11.17]

Festivals Beginning November 7, 2024

Caribbean Food and Wine Festival (Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands) [thru 11.10]

Cork International Film Festival (Cork, Ireland) [thru 11.17]

Creativa Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain) [thru 11.10]

Dharamshala International Film Festival (Dharamshala, India) [thru 11.10]

Gatlinburg Winter Magic and Chili Cookoff (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)

International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg (Mannheim, Germany) [thru 11.17]

PizzaCon (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Port Barre Cracklin Festival (Port Barre, Louisiana) [thru 11.10]

Spinach Festival (Crystal City, Texas) [thru 11.10]

Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards (Taipei, Taiwan) [thru 11.24]

Taste of the Ozarks (Springfield, Missouri)

Taste of the Town (Pasadena, Texas)

The WhiskyX (Austin, Texas)

World Food Championships (Indianapolis, Indiana) [thru 11.12]

World Film Festival of Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand) [thru 11.17]

Feast Days

Albert Camus (Writerism)

All Dominican Saints and Blesseds (Christian)

Armstrong Sperry (Artology)

Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg (Lutheran)

Billy the Grownup (Muppetism)

Birth of Baháʼu'lláh (Baha'i) [2 Muharram]

Charles Baudelaire Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Engelbert II of Berg (Christian; Saint)

Feat of All Saints of the Dominican Order

Feast of Blessed John Duns Scotus (The Subtle Doctor)

Feast of Stolen Fire

Festivals of the Twin Birthdays, Day 2 (Baha'i)

Florentius (Christian; Saint)

Francisco de Zurbarán (Artology)

Hawaiian Harvest Festival to Lomo (Ancient Hawai’i)

Herculanus of Perugia (Christian; Saint)

Jan Matulka (Artology)

John Christian Frederick Heyer (Lutheran)

John Duns Scotus (Christian; Blessed)

Lesser Ury (Artology)

Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen (Lutheran)

Makahikii Festival (Ancient Hawai’i)

Night of Hecate (Ancient Greece; Everyday Wicca)

Norah McGuinness (Artology)

Paul Peel (Artology)

Philippe de Comines (Positivist; Saint)

Prosdocimus (Christian; Saint)

Storm of Fears Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Tentacle Day (Pastafarian)

Tiamat’s Day (Pagan)

Tokhu Emong (Lotha Nada people of India)

Vicente Liem de la Paz (Christian; One of Vietnamese Martyrs)

Werenfrid (Christian; Saint)

Willibrord (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Prime Number Day: 311 [64 of 72]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 51 of 60)

Premieres

Aerial, by Kate Bush (Album; 2005)

Alice In Chains, by Alice In Chains (Album; 1995)

Big Hero 6 (Animated Film; 2014)

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Radio Series; 1932)

…But Seriously, Phil Collins (Album; 1989)

The Divine Miss M, by Bette Midler (Album; 1972)

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, by Chicago (Song; 1970)

Don’t Look Now (WB MM Cartoon; 1936)

Elf (Film; 2003)

Feast (Disney Cartoon; 2014)

Fifty Cents Lost or Get That Half Back (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 123; 1961)

The Flintstones: Fred’s Final Fling (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1980)

Green, by R.E.M. (Album; 1988)

Hogfather, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1996) [Discworld #20]

It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (Film; 1963)

Job, by Joseph Roth (Novel; 1930)

London Gazette (Weekly Gazette; 1665)

Love Actually (Film; 2003)

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Animated Film; 2008)

Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party (TV Series; 2016)

Mater and the Ghostlight (Pixar Cartoon; 2006)

The Midnight Line, 22nd Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2017)

Miss Fritter’s Racing Skool (Pixar Cartoon; 2017)

Mister Magoo (Animated TV Series; 1960)

Raising Steam, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 2013) [Discworld #40]

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, by Sergei Rachmaninoff (Conertante; 1934)

Role Models (Film; 2008)

The Rose (Film; 1979)

Safari So good (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1947)

The Scheme Misfires of You Can Planet Better Than That (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 124; 1961)

Sid and Nancy (Film; 1986)

Something Wild (Film; 1986)

A Son Unique, by Wu-Tang Clan (Album; 2006)

Southern Fried Hospitality (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1960)

Starship Troopers (Film; 1997)

Studio One (Radio Series; 1948)

Ten Hail Marys & Ten How’s Your Fathers, by Elvis Costello (Album; 1980)

The Theory of Everything (Film; 2014)

Ummagumma, by Pink Floyd (Album; 1969)

Uncle Vanya, by Anton Chekov (Play; 1899)

Whole Lotta Love, by Led Zeppelin (Song; 1969)

Wild Honey or How to Get Along Without a Ration Book (Barney Bear MGM Cartoon; 1942)

The Winds of War, by Herman Wouk (Novel; 1971)

Winter’s Heart, by Robert Jordan (Novel; 2000) [Wheel of Time #9]

Zot, Parts 3 & 4 (Underdog Cartoon, S1, Eps. 11 & 12; 1964)

Today’s Name Days

Carina, Engelbert, Willibrord (Austria)

Anđelko, Baldo, Florencije, Zdenka (Croatia)

Saskie (Czech Republic)

Engelbrecht (Denmark)

Kiira, Kiiri, Kirke (Estonia)

Erin, Taisto (Finland)

Carine (France)

Engelbert, Carina, Willbir, Tina (Germany)

Athinodoros, Ernest, Theagenis, Themelios (Greece)

Rezső (Hungary)

Ernesto, Prosdocimo (Italy)

Helma, Lotars (Latvia)

Ernestas, Gotautė, Karina, Sirtautas (Lithuania)

Ingebrigt, Ingelin (Norway)

Achilles, Antoni, Engelbert, Florentyn, Melchior, Przemił (Poland)

René (Slovakia)

Carina, Ernesto (Spain)

Ingegerd, Ingela (Sweden)

Engelbert, Graham, Hollis, Holm, Holmes, Holt (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 312 of 2024; 54 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of Week 45 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 12 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Yi-Hai), Day 7 (Yi-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 6 Heshvan 5785

Islamic: 5 Jumada I 1446

J Cal: 12 Wood; Foursday [11 of 30]

Julian: 25 October 2024

Moon: 36%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 4 Frederic (12th Month) [Isabella of Castille]

Runic Half Month: Nyd (Necessity) [Day 1 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 46 of 90)

Week: 1st Full Week of November

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 15 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Nyd (Necessity) [Half-Month 22 of 24; Runic Half-Months] (thru 11.21)

[blackmagicspecialist786-blog]

After Election Problems in Houston, Republicans Seek to Overturn Results

Houston, Texas -Houston - Jon Rosenthal has seen some tight races, however his re-election to Texas State House in November in the Houston district that was drawn to be virtually a guarantee for Democrats did not happen to be one of the races. The Mr. Rosenthal won by 15 points. It was unexpected when his Republican opponent challenged the results and asked for the State Legislature to order a new election. A surprise occurred late on Thursday night when one of the Republican candidate for Harris County's highest executive post within Harris County, which includes Houston, announced that she would challenge her narrower loss of around 18,000 votes, against her more progressive Democrat who is currently the county's Chief Executive, Lina Hidalgo. On Friday, more than twelve unsuccessful Republican candidate had filed lawsuits to challenge the outcome of their contests. Election Day in Harris County, Texas' largest county was marred by a variety of issues at the polling stations such as those that were closed late and some that were unable to find the paper needed to print ballots. The judge ordered that the polls be open for an additional time to make up for the loss; after that, they were able to stop the extra voting. Texas Supreme Court stepped in and stopped the extra vote. Republicans who have been keeping an eye out for electoral issues in elections across the nation, took a stance on the challenges that are affecting Harris County, which is growing into an increasingly Democratic stronghold. Candidates challenged the validity of the results in a costly and bitter campaign that did not succeed in dislodging Mrs. Hidalgo and a slate of Democratic judges. "It is inexcusable that after two months, the public is no further along in knowing if, and to what extent, votes were suppressed," said Alexandra del Moral Mealer when explaining why she decided to appeal her defeat in the election to Mrs. Hidalgo, adding that her argument to the challenge was "fundamentally about protecting the right to vote in free and fair elections." Contests for election are not unusual in Texas with a lot of down-ballot elections in smaller counties where margins of victory are usually quite small. However, the contests that were faced in Harris County appeared to be unusually broad in their attempts to question the legitimacy of the process of voting in an election that included 1.1 millions of votes. The county was the target of the calls of state leaders such as Gov. Greg Abbott, for an inquiry into the conduct of the county's administration in the conduct of its election. The district attorney of the local area launched an inquiry in November. The contests for Harris County's elections Harris County have at times like the ones by Arizona from the Republican Governor candidate, Kari Lake, who is seeking to reverse her defeat by claiming that officials from one county intentionally disenfranchised her voters. A judge rejected her claims last month , citing a the lack of evidence. However, the current contests in Texas have no precedents as stated by that the Harris County attorney, Christian Menefee who is who is a Democrat. "To my knowledge, this is the first election contest filed in Harris County that is wholly focused on these kinds of process failures," Mr. Menefee said in an interview. The vast Texas county has been shifting more strongly toward Democrats during the last couple of elections, largely following the direction of the other significant Texas cities. Due to a myriad of reasons, the county has had a difficult time conducting elections with ease, attracting repeated attention from Republican lawmakers at the State Capitol. The size of the county has been difficult with a territory similar to Delaware which has 2.5 millions registered voters and over 700 polling locations. The county has been struggling with the newly mandated systems for voting and hasn't had a consistent direction from its elections office, which has had three administrators in place from 2020. A review of the 2020 elections that was carried out by the secretary of state revealed a myriad of problems and instances of in which Harris County did not handle its electronic records in a proper manner however there not evidence that there were widespread instances of fraud. The county took a number of steps adopted during the coronavirus epidemic to facilitate the ability to vote in Houston like the restriction of 24-hour voting hours and polling stations with drive-throughswere also met with criticism from Republicans who claimed that the changes resulted in a less secure election. The majority of Republicans in the State Legislature, in its final session, took measures to curtail a lot of these measures. In Election Day in November, the county faced issues in a variety of polling stations, including a few that were a significant delay in their opening times, as well as others which reported having run out of ballots in paper. A judge directed polling stations in the county to stay open for an additional time after the Texas Organizing Project, a non-profit, filed suit against the issue, alleging that voters were being denied from casting their ballots. It was the Texas Supreme Court stepped in and stopped the decision in response to a challenge by Ken Paxton, the Republican attorney general Ken Paxton. The court eventually permitted about 2000 voting ballots used during additional voting period to be counted in those counted in the final official report. The county's election manager, Clifford Tatum, has stood up for the election and claimed that the issues that were raised are minor in a well-run election. "Overall, Election Day was a success," the post-election report by the office of Mr. Tatum's department concluded. However, the report, published this week, also revealed that the county's system for voting had "an immediate need of upgrades or replacements" to address issues with software, streamline the process of voting and establish an election system that allows the administrator to be aware at any time if issues identified at polling stations were being fixed. It is believed that the Harris County Republican Party has been focusing on a wide range of issues that were raised during Election Day, including not just sites that were void of paper ballots, but other sites where poll workers improperly put paper ballots in voting machines. In the report the office of the election administrator stated that the officials of the voting centers in 68 reported that they ran over the original allocation of papers on Election Day, and that only 61 of them reported that they received delivery of paper. However, it was unclear what percentage of voters were refused entry due to shortage of paper, in part due to the fact that, according to the report, a few of the elections judge "declined to speak after reportedly being advised not to do so by the Harris County Republican Party." A spokeswoman from the County Republican Party, Genevieve Carter denied receiving any instructions. "We encouraged them to provide their firsthand account of any issues that occurred," she explained. "Our goal is to get to the bottom of what went wrong during this election." The leaders and lawyers of the party haven't claimed they have the evidence to prove that their candidates could have won. Instead, they've claimed that the magnitude of the problems that occurred on Election Day were so great (including, the claim, permitting voters to cast votes who were not qualified to do so throughout the entire county -- the real results of the election cannot be known. They insist that elections be held again. (More than two-thirds of votes were cast at the time of early voting or via mail but however, not during Election Day.) "We have a systematic cancer that has invaded our election process," stated the county chair of the Republican Party, Cindy Siegel. Democrats have not yet raised formal challenges to the election, but privately, they have complained that numerous issues in the electoral process in Houston were not adequately dealt with, giving Republicans an incentive to pass restrictive legislation and, more recently, elections. Candidates are the only ones who are able to initiate contests So far, at most 14 have taken part which includes the candidate Ms. Mealer, a first-time candidate who was able to receive millions of donations from Houston's top donors as well as Mr. Rosenthal's opponent Michael May; a candidate for county district clerk and nine Republican Judicial candidates. One of the first challenges was made by a candidate for judicial office, Erin Lunceford, who was defeated by 2,743 votes and filed suit in the last quarter of in the year. Ms. Lunceford's complaint contains 19 claims that raise issues concerning the way that voting was handled or counted during the November election . The suit requests the court to annul the court-appointed elections in addition to "declare that the true outcome of the election cannot be ascertained." Ms. Lunceford is represented by Andy Taylor, an election lawyer representing the County Republican Party. Ryan MacLeod, a lawyer for the Democrat who took the election, Tamika Craft, described the lawsuit in court papers as an "stunt to make headlines" after the election was canceled, and claimed the suit was a "stunt to make headlines" after an election "no allegations are supported by facts" and that there was no evidence given. The latest challenge made on Thursday to the result of the race to be Harris County judge -- effectively, the county's chief executive Ms. Mealer's lawyers focused on the issues of the paper ballot in arguing that they were concentrated in high-turnout Republican regions and County officials "suppressed the voting rights" of the residents living in these areas. The woman. Hidalgo's office directed concerns to county attorneys the attorney, Mr. Menefee, who described the issues to the county's constitution as "frivolous attempts to overturn the votes of more than a million residents." In contrast to other contests and challenges. May's race was a loss to his opponent Mr. Rosenthal does not go before a judge because it is an State House race. However, according to Texas laws, it will be scrutinized by the state legislature, who will meet in the month of March. The House may determine that the appeal is unfounded and dismiss it immediately, or opt to investigate the allegations gathering evidence and testimony before taking a decision about whether the vote should be thrown out and a new election scheduled. He. May, in his petition, mentioned the issue of paper ballots and claimed that eligible voters were denied access and not able to vote. He did not provide any evidence and has not responded to a request to comment. He. Rosenthal said he believed the contest was frivolous, and that allowing it continue could result in some future problems for lawmakers. "If there is life given to this, and there is no consequence for bringing something this frivolous, you're setting up for election challenges across the state," he added. "You could have dozens of challenges per cycle." Read the full article

[brookston]

Holidays 10.11

Holidays

Black Girl Day Off

Day of Logistics Support Specialists of the Armed Forces (Ukraine)

Dia Nacional de la Mujer Boliviana (Bolivian Women’s Day; Bolivia)

Feast of Real Family Values

Federation Day (Star Trek)

General Pulaski Memorial Day

Give to Women and Girls Day

Hallie & Annie Day

Healthcare Security & Safety Officer Appreciation Day

International Day of the Girl Child (UN)

International Day of the Referee

It’s My Party Day

Kimberly Day

Kraken Day

Mato Grosso do Sui Day (Brazil)

Moi Day (a.k.a. Huduma Day and Utamaduni Day; Kenya)

Mother Jones Day

Myths and Legends Day

National Bookkeeper's Day

National Cinema Day (India)

National Coming Out Day

National Kim Day

National Kimberly Day

National She Survived Herself Day

National Spread Joy Day

Revolution Day (Macedonia)

Sarandi Battle Holiday (Uruguay)

Saturday Night Live Day

Teacher’s Day (Micronesia)

Uprising Against Fascism Day (Macedonia)

Wine-Press Day (French Republic)

World Day Against Fracking

World Day of Roads

World Obesity Day

World Perimenopause Day

You Go, Girl Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Sausage Pizza Day

Southern Food Heritage Day

World Biryani Day

World Dulce de Leche Day (Argentina)

Independence & Related Days

Belia (Declared; 2015) [unrecognized]

Sirland (Declared; 1997) [unrecognized]

2nd Friday in October

Arbor Day (Namibia) [2nd Friday]

Comfort Food Friday [Every Friday]

Durin’s Day (The Hobbit) [When Last Moon of Autumn & 1st Sun of Winter Appears in Sky Together]

Fish & Chips Friday [2nd Friday of Each Month]

Five For Friday [Every Friday]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Follow Friday [2nd Friday of Each Month]

Forest School Day (UK) [2nd Friday]

Friday Finds [Every Friday]

Frugal Friday [2nd Friday of Each Month]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

International Children’s Palliative Care Day [2nd Friday]

International Foster Carer Appreciation Day [2nd Friday]

National Boss Day [Weekday closest to 10.15]

National Haunted House Day [2nd Friday]

TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) [Every Friday]

Vet Nurse Day [2nd Friday]

World Day Against the Death Penalty [2nd Friday]

World Day of Botanical Gardens [2nd Friday]

World Egg Day [2nd Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 11 (1st Full Week of October)

None Known

Festivals Beginning October 11, 2024

Acadia's Oktoberfest (Bass Harbor, Maine) [thru 10.12]

Arkansas State Fair (Little Rock, Arkansas) [thru 10.20]

Bridge City Gumbo Festival (Bridge City, Louisiana) [thru 10.13]

Bridgeville Apple-Scrapple Festival (Bridgeville, Delaware) [thru 10.12]

Celtic Colours International Festival (Cape Breton Island, Canada) [thru 10.19]

Charlevoix Apple Fest (Charlevoix, Michigan) [thru 10.13]

Coffee Fest Minneapolis(Minneapolis, Minnesota) [thru 10.12]

Conroe Catfish Festival (Conroe, Texas) [thru 10.13]

Cranberry Harvest Festival Cook-Off (Grayland, Washington)

Cuero Turkeyfest (Cuero, Texas) [thru 10.13]

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival (Port Angeles, Washington) [thru 10.13]

Ethnic Expo (Columbus, Indiana) [thru 10.12]

Fall for Greenville (Greenville, South Carolina) [thru 10.13]

Festivals Acadiens et Creoles (Lafayette, Louisiana) [thru 10.13]

Goats Music & More Festival (Lewisburg, Tennessee) [thru 10.12]

Hands and Harvest Festival (Highland County, Virginia) [thru 10.13]

Harvest Day Festival (Headland, Alabama) [thru 10.12]

Hood River Valley Harvest Fest (Hood River, Oregon) [thru 10.13]

Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Lynchburg, Tennessee) [thru 10.12]

Kingstree Pig Pickin' Festival (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) [thru 10.12]

La Habra Corn Festival (La Habra, California) [thru 10.13]

Lake George Oktoberfest (Lake George, New York) [thru 10.13]

Lenexa Chili Challenge (Lenexa, Kansas) [thru 10.12]

Long Beach Oktoberfest (Long Beach, California) [thru 10.12]

Louisiana Gumbo Festival (Chackbay Choupic Fair Grounds, Louisiana) [thru 10.13]

Marunada [Chestnut Festival in Croatia[ (Lovran, Croatia) [thru 10.13]

Milford Pumpkin Festival (Milford, New Hampshire) [thru 10.13]

Maryland State BBQ Bash (Bel Air, Maryland) [thru 10.12]

Oakhurst Fall Festival (Oakhurst, California) [thru 10.13]

Octoberfest (Cleveland, Mississippi) [thru 10.12]

Oktoberfest (Red River, New Mexico) [thru 10.13]

Oktoberfest St. Louis (St. Louis, Missouri) [thru 10.13]

Parke County Covered Bridge Festival )Parke County, Indiana) [thru 10.20]

PAX Australia (Melbourne, Australia) [thru 10.13]

Pumpkin Festival (Littleton, Colorado) [thru 10.13]

Rio Vista Bass Derby & Festival (Rio Vista, California) [thru 10.13]

South Jersey Pumpkin Show (Woodstown, New Jersey) [thru 10.13]

Taste of the Beach (Pensacola, Florida) [thru 10.12]

Trigg County Country Ham Festival (Cadiz, Kentucky) [thru 10.13]

Turkey Trot (Yellville, Arkansas) [thru 10.12]

Warsaw International Film Festival (Warsaw, Poland) [thru 10.20]

Watonga Cheese Festival (Watonga, Oklahoma) [thru 10.12]

Witch-Craft (Hammonton, New Jersey) [thru 10.12]

Weimar Onion Market (Weimar, Germany) [thru 10.13]

Feast Days

Æthelburh of Barking (Christian; Saint)

Agilbert (Christian; Saint)

Alexander Sauli (Christian; Saint)

Andrew Logan (Artology)

Andronicus, Probus, and Tarachus (Roman Catholic Church; Martyrs)

Anne Enright (Writerism)

Bruno the Great (Christian; Saint)

Cainnech of Aghaboe (Christian; Saint)

Canicus of Ireland (a.k.a. Kenny; Christian; Saint)

Day of Wayland the Smith (Pagan)

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saints)

Elmore Leonard (Writerism)

François Mauriac (Writerism)

George Ault (Artology)

Gomar (Christian; Saint)

Gratus of Oloron (Christian; Saint)

Gummarus (a.k.a. Gummar or Cromer; Christian; Saint)

James Barry (Artology)

James the Deacon (Church of England, Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church)

Joe Simon (Artology)

John XXIII, Pope (Roman Catholic Church)

Lommán of Trim (Christian; Saint)

Maria Soledad Torres y Acosta (Christian; Saint)

Meditrinalia (Old Roman festival in honor of the new vintage)

Navaratri Dusserha (a.k.a. Dasain, Dashain, Dasara; Hindu, Nepal)

Nectarius of Constantinople (Christian; Saint)

Nicasius, Quirinus, Scubiculus, and Pientia (Christian; Saints)

No Falling Down Day (Pastafarian)

Old Michaelmas Day (Celtic)

Philip the Evangelist (Christian; Saint)

Play Nice Day Day (Pastafarian)

Ramos (Positivist; Saint)

Sunbeam Sliding Sunday (Shamanism)

Vinalia (Roman Wine Festival)

The Wig (Muppetism)

Zenaida and Philonella (Christian; Saint)

Hebrew Calendar Holidays [Begins at Sundown Day Before]

Yom Kippur begins (Day of Atonement) [9-10 Tishrei]

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Chung Yeung Festival (a.k.a. Festival of Ancestors; China, Macau) [9th Day, 9th Moon]

Double Ninth Day (Buddhism) [9th Day, 9th Moon]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Binary Day [1110] (6 of 9)

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [48 of 57]

Premieres

The Addams Family (Animated Film; 2019)

The Backyardigans (Animated TV Series; 2004)

Bad Times at the El Royale (Film; 2018)

Bat Out of Hell, by Meatloaf (Album; 1977)

Body and Soul, recorded by Coleman Hawkins (Song; 1939)

A Boy and His Dog (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1936)

Can’t Slow Down, by Lionel Richie (Album; 1983)

The Case of the Gilded Fly, by Edmund Crispin (Novel; 1944)

Charlie Chan in Shanghai (Film; 1935)

The Death Cure, by James Dashner (Novel; 2011) [Maze Runner #3]

The Dialectic of Sex: The Case for Feminist Revolution, by Shulamith Firestone (Book; 1970)

Drop Dead Fred (Film; 1991)

First Man (Film; 2018)

The Flintstones: Jogging Fever (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1981)

From Russia with Love (UK Film; 1963) [James Bond #2]

52nd Street, by Billy Joel (Album; 1978)

Four Seasons of Love, by Donna Summer (Album; 1976)

The Goldfinch (Film; 2019)

Gotcha (Video Game; 1973)

Hook, Line and Stinker (WB LT Cartoon; 1958)

Island, by Aldous Huxley (Novel; 1962)

Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar, by Johnny Cash (Album; 1957)

Killer Queen, by Queen (Song; 1973)

King Solomon's Ring, by Konrad Lorenz (Novel; 1949)

Knife of Dreams, by Robert Jordan (Novel; 2005) [Wheel of Time #11]

Laura (Film; 1944)

The Long Kiss Goodnight (Film; 1996)

The Luzhin Defense, by Vladimir Nabokov (Novel; 1930)

MFKZ (Animated Film; 2018)

Mindwalk (Film; 1991)

Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind (WB Animated Film; 2022)

Oklahoma (Film; 1955)

Orlando, by Virginia Woolf (Biography; 1928)

Parasite (Film; 2019)

Plagues and Peoples, by William H. McNeill (History Book; 1976)

The Poseidon Adventure, by Paul Gallico (Novel; 1969)

Remo Williams (Film; 1985)

Saturday Night Live (TV Series; 1975)

The Shot Heard Round the World (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1975)

The Snow Man (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1946)

Snuff, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 2011) [Discworld #39]

Streetlife Serenade, by Billy Joel (Album; 1974)

30 Rock (TV Series; 2006)

To Have and Have Not (Film; 1944)

Touch, by Sarah McLachlan (Album; 1988)

The Transporter (Film; 2002)

Tuck Everlasting (Film; 2002)

Where’s Charley?, by Frank Loesser (Broadway Musical; 1948)

Without You, by Harry Nilsson (Song; 1971)

Today’s Name Days

Bruno, Jakob (Austria)

Andronik, Emilijan, Filip, Gaudencije (Croatia)

Andrej (Czech Republic)

Probus (Denmark)

Aldo, Aldur, Eldur, Haldo, Haldur, Heldur (Estonia)

Ohto, Otso (Finland)

Firmin (France)

Alexander, Bruno, Georg, Manuela (Germany)

Brigitta (Hungary)

Firmino (Italy)

Maira, Monta, Silva, Tince (Latvia)

Daugvydė, Germanas, Rimdaugas, Zina, Zinaida (Lithuania)

Kennet, Kent, Kevin (Norway)

Aldona, Brunon, Burchard, Dobromiła, Emil, Emilian, Emiliusz, Germanik, Maria, Marian, Placydia (Poland)

Filip (Romania)

Valentína (Slovakia)

Begoña, Juan, Soledad (Spain)

Erling, Jarl (Sweden)

Zina, Zinaida (Ukraine)

Canice, Ken, Kendall, Kendra, Kennedy, Kenneth, Kenny, Kent, Kenton, Kim, Kimball, Kimberley, Kimberly, Kimberlyn, Kimi, Tate, Tatum (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 285 of 2024; 81 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of Week 41 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 13 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 9 (Wu-Shen)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 9 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 7 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 15 Orange; Oneday [15 of 30]

Julian: 28 September 2024

Moon: 58%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 5 Descartes (11th Month) [Erasmus / Montaigne]

Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 5 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 20 of 90)

Week: 1st Full Week of October

Zodiac: Libra (Day 19 of 30)

[whitepolaris]

The Army’s Leftovers

The U.S. Army has done sterling work in preserving Maryland’s most appealing abandoned sites. They also did their fair share of creating sites and abandoning them. During the Second World War, when the Delaware Bay was considered an open invitation to Axis forces to destroy the United States’s oil refineries and shipbuilding centers, the army maintained a system of watchtowers and gun batteries that you can still see when you drive north from Ocean City. And during the cold war, when missile attack was dreaded most of all, they created rings of defense around Baltimore and Washington that went way beyond the duck-and-cover mantra of the era.

Nike Missile Bases

Before she was the patron saint of overpriced footwear, the Greek goddess Nike was best known for embodying victory in battle. That’s why she lent her name to a cold war missile defense program that began in Fort Meade, Anne Arundel County, and spread across the eastern seaboard. The Nike project drew up defensive rings of missile bases around key areas in Maryland around Baltimore and Washington, DC.

By design, these sites were in suburbs of major cities, so everyone in the burgeoning suburb culture of the cold war era knew about them. They even proudly dubbed them “supersonic rings of steel.” But few people in the era of nuclear paranoia knew that within a few years of the project’s inception most of the missile had nuclear warheads. 

Each of the bases had a similar design, with two sites per base. The command-and-control center contained radar towers and communications officers, and at some distance underground silos housed the batteries of Nike Ajax and Nike Hercules missiles. The program ran until the late 1960s, when it slowly began to wind down until 1974, when the last base was closed. 

After that, many of Maryland’s two dozen sites found new purposes for a new era. Some were repurposed as FEMA and MEMA administrative buildings, and other went to different government or military purposes. Several were sold off for redevelopment. Some of the aboveground buildings now house retirement homes, community centers, and school district facilities. But other sites were just decommissioned and left to fall apart. Their bunkers were filled with building rubble to make them inaccessible, and their entranceways were capped and welded shut. Chain-link fences were erected and the properties patrolled. That’s why Nike could equally be the goddess of abandoned sites. 

This was the fate of Nike base BA-79, on Hernwood Road, less than a mile from the town of Granite. Next to footpaths and fields stand a huge chain-link fence topped in places with barbed wire, with signs loudly proclaiming the area as a government property, with no trespassing allowed. Through the fence you can see crumbling concrete buildings, an abandoned guard post, and concrete pillars that once housed radar and tracking equipment. A little farther along are the magazines that held the forty-one-foot-long, two-stage missiles, with their kilotons of defensive power tucked away in their tips. 

The bunkers lie empty and unused, filled with pools of water, with their retractable metal roofs welded shut and overgrown with weeds, but with cracks that allow light to filter through. If you could get onto the site (and that’s not likely in this day and age), you could see bolts on the floor that once secured elevators that lifted the 1,200-pound, telephone-pole-thin missiles to the launching pad. You’d also see bizarre structures that look like concrete barstools with square seats. These are the plinths that once supported the radar towers. 

While they were still operational, these suburban bases provided peace of mind. Now, they are at best an idle curiosity. But that doesn’t stop us from wondering, if only we could unweld the metal caps to those access tunnels and remove the rubble that blocks the way, maybe we could see just how deep the rabbit hole goes.