Today's Reading:"Now You Need Me" by Virginia Hamilton Adair from ANTS ON THE MELON, published by Random House (1996).
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, opened on this day in New York City, 1959.
It's the birthday of journalist Frances Fitzgerald (FIRE IN THE LAKE), born in New York City in 1940.
Science fiction writer Ursula Le Guin was born on this day in Berkeley, California, 1929.
It was on this day in 1917 that the first American troops arrived at the front line at Sommervillier, France, during World War I.
It's the birthday of composer and bebop pioneer Dizzy Gillespie, born in Cheraw, South Carolina, 1917.
A national financial panic began on this day in 1907 after a run on the Knickerbocker Trust Company in New York City.
In 1879 on this day, Thomas Edison demonstrated the first practical incandescent lamp after 14 months of work.
Chemist and founder of the Nobel Prizes, Alfred Bernhard Nobel, was born on this day in Stockholm, Sweden, 1833.
It's the birthday of clergyman and poet Samuel Francis Smith (My Country 'Tis of Thee), born in Boston on this day in 1808.
The Battle of Trafalgar took place on this day in 1805 when Britain's Royal Navy, under Admiral Horatio Nelson, defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets.
It's the birthday of the English romantic poet and essayist Samuel Taylor Coleridge, born in Ottery St. Mary, England, on this day in 1772.
It was on this day in 1769 that Spanish explorers first spotted San Francisco Bay.
Today's Reading:An excerpt from "Martial's Epigrams" by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.
The Cuban Missile Crisis peaked on this day in 1962, when President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation on television and demanded the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba.
It's the birthday of painter Robert Rauschenberg, born in Port Arthur, Texas, 1925.
Canadian poet and novelist Norman Levine was born in Ottawa on this day in 1924.
It's the birthday of novelist Doris Lessing (THE GOOD TERRORIST), born in Kermanshah, Iran, 1919.
A flu epidemic was sweeping the United States on this day in 1918, which eventually killed about 500,00 people.
Photographer Harry Callahan was born on this day in Detroit, 1912.
It's the birthday of geneticist George Beadle, who demonstrated that genes influence heredity by controlling chemical reactions, born on this day in Wahoo, Nebraska, 1903.
Journalist and political activist John Reed, author of TEN DAYS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD on which the film REDS was based, was born on this day near Portland, Oregon, 1887.
Chemist Stephen Moulton Babcock, who in 1890 developed a method for measuring the butterfat content of milk, was born today near Bridgewater, New York, 1843.
In 1784 on this day, in the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, the six Iroquois nations ceded all territory west of the Niagara River to the United States.
Today's Reading:"Cinema and Ballad of the Great Depression" by Donald Justice from THE SUNSET MAKER, published by Atheneum (1987).
This is the traditional date for the swallows to depart from the Mission of San Juan Capistrano in California and make their way to Mexico.
Hungary declared its independence from Soviet influence on this day in 1989 after a week-long Parliamentary purge of Stalinists in the government.
THE STORIES OF JOHN CHEEVER was published to great acclaim on this day in 1978.
Microbiologist Selman A. Waksman was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology in 1952 for discovering the tuberculosis-fighting antibiotic streptomycin, which he extracted from soil cultures.
It was on this day in 1950 that T. S. Eliot, aged 62, told TIME magazine: "The years between 50 and 70 are hardest. You are always being asked to do things and yet are not decrepit enough to turn them down."
It's the birthday of writer Michael Crichton, who wrote THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN while attending medical school at Harvard in order to help pay his expenses. He was born in Chicago in 1942.
The first national radio network broadcast in the United States took place on this day in 1924, with a speech by President Coolidge.
Composer and writer Ned Rorem (THE PARIS DIARY) was born on this day in Richmond, Indiana, 1923.
It's the birthday of writer, editor Emily Kimbrough (CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN), born in Muncie, Indiana, 1899.
Engineer, chemist William D. Coolidge, who developed a form of tungsten that could be used as filaments in incandescent light bulbs, was born on this day in Hudson, Massachusetts, 1873.
The first National Women's Rights Convention was held on this day in 1850 in Worcester, Massachusetts.
English poet Robert Bridges was born in Walmer, Kent, on this day in 1844.
The "father of canning," Nicolas-Francois Appert, was born on this day in Chalons-Sur-Marne, France, 1752.
Today's Reading:"Autumn" by John Clare.
The Edgar Allan Poe Festival begins today at Mount Hope Estate in Manheim, Pennsylvania.
Today is United Nations Day, commemorating the founding of the United Nations and effective date of the U. N. Charter on this day in 1945.
The Fair Labor Standards Act went in to effect on this day in 1940, establishing the 40-hour work week.
Women's nylon hosiery first went on sale in Wilmington, Delaware, on this day in 1939, one year after Du Pont had announced it had patented nylon.
It's the birthday today of poet, playwright and novelist Adrian Mitchell, born in London in 1932.
American composer George Crumb, awarded the 1968 Pulitzer Prize for "Echoes of Time and the River," was born on this day in Charleston, West Virginia, 1929.
Bulgarian writer Yordan Radichkov was born on this day in Kalimanitsa, Bulgaria, 1929.
It's the anniversary of Black Thursday in 1929, when several weeks of falling stock prices prompted investors to panic, selling more than 13 million shares of stock.
Today is the birthday of poet Denise Levertov, born in Ilford, England, 1923.
Blues singer and harmonica player Sonny Terry was born on this day in Greensboro, Georgia, 1911.
It's the birthday of playwright Moss Hart, who teamed up with George Kaufman to create many hits including ONCE IN A LIFETIME, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER. He was born in New York City in 1904.
It's the birthday of women's rights activist Belva Ann Lockwood, the first woman attorney to practice before the Supreme Court in 1879. She was born in Royalton, New York, in 1830.
Writer and editor Sarah Josepha Hale ("Mary Had a Little Lamb") was born on this day in Newport, New Hampshire, 1788.
Today's Reading:"Over in Montana" by William Stafford from EVEN IN QUIET PLACES, by Confluence Press.
Today is St. Crispin's Day, he and his brother Crispian are the patron saints of shoemakers.
The Ugly Pickup Parade and Contest takes place today in Chadron, Nebraska.
Today is the birthday of novelist Anne Tyler, author of 13 novels including ACCIDENTAL TOURIST, BREATHING LESSONS which won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize, and LADDER OF YEARS. She was born in Minneapolis in 1941.
Finnish writer Bo Carpelan (WANDERING SHADOW) was born today in 1926.
Poet John Berryman, winner of the 1965 Pulitzer Prize, was born today in McAlester, Oklahoma, in 1914.
Artist Pablo Picasso was born on this day in Malga, Spain, 1881.
John F. Dodge, the inventor of the first all-steel car, was born on this day in Niles, Michigan, 1864.
The Charge of the Light Brigade took place today in 1854 during the Crimean War.
It's the anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825.
Today's Reading:"Morning Song" by Sylvia Plath from ARIEL, published by Harper Collins Publishers.
The Moon enters its full Moon phase today at 10:11 a.m., EST. It's also known this month as the Hunter's Moon.
An international mystery convention, Magna Cum Murder, takes place today in Muncie, Indiana.
The first issue of the alternative newspaper VILLAGE VOICE was published today in 1955.
It's the birthday today of Hillary Rodham Clinton, born in Chicago in 1947. She was the first student at Wellesley College to deliver the commencement address.
Author Pat Conroy (THE GREAT SANTINI; THE PRINCE OF TIDES) was born today in Charleston, South Carolina, 1945.
It's the birthday in New York City of Phyllis Rose, 1942, the author of WOMAN OF LETTERS, a biography of Virginia Woolf.
Saxophonist Charlie Barnet ("I Hear a Rhapsody") was born today in New York City, 1913.
It's the birthday of aviator Beryl Markham, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west. She was born in Melton Mowbray, England, 1902.
Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, know as the "Queen of Gospel," was born today in New Orleans in 1901.
It's the birthday today of Abby Greene Aldrich Rockefeller, Providence, Rhode Island, 1874, who along with Lizzie Bliss and Mary Quinn Sullivan, founded the New York Museum of Modern Art in 1929.
Charles William Post, creator of Post cereals, was born today in Springfiled, Illinois, 1854.
Today's Reading:"And Death Shall Have No Dominion" by Dylan Thomas from POEMS OF DYLAN THOMAS, published by New Directions.
Today is the last Sunday in October, when Daylight Savings Time ends and the clocks are set back an hour, returning to Standard Time.
Writer Fran Lebowitz (METROPOLITAN LIFE; SOCIAL STUDIES) was born on this day in Morristown, New Jersey, 1950.
Dancer Peter Martins, director of the New York City Ballet, was born today in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1946.
It's the birthday of Chinese-American writer Maxine Hong Kingston, born in Stockton, California, 1940.
Poet and novelist Sylvia Plath (THE BELL JAR) was born on this day in Boston, 1932.
It's the birthday today of pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, born in New York City, 1923.
Polish novelist Kazimierz Brandys (THE INVINCIBLE CITY: RONDO) was born today in Lodz, 1916.
Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas was born today in Swansea, Wales, 1914. He wrote radio scripts and worked as a poetry commentator for BBC radio.
It's the birthday of Enid Bagnold, author of NATIONAL VELVET, born in Rochester, England, 1889.
It's the birthday of Teddy Roosevelt, 26th president of the United States,born in New York City, 1858.
Isaac Merrit Singer, inventor of the Singer Sewing Machine, was born on this day in Pittstown, New York, 1811.
It's the birthday in 1728 of English sea captain James Cook, who explored Hawaii, Alaska and the Bering Strait.
