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August 19:

August 19: National Aviation Day

In 1939, National Aviation Day was established to promote air transportation in the United States. The date chosen was August 19, the birthday of Orville Wright, who piloted the first recorded flight of a powered heavier-than-air machine on December 17, 1903. Orville was born in Dayton, Ohio, while his partner and older brother, Wilbur Wright, was born on a farm near Millville, Indiana.

http://www.almanac.com/calendar/date/2012-08-19

Do you know which president established this holiday in 1939?

August 18:

August 18: 19^th Amendment

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex" and "Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

Ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted American women the right to vote—a right known as woman suffrage.

At the time the U.S. was founded, its female citizens did not share all of the same rights as men, including the right to vote.

It was not until 1848 that the movement for women's rights launched on a national level with a convention in Seneca Falls, New York, organized by abolitionists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott.

Following the convention, the demand for the vote became a centerpiece of the women's rights movement. Stanton and Mott, along with Susan B. Anthony and other activists, formed organizations that raised public awareness and lobbied the government to grant voting rights to women.

After a 70-year battle, these groups finally emerged victorious with the passage of the 19th Amendment.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/woman-suffrage-amendment-ratified

August 17:

August 17: National Thrift Store Day

Recently, second-hand shopping has become one of the first stops for people looking to spruce up their wardrobes, their homes and to save some serious cash.

Looking for some great places to do some thrifty shopping in Marion County? Check out:

Penny Pinchers: 113 Fairmont Avenue

Goodwill Stores: 50 Southland Drive (mall)

Salvation Army: 1512 Locust Ave

Hospice Care Thrift Shop: 209 Market Street

The Treasure House: Market Street, Mannington

Pack Rats: Main Street, Mannington

Monongah Furniture and Antiques: Rt. 19, Fairmont (Monongah)

Thrift Store Shopping Tips: http://www.thriftlocator.com/?q=used/thriftstore

August 16:

August 16: National Rum Day

"There's naught no doubt so much the spirit calms as rum and true religion." - Lord Byron

Rum history can be traced back to the 17th century when sugar plantations were flourishing in the British West Indies. Rum is a beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses and sugarcane juice by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak and other casks. While there are rum producers in places such as Australia, India, Reunion Island, and elsewhere around the world, the majority of rum production occurs in and around the Caribbean and along the Demerara River in South America.

Light rums are commonly used in mixed drinks, while golden and dark rums are appropriate for use in cooking as well as cocktails. Premium brands of rum are also available that are made to be consumed neat or on the rocks.

Rum plays a part in the culture of most islands of the West Indies, and has famous associations with the British Royal Navy and piracy. Rum has also served as a popular medium of exchange that helped to promote slavery along with providing economic instigation for Australia's Rum Rebellion and the American Revolution.

The origin of the word rum is unclear. A common claim is that the name was derived from rumbullion meaning "a great tumult or uproar". Another claim is the name is from the large drinking glasses used by Dutch seamen known as rummers, from the Dutch word roemer, a drinking glass. Other options include contractions of the words saccharum, Latin for sugar, or arôme, French for aroma.

Regardless of the original source, the name had come into common use by May 1657 when the General Court of Massachusetts made illegal the sale of strong liquor "whether knowne by the name of rumme, strong water, wine, brandy, etc., etc."

http://www.cubanrum.com/

Some facts and trivia about rum can be found at http://www.rumwisdom.com/rumfacts.html

The Andrew Sisters singing Rum and Coca Cola:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGxL2uNr7bk

August 15:

August 15: Woodstock Festival opens

"Three Days of Peace and Music"

On this day in 1969, the Woodstock Music Festival opens in Bethel, NY.

Promoters John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfield and Michael Lang originally envisioned the festival as a way to raise funds to build a recording studio and rock-and-roll retreat near the town of Woodstock, New York. The longtime artists' colony was already a home base for Bob Dylan and other musicians. The young promoters managed to sign a roster of top acts, including the Jefferson Airplane, The Who, the Grateful Dead, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival and many more. Dairy farmer Max Yasgur rescued the event by giving the promoters access to his 600 acres of land in Bethel, some 50 miles from Woodstock when they were denied permission to hold the festival.

By the time the gates opened on Friday, August 15, more than 400,000 people were clamoring to get in.

There were surprisingly few incidents of violence on the overcrowded grounds, and a number of musicians performed songs expressing their opposition to the Vietnam War.

Later music festivals inspired by Woodstock's success failed to live up to its standard, and the festival still stands for many as an example of America's 1960s youth counterculture at its best.

Step back in time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ4QF45Vygw&feature=fvwrel

August 14:

August 14: Social Security Act

The Social Security system has remained relatively unchanged since 1935.

On this day in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs into law the Social Security Act, which guaranteed an income for the unemployed and retirees.

Although it was initially created to combat unemployment, Social Security now functions primarily as a safety net for retirees and the disabled, and provides death benefits to taxpayer dependents.

Left-handed Presidents (since 1929) include:

Herbert Hoover

Harry S. Truman

Gerald Ford

Ronald Reagan

George H. W. Bush

Bill Clinton

Barack Obama

August 13:

August 13: Left-Hander’s Day

"Everyone is born right-handed. Only the greatest overcome it" - author unknown

Some fun facts:

Sinistrophobia is the fear of left-handedness or things on the left side.

While many people are left handed, very few are 100% left handed.

Lefties are also called "southpaws". The term was coined in baseball to describe a left handed pitcher.

Only about 10% of the population is left handed.

During the 1600's people, thought left handers were witches and warlocks.

Famous left-handed people include:

Kurt Cobain
Jimi Hendrix
Paul McCartney
Paul Simon
Ringo Starr
Michelangelo
Leonardo da Vinci
Charlie Chaplin
Angelina Jolie

Can you name the seven left-handed Presidents?

Find more left-handed info at http://lefthandersday.com/about.html

August 12:

August 12: National Middle Child Day

The oldest kid gets to do everything first, the youngest gets to be babied. But the middle child just gets lost somewhere in between, or at least that's the thinking of "middle child syndrome."

So for all the middle children out there, lost in a sea of hand-me-downs, shared bedrooms, and babysitting duties, today you get to be the star. Because, come on, you know you were always Mom's favorite!