Sam Harless

On This Day In History:

1512 - Sistine Chapel ceiling opens to public

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, one of the finest works by Italian Renaissance master Michelangelo, is exhibited to the public for the first time on November 1, 1512.

Michelangelo Buonarroti, one of the greatest of the Italian Renaissance artists, was born in the small village of Caprese in 1475. The son of a government administrator, he grew up in Florence, a center of the early Renaissance movement, and became an artist’s apprentice at age 13. Demonstrating obvious talent, he was taken under the wing of Lorenzo de’ Medici, the ruler of the Florentine republic and a great patron of the arts. After demonstrating his mastery of sculpture in such works as the Pieta (1498) and David (1504), he was called to Rome in 1508 to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel—the chief consecrated space in the Vatican.

1755 - Earthquake takes heavy toll on Lisbon

A devastating earthquake hits Lisbon, Portugal, killing as many as 50,000 people, on November 1, 1755. The city was virtually rebuilt from scratch following the widespread destruction.

Lisbon was Portugal’s capital and largest city during the prosperous 18th century, when diamonds and gold from the Portuguese colony in Brazil made many in the country wealthy. About 10 percent of Portugal’s 3 million people lived in Lisbon and, as one of the biggest ports on the Atlantic Ocean, the city played a critical role in world trade. In 1755, Lisbon was also a major center of Catholicism and was home to Catholic religious authorities.

On All Saints Day, three tremors over the course of 10 minutes suddenly struck Lisbon. The worst of the quakes is thought to have had a magnitude of 8.0, though this is just an estimate as no recording equipment existed at the time. The shaking was felt as far away as Morocco.

1800 - John Adams moves into White House

On November 1, 1800, President John Adams, in the last year of his only term as president, moved into the newly constructed President’s House, the original name for what is known today as the White House.

Adams had been living in temporary digs at Tunnicliffe’s City Hotel near the half-finished Capitol building since June 1800, when the federal government was moved from Philadelphia to the new capital city of Washington, D.C. In his biography of Adams, historian David McCullough recorded that when Adams first arrived in Washington, he wrote to his wife Abigail, at their home in Quincy, Massachusetts, that he was pleased with the new site for the federal government and had explored the soon-to-be President’s House with satisfaction.

1924 - Legendary western lawman is murdered

On November 1, 1924, William Tilghman is murdered by a corrupt Prohibition agent who resented Tilghman’s refusal to ignore local bootlegging operations. Tilghman, one of the famous marshals who enacted law and order in the West, was 71 years old.

Known to both friends and enemies as “Uncle Billy,” Tilghman was one of the most effective lawmen of his day. Born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1854, Tilghman moved west when he was only 16 years old. Once there, he flirted with a life of crime after falling in with a crowd of disreputable young men who stole horses from Native Americans. After several narrow escapes with angry Native Americans, Tilghman decided that rustling was too dangerous and settled in Dodge City, Kansas, where he briefly served as a deputy marshal before opening a saloon. He was arrested twice for alleged train robbery and rustling, but the charges did not stick.

1946 - First NBA game played

On November 1, 1946, the New York Knickerbockers beat the Toronto Huskies in the first NBA game, 68-66. The Knickerbockers are led by guard Leo Gottlieb, who scored 14 points in the game played before 7,090 fans at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.

Although they lost to the Knickerbockers (now known as the Knicks), the Huskies had the game's highest scorers: big men Ed Sadowski (18 points) and George Nostrand (16 points). The latter was the center of a marketing campaign to draw fans to the game—a newspaper ad offered free admission for any fan who stood taller than the 6-foot-8 Nostrand. The more vertically challenged fans bought tickets that ranged from 75 cents to $2.50.

1950 - An assassination attempt threatens President Harry S. Truman

On November 1, 1950, Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo attempt to assassinate President Harry S. Truman at the Blair House in Washington, D.C. Truman escaped unscathed.

In the autumn of 1950, the White House was being renovated and President Truman and his family were living in the nearby Blair House on Pennsylvania Avenue. On the afternoon of November 1, Truman and his wife were upstairs when they heard a commotion—and gunshots—coming from the front steps of the house. Indeed, the pair of would-be assassins had strolled up to the front door of Blair House and opened fire. They never made it past the entry steps, however, due to the quick reaction of police officers and guards. Secret Service Agent Leslie Coffelt was mortally wounded in the ensuing melee, but not before he managed to kill Torresola.

1952 - United States tests first hydrogen bomb

The United States detonates the world’s first thermonuclear weapon, the hydrogen bomb, on Eniwetok atoll in the Pacific. The test gave the United States a short-lived advantage in the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union.

Following the successful Soviet detonation of an atomic device in September 1949, the United States accelerated its program to develop the next stage in atomic weaponry, a thermonuclear bomb. Popularly known as the hydrogen bomb, this new weapon was approximately 1,000 times more powerful than conventional nuclear devices. Opponents of development of the hydrogen bomb included J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the fathers of the atomic bomb. He and others argued that little would be accomplished except the speeding up of the arms race, since it was assumed that the Soviets would quickly follow suit.The opponents were correct in their assumptions. The Soviet Union exploded a thermonuclear device the following year and by the late 1970s, seven nations had constructed hydrogen bombs. The nuclear arms race had taken a fearful step forward.

1993 - European Union officially established

The Maastricht Treaty comes into effect on November 1, 1993, formally establishing the European Union (EU). The treaty was drafted in 1991 by delegates from the European Community meeting at Maastricht in the Netherlands and signed in 1992. The agreement called for a strengthened European parliament, the creation of a central European bank, and common foreign and security policies. The treaty also laid the groundwork for the establishment of a single European currency, to be known as the “euro.”

By 1993, 12 nations had ratified the Maastricht Treaty on European Union: Great Britain, France, Germany, the Irish Republic, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Denmark, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Austria, Finland, and Sweden became members of the EU in 1995. After suffering through centuries of bloody conflict, the nations of Western Europe were finally united in the spirit of economic cooperation.

(Summarized From History.com)

On The National DNATIONAL CINNAMON DAY
The holiday season warms up with National Cinnamon Day on November 1st. It's the spice that ushers in a season while being versatile all year long.


What other spice flavors the holidays than cinnamon? Of course, cinnamon's quintessential warmth fills our homes with welcoming scents like no other. For generations, cinnamon elicits fond memories of holidays with family. It sweetens apple pies and is the base for pumpkin spice. With just a touch, it kisses the snickerdoodle, too. We raise a toast with it on chilly evenings in frothy beverages. And cinnamon preserves our bounty all season long.ay Calendar - What is Today?

AUTISTICS SPEAKING DAY
We all look at the world in our own unique ways. However, people with autism experience the world differently from most of us. They approach the world in often novel ways. Maybe one of the most important ways we all connect to and understand the world is through communication. Autistics Speaking Day on November 1 encourages autistic people to tell their stories using whatever means works for them. And everyone else is encouraged to listen, hear, read and comprehend their stories from their point of view.


On November 1, autistic people will flood the internet with their challenges and their celebrations, their interests and their dislikes. They will speak about their rights and advocacy in many languages. Some may speak with art, others with poetry or memes. They may also be speaking through podcasts. Their words and stories may be difficult to hear, but they will be speaking. But, most importantly, they will be speaking about themselves for themselves. And if you want to understand, it will be a day for you to listen.

NATIONAL AUTHOR'S DAY | NOVEMBER 1
On November 1, millions of people celebrate authors and the books they write on National Author's Day.


Books have a mind of their own. They take time to develop, research, draft, edit, revise and rewrite. We devour stories. We indulge in them as we drift off to sleep or travel. And sometimes, we allow them to collect dust on several flat surfaces in our homes. Those stories may take years to reach a publisher and just as long to reach a bookshelf. We may have only one favorite author or many collected works with which we cannot part. Whether we prefer fiction, non-fiction, or a mix of both, authors have been telling stories to fill our heads for thousands of years.

Authors also keep a record of history through their stories. They mark time through their observations. Their tales create remarkable memories of a place, sealing it between the pages of the binding. Their books allow us to keep coming back to visit again and again.

After her grandmother’s death in 1968, Sue Cole promoted the observance of National Authors Day. She urged people to write a note to their favorite author on November 1, to “brighten up the sometimes lonely business of being a writer.” She also suggested flying the American flag as another way of showing appreciation for the writers who have created American literature.

NATIONAL BRUSH DAY
National Brush Day on November 1st reminds us all to follow the American Dental Association's guidelines. Sometimes the day is referred to as Brush Your Teeth Day.


The day follows Halloween, which traditionally is the single most significant day of candy consumption in the USA. The simple act of brushing your teeth twice daily for two minutes can have a substantial impact on cavity prevention. It also impacts a myriad of oral diseases such as gingivitis.

NATIONAL CALZONE DAY
If the air is resplendent with the aroma of garlic and tomato sauce on November 1st, it might just be time to celebrate National Calzone Day.


Calzones take the delicious toppings and cheese of a pizza and tuck it up tight in a warm garlicky, crusty package. Also known as calzoni in some parts of Italy, like the pizza, it originated in Naples. It looks much like a turnover. As varied as pizzas come these days, so does the calzone.

The loose translation of the word calzone from Italian to English is trouser legs. This translation may explain the purpose of calzone, which is essentially a pizza hand pie. However, carrying out the task of eating a calzone while walking on two legs is mighty improbably. Consider that they overflow with a bounty of cheeses, meat, vegetables, and sauces!

Calzone dough is infused with garlic and butter to add flavor. Sauces made from scratch with Italian herbs and spices lend that old world flair to every calzone recipe. By the time the mozzarella, provolone or parmesan melts into the sausage, spinach or whatever choice ingredients, aromas fill the air. No wonder our mouths begin watering.

So take a seat, invite some friends, and enjoy the evening savoring a well-made calzone.

NATIONAL COOK FOR YOUR PETS DAY
November 1st celebrates National Cook For Your Pets Day. This national holiday encourages cooking something for the pet companion in your life.


You love your pet. And you want to provide what is best for them. So why not try to make them healthy, home-cooked food? No matter what kind of pet you have - dog, cat, lizard, mouse, get cooking!

A lot of people these days are concerned about the food they eat and where that food, or the ingredients, come from. Most of our food supply today is processed and loaded with fillers. The same applies to our pet food. Animals need to eat a natural diet to be at optimal health, and most of the pet food you buy has a lot of unnatural things in it. If you cook or make your own pet food at home, you are in control.

It's best to start by consulting with your vet. Veterinarians will know just what your pet’s nutrition needs are. Additionally, they will have ample advice that can be tailored for you and your furry loved one. Next, do some research. Some foods should be avoided since they could be detrimental to your pet’s health. A couple of things to avoid are chocolate, onions, avocados, garlic, salt, yeast dough, tomato leaves and stems, and milk-based foods.

Your next step in this adventure would be to decide what will be on your pet’s menu. The internet can be your friend with this, by helping you to find recipes and different ideas.

And last, but not least, enjoy yourself in this culinary adventure. Our pets do a lot for us. They give us unconditional love, so celebrate National Cook For Your Pets Day by giving them that kind of love back in a delicious, nutritious home-cooked meal!

NATIONAL FAMILY LITERACY DAY
Families gather around to observe National Family Literacy Day on November 1st. Families who read together succeed together.


There are more reasons than ever before for families to read aloud to their children from a young age. Besides the fact that reading creates quiet, quality family time, it develops early vocabulary skills. If that wasn't enough to get a family reading together, check out these reasons:

Expands their attention span and yours. Read chapter books even to your youngest child. They may drift off to sleep, but they are listening and their attention span will lengthen.

It's free. Books can be checked out from the library.
You can read well above a child's level, and they will still listen and comprehend.
Improve listening skills. See above.
It's portable. Reading doesn't require batteries. Except at night.
Reading is a tool that can never be unlearned. Once a child learns to read, they never stop. You'll know because you'll have to stop spelling certain words to your spouse.
It improves imagination and creativity.
Reading opens up a dialogue between parent and child.

NATIONAL BIOLOGIC COORDINATORS DAY
Biologic coordinators are some of the most important advocates for patients in healthcare—yet too often, their work goes unrecognized. That's why, on November 1, National Biologic Coordinators Day will recognize the daily commitment of biologic coordinators everywhere.



Biologic therapy can be an important treatment option for patients. However, obtaining access to these treatments can be challenging, and patients often need help navigating the process. That's where biologic coordinators come in. A biologic coordinator is a key member of a medical practice’s office staff. They can be a doctor, nurse, physician’s assistant, medical assistant, or an office/practice manager. These individuals help patients navigate the sometimes arduous and complex process of obtaining access to prescribed biologic medications.

A biologic coordinator also works collaboratively with the patient, prescribing specialist, specialty pharmacy, manufacturer, and insurance company. Each step of the way, they guide patients through the many steps needed to start and stay on their biologic medication.

NATIONAL VINEGAR DAY
On November 1st National Vinegar Day not only makes things taste great, but it also makes things sparkle, too.


Vinegar is produced either by a fast or a slow fermentation process. Slow methods are generally used with traditional vinegar and the fermentation proceeds slowly over the course of months or up to a year.

This household staple freshens a salad and brightens windows. While vinegar is common, it's also one of the most useful household items made. Whether cooking or cleaning, be sure to add vinegar to your shopping list.

There are many varieties of vinegar:
Apple c***r - Made primarily from apple juice, yeast turns the juice into vinegar.

Balsamic - This darker and intensely acidic vinegar is made from grapes. It makes an excellent salad dressing and can also be cooked down into a syrup.

B**r or Malt - The vinegar comes in a variety of flavors all determined by the b**r or malt used to make it. This type of vinegar brings complex flavors to your cooking. Whether making a sauce or a marinade, you won't go wrong.

Cane - Made from sugar cane syrup, this vinegar is mellow with a mild sweetness. Use it in vinaigrettes or sauces.

Distilled - This powerhouse vinegar made from grain alcohol both cleans and makes great pickles. It is the most versatile of the vinegars. However, it must be pointed out that other vinegars make great pickles, too.

Rice - This sweeter vinegar makes great sauces that pair well with fried foods, Asian cuisine, and cooked vegetables.

Red w**e - Made from red w**e, this vinegar makes an excellent marinade for red meats. Use it to deglaze a pan before making a sauce. It also complements vegetables.

Coconut - Made from the sap produced by the flowers of coconut trees, this vinegar adds sweetness to soups and salad dressings. It's most often found in Asian and Indian cuisine but is subtle enough to be used in many other recipes.

But those aren't all. You can also explore flavored vinegars, honey, palm, raisin, and kombucha vinegars, too!

Vinegar is:
Most commonly used in food preparation such as pickling processes, vinaigrettes, and other salad dressings

An essential ingredient in mustard, ketchup, barbecue sauce, and mayonnaise

A popular condiment for fish and chips

Flavoring for potato chips
Used as a dip for crab meat
A substitute for fresh lemon juice
Ingredient in a sauce when roasting lamb
Used in sushi rice
Commonly put into mint sauce
Ingredient in making some beverages
Used for medical remedies and treatments
Ideal for cleaning
Essential in home canning
Used in gardening and pest control
Some forms of vinegar are believed to have health benefits.

NATIONAL DEEP FRIED CLAMS DAY
National Deep Fried Clams Day on November 1st recognizes a popular seafood item enjoyed since the 1840s.


Fried claims have been on menus in restaurants since the 1840s. They were served alongside mutton, liver and veal cutlets up and down the Eastern Seaboard. And they have quite a history, too.

According to legend, Lawrence Henry "Chubby" Woodman from Essex, Massachusetts deep fried the first breaded versions of clams over 100 years ago. On July 3, 1916, in his small roadside restaurant, now Woodman's of Essex, it is believed Chubby served his customers the first modern-day deep-fried clams.

It was later on that Thomas Soffron of Soffron Brothers Clam Co., based in Ipswich, Massachusetts, created clam strips, which are made from the foot of hard-shelled sea clams. Soffron sold these to Howard Johnson’s in an exclusive deal, and as the chain expanded, they became popular throughout the country.

Clams are low in cholesterol and fat without breading and oil. However, when fried, they absorb cooking fat and calories.

Fried clams to New England are what barbecue is to the South. ~David Leite ~August 29, 2007, New York Times ~In A '64 T-Bird, Chasing a Date With a Clam