The cartoon leprechaun mascot of Lucky Charms breakfast cereal. This General Mills product first appeared in stores in 1964. The cereal consists of sugar-coated, toasted oat-based pieces and multicolored marshmallow bits in various shapes. “They’re magically delicious!” he exclaims in an Irish accent.
An American professional wrestler known by his ring name “Macho Man” Randy Savage. He was recognizable for his distinctively deep and raspy voice, his ring attire and his signature catchphrase (“Oooh yeah!”). He was the spokesman for Slim Jim snack foods in the 1990s. Savage was born on this day in 1952. He died of a sudden heart attack on May 20, 2011.
A fictional character in a series of children’s books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, first published in 1945, that have been adapted into multiple films and television series. Eight-year-old Pippi is unconventional, assertive and has superhuman strength. Like Peter Pan, Pippi does not want to grow up.
The main character of The Lorax, a children’s book written by Dr. Seuss and first published in 1971. The book chronicles the plight of the environment and the Lorax, who speaks for the trees against the greedy Once-ler. The story is a fable concerning industrialized society and the danger it poses to nature.
The cat that accompanies the magical Fog Maiden on her nightly visits to Earth. Token the Cat first appeared in the 1976 children’s book When Everyone Was Fast Asleep and was featured in a second book Songs of the Fog Maiden, both written and illustrated by American author Tomie de Paola.
Today is 11/11/11. And it’s Veterans Day, which honors the 25 million U.S. military veterans. A moment of silence to remember those who have given their lives.
The world of the Fog Maiden is filled with magic. Each night she visits Earth with her cat Token. The Fog Maiden first appeared in the 1976 children’s book When Everyone Was Fast Asleep and was featured in a second book Songs of the Fog Maiden, both written and illustrated by American author Tomie de Paola.
P.S. The crocodiles danced a quadrille and the peacocks waltzed with doves and we all sang, “Tra la, tra la, too lay, too lay, hop-a-doodle, hip-a-doodle, flip-a-doodle day.”
A fictional heroine in the Filmation cartoon and series of toys produced by Mattel called She-Ra: Princess of Power. She is the alter ego of Princess Adora and the twin sister of He-Man. She-Ra was intended to appeal to young girls in the same way that He-Man appealed to young boys. She wielded her power through the Sword of Protection.
Remember the pink Crystal Castle playset? My sister still owns this She-Ra accessory. Her daughter plays with it now.
The fortune teller from Zoltar Speaks, the magical fortune-telling machine in Big. For the 1988 romantic comedy film, the one-of-a-kind machine was placed at Rye Playland, an amusement park located in Rye, New York. Tom Hanks stars as Josh Baskin, a young boy who makes a wish to be “big” and is then aged to adulthood overnight.
Today is Election Day in the U.S. Want to make a wish?
The protagonist of a series of popular children’s books by the same name, written by H. A. Rey and Margret Rey. The books feature a curious brown monkey (or ape, since he has no tail) named George, who is brought from his home in Africa by the evil, nameless Man with the Yellow Hat to live with him in a big city. The first book was published in 1941.
Salvador Dalí was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter known for his striking and bizarre imagery. His painterly skills are often attributed to the influence of Renaissance masters. He is best known for the melting clocks of The Persistence of Memory (1931).
I decided to represent Dalí’s eccentric manner with 8-bit butterfly wings à la Landscape with Butterflies (1956). Also, today is the end of U.S. Daylight Saving Time. Time to embrace perpetual darkness and “fall back.”
The main character of The Amazing Screw-On Head, a comic book written and drawn by Mike Mignola and published by Dark Horse Comics in 2002. In the 1860s, Screw-On Head is an agent for President Abraham Lincoln. A brilliant animated pilot, based on the plot of the comic, was made by the Sci-Fi Channel in 2006.
In Haitian Vodou, he is the intermediary between the loa and humanity. He is the master linguist, the trickster, warrior and the personal messenger of destiny. He stands at a spiritual crossroads and gives (or denies) permission to speak with the spirits of Guinee. Papa Legba’s colors are red and black (as worshipped in New Orleans voodoo rituals).
A personification of death. The concept of death as a sentient entity has existed in many societies since the beginning of history. In English, Death is often given the name Grim Reaper and, from the 15th century onward, came to be shown as a skeletal figure in a hooded black cloak carrying a large scythe.
A sacred figure venerated in Mexico, probably a mix of Mesoamerican and Catholic beliefs. The name literally translates to “Holy Death” or “Saint Death.” A reverence toward death can be seen in the widespread Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead. Catholic elements of that celebration include the use of skeletons to remind people of their mortality.
Note: Today is also All Souls’ Day.
Catrina figures have been a staple of Mexican imagery since printmaker José Guadalupe Posada created a zinc etching called La Calavera Catrina (The Elegant Skull) in 1913. His skeletal parody of a Mexican upper-class woman is often incorporated into artistic manifestations of the Day of the Dead, such as altars and calavera costumes.
Note: Today is also All Saints’ Day.
A fictional character from the Land of Oz book series by L. Frank Baum. Jack was made by a little boy to scare his guardian, an old witch named Mombi. She then brought him to life using the Powder of Life. Jack has a jack-o’-lantern for a head and his tall figure is made from tree limbs and jointed with wooden pegs.
P.S. Happy Halloween!
A fictional monster that first appeared in Frankenstein, the 1818 novel by Mary Shelley. The creature is often erroneously referred to as “Frankenstein,” but in the novel the creature has no name. Frankenstein includes elements of the Gothic novel and the Romantic movement and is also considered to be one of the earliest examples of science fiction.
The fictional antagonist of Bram Stoker’s 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula and archetypal vampire. Some aspects of his character have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian general Vlad the Impaler. In the U.S., the character is in the public domain and frequently appears in all manner of popular culture, from films to animated media to breakfast cereals.
An American business magnate, investor and philanthropist. He is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen. With a net worth of $56 billion, he ranks among the world’s wealthiest people. Born on this day in 1955, Gates is one of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution.
Joe Paterno – No. 262
An iconic college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions from 1966 through 2011. JoePa holds the record for the most victories by an FBS football coach with 409 and coached five undefeated teams. He was fired on November 9, 2011 by Penn State trustees in the wake of the horrific Jerry Sandusky scandal.
Joe Paterno has always reminded me of my late Italian grandfather and, as a Penn State alum and former State College resident, I occasionally saw this humble man around town. It is difficult to understand how a man who stressed moral character didn’t act beyond his legal obligations when the well-being of a child was at stake. Sad times.