The 26th President of the United States (1901-1909). He is noted for his “cowboy” persona. Roosevelt declined to run for re-election in 1908. After leaving office, he embarked on a safari to Africa and a tour of Europe. Roosevelt’s lasting popular legacy is the teddy bear, named after him following an incident on a hunting trip. He was born on this day in 1858.
A humanoid robot created by Honda. The robot resembles a small astronaut wearing a backpack and can walk or run on two feet. ASIMO made many public appearances during the 2000s, including several amusingly awkward incidents on stairs (as you can see in this short video compilation). On October 31, ASIMO will celebrate its 11th anniversary.
A Spanish painter and sculptor who lived most of his life in France. He is one of the best-known figures in 20th century art and co-founded the Cubist movement. Among his most famous works are the proto-Cubist The Young Ladies of Avignon (1907) and Guernica (1937). He was born on this day in 1881.
P.S. “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso
The blue cartoon ghost mascot of Boo Berry breakfast cereal. Introduced in 1973, it is one of three currently distributed General Mills monster-themed breakfast cereals. This sugary variety features blueberry-flavored corn cereal bits and marshmallows. Beginning in 2011, these cereals are only sold during the fall/Halloween season.
The cartoon Frankenstein’s monster mascot of Franken Berry breakfast cereal. Introduced in 1971, it is one of three currently distributed General Mills monster-themed breakfast cereals. This sugary variety features strawberry-flavored corn cereal bits and marshmallows. Beginning in 2011, these cereals are only sold during the fall/Halloween season.
The cartoon vampire mascot of Count Chocula breakfast cereal. Introduced in 1971, it is one of three currently distributed General Mills monster-themed breakfast cereals. This sugary variety features chocolate-flavored corn cereal bits and marshmallows. Beginning in 2011, these cereals are only sold during the fall/Halloween season.
Best known by his nickname Pelé, this man is the greatest soccer player of all time. In his native Brazil, he is hailed as a national hero. In addition to his contributions to the game of football, he is known for his support of policies to improve the social conditions of the poor. Celebrated as “The King of Football,” he was born on this day in 1940.
The cartoon mascot of Cap’n Crunch, a product line of sweetened corn and oat breakfast cereals introduced in 1963 and manufactured by the Quaker Oats Company. The sea cap’n’s full name is Horatio Magellan Crunch. Jay Ward Productions created the trademark character and Hanna-Barbera provided the cartoon animation for the original TV commercials.
An anthropomorphic cartoon rabbit and mascot of Trix breakfast cereal. He debuted in a 1959 Trix television commercial. He continually attempts to trick children into giving him a bowl of Trix cereal. “Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids!” is what this pathetic, begging rabbit is told every time.
The advertising cartoon mascot for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes (also known as Frosties) breakfast cereal, appearing on its packaging and advertising. Since his debut in the 1950s, Tony has become a breakfast cereal icon. More recently, he started serving as mascot for Tony’s Cinnamon Krunchers and Tiger Power (whatever that is). “They’re grrreat!”
An American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the “Capones,” was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early 1920s to 1931. Capone was convicted of tax evasion and spent years in Alcatraz.
An archduchess of Austria and the queen consort of France and of Navarre. At the height of the French Revolution, her husband Louis XVI of France was deposed and the monarchy abolished in 1792. The royal family was subsequently imprisoned at the Temple. On this day in 1793, Marie Antoinette was tried, convicted of treason and executed by guillotine.
P.S. “Let them eat cake.”
A fictional British artificial intelligence, known for his wit and stuttering, distorted, electronically sampled voice. The character, portrayed by Matt Frewer, was featured in a music video TV show, a British cyberpunk film, a television drama series and commercials. In 1986, he was the spokesman for the New Coke advertising campaign (after the return of Coke Classic).
The 32nd President of the United States (1933-1945) and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the U.S. during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war. FDR was the only American president elected to more than two terms. Despite being bound to a wheelchair, the extent of his paralytic illness was kept from public view.
A former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who served from 1979 to 1990. Her political philosophy emphasized deregulation. Thatcher survived an assassination attempt in 1984, and her hard line against trade unions and tough rhetoric in opposition to the Soviet Union earned her the “Iron Lady” nickname. She was born on this day in 1925.
The principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the third President of the United States. He was an influential Founding Father, and an exponent of Jeffersonian democracy. On behalf of the United States, he acquired the Louisiana Territory (which included 15 current U.S. states and two Canadian provinces) from Napoleon in 1803.
A fictional character created by Ben Edlund in 1986 as a newsletter mascot for a chain of Boston-area comic book stores. He is an absurdist spoof of comic book superheroes. The character later spun off into an independent comic book series in 1988, and gained mainstream popularity through an animated TV series on Fox in 1994.
A retired American boxer. Iron Mike is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles. He also spent years in prison for rape, bit off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear during a fight, declared bankruptcy and is generally nuts. He is slowly fading into Bolivian.
An African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to form Rainbow/PUSH. He was born on this day in 1941.
Sitting Bull – No. 228
A Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to U.S. government policies. Known for his role in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, he briefly toured with Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show. In 1890, he was killed by Indian agency police during an attempt to arrest him for supporting the Ghost Dance movement.
Since 1990, citizens in South Dakota have been celebrating Native American Day instead of Columbus Day. This makes me happy. Screw Columbus anyway. Even though Columbus was a wretched human being and wrong about everything, he was lucky enough to survive his catastrophic miscalculations and find uncharted land before his crews starved to death.