Friday, April 13, 2018

The widely current idea that Friday the thirteenth is unlucky is a modern combination of two older beliefs: the medieval fear of Friday, and a comparatively recent dislike of thirteen. The latter was first recorded at the end of the 17th century, in the limited context of people sitting at a meal; it became more common in the late 19th century, and especially in the 20th. The two ideas are not found in combination before the beginning of the 20th century, but the reputation of Friday the thirteenth is now thoroughly established, and constantly reinforced by the media.

approbate \AP-ruh-beyt\, verb:

• To approve officially.

Approbate stems from the Latin word approbāre, from the root ap- which is a variation of ad-, meaning "towards," and probātus meaning "proved."

Practical Friday

The result of a shortened school week, such as a four day or three day week. The day before the end of the short week is practical Friday. If the week ends Wednesday, Wednesday is practical Friday.

Guy: Wanna hang out tonight?

Girl: I can't, it's Wednesday

Guy: yeah we can! It's practical Friday!

Girl: Ohh... um I had plans.

Trivia

What is the only snake known to build a nest for its eggs?

The king cobra, the largest venomous snake in the world.

Holiday

• Friday the 13th - this is the second of three Fridays the thirteenth we will have this year. They are 13 weeks apart from each other!

History

• Edict of Nantes: Henry IV granted freedom of religion to the Huguenots of France (1598); the edict was repealed by Louis XIV in 1685
• Messiah: Handel oratorio premiered in Dublin's New Musick Hall; proceeds went to local hospitals for the mentally ill (1742)
• MoMA: founded in NYC (1870)
• Jefferson Memorial: was dedicated in Washington, DC, on the 200th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's birth (1943)
• Sidney Poitier: became first African American to win an Oscar for Best Actor, for Lilies of the Field (1964)
• "Houston, we've had a problem": a liquid oxygen tank burst during the Apollo 13 flight to the moon; the crew turned the ship around and made a safe, though harrowing, return (1970)
• Tiger Woods: won his first major golf tournament, the Masters, by a record 12 strokes, at age 21 (1997)

Birthdays

• John Hanson 1721
• Thomas Jefferson 1743 - 3rd U.S. President
• Frank W. Woolworth 1852 - Merchant, created the five and ten cent store, head of F.W. Woolworth & Co.
• Butch Cassidy (Robert LeRoy Parker) 1866
  

  
• Olga Rudge 1895
• Alfred Butts 1899 - Architect, game inventor (Scrabble)
• Bud Freeman 1906 - Jazz musician, tenor sax player
• Samuel Beckett 1906 - Author, critic, playwright
• Eudora Welty 1909 - Poet
• Howard Keel 1919 - Actor ("Dallas"), singer
• Madalyn Murray O’Hair 1919 - Author ("Why I Am an Atheist")
• Stanley Donen 1924
• Jules Irving 1925 - Actor
• Don Adams (Donald James Yarmy) 1926 - Actor ("Get Smart")
• Teddy Charles (Theodore Charles Cohen) 1928 - Vibraphonist, songwriter, composer, arranger
• Marilynn Smith 1929 - Golfer
• Dan Gurney 1931 - Auto racer
• Lyle Waggoner 1935 - Actor ("The Carol Burnett Show", "Wonder Woman")
• Edward Fox 1937 - Actor ("The Big Sleep", "Portrait of a Lady")
• Lanford Wilson 1937 - Playwright
• Paul Sorvino 1939 - Actor ("Law and Order", "Dick Tracy")
• Seamus Heaney 1939 - Poet
• Lester Chambers 1940 - Singer, musician (The Chambers Brothers)
• Jose Napoles 1940 - Boxer
• Bill Conti 1942 - Composer
• Brian Pendleton 1944 - Musician (The Pretty Things)
• Jack Casady 1944 - Musician (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna)
• Lowell George 1945 - Musician (Little Feat)
• Tony Dow 1945 - Actor ("Leave it to Beaver")
• Al Green 1946 - Singer, songwriter
• Roy Loney 1946 - Musician (Flamin' Groovies)
• Ron Perlman 1950 - Actor ("Beauty and the Beast" series)
• Peabo Bryson 1951 - Singer
• Max Weinberg 1951 - Musician (E Street Band)
• Jimmy Destri 1954 - Musician (Blondie)
• Sam Bush 1957
• Gary Kroeger 1957
• Saundra Santiago 1957 - Actress ("Miami Vice")
• Joey Mazzola 1961 - Musician (Sponge)
• Hillel Slovak 1962 - Musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• Jane Leeves 1963
• Garry Kasparov 1963 - Chess champion
• Page Hannah 1964
• Caroline Rhea 1964 - Actress, comedian
• Davis Love III 1964 - Golfer
• Lisa Unbarger 1965 - Musician (Toadies)
• Rick Schroder 1970 - Actor ("Silver Spoons", "NYPD Blue")
• Aaron Lewis 1971 - Musician (Staind)
• Jonathan Brandis 1976
• Courtney Peldon 1981