Today is...

[IceWizard]

23 Sept 2017


International Rabbit Day



Poachers and cosmetic manufacturers beware: International Rabbit Day is definitely not for you! Held on the fourth Saturday or Sunday of September, this annual celebration of the long-eared, short-tailed mammal is not just in the name of the millions of bunnies kept as pets across the Western world, but aims to promote a serious message about animal welfare. On International Rabbit Day we are encouraged to consider, not only the companionship offered by our favourite hutch-dwellers, but the various ways in which rabbits are harmed by medical and cosmetic testing, hunting, fur farming and, of course, casseroling. Yes, there is a serious side to International Rabbit Day but you may not be surprised to learn that events are somewhat sporadic – so let your bunny out of its hutch and give it an extra carrot or two (and be sure to plan chicken for the family roast).



And




Checkers Day



Checkers Day doesn’t have anything to do with the popular board game; rather, it commemorates the famous ‘checkers‘ speech made by Richard M. Nixon in 1952 after he received an adorable Cocker Spaniel as he sought election in 1952.

Politicians are banned from taking donations for their own use so, when he was accused of this by rivals, like many others seeking election, Nixon faced allegations that he had misused donations for election expenses and syphoned these off for his personal use.

Rather than shy away from these allegations, Nixon decided to address these head-on during a 30-minute TV debate.

However it was not his use of financial details that led to this speech becoming one of the most celebrated in US history, rather it was the introduction of Checkers, the Cocker Spaniel, to the public which made it memorable. Voters were won over when Nixon told them about his children’s love for Checkers.

“Our little girl named it Checkers and, you know, the kids, like all kids, love the dog and I just want to say this right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we’re gonna keep it.”

Still, that’s no reason not to have a game or two of checkers – and you’ll probably have more fun anyway.

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September 23 Birthdays




Bruce Springsteen - 68




Ray Charles - (1930 - 2004) (73)




Mickey Rooney - (1920 - 2014) (93)




Karl Pilkington - 45




Julio Iglesias - 74




Jason Alexander - 58




Neal Smith - 69








September 23rd


2010: Heart guitarist & singer Nancy Wilson filed for divorce from her husband of 22 years, film director Cameron Crowe. Wilson cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the divorce & listed June 15th, 2008 as the separation date.

2006: Neil Young received the Artist of the Year award at the fifth annual Americana Honors and Awards in Nashville. Young was honored for his album Living With War which criticized the policies of George W. Bush’s presidential administration.

1997: The Rolling Stones kicked off their tour in support of Bridges to Babylon at Soldier Field in Chicago.

1991: Guns N’ Roses announced that guitarist Izzy Stadlin was leaving the band. Gilby Clarke would shortly replace him.

1989: Skid Row peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with their self-titled debut album which went on to sell five million copies in the U.S. On the same day they peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “18 and Life” which was their first top ten single in the U.S.

1980: David Bowie opened a three month run on Broadway taking over the title role in The Elephant Man.

1980: Bob Marley performed his final concert at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh. Marley collapsed onstage during the concert. Two days before this, Marley collapsed while jogging in New York City’s Central Park and was told to immediately cancel his tour.

1970: After a Rolling Stones concert at the Paris Olympia, Mick Jagger met his future wife Bianca Perez-More Macias for the first time. They would get married the following year and divorce in 1979.

1969: In Illinois’ The Northern Star newspaper, a story ran claiming that Paul McCartney died on November 9, 1966 in a car crash and had been replaced by a British look-alike named William Campbell. McCartney later came out of seclusion to deny it.



Birthdays:

Neal Smith - Drummer for Alice Cooper born in 1947

Bruce Springsteen born in 1949