The Squid Calendar

Sixty years ago today Princess Elizabeth of Windsor became Queen Elizabeth II of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – her Diamond Jubilee.

Imagine becoming Queen at age 25!

Learn more about Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II photo by Lee Haywood used under CC 2.0

On January 9, 1793, the first aerial voyage in the history of the United States of America took place – a hot air balloon ride leaving from Walnut Street Prison piloted by French aeronaut Jean Pierre Blanchard, and observed by a large crown in what is now Independence Square in Philadelphia.

I had the pleasure of attending a hot air balloon festival recently, and it certainly was amazing. Despite fact that several inches of mud engulfed our feet, we happily stood with hundreds of other onlookers and were awed at a sky filled with balloons.

Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival by jange52
Colorful Hot Air Balloon Pictures — Find the Perfect Photographic Poster by WordCustard

Hot Air Balloon photo by skyseeker used under CC 2.0

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the Moon and Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr, took mankind’s first steps upon it.

Check out these Photos of Apollo Moon Landing Sites From Space! by Greekgeek.

And here’s a great story about A Letter from Neil Armstrong – the Man who Walked on the Moon by happynutritionist.

Of course, where there’s history, there are conspiracy theories:
Moon Landing Hoax by Timewarp.

On July 15, 1799, The Rosetta Stone was discovered in Rosetta, a village in Egypt. The Rosetta Stone is of great importance being the first ancient bilingual writing found, leading to great advancement in the understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs. On the stone is an inscription in Ancient Greet, Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs, and demotic script.

Learn more about the Rosetta Stone at: Biblical Archaeology & Beyond Presents The Rosetta Stone.

450th Anniversary of Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, Russia.
What beautiful architecture!

What do you know about Saint Basil? Saint Basil The Great, Patron Saint Gifts by spirituality

Look at other beautiful architecture in Russia: Castles of Russia: III by dc64

Get a set of St. Basil’s Cathedral Bookends by AngelineSophia

(Photo by senekin used under CC 2.0)

On this date in 2005, Hurricane Dennis was unleashing it’s fury.  Dennis was the first Major Hurricane to make a U.S. Landfall during the record-setting 2005 hurricane season , in which there were so many named storms that the NHC ran all the way through the list for the year, and had to start on the Greek Alphabet (Katrina also happened in 2005).  Dennis was one of five names officially retired that year.  This year, we re-use the 2005 list.   Read about this year’s names, find out why those five names were retired, and see what names have replaced them.
Atlantic Basin 2011 Hurricane Names by CruiseReady

Photo by Chalky Lives used under CC 2.0.

On this date in 1930, construction began on the Boulder Dam which was later renamed the Hoover Dam.

Learn more about the Hoover Dam (by PlumCrazyMomof3) and check out how to plan a Black Canyon Canoe Trip: Hoover Dam To Willow Beach by Ramkitten.

As a result of heavy traffic going across the Hoover Dam, a bridge has been put up near the Hoover Dam. Learn more about this at: The Hoover Dam Bypass Project by Cop-Speak.

Also, Happy Birthday Ringo Starr!

(Hoover Dam photo by wharman used under CC 2.0)

On March 24, 1989, an oil tanker struck Prince William Sound’s Bligh Reef, spilling hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude oil into the waters.  This was a devastating blow to the environment there.  This untainted land was the habitat for a wide variety of animals.

Learn more about Prince William Sound (by Frankster).

George Frideric Handel wrote Messiah in just 24 days. In the spring of 1742, it premiered at a charity concert at Neal’s Music Hall in Dublin  raising enough money to free 142 men from debtor’s prison.

On March 23, 1943, Messiah premiered in London.  The King of England attended the preformance, and he stood up after its first few notes.  Being tradition, when he stood, everyone stood.  This tradition of standing during the preformance of Handel’s Messiah has lived on.

Last December I attended a concert that ended with this song.  The whole crowd stood, but unfortunately the majority of the crowd started putting on their coats.  This song was technically the most difficult song the group sang all night and people were packing up their things.  It was ruined for us by rude and ignorant people.  This song is so beautiful.  If you are not standing out of respect, then don’t stand at all! [/rant]

Learn about Handel’s Messiah and listen to some beautiful versions of the oratorio:

Handel’s Messiah Recordings by cappuccino136
Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus Flash Mob by Comfortdoc

Two hundred thirty years ago today, on March 13, 1781, William Herschel discovered Uranus.  It had been observed earlier, but always mistaken for a star.  He named the planet Georgium Sidus meaning George’s Star or the Georgian Planet after King George III.  However, others (outside of England) did not think so highly of the name.  The name we now use, Uranus, is the Latinized version of the Greek god of the sky, Ouranos.

Learn more about The Planet Uranus, and The Major Moons of Uranus (by dc64).