Friday, October 16th. Day 289 of 2026
Happy Dictionary Day ! Noah Webster was born this day in 1758. He published the first English language dictionary in 1838. Buy one and use it with regularity
1793: During the French Revolution, Queen Marie Antoinette was beheaded after being convicted of treason
1875: Brigham Young University is founded in Provo, Utah
1916: Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in New York City
1962: President Kennedy was informed that there were missile bases in Cuba, beginning the Cuban missile crisis
1964: China detonates their first atomic bomb
1968: Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos famously give the Black Power salute on the 200 m medal podium during the Mexico City Olympics to protest racism
1987: Rescuers freed Jessica McClure from the abandoned well that she had fallen into in Midland, TX. She was trapped for 58 hours
1995: Million Man March held in Washington, D.C. (over 830,000 African American men attend)
News: Yet another motorcycle fatality in area…Taylorsville woman jailed for animal cruelty…Alexander County man returned to custody…Hickory Police investigating deadly shooting…Statesville man pleads guilty to dog-fighting related crimes…Taylorsville Apple Festival is Saturday
Weather: Sunny and 82 today…Much cooler this weekend
Sports: Cougar JV Football puts on rally and wins a thriller Thursday night…It’s a must win tonight for Cougars in Boone. Denver beats Seattle in Thursday night snoozer…Panthers favored in Philly on Sunday…Some great College Football games this weekend…Down go the Dodgers ! Guardians take 2-1 lead over Rays…NASCAR down to final 4 races
Happy Birthday: Fred Turner, Leo Mazzone, Tim Robbins, Wendy Wilson, John Mayer, Sue Bird, Bryce Harper
Billy Joel give health update https://abcnews.com/GMA/Culture/billy-joel-drive-perform-new-health-update/story?id=137295722
Word of the Day: ribald [rib-uhld] vulgar or indecent in speech, language, etc.; coarsely mocking, abusive, or irreverent, often done in a humorous way. Something ribald is funny, but in a vulgar or off-color way. If someone makes a ribald joke in class, she will probably be sent to the principal’s office. The word derives from an Old French word meaning “rogue” or “debauched.”
Quote of the Day: “Society is like a stew. If you don’t stir it up every once in a while then a layer of scum floats to the top. “… Edward Abbey