The Harvest Moon is the full Moon nearest the autumnal equinox and is bright enough to allow finishing all the harvest chores.
Daily Calendar for Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Formerly called “I am an American Day” (1940) and then “Citizenship Day” (1952), this observance’s long new name (2004) is called Constitution Day for short. It marks the anniversary of the date in 1787 when the final draft of the Constitution of the United States was signed by delegates to the Constitutional Convention after months of wrangling. The framers of the Constitution had been arguing constantly as they met in secret, but they had leaked reports to the press indicating that all was well. “So great is the unanimity, we hear, that prevails in the convention, upon all great federal subjects, that it has been proposed to call the room in which they assemble ‘Unanimity Hall.’” The Federalists (as they came to be called) argued through June and most of July and reached an agreement on July 16. After deciding to leave out a bill of rights — because everyone was worn-out and they thought there was no need for such a list — the framers completed the final draft on September 17 and made it ready for submission to the states for ratification. The American Bar Association and other organizations make an effort to mark this anniversary by sponsoring symposia and, in some cases, offering free legal advice.
Question of the Day
Are rose hips a source of vitamin C?
Yes, they are. You can use rose hips in jam, soup, syrup, and the popular rose hip tea. Some varieties contain more than 20 times the amount of vitamin C found in citrus fruits.
Advice of the Day
Check chimneys and have them cleaned before starting autumn’s first fire.
Home Hint of the Day
When cutting asphalt shingles, dip your utility knife in turpentine. This will keep the shingles from binding when you cut.
Word of the Day
Perigean Tide
A monthly tide of increased range that occurs when the Moon is at perigee (closest to Earth).
Puzzle of the Day
Four members can bless myself withal; my last is worth my whole; my whole’s worth naught at all.(What’s the word? Each clue is about letters!)
Zero
Died
- Tobias George Smollett (Scottish satirical novelist) –
- Spiro T. Agnew (served as vice president under Richard Nixon) –
- Red Skelton (comedian) –
- Robert Truax (rocket scientist) –
Born
- David Dunbar Buick (automobile manufacturer) –
- William Carlos Williams (writer & doctor) –
- Hank Williams (musician) –
- Anne Bancroft (actress) –
- David Souter (U.S. Supreme Court justice) –
- Phil Jackson (basketball coach) –
- John Ritter (actor) –
- Kyle Chandler (actor) –
- Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR driver) –
- Patrick Mahomes (football player) –
- India Amarteifio (actress) –
Events
- City of Boston founded–
- The U.S. Constitution signed–
- Battle of Antietam in Maryland occurred; known as the bloodiest battle of the Civil War–
- First powered flight of X-15 rocket plane–
- First public display of a lunar rock, at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.–
- M*A*S*H made its television debut–
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police began accepting women as uniformed members–
- NASA unveiled the first space shuttle, Enterprise, to the public–
- Vanessa Williams became the first African American woman to be crowned Miss America–
- William Rehnquist is confirmed as chief justice of the US Supreme Court–
- Heather Whitestone of Alabama became the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss America–
- The Late Show with David Letterman was the first TV talk show to return to the airways six days after terrorists attacked the United States in New York City–
- Barry Bonds hit his 700th home run–
- A 17-pound 4-ounce white catfish was caught in the Humboldt River of Nevada–
- A bottled message tossed from an April Caribbean cruise was found in Sunset Beach, North Carolina–
Weather
- 2.42” rain fell in 3 hours in Yuma, Arizona–
- Lander, in the Wyoming Rockies, had 23.6 inches of snow–
