Surprise Day - Remembering the Queen of Voting (and National Catfish Day)
The Queen of Voting
I noted years ago, that on this day in 2009, both Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett died. I missed another death that day, because it hadn't been reported yet.
Someone known as the Queen of Voting also passed away June 25, 2009. Sylvia Levin had worked as a volunteer, six days a week, without pay, over a span of 36 years from 1973 until 2009.
According to NBC:
Her son, Chuck Levin, estimates she spoke with more than 470,000 people, trying to convince them to take part in the electoral process.
Restated: That is almost a half million. (See the note on her in Wikipedia). Again from her obituary in the Los Angeles Times:
Sylvia Levin dies at 91; she registered more than 47,000 to vote
She would never reveal whether she was signing up more Democrats or Republicans. "Everyone is important," she would explain.
"People who are registering for the first time in their lives leave this table just flying," she said. "They know they've taken a big step."
As a deputy county registrar, Levin worked without pay.
(Just to make sure you caught it, I repeat: Sylvia Levin died on this day in 2009.)
My own opinion? This year, all US citizens are important. Make sure you are registered, make sure you vote.
Two Other Interesting Anniversaries
On June 25, 1978, the rainbow flag representing gay pride was flown for the first time during the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade.
And on June 25, 1984, Prince released his album Purple Rain.
National Catfish Day!
It is Surprise Day again, and ... guess what? I find that it is National Catfish Day. Congress cooked up this holiday, President Ronald Reagan signed it.
So what's the surprise? As I write this at 4:13 pm June 25, 2016, with the Proclamation as retrieved 4:10 p.m., June 25, 2016, I see the proclamation that was "Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 4:13 p.m., June 25, 1987"
(Just pushed the refresh button again. There, "4:13" both times, 29 years apart.)
It is interesting. Here's one sentence: "Farm-raised catfish have come a long way from their bottom-feeding ancestors."
Here is another: "I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities." That is in most of the proclamations. Try typing it into a search engine. You should get a few screenfuls of White House proclamations. No surprise.
Personally, for me, I will say the year itself is surprising, in that both the upcoming Olympics and upcoming U.S. Presidential Election having taken disquieting turns, months before they each happen.
I noted years ago, that on this day in 2009, both Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett died. I missed another death that day, because it hadn't been reported yet.
Someone known as the Queen of Voting also passed away June 25, 2009. Sylvia Levin had worked as a volunteer, six days a week, without pay, over a span of 36 years from 1973 until 2009.
According to NBC:
Her son, Chuck Levin, estimates she spoke with more than 470,000 people, trying to convince them to take part in the electoral process.
Restated: That is almost a half million. (See the note on her in Wikipedia). Again from her obituary in the Los Angeles Times:
Sylvia Levin dies at 91; she registered more than 47,000 to vote
She would never reveal whether she was signing up more Democrats or Republicans. "Everyone is important," she would explain.
"People who are registering for the first time in their lives leave this table just flying," she said. "They know they've taken a big step."
As a deputy county registrar, Levin worked without pay.
(Just to make sure you caught it, I repeat: Sylvia Levin died on this day in 2009.)
My own opinion? This year, all US citizens are important. Make sure you are registered, make sure you vote.
Two Other Interesting Anniversaries
On June 25, 1978, the rainbow flag representing gay pride was flown for the first time during the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade.
And on June 25, 1984, Prince released his album Purple Rain.
National Catfish Day!
It is Surprise Day again, and ... guess what? I find that it is National Catfish Day. Congress cooked up this holiday, President Ronald Reagan signed it.
So what's the surprise? As I write this at 4:13 pm June 25, 2016, with the Proclamation as retrieved 4:10 p.m., June 25, 2016, I see the proclamation that was "Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 4:13 p.m., June 25, 1987"
(Just pushed the refresh button again. There, "4:13" both times, 29 years apart.)
It is interesting. Here's one sentence: "Farm-raised catfish have come a long way from their bottom-feeding ancestors."
Here is another: "I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities." That is in most of the proclamations. Try typing it into a search engine. You should get a few screenfuls of White House proclamations. No surprise.
Personally, for me, I will say the year itself is surprising, in that both the upcoming Olympics and upcoming U.S. Presidential Election having taken disquieting turns, months before they each happen.