How To Be A Super Villain: Six Tips For Ruling The World

 This trying to take over the world business isn't as easy as it seems.  Even with legions of henchmen and all kinds of super toys available to you, there's always some superhero out there to thwart your plans just when you're on the verge of success.

If world domination is your goal, here's a list of the top six essentials you'll need for a career as a super villain.

Persian Cat (or equally sinister animal adornment)

Why It's Necessary:  A super villain needs to be holding the cat when he makes his grand entrance.  The Persian breed says you're wealthy and that mankind's most aloof creature is no match for your icy resolve.

Who Did It Best:  Ernst Stavro Blofeld, possibly James Bond's greatest enemy, was the trendsetter for many super villain staples.

Bald Head

Why It's Necessary:  Any super villain worthy of the name has a spectacular chrome dome holding his genius brain.

Who Did It Best:  Lex Luthor immediately leaps to mind.

Minions

Why It's Essential:  The truth about super villains can be summed up as why have dogs around you if you're going to end up doing your own barking.  The true super villain is too busy creating super plots to take over the world to have time for the minor interruptions such as kidnapping enemies and making Starbucks runs.

Who Did It Best:  Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader had an army of Stormtroopers to send after the Rebel Alliance.  Of course, that didn't help them win in the end.

Inventive Death Traps

Why It's Essential:  A super villain can't simply kill his adversary, he has to come up with an ingenious method of doing away with him that offers maximum dramatic impact.  Of course, the downside of this is that it gives the hero ample opportunity to escape.

Who Did It Best:  From Blofeld's piranha pool to all the torturous devices Indiana Jones encountered, there are just too many to try to pick only one.

Secret Hideaway

Why It's Essential:  In order to have a dramatic showdown you need to have a suitably impressive backdrop and a secret hideaway is just the place.

Who Did It Best:  Austin Powers' nemesis, Dr. Evil may have been inept in many areas, but he definitely had an eye for impressive lairs.

Evil Plan

Why It's Essential:  Anyone with a genius IQ can built a super weapon and rain havoc on the population.  However, a true super villain has to do more than just destroy stuff.  He needs an evil plan to justify all the destruction and there needs to be something for the hero to thwart.

Who Did It Best:  The history of villainy give us a wealth of truly moronic evil plans.  But for a scheme we can all believe in, we need to look at Magneto, the metal-molding mutant from X-Men.  He can show us how an evil plan is done.

Who are your favorite super villains?

November's Bizarre and Unique Holidays

November is a month with a couple of legal holidays in the U.S., specifically Veteran's Day on November 11 (celebrated on the 2^nd Monday in November) and Thanksgiving on November 28 (4^th Thursday in November)  There are other recognized days such as All Saint's Day (November 1) and All Soul's Day (November 2).  And with a tip of the hat to our British cousins, Guy Fawkes Day (November 5).

The entire month of August is:  Aviation History month, Child Safety Protection month, International Drum month, National Adoption Awareness month, National Epilepsy month, National Model Railroad month, National Novel Writing month, Native American Heritage month, Peanut Butter Lovers month, Real Jewelry month, and National Sleep Comfort month.  There's also Chemistry Week (week 1) and Game & Puzzle week (week 3).

But that's only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.  November, just like all the other months, is filled with bizarre and unique holidays.  I hope you enjoy these November offerings.

November 1:

All Saint's Day

November 2:

All Soul's Day

Book Lovers Day—this is celebrated either August 9^th or the first Saturday in November.  Book Lovers Day, as the name implies, encourages us to find a place to relax with a good book.  Not only is reading a great hobby, it's an important one.  Reading is educational, informative, and relaxing.

Deviled Egg Day

Look For Circles Day

November 3:

Housewife's Day

Sandwich Day

November 4:

King Tut Day—this celebrates the date of the discovery of King Tutankhamen's Tomb on November 4, 1922, in Egypt's Valley of Kings.  King Tut became King of Egypt in 1333 B.C. at the age of 9 and ruled until 1324 B.C. when he died at age 19.  The cause of his death is uncertain with murder and innocent accident being the two main theories.

November 5:

Gunpowder Day

Guy Fawkes Day (goes hand-in-hand with Gunpowder Day)

November 6:

Marooned Without A Compass Day—do you often find yourself going around in circles?  Do you feel hopelessly lost?  Which direction will your life take?  Being marooned without a compass for a day could be a good thing.  Our busy lifestyles seldom leave us time to relax.  We can enjoy being marooned…until tomorrow.

Saxophone Day

November 7:

Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

November 8:

Cook Something Bold Day

Dunce Day

November 9:

Chaos Never Dies Day—this day recognizes the turmoil in everyday life.  Just when your hectic surroundings seem to calm down at work and home, along comes something to disrupt your life.  Disorder is everywhere.  This holiday is designed for you.  Pick one thing that is really disrupting your life and change it for the good.

November 10:

Forget-Me-Not Day

USMC Day

November 11:

Veteran's Day

November 12:

Chicken Soup For The Soul Day

Young Readers Day

November 13:

National Indian Pudding Day

Sadie Hawkins Day—originated from a 1930s comic strip, Al Capp's Lil Abner.  In the strip, the mayor of Dogpatch desperately wants to marry off his ugly daughter, so he creates the Sadie Hawkins Day race where all the single men are given a short head start then all the single women chase them.  If a girl catches a man, then he has to marry her.  The Sadie Hawkins Day celebration basically ended 40 years later when Al Capp died and the comic strip was discontinued, however it can occasionally still be seen celebrated on some college campuses.

World Kindness Day—the day encourages us to be kind to others, helping to create a nicer, better world.  The holiday is intended to build a kinder and more compassionate world.  Kindness rubs off on others and generates even more kindness.

November 14:

Operating Room Nurse Day

November 15:

Clean Your Refrigerator Day

America Recycles Day

National Philanthropy Day

November 16:

Button Day

Have A Party With Your Bear Day—is your teddy bear a real party animal?  Hopefully so because today is the day you get to party.  Invite all your teddy bears and your friends and have them invite their teddy bears for a fun day.

November 17:

Electronic Greeting Card Day

Homemade Bread Day

Take A Hike Day

World Peace Day—encourages us to be kind to others and teach others to be peaceful.  The creator of this holiday believes world peace starts with individuals and if we all our part to promote peach we can make war and strife obsolete.

November 18:

Occult Day—this is a mysterious day, something outside the realm of the normal and natural world.  Lots of words can be used to describe the occult…concealed, secret, hidden, mysterious, unnatural.  Astrology and alchemy also could belong.  Many secret groups are occult.  Celebrate this day by not sitting back and waiting for something to happen.  Have fun with it.

November 19:

Have A Bad Day Day

November 20:

Absurdity Day—is…well…absurd!  Some days are illogical and senseless which is exactly the definition of Absurdity Day.  Celebrate this day in an absurd manner, have fun with it.

Beautiful Day

Universal Children's Day

November 21:

False Confession Day

Great American Smokeout

World Hello Day

November 22:

Go For A Ride Day

November 23:

Eat A Cranberry Day

National Cashew Day

National Adoption Day

November 25:

National Parfait Day

November 26:

Shopping Reminder Day

November 27:

Pins And Needles Day

November 28:

Make Your Own Head Day

Red Planet Day—honors the fourth planet from the sun…Mars.  On this day, take a few minutes to look up into the sky and gaze at our celestial neighbor.  This day commemorates the launch of the Spacecraft Mariner 4 on November 28, 1964.

Thanksgiving

November 29:

Black Friday

Buy Nothing Day

Square Dance Day

You're Welcome Day

November 30:

Stay At Home Because You Are Well Day—this is the day to stay home from work because you feel well, taking an unofficial day off to enjoy yourself. Warning…doing this might get you in trouble, possibly even costing you your job.

So…there you have it.  The bizarre and unique holidays of November.  Pick the ones you like, or celebrate all of them!

Horror Movies For The Halloween Season

What has happened to the scary horror movies from the past that traded on the atmosphere of fear rather than the visual of spurting blood and flying body parts?  The tingling sensation that made the hair stand on the back of our necks and goose bumps on our arms as our imaginations ran wild.  The spooky ground fog that slithered over and around the tombstones, cloaking the cemetery in an eerie silence and spectral glow.

I'm talking about the traditional horror classics from decades gone by such as Frankenstein from 1931 with Boris Karloff's brilliant performance as the monster.  Also from 1931, Dracula with Bela Lugosi's portrayal of the vampire as both elegant and mesmerizing which left the horror to the imagination of the viewer.  The next year gave us 1932's The Mummy with Boris Karloff once again turning in a stellar performance as the two thousand year old mummy in search of the reincarnation of his mate.  Then came 1941's The Wolf Man with Lon Chaney, Jr., as the stricken and cursed Larry Talbot.

True to Hollywood tradition, these classic horror movies spawned numerous sequels—Bride of Frankenstein, House of Frankenstein, Ghost of Frankenstein, Dracula's Daughter.  And as long as Hollywood was on a roll, they added to the profit factor by capitalizing on the popularity of the characters by having them co-star in such movies as Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man.  Then there were the myriad remakes that came over the ensuing years, some serious attempts and others totally ludicrous.  Each one pushed the envelope in its own way in order to hopefully make it better (as in more box office dollars) than its predecessor.

And the award for the most remakes over the years goes to Dracula.  Some were serious films and others were more on the ridiculous side with titles such as Dracula's Dog.

With all three of the original movies, the remakes never really captured the essence of the originals…in my humble opinion.

But these classic horror movies have done more than provide us with entertainment.  They have given us some valuable lessons for handling real life as well as those evil things lurking in the shadows.

Here are 9 important lessons Halloween season horror movies have taught us.

9)  When it appears that you have killed the monster, NEVER check to see if it's really dead.

8)  If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination with blood, glowing eyes, or increasing hairiness, get away from them as fast as possible.

7)  Do not search the basement when the power has just gone out (especially if it was NOT knocked out as the result of a storm).

6)  If appliances start operating by themselves, move out.

5)  Stay away from certain geographic locations such as: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog, the Bermuda Triangle…or any small town in Maine.

4)  If your children speak to you in any language which they should not know or if they speak to you using a voice which is not their own, be afraid…be very afraid.

3)  When you have the benefit of numbers, NEVER pair off or worse yet go it alone when searching the spooky old mansion for the source of the strange noises (are you listening to this advice Scooby Doo gang?).

2)  As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to hell.

And last, but not least…

1)  If you find a town which looks deserted, there's probably a good reason for it.  Take the hint and stay away!

10 Halloween Superstitions

Superstitions flourish in all countries and all cultures.  Some of the origins are so obscured by time that no one knows when, how or why they came into being.  Friday the 13^th always brings out superstitions and rituals to thwart them.

And then there's Halloween.

Halloween has always been a holiday filled with mystery, magic and superstition.  It began as a Celtic end-of-summer festival during which people felt especially close to deceased relatives and friends.  They set places at the table and left treats on doorsteps for these friendly spirits.  They also lit candles to help their loved ones find their way back to the spirit world.  Today's Halloween ghosts are usually depicted as scarier, as are our customs and superstitions.

Here's a list of ten superstitions that seem to apply specifically to Halloween.

1)  If a candle goes out on its own on Halloween, it is thought a ghost has come to call.

2)  A burning candle inside of a Jack-o-lantern on Halloween keeps evil spirits at bay.

3)  You invite bad luck into your home if you allow a fire to burn out on Halloween.

4)  A person born on Halloween can both see and talk to spirits.

5)  Seeing a spider on Halloween could be the spirit of a dead loved one who is watching you.

6)  If you hear footsteps behind you on Halloween, don't look back because it could be the dead following.

7)  Don't look at your shadow in moonlight on Halloween night.  Otherwise, you will die within a short period of time.

8)  If a bat flies around a house three times, it is a death omen.

9)  Ringing a bell on Halloween will scare evil spirits away.

10)  A bat that enters a home may have been let in by a ghost.

Do you have any superstitions that apply to Halloween?

Most Haunted Cities in America

With the approach of Halloween, it's natural for thoughts to turn to ghosts, goblins, and things that go bump in the night.

There are several lists of the most haunted cities in the United States, most of them basically naming the same cities in varying order.  Here's one list that recently came to my attention.

10)    Portland, Oregon:  Portland has a reputation for being the most haunted city in the Pacific Northwest.  It's a city of many haunts, both seasonal tourist attractions and historical happenings where the participants refuse to leave.  One of the most famous…or more accurately,  infamous…historical haunts are the Shanghai Tunnels.  We've all heard the slang expression of someone being Shanghaied, meaning abducted.  This is where it originated.  In the Victorian era (around the 1870s), ship captains would put into Portland on the Columbia River looking for fresh crew members.  Local middlemen drugged pub goers, dropped the bodies through trapdoors into the tunnels below where they were held until they could be carted to the waterfront and sold to the captain for $50/each.  These ships were quite often headed for China, thus the term being Shanghaied.  Many of these drugged unfortunates died while being held in the tunnels.  Today, the Shanghai Tunnels have several ghosts, some menacing and others apparently confused.

9)      San Francisco, California:  A city of many haunted locations and happenings.  One of the most interesting is Alcatraz.  The island was a military prison during the Civil War.  It was used off and on by many different groups to house various prisoners from that time until 1933 when it was officially turned over to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and used as a maximum security prison for the likes of Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. On March 23, 1963, Alcatraz closed its prison doors for good.  Over the one hundred plus years that the island housed prisoners of all types, many died in cruel and terrible ways.  Those spirits still inhabit Alcatraz.  Even today as part of the National Park system, tourists taking one of the park ranger guided tours report seeing and hearing strange things that can't be explained.

8)      Chicago, Illinois:  Chicago was the center of gangland activity during Prohibition, including the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.  Many gangsters of the era used Chicago as a body dumping ground.  There were also six thousand Confederate soldiers and sailors buried during the Civil War at Oak Woods Cemetery which has ongoing paranormal activity.  Chicago's most famous ghost is Resurrection Mary named for Resurrection Cemetery.  She was killed by a hit and run driver on the street in front of the cemetery and now is often seen hitch hiking along that street.

7)      Charleston, South Carolina:  The downtown area known as The Battery was a protective artillery installation during the Civil War.  The area is known for its ghost stories.  The Battery Carriage House Inn is the city's famous haunted hotel where visitors often see strange happenings.  The inn's two most famous ghosts are the gentleman ghost and the headless torso.  The gentleman ghost is thought to be a young man whose family owned the house in the early 1900s and, for no known reason, jumped off the roof and killed himself.  The headless torso is believed to be military from the Civil War.  There is no evidence that he intends any harm, but guests have felt threatened when he has suddenly materialized in their room.

6)      St. Augustine, Florida:  The nation's oldest city and the first permanently occupied European settlement.  Castillo de San Marcos is a star-shaped fort and is considered to be one of the most haunted places in a city filled with unexplained phenomenon.  The construction of The Old Fort began in 1672 and took twenty-three years to build.  Many strange sightings, including a Spanish soldier, have been reported.  It is not uncommon for individuals to capture on film strange lights, orbs, rods, spheres, and even distinct apparitions composed of strange mists.

5)      San Antonio, Texas:  The home of the Alamo is regarded as the most haunted city in Texas.  Prior to the Battle of the Alamo, the ground was a cemetery between 1724 and 1793.  It's estimated that about one thousand people were buried during those years.  On the morning of March 6, 1836, following the thirteen day Battle of the Alamo, one thousand six hundred Mexican shoulders lay dead along with the approximately one hundred forty-five defenders of the old mission.  The remaining buildings at the Alamo as well as the surrounding area is one of the most haunted places in the nation.  Tales of ghostly sightings have been reported for almost two centuries.

4)      New Orleans, Louisiana:  With a history of voodoo and slavery in its past, it's no wonder that New Orleans is considered a very haunted city.  Its most famous ghost is voodoo priestess Marie Laveau who was buried at St. Louis Cemetery #1, considered one of the most haunted cemeteries in the country.  New Orleans is well below sea level, so the dead are buried in above ground tombs or vaults resembling small architectural buildings.  Located on the edge of the haunted French Quarter, this oldest still in service cemetery has been the setting for many Haunted New Orleans movies such as Easy Rider, Interview With The Vampire, and Johnny Handsome.  But its biggest draw is the tomb of voodoo priestess Marie Laveau.

3)      Salem, Massachusetts:  This site of the infamous Salem Witch Trials in the late 1600s certainly makes the list of haunted cities.  Gallows Hill is believed to be haunted by the spirits of the nineteen women accused of being witches who were hanged there.  It also shouldn't be surprising that Salem has one of the largest Halloween celebrations in the country for people of all ages.

2)      Gettysburg, Pennsylvania:  The Civil War battle at Gettysburg resulted is fifty-one thousand casualties.  It is believed that nearly all forty miles of the Gettysburg battlefields have paranormal activity.  Many of the ghosts show up in photos, including the ghost of Robert E. Lee.  In July 1863, Gettysburg's living population was out numbered twenty to one by the dead.

1)      Savannah, Georgia:  Savannah was named "America's Most Haunted City" in 2002 by the American Institute of Parapsychology.  The city was home to a Revolutionary War battleground and also the site of the Civil War capture of General Sherman.  Savannah offers several different haunted tours and is also famous as the location of the bestselling book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Have any of you ever had any first hand experience with hauntings?

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Do your characters' names dictate their personalities?  There are probably several of you who are like me…you can't start writing your story or even plotting it until you have decided on the names of your main characters.  Even though I know who these characters are, they have to be named before I can continue.

A character's name can say a lot about him or her and even more when a nickname is used.  For example, if a character is named Elizabeth, that would convey a more formal type of person.  But, give her the nickname of Liz and suddenly she's a lot more outgoing, ready to party.  On the other hand, give her the nickname of Beth and you have someone who is more shy or withdrawn.  I realize those are stereotyped descriptions rather than fact, but they do give the reader a feel for the type of character you've created just from the name you've given her.  And the same applies to male names.  Someone named Henry is one type of character where Hank is a different type of person.  You have a Charles who is different from Charlie who is different from Chuck.

A recent survey of 3,000 British teachers said names can peg kids as potential troublemakers.  The poll reported that forty-nine percent of teachers said they make assumptions about students as soon as they see the names on the class roster.  However, while teachers may roll their eyes at certain names, fifty-nine percent of the teachers surveyed said those same kids are usually the most popular among their peers.

With some characters their names are obvious—no worries or concerns about what to name them.  Others seem to cause a lot of frustration.  That's when I turn to my baby naming books.

And once your character has a first name that suits him or her, then there's the last name to think about.  Where the first name needs to be a fit for the character, the last name can reflect on that character's family background.  Sometimes that's an important element of your story and character development, but not necessarily.

On one occasion when I was stuck for a surname, I literally closed my eyes, opened the phone book, and put my finger on the page.  And that was what I used as the character's last name.  It was a minor character, so I wasn't trying to convey any type of an image or using the name to give information to the reader.

What type of considerations do you use when naming your fiction people, especially your main characters?  Any special tricks you use to come up with names?  Have you ever named a character after a friend or relative (I'm assuming with their permission)?  Do you keep a list of names you've used so you don't repeat?

October's Bizarre And Unique Holidays

October 1:  World Vegetarian Day encourages us all to eat our vegetables and fruits.  World Vegetarian Day was first observed in 1977. Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 2:  National Custodial Workers Day is today.  They are the workers who clean and keep in good repair, the facility that you enjoy.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 2:  Name Your Car Day is today. Every car has character and personality. We spend a lot of time in our cars, and caring for them. So, its only fitting that each car gets its own name. Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 3:  Techies Day is your chance to give your friendly technician(s) some well deserved appreciation.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 3:  Virus Appreciation Day is today. It gives us the opportunity to show a little respect for nasty viruses.  Why give viruses respect?  Perhaps Virus Appreciation Day would be better if titled Virus Awareness and Protection Day.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 4:  National Golf Day is a major charitable event, sponsored annually since 1952 by the Professional Golfer's Association.  The PGA created and sponsors National Golf Day since its inception in 1952.  There isn't any congressional record or presidential proclamation confirming this to be a true National holiday.

October 4:  National Frappe Day is today. It's time to make, or buy, and drink your favorite Frappe.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 5:  Do Something Nice Day, anything nice, for someone else.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 5 (first Saturday in October):  Frugal Fun Day is a day to enjoy fun activities that are free (or very inexpensive).  This special day was created by Shel Horowitz, author of The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty with a Peasant's Pocketbook, possibly as a means of promoting his book.

October 5:  World Teacher's Day.  In 1966, UNESCO and the International Labour Organisation conference adopted a special recommendation to set aside the date to annually honor and recognize teachers around the world.  World Teacher's Day was initiated by the Director-General of UNESCO, Federico Mayor, at the International Conference on Education in Geneva in 1993.

October 6 (last day of 2 week celebration for 2013):  Oktoberfest is a two week festival, held in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, with celebrations held around the world during this time.  The very first Oktoberfest was held on October 12, 1810, to commemorate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig (King Ludwig 1).

October 6:  Come and Take It Day is here for the taking.  There is a difference between the terms "come and get it" and "come and take it".  The first suggests an offer by someone, therefore, approval to have whatever "it" is.  The second says "it" has been taken with permission.  Gonzales, Texas, holds a Come & Take It Festival each year to commemorate the firing of the first shot in the Texas revolution on October 2, 1835.

October 6:  Mad Hatter Day is a great day to be silly and celebrate silliness.  Despite being a silly day, the selection of the date was actually quite logical. The Mad Hatter in Alice In Wonderland wears a top hat. On the front of the hat is a slip of paper with "10/6" written on it.  Mad Hatter Day was the brainstorm of a group of computer people in Boulder, Co. It dates back to 1986.

October 6:  National Physician's Assistant Day celebrates and recognizes the importance and skills of this career. The highly trained physician's assistant is an invaluable aide to physicians and general practitioners.  The profession was created in 1965 by Dr. Eugene Stead at Duke Medical Center.

October 7 or 14:  Bald and Free Day honors those with a beautiful, shiny top. You don't have to be bald to celebrate this day, but it helps.  There are two dates for this special event divided between October 7^th and the 14^th, but the reason for the confusion is unknown.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 7:  World Smile Day celebrates the ever popular yellow smiley. It also offers us an opportunity to do an act of kindness.  Harvey Ball of Worcester Ma. created World Smile Day. Concerned about over commercialization of his smiley, he felt one day a year should be dedicated to smiling and doing acts of kindness.  The first World Smile Day celebration was on October 1, 1999. It is unclear why the date of the celebration was moved.

October 8:  American Touch Tag Day is a day to play the children's game of touch tag.  Origin and creator of his holiday is unknown.

October 9:  Curious Events Day is the day for you if you have a questioning and curious mind. It encourages you to hold some kind of event that touches the curiosity.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 9 (for 2013, date varies):  Emergency Nurses Day recognizes an important care giver. According to the Emergency Nurse's Association, "Emergency Nurses Day salutes the dedication and commitment of emergency nursing professionals who bring care, comfort, and compassion to patients".  It's not known for sure, but it is believed the Emergency Nurse's Association most likely created this day. They do sponsor it.

October 9:  Fire Prevention Day is during the week in which October 9th falls.  According to legend, on October 8, 1871, Mrs. O'Leary was in her barn milking her cow.  The cow kicked over a lamp which started the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  The Fire Marshall's Association of North America (FMANA) held the first Fire Prevention Day.  President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Fire Prevention Week in 1920.  The Saturday during Fire Prevention Week is Fire Service Recognition Day.

October 9:  Leif Erikson Day gives recognition to the first European to set foot on North American soil.  Historians have been able to put this together based upon records at the time, however, Leif Erikson made no maps of his journey so physical evidence of his travels are lacking.  In 1964, a joint resolution of Congress declared October 9th as Leif Erikson Day.

October 9:  Moldy Cheese Day.  Do you have any moldy cheese in your refrigerator?  Every once in a while, there's a special day that has no apparent rhyme or reason and this is one of them.  Origin and creator of his holiday is unknown.

October 10:  National Angel Food Cake Day is a great day to bake a cake with your little angels.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 11:  It's My Party Day.  Do you really need a reason to have a party?  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 11 (although there is some confusion about the exact date):  Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day is a great opportunity to show off your beloved Teddy Bear to work associates.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 11 (for 2013, the second Friday in October):  World Egg Day celebrates and promotes the benefits of eggs.  While the origin and creator isn't known for sure, it's assumed this day was created by the International Egg Commission.

October 12:  Cookbook Launch Day is a little known day designed to launch a new cookbook.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 12:  Old Farmers Day honors the hard labor of farmers throughout American history.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown, but is believed to date back to the early to mid 1800s.

October 12:  Moment of Frustration Day is truly a frustrating day. We believe one of the most important reasons for this holiday is the opportunity to let your frustrations out.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 13:  International Skeptics Day is the perfect day for all the "doubting Thomas" personalities, possibly created by a real skeptic. And, they did so by first creating doubt about the date to celebrate this special day:  January 13, October 13, and the first Friday of the year.  Origin and creator of his holiday is unknown.

October 14 (for 2013, the second Monday of the month):  Columbus Day was originally a celebration of the man believed to be the one who discovered America.  Of course, Native Americans were already here and were the ones who discovered America.  Nordic explorers had travelled down the eastern coast of North America centuries earlier.  Today, we celebrate Columbus day for what it accurately is, Columbus discovering the existence of the New World for Europeans who until then, believed the world was flat and ended somewhere in the Atlantic. The focus is now more upon discovery of the "New World", and less upon Columbus himself.

October 14:  National Dessert Day is a rich day filled with yummy treats!  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 15:  White Cane Safety Day celebrates and recognizes the achievements of the blind and visually impaired, and their independence. That independence is represented by the white cane used to travel from place to place.  On October 15, 1964, a Joint resolution of Congress passed legislation marking this day. President Lyndon Johnson immediately issued a proclamation declaring this day to be White Cane Safety Day. This is an annual proclamation.

October 16:  Boss's Day gives you a chance to both tell and show the boss what you really think of him or her, to give your boss the appreciation that he or she deserves.  The origin of Boss's Day dates back to 1958 when Patricia Bays Haroski, an employee at State Farm Insurance Company in Illinois, registered it with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  Ms. Haroski chose the date because it was her father's birthday.  Who was her boss?  Her father.

October 16:  Dictionary Day is in honor of Noah Webster, considered the Father of the American Dictionary. Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 17:  Wear Something Gaudy Day is your chance to really stick out in a crowd.  The roots of this day go back to the hit 1970's television comedy show Three's Company.  The character of Larry (played by Richard Kline) declared a Wear Something Gaudy Day.

October 18:  No Beard Day exists so you have a good reason to shave your beard.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 19:  Evaluate Your Life Day gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect upon our life, where it's been, and where its going.  Evaluate Your Life Day was created by the people at Wellcat.com

October 19 (in 2013, the third Saturday in October):  Sweetest Day is dedicated just for your sweetie. It exists as an opportunity for you to recognize that sweet and special someone.  Herbert Birch Kingston, a Cleveland, Ohio, candy company employee and philanthropist started Sweetest Day in 1922, by giving candy and small gifts.

October 20:  National Brandied Fruit Day celebrates sweet tasting fruit, soaked and marinated in brandy.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 21:  Babbling Day isn't a day to remain silent.  Tell everyone you know about this special day.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 21:  Count Your Buttons Day is one of those holidays that doesn't seem to have a reason beyond it being a day of frivolous fun.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 21:  National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day celebrates a delicious Fall dessert.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 22:  National Nut Day has two very obvious possibilities for the meaning of this day.  1) This day honors all the nutty people in the world.  2) This day celebrates nutritious and healthy nuts (food) of all kinds.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 23 from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m.:  National Mole Day is for chemistry teachers and chemistry buffs.  It commemorates Avogadro's number—a mole, which is a basic measuring unit that equals the atomic mass of a single molecule that is measured in grams.  National Mole Day originated in an article in The Science Teacher in the early 1980s.

October 23:  TV Talk Show Host Day celebrates and honors all TV Talk Show hosts.  This very special day is celebrated on the birth date of legendary night time talk show host Johnny Carson.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 24:  National Bologna Day is a full of baloney!  It's easy to enjoy this day. Have a Bologna sandwich.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 24:  United Nations Day recognizes all who serve and participate in this world organization.  The United Nations is dedicated to world peace and to the betterment of humanity through a wide range of programs from world hunger to environment and health issues.  Almost all of the more than100 countries in the world are members of this organization.

October 25:  Punk for a Day is today.  Are you a punk?  One might desire to be a Punk Rocker, but not literally a punk.  What is the reason for this day?  No one seems to know.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 25:  World Pasta Day promotes the consumption of pasta around the world.  This was established as an annual event at the first World Pasta Congress held on October 25, 1995 in Rome, Italy. It is promoted by pasta manufacturers around the world.

October 25 (in 2013, the last Friday in October):  Frankenstein Friday celebrates the 1818 birth of Frankenstein by its creator, Mary Shelley. Frankenstein (the doctor who created the monster, not the name of the monster) is probably the best known horror creation of all time.  This special day was created by Ron MacCloskey in 1997.  He celebrates by awarding "The Franky" to someone who has made a significant contribution to the promotion of Frankenstein.

October 26 (in 2013, the fourth Saturday in October):  Make A Difference Day was created in 1990 and is devoted to helping others by doing volunteer work in the community.

October 26:  National Mincemeat Day celebrates a sweet and tasty meat treat.  Mincemeat dates back to medieval times where it was a way to preserve food.  It was also a treat, mixed with sweet fruits. Somewhere in the last half of the 1900's, it lost its popularity.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 27 (in 2013, the fourth Sunday in October):  Mother-In-Law Day is another chance to honor your spouse's mother if you missed Mother's Day in May.  The source of many jokes, a mother-in-law doesn't usually get the praise and appreciation she deserves.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 27:  Navy Day.  Many nations around the world celebrate their navies with a special day dedicated to them.  Each country selects a date relevant to their navy, often the birth date of the navy.  In the United States, Navy Day is commonly celebrated on October 27th.  The Navy League for the United States created the first Navy Day in 1922.

October 28:  Plush Animal Lover's Day is a day to enjoy and appreciate your plush, stuffed animals.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 29:  Hermit Day is a day to spend quietly in seclusion, all by yourself.  Creator and origin of this holiday is unknown.

October 30:  National Candy Corn Day is the day to enjoy a handful of this sweet Fall treat.  National Candy Corn Day comes just a day before Halloween.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 30:  Mischief Night is an evening when people traditionally participate in harmless mischief.  This night is discouraged by law enforcement organizations because the mischief is often less than funny and often leads to vandalism, destruction, and even injury.  Mischief Night appears to have roots in England back to the nineteenth century. Some documentation has it occurring on Halloween night. Other references have it on the 30th.

October 31:  Carve a Pumpkin Day.  If you haven't carved that pumpkin by today, then you might as well forget it until next year as this is your last chance since Halloween is tonight.  Origin and creator of this holiday is unknown.

October 31:  Halloween is the favorite holiday for many of us as there is no stress, no overload, and no holiday depression.  It's just fun.  Bats, the bizarre, Dracula, ghosts, witches, graveyards, ghouls, haunted houses, Halloween movies, paranormal, Halloween parties, pumpkins, skeletons, scarecrows, vampires...you name it.

October 31:  Increase Your Psychic Powers Day is, appropriately, the same day as Halloween.  It's the day to increase your psychic powers.  There are a number of ways to do this and no shortage of psychics, groups and websites to help you.  This holiday appears to have roots in England in the nineteenth century. Some documentation and readings have it occurring on Halloween night. Other references say October 30th.