Daily Calendar for Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Question of the Day
What region of the United States is best for raising kiwifruit? Is the Alabama climate suitable?
We don’t know the best region, but as a rule kiwifruit can be grown wherever wine grapes are found. Some kiwi plants are hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, so we don’t think you’ll have any problem growing them in Alabama. Check with your local nursery for the most suitable varieties for your area.
Advice of the Day
During cold and flu season, wipe the telephone mouthpiece with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol.
Home Hint of the Day
If you live in a cold region, it’s smart to orient your new home to get the most sun in the winter. Face your house south and install a lot of windows on that side.
Word of the Day
Friggatriskaidekaphobia
The fear of Friday the 13th.
Puzzle of the Day
What is that which when thrown out, you may always catch without hands?
A hint
Born
- Nicolaus Copernicus (astronomer) –
- Luigi Boccherini (composer) –
- Adelina Patti (opera singer; namesake of the song You’re the Flower of My Heart Sweet Adeline) –
- Eddie Arcaro (jockey) –
- John Frankenheimer (director of film) –
- Smokey Robinson (singer) –
- Jeff Daniels (actor) –
- Seal (singer) –
- Justine Bateman (actress) –
- Haylie Duff (actress) –
- Nikola Jokic (basketball player) –
Died
- Grandpa Jones (country musician) –
- Jose Lopez Portillo (as president of Mexico from 1976-1982, brought the nation to the brink of economic collapse) –
- Richard Belzer (actor) –
Events
- USS Constitution captured British brig HMS Catherine –
- First practical U.S. coal-burning locomotive (York) tested, York, Pennsylvania –
- The first rescuers reached the Donner Party in the Sierra Nevada mountains, California –
- Knights of Pythias founded –
- First official U.S. government weather predictions published –
- Patent for the first gramophone awarded to Thomas Edison –
- Kansas approved an act to prohibit alcohol –
- Prizes are included in Cracker Jack boxes for the first time –
- U.S. Marines invaded Iwo Jima (WW II) –
- U.S. Senator Carl Hayden was honored for completing 50 years of Congressional service –
- The world’s largest snowman was completed in Bethel, Maine. He stood 113 feet, 7.5 inches tall and weighed about nine million pounds. In 2008, Bethel, Maine, also created the largest snowwoman (122 feet, 1 inch tall). –
Weather
- The first official U.S. government weather predictions (called probabilities) were published –
- Mt. Shasta, California, saw the end of a five-day storm with a total accumulation of 189 inches of snow –
- 25 inches of snow fell in 24 hours in Dover, Delaware –
- Fort Valley, Arizona, received 17 inches of snow –
