Today is...

[IceWizard]

17 Apr 2017


World Hemophilia Day



Nicking your finger with a knife while chopping some tomatoes for a salad is just a nuisance for most of us—we utter a choice word or two, rinse the cut, apply a disinfectant and maybe a band-aid, and then proceed to go on with our lives. The same goes for, say, tripping and falling—most of us will just get up and keep on going, not giving the situation any more thought and barely noticing the bruise that may appear afterward. Unfortunately, there are people whose very lives may be put in danger because of such seemingly minor accidents: hemophiliacs. Hemophilia affects approximately 400,000 people worldwide, many of whom are not fully aware of their condition or are not getting the treatment they need. Because a relatively small percentage of the world’s population suffers from hemophilia, many people are not aware just how serious this condition is and how much more difficult and dangerous it makes the lives of those who have it. And this is where World Hemophilia Day comes in.

The History of Hemophilia Day

Hemophilia was first discovered in the 10th century, when physicians started to take a serious interest in people, especially males, who were bleeding to death after sustaining only minor injuries. At that time, it was called Abulcasis. Unfortunately, due to the limited technology of the day, it was impossible to research the condition properly. Numerous famous historical figures are thought to have had hemophilia, especially members of the European royal families, and it was often treated with aspirin which thinned the blood of the hemophiliac further, causing the symptoms to worsen. Then, in 1803, Dr. John Conrad Otto of Philadelphia began to study people he called, “bleeders” more extensively, recognizing it to be a hereditary illness that was most often passed onto males from by their healthy mothers. In 1937, hemophilia was officially divided into two types: A and B. Though no cure for hemophilia has been invented till this day, the sickness can be controlled by administering clotting factors on a regular basis in order to avoid spontaneous bleeding episodes.

World Hemophilia Day was created by the World Federation of Hemophilia in 1989, and the date it’s celebrated on, April 17th, was chosen in honor of the founder of the organization’s birthday, Frank Schnabel. The day’s purpose is to raise awareness about the disease as well as other bleeding disorders and also to raise money for the treatment of those who cannot afford it.


And




National Bat Appreciation Day



On Bat Appreciation Day, take a moment to consider the humble bat. Bats are mysterious, enigmatic creatures which are all around us, though we may not be aware of them. Some species are as small as a thumb, and yet are capable of flying hundreds of miles over land and sea to migrate each year. Bats navigate the dark areas they live in using echolocation, and they’re also responsible for keeping many pests at bay, including mosquitos.

Unfortunately, several bat species are facing extinction, due to many factors, including offshore wind farms and loss of their habitats. On Bat Appreciation Day, why not take the time to learn more about this amazing creatures, and how you can help in their conservation. Many zoos feature a nocturnal house where you can see bats up close and personal, so it’s also a great excuse for a family day out at the zoo.




And




Ford Mustang Day



It’s got sleek lines and a powerful engine, its name speaks of wild places and adventurous times. For generations it was the car of choice for action heroes and spies alike, even James Bond drove one in Goldfinger. For some it was the very flavor of summer sunsets and nighttime drives on youth’s misadventures, but it always brought them home safely. We’re talking about the Ford Mustang, of course, and Ford Mustang Day celebrates this incredible and iconic piece of American engineering.

History of Ford Mustang Day

The Ford Mustang was first introduced to the world in April of 1964. The World’s Fair was in full swing, and this car was Ford’s introduction as the car of the future. This introduction of the Mustang also was the introduction of the first Pony Car, to wit, a line of small sporty cars with sleek lines and an affordable price-tag. Sales of the Mustang proved that this car was going to become an American favorite, with well over 400,000 sales in the first year it was in production, an unprecedented success for an unprecedented vehicle.
The muscle car of the time was the Thunderbird, and that beauty was the one that every serious sports car fanatic wanted to own. The Mustang came into existence with the idea not of replacing that vehicle, but instead putting its like within reach of the working class. Such was its popularity that over 500 clubs celebrating the Mustang came into existence within just 3 years of its release. This is the kind of fanaticism that’s usually saved for classic cars, but the Mustang just rolled right in and took its place as a new classic right off the bat. Such was the popularity of the Mustang that 60 years later over 9 million of them have been sold. Ford Mustang Day celebrates this vehicle that came out of nowhere to become an American institution.

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April 17 Birthdays



Roddy Piper - (1954 - 2015) (61)




Maynard James Keenan - 52




Boomer Esiason - 56







April 17th

2008: E Street Band organist Danny Federici died of melanoma at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. He was 58 years old.

2006: Ric Ocasek made his first appearance on The Colbert Report where he put Todd Rundgren “on notice”.

2004: At the Icons of the Twentieth Century Music auction at the Dallas Market Hall in Dallas, the piano Elton John wrote “Your Song” on sold for $164,500 and Kurt Cobain’s Mosrite Gospel Mark IV guitar sold for $117,500.

1991: Nirvana performed “Smells Like Teen Spirit” live for the first time at the OK Hotel in Seattle.

1986: Stevie Ray Vaughn cancelled his tour of Europe following the American bombing of Libya.

1983: Felix Pappalardi, producer for acts such as Cream, Mountain and Hot Tuna was murdered by his wife Gail at their apartment in Manhattan. He was 41 years old.

1982: Van Halen peaked at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with their cover of Roy Orbison’s “(Oh) Pretty Woman”.

1965: The Moody Blues peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Go Now” which was their first top ten single in the U.S.

1960: Eddie Cochran, who had hits with “Summertime Blues” and “C’mon Everybody” died in a car accident in a taxi in London. He was 21 years old.



Birthdays:

Don Kirshner born in 1934

Roy Estrada - Bassist for Little Feat and Frank Zappa born in 1943