Author: Lisa Mungovan

Chuck Feeney was incredibly successful in the duty-free shipping business, building up a wealth of $8,000,000,000. In 19 82, he started donating his money to universities, human rights groups, and many other projects. He lives simply, with 1 pair of shoes and no car. He’s finally reached his lifelong goal, at age 89. He gave away all his money!

Did it seem like last night lasted longer? That’s because yesterday was the official first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun is directly in line with the Earth’s equator. In the Southern Hemisphere, it was the vernal equinox: the first day of spring!

90% of the world’s merchandise, is transported by cargo ships. While ships are better for the environment than airplanes, they’re still big polluters. A new type of cargo ship called the OceanBird, would run entirely on windpower. New technology can measure the wind’s flow, nearly 1000 feet above deck, to sustain a speed of 10 knots.

This Thursday, an asteroid will visit our planet. The asteroid, named 2020 SW, will whiz by about 16,700 miles away. That’s closer than weather and TV satellites! The 14-foot-wide asteroid was discovered last week. It won’t hit Earth, and won’t be visible with the naked eye, but you can watch it online, at VirtualTelescope.eu.

It’s Dogs In Politics Day, originally called Checkers Day, after President Nixon’s dog. U.S. Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush Senior, Clinton, Bush Junior, and Obama also had dogs in their First Families! Make your dog President for today, then have a family checkers tournament. Don’t cheat, because President Poochie won’t pardon you!

In 1982, Robert Wardhaugh started a game of Dungeons & Dragons, with 3 of his friends. He got hooked on the role-playing game, and kept his campaign going. In fact, he’s continued the same game for 38 years! The D & D campaign now has nearly 60 active members, who play 8 hours a week over Zoom.

In the United States, today is Voter Registration Day. Kids who will be 18 by November 3rd, can register now, to vote in the presidential election. Ask your parents, if they are registered to vote. They can register, check their registration status, or request absentee ballots, at vote.org. They’re voting for your future!

Today is World Rhino Day, and Elephant Appreciation Day. Both animals are endangered. Poachers hunt rhinoceroses for their horns, and elephants for their tusks. Their habitats are also disappearing. The white rhino is the largest rhino species, averaging about 5000 pounds and 6 feet tall, while the largest African elephant was 13 feet tall and 24,000 pounds!

Today is World Car Free Day. You could just stay home, but where’s the challenge in that? Instead, try to walk, bike, or use public transportation for your daily adventures. Then make a pact, to try to use cars less. It’s better for the planet, and the exercise will keep you healthy!

It’s Hobbit Day, in honor of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins’s birthday. Hobbits eat breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and supper, so there’s plenty of time to celebrate White Chocolate Day and Ice Cream Cone Day. Then draw some tiny sketches for your favorite 100-year-old, since it’s Doodle Day, and Centenarian Day!