Google doodles

[9A]

11 Jun 2018
Millicent Fawcett's 171st Birthday




When the British Parliament passed the Representation of the People Act in 1918, allowing British women to vote for the first time in history, Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett’s lifelong ambition was fulfilled.

Born June 11, 1847, the eighth of 10 children, Millicent was raised by independent-minded parents who emphasized the importance of education and free speech. Her oldest sister Elizabeth became Britain’s first female doctor, and Millicent began collecting signatures in support of female suffrage before she was old enough to sign the petitions herself. "I cannot say I became a suffragist,” she wrote in her memoir ‘The Women’s Victory—And After.’ “I always was one, from the time I was old enough to think at all about the principles of Representative Government."

Best known for her captivating speeches, Fawcett used her platform as President ofthe National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies to become a public advocate for nonviolent campaigning.

In April 2018, a bronze statue was erected of Dame Fawcett in the courtyard of London’s Parliament Square, alongside likenesses of Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, and Mahatma Gandhi. The glistening sculpture, made her the first female added to the garden’s distinguished denizens — a fitting tribute to the woman who said “Courage calls to courage everywhere, and its voice cannot be denied.”

[9A]

12 Jun 2018
Eugénie Brazier’s 123rd Birthday





Today’s Doodle celebrates Eugénie Brazier, also known as “La Mère Brazier” [the Brazier Mother]. Brazier was a French chef who was famously awarded three stars by the Michelin Guide.

Eugénie Brazier was born in a mostly rural region of eastern France, in the late 19th century. When her mother passed away, Brazier relocated to a nearby farm where she looked after the cows and pigs and began her exploration into the local cuisine. Later, at age 20, Brazier gave birth to her son Gaston, and left for Lyon to pursue an apprenticeship and refine her skills.

Eight years after moving to Lyon, Eugénie Brazier opened La Mère Brazier which quickly developed a reputation as an elegant culinary destination for politicians and celebrities. La Mère Brazier expanded many times to accommodate the massive increase in customers. Eventually, she expanded the business west to Col de la Luère, where her restaurant’s lack of running water or electricity didn’t stop it from achieving the highest degree of praise.

[9A]

12 Jun 2018
Füreya Koral’s 108th Birthday





If you’ve ever felt you were still searching for your life’s true calling, draw some inspiration from the life of Füreya Koral, Turkey’s foremost modern ceramist. While seeking treatment for tuberculosis in Lausanne, Switzerland, the 37-year-old took interest in ceramics after attending a workshop. What started as a hobby soon became a passion that would reinvigorate her life with new purpose.

Born 108 years ago on June 12, 1910, Koral grew up in a house situated between a church and a mosque. This intersection of Western and Ottoman cultures inspired her to experiment with different textures of clay to create ceramic works that intertwined elements of abstract Western art and the Islamic culture of Turkey, as well as influences from neighboring East Asian nations.

Molding the clay to fit her artistic vision, Koral made statuettes, imaginative kitchenware large ceramic panels that would adorn the walls of national institutions, hospitals, and universities from the Turkish capital ofAnkara to Istanbul.

Her work endures as a testament that age is only a number and that it’s never too late to discover your passion. Happy 108th birthday, Füreya Koral!

[9A]

17 Jun 2018
M'hamed Issiakhem’s 90th Birthday








Today’s Doodle celebrates M’hamed Issiakhem, the distinguished painter famous for his muted palette and revolutionary vision who’s often credited as the father of modern Algerian art.

Issiakhem’s painting style was a blend of abstract expressionism and traditional portraiture that has influenced Algerian and North African painting for years. His innovative paintings are exhibited in museums around the world and in public spaces across Algeria and North Africa.

Education grounded his craft. Issiakhem studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, then co-founded the National Union of Plastic Arts [[UNAP) and devoted his time to teaching the next generation of painters. He designed national banknotes and postage stamps, in addition to creating incredible murals and frescoes that can still be seen in the streets of Algiers.

Issiakhem’s bold advocacy for the arts had an immense impact on Algeria’s film and literature. Before his death in 1985, he famously said, “A country without artists is a dead land; a society is forever in a vital need for creative artists.” His special gift has inspired many, leaving an enduring legacy in Algeria and beyond.

[9A]

25 Jun 2018
Eloisa Díaz’s 152nd Birthday







Today we celebrate the 152nd birthday of Chilean trailblazer, Eloisa Díaz. Born in 1866, Díaz spent most of her life in her native Santiago. Chile was one of the first Latin American countries to create policies designed to expand and improve the quality of women’s education. As a result, Díaz was able to attend the Universidad de Chile. After graduating with her Bachelor’s degree, Díaz enrolled in the Escuela de Medicina [school of medicine]. In 1887, she became the first woman in all of Latin America, to earn the professional title of physician.

During Díaz’s early career, she worked as a physician and teacher. In 1898, she became the School Medic Supervisor of Santiago. Later, Díaz was promoted to the position of School Medic Supervisor of Chile, where she remained for more than 30 years.

In addition to practicing medicine, Díaz was an avid philanthropist. She used her position and influence to create reforms focused on helping the children of Chile, including founding kindergartens, creating polyclinics for students with limited resources, and organizing school camps.

Today’s Doodle celebrates Díaz as a pioneer for women in the medical field and depicts her commitment to social initiatives for children. Her legacy still serves as inspiration for women around the world looking to break barriers and pursue higher education.Happy birthday, Eloisa Díaz!

[9A]

27 Jun 2018
Efua Theodora Sutherland's 94th Birthday






Many great literary works owe their legacies to dedicated teachers who explore their meaning with their students. Prominent writer and teacher Efua Theodora Sutherland played a crucial role in both the creation and exploration of prominent plays across Ghana.

Sutherland [or Aunty Efua, as she was affectionately known], was one of Africa’s earliest female writers recognized locally and internationally for numerous theater works, including Foriwa [1962], Edufa [1967], and The Marriage of Anansewa [1975]. She is credited with bringing literary and theatrical movements in Ghana between the 1950s and 1990s through her own works and helped develop the country’s educational curriculum for children.

At a time when women played a limited role in governance, Sutherland is also remembered for her extensive work on the U.N. Convention on the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

Because of Sutherland’s dedication to children’s rights and cultural activism, thousands of students in Ghana [and beyond] have access to quality education and theater performance.

[9A]

29 Jun 2018
Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis’ 125th Birthday







In the 1920s and ’30s, most if not all statistics work in India was done by one man: Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis—an innovator in his field who was known as a “human calculator.”

While studying physics at Cambridge University in England at age 22, Mahalanobis was introduced to statistics by one of his professors. Upon returning home to India he became fascinated with this branch of mathematics, applying statistical methods to anthropology, meteorology, and biology.

Mahalanobis’ early work used random samplings to predict floods and foretell agricultural crop yields. He later applied these same techniques to comparisons of large data sets, devising what came to be called “the Mahalanobis Distance.” His pioneering work impacted economic planning as several major Indian industries ran on the Mahalanobis Growth Model, his statistical forecast of the country’s economy.

Mahalanobis, who would have turned 125 today, founded the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta in 1931, housed at Presidency College, and became the honorary statistical advisor to the Indian government in 1949. In 1951, the Institute became its own full-fledged university. Small wonder that the Indian government named June 29 National Statistics Day in 2006.

[9A]

30 Jun 2018
José Emilio Pacheco’s 79th Birthday








Today, we celebrate José Emilio Pacheco, the Mexican poet, essayist, novelist, narrator, and translator considered among Mexico’s most important writers of the 20th century.

Born in Mexico City in 1939, Pacheco rose to prominence amidst a group of socially dedicated writers in the 1960s. His works frequently challenged Mexico’s political and literary elite, brought to light social issues, and explored the meaning of time, life, and death. Pacheco was known for his simple, direct words, which contrasted the figurative language used by many great poets of his time.

Though he received no shortage of awards, including the esteemed Miguel de Cervantes Literature Prize in 2009, Pacheco notably downplayed his talents. On what would’ve been his 79th birthday, we honor him for his innumerable contributions to Mexican literature.

In today’s Doodle by guest artist Loris Lora, the turtle shell comprising the second Google “g” references the cover of Pacheco’s first short story collection, El viento distante [The Distant Wind], published in 1963. The woman in the frame reimagines Las batallas en el desierto [Battles in the Desert]. This 1981 novella was so popular it inspired a film, a comic, and even a classic rock song. In the right corner, a ship alludes to the cover of El principio del placer [The Pleasure Principle], while the cricket represents a poem that shares its name.

[9A]

31 July 2020
Celebrating Pacita Abad






Today’s Doodle celebrates Philippine artist, feminist, and activist Pacita Abad, renowned for her bold use of color and mixed media as well as her use of art to address global themes. On this day in 1984, Abad made history as the first woman to receive the Philippines’ prestigious Ten Outstanding Young Men award.

Pacita Abad was born on October 5th, 1946 in Basco, in the northern province of Batanes, the Philippines. She pursued graduate studies in San Francisco, California in the U.S. in 1970 and became very involved in the city’s artistic community. Abad went on to study painting and then traveled the world with her art supplies, from Bangladesh to Sudan, and the cultures she encountered had a profound influence on her ever-evolving artistic style. Dedicated to improving the world through art, she used pieces like her 1979 series “Portraits of Cambodia” to raise awareness of societal issues.

Over time, Abad transitioned toward abstract work and pioneered a painting technique called trapunto [Italian for quilting]. To achieve this style, she stuffed her canvases to create a sculptural effect and integrated culturally significant materials discovered during her travels, like shells and fabrics. Abad channeled a passion for public art into her 2003 project “Painted Bridge,” for which she covered Singapore’s 55-meter Alkaff Bridge with an explosion of 2,350 vibrantly colored circles.

Abad crafted over 5,000 pieces of art, and today her colorful legacy resonates in collections in over 70 countries.

[9A]

4 Aug 2020
Bahiga Hafez’s 112th Birthday






Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Cairo-based guest artist Mariam ElReweny, celebrates the 112th birthday of a pioneer in Egyptian cinema, the multi-hyphenate actor, producer, director, editor, costume designer, and composer Bahiga Hafez on her 112th birthday. Hafez was widely known as a prodigious talent on camera as well as behind the scenes and helped bring some of Egypt’s earliest feature films to the big screen.

Bahiga Hafez was born on this day in 1908 in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea. She earned a degree in music composition in Paris in 1930 and then returned to Egypt, where she had success crafting music for the record companies of the day. Her career soon took a turn when she was cast as the female lead in the film “Zeinab” [1930], for which she also composed the soundtrack.

Before long, Hafez was inspired to tell her own stories and opened Fanar Film Company with her husband Mahmoud Hamdi. In 1932, the company released its first film, “al-Dahaya” [“The Victims”], and Hafez shaped the entire film process as lead actor, producer, editor, costume designer, and composer.

Hafez went on to produce and direct numerous films over the following two decades and later established an influential cultural salon in Cairo to support the city’s artistic community. Her work helped pave the way for the start of what is widely considered Egyptian cinema’s golden age in the 1940s, and she is depicted in the Doodle artwork wearing a costume inspired by the many opulent wardrobes she designed from this era of film.

The original version of “al-Dahaya” was rediscovered in 1995 and shown at the National Film Festival in Cairo, introducing a new generation to Hafez’s work.

[9A]

13 Aug 2020
First Day of School 2020 [13 August]

[9A]

15 Aug 2020
India Independence Day 2020






Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Mumbai-based guest artist Sachin Ghanekar, commemorates the Independence Day of the world’s largest democracy: India. On this day in 1947, India became a sovereign, independent nation after nearly a century of British rule.

Featured in the Doodle artwork are several iconic Indian folk instruments, including the tutari, shehnai, dhol, veena, sarangi and bansuri. From the versatile double-reeded shehnai to the resonant stringed sarangi, these instruments are but a few that make up India’s rich musical legacy, which dates back over 6,000 years.

The musical diversity represented by this unique collection reflects the patchwork of Indian cultures that is celebrated across the nation today.

[9A]

26 March 2017
Saridjah Niung’s 109th birthday







Sukabumi-born Saridjah Niung, better known as Mrs. Soed, was a well-loved musician, teacher, radio announcer, playwright and batik artist in Indonesia. Her music delighted the ears of young children, and to this day, they can be heard singing along to the tune of her most popular songs: ”Hi Pedicab,” “Strong Kids,” and “Butterflies.”

Along with music for kindergarten-aged kids, she was also revered for her patriotic hymns. She wrote masterpieces during the Dutch colonial years about the Japanese occupation and Indonesia’s independence. Mrs. Soed also wrote the Indonesian national anthem “Fatherland,” and “Berkibarlah Benderaku.”

[9A]

26 March 2018
45th Anniversary of the Chipko Movement

Embrace the trees
andSave them from being felled;
The property of our hills,
Save them from being looted.

These words are from a poem by Ghanasyam Raturi, an Indian poet writing about the Chipko movement in the 1970s to protect the regional forests in Uttar Pradesh [[Uttrakhand). The success of this nonviolent, grassroots resistance was felt around the globe, serving as the inspiration for future environmental movements. The Chipko Andolan also stands out as an eco-feminist movement. Women formed the nucleus of the movement, as the group most directly affected by the lack of firewood and drinking water caused by deforestation.

The original Chipko movement dates back to the 18th century, when a group of 363 people from 84 different villages, led by Amrita Devi, laid down their lives to protect a group of khejri trees that were to be cut down at the order of the maharaja, or king, of Jodhpur. After this event, the maharaja decreed that the trees were to be left standing. The original movement was called "angalwaltha", the Garhwali word for "embrace," as the protesters protected the trees by surrounding them and linking hands, physically preventing the loggers from touching the plants. The movement was later named for the Hindi word “chipko,” which means “to stick.”

[9A]

3 Apr 2018
Nazia Hassan’s 53rd Birthday







When young Pakistani girls in the 1980s closed their eyes and clutched a pretend mic in their hands, swaying and singing, a major inspiration was Nazia Hassan. Hassan, sometimes referred to as the “Princess of Pop”, was a sensation the likes of which hadn’t been seen in the region in years. Young and graceful, with long flowing hair, she charmed the country by belting out favorite songs “Disco Deewane” and “Boom Boom” alongside her brother Zohaib.

Born on April 3, 1965 in Karachi, she met London producer Kumar at the age of 15 and recorded a Bollywood hit, “Aap jaisa koi” for the blockbuster “Qurbani.” The song catapulted her into the stardom and won her a Filmfare award. From there, Hassan and her brother released a number of albums, including “Boom Boom” in 1982 and “Young Tarang” in 1984. She was the first Pakistani singer to reach the British charts with her English version of “Disco Deewane”, called “Dreamer Deewane.”

Hassan was not only a talented singer, but also a devoted scholar and humanitarian. Using her law degree, she worked at the U.N. as well as for UNICEF. She was passionate about the rights of young people, and often took the time to visit impoverished schools in Pakistan. Her life was tragically cut short by lung cancer at the age of 35.

Our Doodle today imagines her performing with her famous flowing hair and dupatta [traditional Pakistani scarf], and the disco balls of the 80s glinting behind her.

[9A]

3 Apr 2018
John Harrison’s 325th Birthday







It’s been said that necessity is the mother of invention, and without a doubt, British horologist John Harrison brought that age-old proverb to life.

Born on this day in 1693, in Foulby, Yorkshire, England, Harrison was a self-educated clockmaker and carpenter who came to the rescue of countless sailors by creating the first marine chronometer to calculate longitude at sea.

Seeking to remedy naval disasters, the British government created the Board of Longitude in 1714, which offered a reward of £20,000 to anyone who could devise a navigational instrument that could find the longitude within 30 miles of a sea voyage.

Harrison took on the challenge. He set to work on his chronometer in 1728 and completed it in 1735, following up this feat with three watches that were even smaller and more on the money than his first.
Harrison’s extraordinary invention brought him much acclaim. Thanks to him, seamen could determine not only gauge latitude but longitude, making their excursions far safer.

Our colorful Doodle shows the inventor hard at work, surrounded by the tools of his trade. Today, time is on his side.

[9A]

3 April 2016
Start of the 100th tour of Flanders




Today marks the 100th tour of Flanders, or De Ronde van Vlaanderen, an annual springtime road cycling race held in Belgium since 1913. The race was put on hold during World War I, but has been held every year without interruption since 1919. The 2016 race covers 255 km [158 mi] with 18 categorized climbs and 7 flat cobblestoned sections — a notoriously bumpy ride for cyclists.

[9A]

4 Apr 2016
Cazuza’s 58th birthday







Like so many great rock musicians, Agenor Miranda Araújo Neto, better known as Cazuza, began his career rattling the walls of neighborhood garages. A native of Rio de Janeiro, he fell in with the fledgling rock group Barão Vermelho when a friend urged him to audition for their open lead vocalist position. After landing a song on the soundtrack for a local film, the group played at the first ever Rock in Rio music festival, and their popularity soared.

After four years with the band, Cazuza embarked on an enormously successful solo career. His music and profound lyrics were a testament to his travels in the UK and his brushes with Beat poetry in San Francisco. In 1988, Cazuza’s health declined, and in 1989 he announced that he had been living with AIDS. He continued to compose and perform despite the illness. Through his openness, charm, and advocacy, Cazuza helped ease the stigmas surrounding the LGBT and HIV-positive communities in Brazil. When he died in July of 1990, thousands lined the streets of Rio for his funeral procession.

[9A]

23 Apr 2016
Celebrating William Shakespeare







Genius. There are many examples throughout human history, but today we celebrate one particularly brilliant one: William Shakespeare — writer, playwright, and one of the most eloquent voices of all time. Today, we celebrate his life and work.

A creative tour de force, Shakespeare officially wrote 38 plays in his 52 years, performing most of them at The Globe Theatre in London. Over the past four centuries, Shakespeare's poems, plays and other works have taken on a life of their own on stage, screen, and page. You can explore some of his works and those he has has inspired in the Shakespeare gallery of the Google Cultural Institute.

[9A]

27 Apr 2016
Freedom Day 2016






This important day marks the time that South Africa broke long-standing boundaries created by apartheid with its first ever democratic election. On this historic occasion, citizens of all races and backgrounds could finally vote. Freedom Day has become a symbol of peace, unity, and the hard-earned freedom now enjoyed throughout the cou

[9A]

28 Apr 2016
Girls' and Boys' Day 2016





We all bring different skills to the table, some of us are great at crunching numbers, some of us have exceptional interpersonal skills. But when it comes to choosing careers, the path is not always as clear. To tackle that, Germany instituted Girls’ and Boys’ Day, which seeks to show kids the full array of career opportunities out there. On this day, girls and boys take a brief residence as working professionals — in doctors’ offices, in science labs, schools, and more. We join Germany in celebrating all these career choices, and the children who will one day seize them with the full force of their potential.

[9A]

29 Apr 2016
48th Anniversary of first TV broadcasting of Les Shadoks



Nearly half a century later, France still fondly recalls Les Shadoks. With absurd maxims like “every advantage has its disadvantage, and vice versa," the bird-like creatures and their hilariously inane brand of logic struck a chord with French culture when they hit the screen in 1968.

Jacques Rouxel’s experimental and minimalist cartoon even proved divisive, as some saw nonsense where others found originality, comic genius, and important commentary on futility and French life. Hélène Leroux, who animated today’s Shadoks, used the occasion to bring her favorite Shadok’s proverbs to life.

She writes:
“I particularly enjoyed the simplicity of the characters: Simple, rounded birds with long, thin legs, always going on nonsense adventures. In their daily lives, the Shadoks always refer to specific mottos they made up that parody real-life human principles: ‘If there are no solutions, then there are no problems,’ or, ‘to reduce the number of unhappy people, always beat up the same individuals,’ and of course, ‘I pump therefore I am.’ Like operators on a handcar that goes nowhere, Les Shadoks are famous for their endless and useless pumping. I thought it would be a great homage to represent some of these great Shadoks quotes with simple, looping animations.”


Below are all four of Hélène's animations:

I pump, therefore I am.

If we keep trying, we end up succeeding.
Therefore: the more we fail, the more we get to succeed.






When you don't know where you are going, you have to get there... as fast as possible.





Why should it be simple when it can be complicated?!

[9A]

1 May 2016
Labour Day 2016






Labour Day is a public holiday honoring the many achievements of labor unions since the 1800s — in particular, the 8 hour working day. Reasonable wages, breaks, and paid vacation are all important to a fair and healthy economy. In some places, people spend the day protesting current labor conditions, attending public demonstrations, and events. Others attend festivals, concerts, or get together with family and friends. Some just spend the day not working.

The day originated in the United States during the Labour Movement that started in the state of Illinois. Now, it's observed in over 90 countries worldwide.

[9A]

4 May 2016
Jane Jacobs’ 100th birthday




Jane Jacobs was a self-taught journalist and community organizer that supported keeping the city of New York diverse in shape and function. She stood by beloved neighborhoods that were unjustly slated for "renewal" and revealed political biases in the permit process for new projects. In Jacob's opinion, cities are for the people, and they're safest when residents mingle on the street and in local businesses.






Jacobs developed her philosophy through living and interacting with the city itself, and described life on the city streets as a kind of social ballet. Her book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities [1961] still sits in the American Library of Congress. Today's Doodle honors the 100th birthday of this fierce protector of New York City's urban landscape.

[9A]

6 May 2016
Sigmund Freud's 160th Birthday






Did you wonder what your dream meant this morning? The idea that dreams "mean" anything or that we have an active subconscious mind, is a concept we owe to Sigmund Freud, who was born 160 years ago today. Freud is best known as the father of psychoanalysis, the method of resolving mental illness through a dialogue between a doctor and patient. The Freudian method of interpretation – looking for meaning beyond the surface of things – now extends far beyond the sphere of psychotherapy. Freudian terms like "narcissism," "sibling rivalry," "free association," and "death wish" are part of our vernacular, and Freud's theories continue to fuel heated debate among academics.

A dimpled leather couch might be the typical visual associated with Freud and other therapists, but Doodler Kevin Laughlin instead created this iceberg. With a vast hidden base, the iceberg references the murky depths of the unconscious mind. More importantly, the design draws our eye to the horizon, reminding us how the genius of Freud's practice rests in the space between doctor and patient, reader and text, human and world.

[9A]

12 May 2016
Yom Ha'atzmaut 2016





Today is Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s annual celebration of independence. Since the country’s founding in 1948, this day has served as a time for unity and celebration.

Across Israel today, people will be marking the holiday with a barbecue or al ha'esh, which means “on the fire.” It’s said that there are so many barbecues on Yom Ha’atzmaut that people have them in parks, beaches, even traffic circles -- as you see reflected in today’s Doodle.

To all those celebrating: may your barbecues be delicious, wherever they happen to take place.

[9A]

24 May 2016
Suzanne Lenglen’s 117th Birthday




Back in the day, tennis was a rigid affair. Amateurs couldn’t compete with pros, and participation fees for important matches were astronomical. Then Suzanne Lenglen came along.

Lenglen picked up her first racket in 1910 for health reasons. In less than five years, she became the sport’s youngest champion. She had a staggeringly successful career, and even starred in one of the earliest instructional films. More importantly, she broke down barriers through her passionate play, non-traditional wardrobe, and outspoken stance against the sport’s formalities.

With Lenglen’s influence, tennis gained the attention it deserved, and became a sport not just for some, but for all.

[9A]

24 May 2016
Olga Skorokhodova’s 105th birthday





In today's doodle we pay homage to Olga Skorokhodova, who was one of the most prolific Soviet researchers in the field of deaf and blind communication. Olga dedicated her life to carefully documenting how the deaf and blind perceive the world around them. Her work provided the basis for further studies and contributed to the development of education for the deaf and blind.

At age five, Olga suffered from meningitis which caused her to go blind and deaf. Her early childhood was further complicated by the loss of her parents. She went on to study at a clinic for blind and deaf-mute children where she met Professor Ivan Sokolianskii, who helped to restore her speech and get her access to a quality education. He would also provide the introduction to fundamental science, which would inspire her life’s work.

In her book: “How I Perceive, Imagine and Understand the World Around Me,” Olga describes in painstaking detail how she developed a heightened sense of touch, smell, vibration, temperature, and taste, in order to compensate for her lack of hearing and vision. She would later use those experiences to inform her research and inspire new learnings on the subject.

On what would have been her 105th birthday, Google celebrates Olga Skorokhodova, a woman who changed the lives of so many and never, ever gave up.

[9A]

26 May 2016
Frankie Manning’s 102nd birthday

[This is a repeat of one of my favorite Google Doodles, in case you missed it. 9A]



One morning in 1929, Frankie Manning--then only fifteen--was walking through Harlem on his way to Sunday school. Passing the Alhambra Ballroom, he made a decision to take dance classes that would change swing forever. Known as the Ambassador of the Lindy Hop--the exuberant style born in Harlem--Frankie Manning is remembered as the first person to take swing from the dancefloor to the air above it. Today’s doodle by Nate Swinehart celebrates Frankie Manning’s acrobatic, powerful style, in which his partners were flipped and spun to the emphatic horns of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and others.

The Lindy Hop and Manning’s aerial flourishes became wildly popular, and Manning himself performed the dance in several 40’s era movies. He also served in WWII, toured South America and the UK with his troupe, The Congaroos, performed the Lindy for King George VI, and won a Tony Award for his choreographic work on the Broadway musical Black and Blue.

Frankie Manning often described the dance as a “series of three-minute romances.” Here’s to the Ambassador on what would have been his 102nd birthday, and his role in creating for countless people--even if it lasted only three minutes--a moment that transcended the world around them.

[9A]

28 May 2016
Nepal Republic Day 2016




Today's doodle shows Nepal's national bird, the Danphe, or the Himalayan Monal. The male pheasant is brilliantly plumed with iridescent colors highlighting the beauty of Nepal. The female, a mild brown, represents its constancy and warmth. Similarly, Nepal is a nation of vibrancy and contrast, counting among its features both the world's highest and most unforgiving peak and the well-preserved and magical temples and shrines of Kathmandu.

The landscape is an appropriate metaphor for the history of a nation in which, despite great upheaval, peace prevails. We hope today's doodle by Alyssa Winans brings pride and joy to the people of Nepal.

[9A]

30 May 2014
35th Anniversary of Nezha Conquers the Dragon King





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Our homepage in Hong Kong and Taiwan marks the 35th anniversary of Nezha Conquers the Dragon King. A source of pride in China, Nezha was the first Chinese-language animated film to be screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

[9A]

6 Jun 2014
Honinbo Shusaku's 185th Birthday







Today in Japan and other countries, we’re marking the 185th birthday of Honinbo Shusaku, widely considered to be one of the greatest players of the ancient Chinese board game Go. Shusaku rose to prominence during Go’s golden age in the 19th century and is known for his perfection of the Shusaku opening, which is depicted in our doodle.

[9A]

12 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #1

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13 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #2

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13 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #3




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13 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #4

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13 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #5

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14 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #6

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14 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #7

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14 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #8

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15 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #9 and Father's Day

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15 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #10

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16 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #11

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16 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #12

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16 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #13

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17 Jun 2014
World Cup 2014 #14

[I have included more text than usual, making it kind of long, but it is so
amusing. I wanted you to become more worldly. 9A]




Here we have an artist’s rendition of the late Paul the Octopus–perhaps the most famous of all psychic cephalopods–trying to choose the winner in the World Cup match from that big aquarium in the sky. Who will it be?? Only Paul knows.

Incidentally, Google Trends tells us that searches for "Paul the Octopus" spiked on last Thursday, and at their highest were 25x higher than earlier in the month.

Paul the Octopus [26 January 2008 – 26 October 2010) was a common octopus used to predict the results of association football matches. Accurate predictions in the 2010 World Cup brought him worldwide attention as an animal oracle.

During divinations, Paul's keepers would present him with two boxes containing food. The boxes were identical except that they were decorated with the different team flags of the competitors in an upcoming football match. Whichever box Paul ate from first was considered his prediction for which team would win the match.

His keepers at the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, mainly tasked him with predicting the outcomes of international matches in which the Germany national football team was playing. Paul correctly chose the winning team in four of Germany's six Euro 2008 matches, and all seven of their matches in the 2010 World Cup—including Germany's third place play-off win over Uruguay on 10 July. He also correctly chose Spain as the winner of the 2010 FIFA World Cup final.In all, Paul amassed an overall record of 12 correct predictions out of 14: a success rate of approximately 85.7%.

Paul was last checked by staff on 25 October 2010, and was in good health, but the following morning he was found dead. He was aged two-and-a-half, a normal lifespan for the species. His agent, Chris Davies, said "It's a sad day. Paul was rather special but we managed to film Paul before he left this mortal earth". Sea Life Centre manager Stefan Porwoll remembered Paul as an octopus who had "enthused people across every continent".


Here're Paul's spot-on predictions for the games on this day:



Brazil vs. Mexico: Draw




Russia vs. South Korea: Draw





Belgium vs Algeria: Belgium

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