By Lady Houston
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
Christie Lee Brinkley (née Hudson; born February 2, 1954) is an American model, actress, and entrepreneur. Brinkley gained worldwide fame with her appearances in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues, ultimately appearing on an unprecedented three consecutive covers in 1979, 1980, and 1981. She spent 25 years as the face of CoverGirl, has appeared on over 500 magazine covers, and has signed contracts with major brands; both fashion and non-fashion.
Brinkley went on to work as an actress, illustrator, television personality, photographer, writer, designer, and activist for human and animal rights and the environment. Brinkley has been married four times, most notably between 1985 and 1994 to musician Billy Joel, having appeared in several of his music videos. Her fourth marriage, to architect Peter Cook, ended in a much-publicized 2008 divorce. With a career spanning more than 50 years, magazines such as Allure and Men’s Health have named Brinkley one of the most attractive women of all time.
TODAY’S ALMANAC
Learn all about Groundhog Day!
It’s no accident that Groundhog Day and Candlemas are celebrated together, for both signify the triumph of light over darkness, spring over winter.
Candlemas was originally a Celtic festival marking the “cross-quarter day,” or midpoint of the season. The Sun is halfway on its advance from the winter solstice to the spring equinox. The Christian church expanded this festival of light to commemorate the purification of the Virgin Mary and her presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple. Candlelit processions accompanied the feast day.
Since the traditional Candlemas celebration anticipated the planting of crops, a central focus of the festivities was the forecasting of either an early spring or a lingering winter. Sunshine on Candlemas was said to indicate the return of winter. Similarly, “When the wind’s in the east on Candlemas Day / There it will stick till the second of May.”
A bear brought the forecast to the people of France and England, while those in Germany looked to a badger for a sign. In the 1800s, German immigrants to Pennsylvania brought their Candlemas legends with them. Finding no badgers but lots of groundhogs, or woodchucks, there, they adapted the New World species to fit the lore.
Today that lore has grown into a full-blown festival, with Punxsutawney Phil presiding. For all things, groundhog, visit the folks at Punxsutawney and see what Phil is predicting this year.
Question of the Day
Advice of the Day
Home Hint of the Day
Word of the Day
Puzzle of the Day
Born
- Havelock Ellis (scientist) –
- James Joyce (author) –
- William Rose Benet (poet) –
- Charles Correll (actor) –
- George Halas (football player) –
- Gale Gordon (actor) –
- Ann Fogarty (fashion designer) –
- James Dickey (poet) –
- Stan Getz (musician) –
- Thomas Smothers III (comedian) –
- Bo Hopkins (actor) –
- Graham Nash (musician ) –
- Farrah Fawcett (actress) –
- Jessica Savitch (broadcast journalist) –
- Christie Brinkley (model) –
- Michael Weiss (champion figure skater) –
- Shakira (singer) –
Died
- Boris Karloff (actor) –
- Bertrand Russell (mathematician & philosopher) –
- Gene Kelly (dancer & actor) –
- Philip Seymour Hoffman (actor) –
Events
- Cardiff Giant hoax revealed–
- The Knights of Columbus formed, New Haven, CT–
- Grand Central Terminal, the great train station of New York City, opened. Over 150,000 people visited on opening day–
- Charlie Chaplin made his film debut in Making a Living–
- The Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV–
Weather
- The Wabash River in Indiana crested nine feet above flood stage–
- Groundhog Day gale hit northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada–
- An East Coast blizzard brought winds up to 50 mph and below-zero temperatures–
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