GooG DooD

Monday, October 2, 2023

Celebrating the Appalachian Trail

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Today’s slideshow Doodle celebrates the Appalachian Trail — click the Doodle to explore the 2,190-mile footpath that spans across 14 U.S. states! The Appalachian trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, and has served sightseeing hikers for nearly 100 years. It traverses through dense forests, across rushing rivers, and over mountain summits along the east coast. On this day in 1968 The National Trails System Act established the Appalachian Trail as one of the country’s first National Scenic Trails.

Benton MacKaye, a forester, conservationist, and lifelong outdoorsman, first proposed the idea in 1921. His original plan, titled An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning, outlined a stretch of several self-sustaining agricultural camps along the way. Many like-minded people started joining his cause, and the community eventually became known as the Appalachian Trail Conference.

In 1937, thanks to combined efforts of many trailblazers, the Appalachian Trail became fully connected from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Ten years later, a hiker named Earl Shaffer reported the first thru-hike from end-to-end and ignited a wave of interest. Over fourteen thousand people have completed the trek since.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Trails System Act in 1968, which declared the Appalachian Trail as one of the first national scenic trails and recognized it as federal land. Finally, in 2014, the last major stretch of land was acquired, turning initial dreams for the trail into reality.

Nowadays, in a collaborative effort to conserve its natural glory, the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and many volunteers maintain and manage the historic footpath. Thousands of pathfinders visit the route each year with the intention of completing the four- to six-month long thru-hike.

Happy trails!

Fumiko Enchi's 118th Birthday

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Today’s Doodle celebrates the 118th birthday of Fumiko Enchi, a Japanese feminist and writer who rose to literary fame during the post-World War II era. She wrote several plays and novels about the unfair domestic lifestyles that women were expected to lead. The characters she created were direct reflections of her own experiences, and evolved as her career and life progressed.

Enchi was born on this day in 1905 in Tokyo. From an early age, she was exposed to the art of storytelling — her grandmother introduced her to kabuki theater. At 21 years old, Enchi published her first play titled A Birthplace, which was well received by the public.

Unfortunately, the writer grew ill and lost her home during World War II, causing her to temporarily retreat from the literary world. Enchi eventually found her way back to the pen and focused more on fiction, writing tales that explored the gender discrimination, lack of equality, and wrongful treatment of women caused by Japan’s patriarchal society. In 1953, she won the Women’s Literature Prize for her story Starving Days.

Throughout the rest of her career, Enchi published novels that featured strong, introspective female protagonists. She was particularly fond of works written by women during the Heian era and adopted similar topics: maternity, familial duty, lust, aging, and more. Enchi’s expressive voice gave these themes a modern twist and cemented her status as a leading Japanese writer.

Some of her most celebrated works include The Waiting Years (1957), Masks (1958), and A Tale of False Fortunes (1965). Enchi won several awards including the Bunka Kunsho (or Order of Culture), the highest honor a Japanese citizen can receive, in 1985. She was also elected to the Japan Art Academy, the nation’s premier institution for recognizing accomplished artists.

Happy birthday, Fumiko Enchi!

Friday, September 1, 2023

Uzbekistan Independence Day 2023

Today’s annual Doodle celebrates Uzbekistan Independence Day, or Mustaqillik Kuni! On this day in 1991, Uzbekistan declared independence from the USSR and became a sovereign nation.

Following the August Coup in Moscow, President Islam Karimov of the former Uzbek SSR declared Uzbekistan an independent country. The Supreme Soviet of Uzbekistan accepted this resolution, and the following day was recognized as a national holiday.

On Independence Day, citizens gather in each of Uzbekistan’s 12 regions and attend concerts, parades, firework shows, and speeches to honor the country’s progress and prosperity. The biggest celebration occurs at Mustaqillik Maydoni (or Independence Square) in the capital city of Tashkent. And of course, no holiday celebrations would be complete without plov, a popular rice dish topped with mutton, onions, and grated carrots.

Happy Independence Day, Uzbekistan!

Singapore National Elections 2023

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Switzerland National Day 2023

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Today’s Doodle celebrates Switzerland’s National Day, a day when people from all 26 cantons (or districts) come together to honor the country’s history and culture. On this day in 1291, the three cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden signed the Federal Charter and formed an alliance that promised unity against outsiders.

Exactly 600 years later, the historic pact was celebrated for the first time, in 1899, and has been an annual observance ever since. Festivities often start with a traditional farmers brunch offered by many local farmers on their estates to be continued by political speeches and a gathering on the “Rütli” Meadow where it's said that the confederates took their oath that formed the historic alliance. At night, bonfires on the many mountaintops and fireworks enlighten the sky.

Swiss flags, like the one waving in today’s Doodle, are flown across the country and even sit atop special bread rolls called zopf.

Happy National Day, Switzerland!