Pumpkin

70: Erika Szeles

Erika Kornélia Szeles

Erika Kornélia Szeles was born on January 6, 1941 in Budapest, Hungary.

Her Parents were Noémi Blumenfeld and Sándor Szeles (Schlesinger.)

She was from a Jewish Family and born at during the height of the Anti-Jewish Laws made by Miklós Horthy.

Erika’s Father died in a Concentration Camp in 1944.

Erika and her Mother survived the German Occupation of Hungary (1944-1945) and the Deportation and murder of 564,000 Hungarian Jews.

She completed her Primary School Studies at the Budapest Primary Girls' School.

After Primary School, instead of going to High School Erika became a Chef Apprentice at the Béke Hotel.

When the Hungarian Uprising against the Hungarian and Soviet Communists began in October 1956 Erika joined her Boyfriend in the armed struggle.

She quickly learned how to use a sub-machine gun and fought alongside the Group in several skirmishes with Soviet Soldiers.

On November 1, 1956, Danish Photojournalist, Vagn Hansen, took the famous picture of her.

A few days later she left the Armed Resistance Group and joined the Red Cross to help the wounded.

On November 8, 1956 Erika, wearing a Red Cross Uniform, was killed by the Soviets as she ran to care for a wounded Person.

She was 15 years old.

She was buried in the Kerepesi Churchyard in Budapest.

Her Mother grieved for Erika for the next 34 years  - living by herself until she died in 1990.

70: Pictures

Here are Pictures of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising:

70: Hungary

70 years ago today (October 23, 1956) the Hungarian Uprising began.

It was a Revolution against the Communist Hungarian Government that was in power since 1949 and the Soviet Union which had occupied Hungary since 1945.

The Uprising lasted 19 days (until November 11^th.)

On October 23, 1956 Hungarian Students in Budapest appealed to the Hungarian People to join them at the Hungarian Parliament Building to protest the Soviet Union’s dominance over Hungarian Affairs through its Puppet Government of Mátyás Rákosi.

It came after Soviet Leader, Nikita Khrushchev's famous "Secret Speech" where he denounced the Crimes of Joseph Stalin in February 1956.

The Students had 16 Points with the following being the most important:

The removal of all Soviet Troops from Hungary

A new Government must be constituted under the direction of Imre Nagy

Revision of the Hungarian-Soviet Friendship Agreement to favor Hungarian Control over Hungary

While the Students were outside the Magyar Radio Station a Group of the State Protection Authority (Hungarian: Államvédelmi Hatóság, ÁVH) the Communist Secret Police in Hungary shot and killed several of the Students.

Ordinary Hungarians then joined in the Uprising.

They formed Local Militias to attack the AVH and go after the Communist Leaders that wouldn’t step down.

On October 24, 1956 Imre Nagy assumed control of the Council of Ministers of the Hungarian People's Republic.

He disbanded the AVH on October 28^th, withdrew Hungry from the Warsaw Pact on November 1^st and promised Free Elections.

Initially the Soviet Union agreed to talk with the new Nagy Government, but then on November 4^th the Soviets invaded Hungary with 31,500 Troops to end the Uprising.

The Uprising ended on November 11,1956.

3,000 Hungarian Men, Women and Children were killed.

13,000 Hungarian Men, Women and Children were wounded.

200,000 Hungarian Men, Women and Children fled Hungary for Neutral Austria.

The Communist Hungarians and Soviets arrested 26,000 People.

400 were Executed for their role in the Uprising.

18,000 were interned in Prison Camps for their role in the Uprising.

Before the Uprising 800,000 Hungarians were Members of the Hungarian Communist Party, but after the Uprising in December 1956 only 100,000 Hungarians were Members of the Hungarian Communist Party.

Imre Nagy was lured out of the Yugoslav Embassy in Budapest by false Soviet promises on November 22, 1956.

He was tried in a Communist Show Trial in June 1958, found guilty and executed.

The Hungarian Uprising was forbidden to be taught or discussed inside Hungary from 1956-1989.

In 1989, October 23^rd became a National Holiday in Non-Communist Hungary.

The last Soviet Soldier left Hungary on June 19, 1991 (after 46 years of Occupation.)

In 1992, Russian President Boris Yeltsin apologized for the Soviet’s Invasion to the Hungarian Parliament.

Pope Pius XII called the world's Catholics to pray for the victory of the Uprising.

The United States, France and the United Kingdom did little to nothing to help the Hungarian Uprising.

On November 4, 1956, the USSR vetoed the Security Council's resolution criticizing the USSR's invasion of Hungary.

Radio Free Europe, funded by the United States of America, has been one of the main sources of information for the Hungarian Public.

After the Soviet attack on November 4th, the Radio Channel continuously encouraged the Armed Insurgents to persevere and spoke of the expected Military help from the West.

The unfounded hope thus created may have contributed to the Armed Insurgents' undertaking to the last and then to their disappointment in the face of immense superiority.

Time named the Hungarian Freedom Fighter its Man of the Year for 1956

Tom Skerritt

 

2,250

 

Thursday

 

Stuttering

 

15 Minutes

 

It's Happening!

My Lifetime

 

Stay Won!

 

White Cane Day

 

Pet Halloween

 

Thanksgiving

 

Hot Chocolate

 

Drive A Stick

 

Russian Diesel

From the AP:

“Trump strikes deal with Putin for Russian diesel in sharp reversal of US policy ahead of midterms”

President Donald Trump said he has struck a deal to obtain diesel from Russia, a stunning reversal of years of U.S. pressure on Moscow over its war with Ukraine and an attempt to address high fuel prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

Trump said on social media on Friday that he struck the deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call in which he was expected to discuss a suspected case of plague in Russia. Instead, Trump announced that Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons "immediately thereafter." Russia will deliver an additional 3 million tons "within a short period of time" after that, he wrote. Trump's shocking announcement comes after he signed a sweeping Russia sanctions law last month that aimed at clamping down on Russia's energy revenues, among other areas, that fuel its war against Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it, "a weak decision, unfortunately, a weak decision by strong partners," according to a statement released by the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington. Trump's announced the deal as his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were meeting with Ukrainian officials to discuss a proposal to try to end the Russia-Ukraine war. "I believe our team is simply being used as a smokescreen. And that is certainly not fair. It is certainly not how partners should treat each other," Zelenskyy said.

Trump's move casts doubt on the likelihood of the White House imposing sanctions on Russia this month, given that a bipartisan law passed by Congress directs the administration to target the top importers of Russian oil and gas. Trump, in his announcement, did not address the sanctions or Russia's war but said, "Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority."

Washington and Moscow offer few details on deal The White House did not immediately respond to questions about who was paying for the diesel from Russia and when the fuel being supplied under the agreement would become available. It also did not clarify whether subsequent supplies of Russian diesel set to come next month would be supplied prior to Election Day on Nov. 3.

Gas prices globally have surged as the war in Iran upends the energy sector. While diesel future prices dipped on the news on Friday, the national average for a gallon of diesel in the U.S. remained high at $6.28, according to AAA, after hitting a record $6.52 on Sept. 22. A statement from Putin, released by the Kremlin on Friday, said that during their call he and Trump dedicated "significant attention to the prospects of resolving the Ukrainian crisis" and also discussed "the situation around Iran and various aspects of bilateral relations."

Russia "confirmed its readiness to supply oil and oil products to the American and global markets," Putin said. "I am confident that this will have a positive impact on the entire global economy." The two leaders agreed to continue contacts, Putin said in the statement.

Trump and Putin's deal draws immediate backlash Zelenskyy, in a lengthy post online reacting to the deal, said Russia would repay it "with further terror and perfidy." He cast it as an investment in the war, allowing it to be prolonged.

"It plays into Russia's hands — allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world," he said. Rep. Don Beyer, the senior House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee, called Trump's announcement

"This is what we warned anyone who would listen: Trump isn't the slightest bit trustworthy when it comes to Russia," Beyer said in a statement on X. "Giving him expanded tariff powers in hopes he would use them to help Ukraine was a mistake. Now he's lifting sanctions on Russian fossil fuels." The law Trump signed last month envisions sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers and bans all new U.S. investment in Russia and the handling of sovereign debt.

It also directed Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports. The U.S. has not imported Russian oil or gas since 2022, when the Biden administration banned them because of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Treasury Department moves to ease diesel sanctions for six months Shortly after Trump made the announcement, the Treasury Department said it was immediately issuing a temporary license allowing Russian diesel to be supplied to the global market. This is the latest in several licenses the U.S. Treasury has issued regarding Russian fuel shipments since the start of the Iran war earlier this year. But it is the first such license to ease sanctions on diesel for a period lasting longer than the standard 30-day window since the start of the Ukraine war.

The new so-called general license means U.S. sanctions will not apply until April 2027 on deliveries of Russian diesel that has been loaded onto tankers as of Friday. The department extended similar easing of sanctions in March and April even though Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had ruled out such a move earlier in the year.

The extensions continue to underscore how the fallout from the Iran war has boosted Moscow's ability to profit from its energy exports, which had been restrained by the U.S. and other allies since the invasion of Ukraine. It's unclear what kind of impact the move will have on oil prices, given overall global supply shortages. "It's kind of shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic," said Michael Lynch of the Energy Policy Research Foundation, a non-partisan research institution focused on energy and economics. "If we get diesel from Russia, basically it means that their existing customers are not going to get it and they'll have to go somewhere else, and that will keep the price basically where it is now," Lynch said.

Russia, once a major exporter of diesel, has banned exports since July as it has struggled to meet demand inside the country because of Ukraine's repeated attacks on Russian oil refineries. The International Energy Agency says Russian diesel output has fallen by about 30%. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told state news agency Tass that Russia is "immediately starting to lift restrictions on diesel exports ahead of schedule." He said that Moscow could start supplies to the U.S. already in October, and that Russia's domestic market will be "fully supplied" with diesel, as well.

^ I hope Ukraine bombs the Russian Diesel Pipelines and Ships.

DON"T BUY RUSSIAN DIESEL!!!!!!

If you do you are helping commit Mass Murder of innocent Men, Women and Children. ^

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/economy/policy/articles/trump-signs-historic-tax-free-114500969.html

3 Day Weekend

 

Post

 

Approved

 

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Wednesday

 

74: Putin

 

 Today (October 7th) is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 74th  Birthday.

The best thing I can wish him and his country today is a defeat in Ukraine.

Pet Store

 

Eva Marie Saint

 

Judge Less

 

Russian Plague

 

1 Night

 

Werner Teitz

Today is World Cerebral Palsy Day.

(Werner with his Mother.)

Werner Teitz was a bright boy who loved collecting stamps and writing letters to his Parents and Relatives.

At 6 years old in 1931, he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and was admitted to a Medical Facility in Munich.

Shortly after a rise in Antisemitic violence in 1938, the facility informed Werner’s Parents, Emil and Sophie Teitz, that it would no longer care for Jewish Patients.

While the Family managed to move Werner to a Facility in the Netherlands, the rest of the Family, including their younger Son, Walter, eventually found refuge in England.

They left Werner behind, believing he would be out of harm’s way in the Netherlands.

When their Visas arrived, Emil, Sophie, and Walter immigrated to the United States in April 1940.

US and UK Immigration laws forbade entry to People who were likely to become dependent on Government Support.

Werner likely would not have received Visas for either Country due to his Physical Disability.

Germany invaded the Netherlands just one month later in May 1940.

“I hope that I will be able to go home next year,” Werner wrote in a letter to his Parents in 1942. “I so would like to be at home next year for our dear Walter’s Bar Mitzvah. How is father’s business? Does Mother still knit mittens? Where is Grandmother now? I wait with anticipation on a letter from my Parents … .”

Werner, however, never made it home.

A year after he wrote this letter, Werner was removed from his Facility because he was Jewish and taken to the Westerbork Transit Camp.

 From there, he was deported to the Sobibor Death Camp in German-Occupied Poland, where he was murdered upon arrival in May 1943.

He was 18 years old.

Before Halloween

 

CP Day

 

36: Reunification

Today is German Unity Day (German: Tag der Deutschen Einheit.)

It remembers when West Germany united with East Germany in October 1990 – when Communism collapsed in the East.

After Nazi Germany was defeated in May 1945 Germany was split into 4 Occupation Zones (French, British, Soviet and American.)

Berlin, located 100 miles inside the Soviet Occupation Zone, was also split between the French, British, Soviet and Americans.

In 1949 the western French, British and American Occupation Zones joined together to become the Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland)  - it was also known as West Germany.

Its Capital was Bonn.

In 1949 the eastern Soviet Occupation Zone of Soviet became the Democratic Republic of Germany (German: Deutsche Demokratische Republik)  - it was also known as East Germany.

Its Capital was East Berlin.

West Germany was a Democracy while East Germany was a Communist Dictatorship.

West Germany joined NATO in 1955 while East Germany joined the Warsaw Pact in 1955.

West Germany used the West German Mark (German: Deutsche Mark) – which was Internationally Traded - while East Germany used the East German Mark (German: Mark der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik) from 1951-July 1990 – which wasn’t Internationally Traded -  and then the West German Mark from July 1990-October 1990.

East Germany closed travel between East Germany and West Germany from 1945-1990 with the Inner-German Border (German: innerdeutsche Grenze) and between East Berlin and West Berlin from 1961-1990 with the Berlin Wall (German: Berliner Mauer) and killed or arrested any East Germans trying to flee to freedom.

German Reunification (German: Deutsche Wiedervereinigung) began when the Berlin Wall was unexpected opened (on November 9, 1989) to East German Citizens for the first time in 28 years.

The first Free Elections in East Germany (since before the Nazis took power in 1933 or the Communists took power in 1945) occurred in March 1990 and resulted in Pro-Unification Parties gaining power over the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (German: Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands) Communist Party that had been the only allowed Political Party since 1945.

East Germany, which had always been a poor Communist Country full of Rationing and Shortages of Basic Things entered into a Monterrey Union with West Germany in July 1990 to use the stable West German Mark.

East Germany withdrew from the Warsaw Pact in 1990.

East Germany dissolved itself and merged with West Germany on October 3, 1990 under the Declaration of Accession (German: Beitrittserklärung) and the Reunification Treaty (German: Wiedervereinigungsvertrag) between East Germany and West Germany.

East Berlin joined with West Berlin and became Berlin  - the Capital of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Large Construction Projects were made to bring the Former East Berlin and the Former West Berlin into a Unified City and Capital for the first time in 45 years.

The Former East German Federal States also merged with the West German Federal States.

The current Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is not a Successor State of West Germany, but is a continuation of West Germany founded in 1949.

A Reunited Germany continued West Germany’s Seats in the United Nations, NATO,

The Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany (German: Vertrag über die abschließende Regelung in Bezug auf Deutschland) was signed by the French, the British, the Soviets and the Americans in September 1990 in which each Occupation Force gave up all control over every part of Germany - East Germany and West Germany – back to the German People.

The British, French and Soviets did not initially want to allow for German Reunification, but America worked with each Country and West Germany to get the required approval.

There was little to no Lustration in Reunited Germany after 1990.

Most of the Communist Leaders, Stassi Officers, East German Border Guards, etc.were allowed to either continue in their previous Jobs or were not brought to justice for their Crimes (just like West Germany did with its Nazis from 1949-1990.)

After Reunification eastern Germany faced a Brain Drain with Former East German Doctors, teachers, Highly Skilled Workers and the Young moving to western Germany leaving eastern Germany with High Unemployment and a Lack of Skilled Professions.

The Last Russian Troops left Reunited Germany on August 31, 1994 (after 49 years of Occupation.)

Even after 36 years of German Reunification there is still a distinct difference between weatern and eastern Germany.

It is often referred to as the "Wall in the Head" (German: Mauer im Kopf.)

Ossis (Easterners) are stereotyped as Racist, Poor, and largely influenced by Russian Culture, while Wessis (Westerners) are usually considered Snobbish, Dishonest, Wealthy, and Selfish.

The Reunited German Government spent a total of $2 Trillion US Dollars ($24 Trillion US Dollars in 2026) to bring the Standard of Living of eastern Germany to that of western Germany.

Most of the money came from the Solidarity Surcharge (German:  Solidaritätszuschlag) that was paid by western Germans to support eastern Germans.

Even after 35 years of Reunification there is Ostalgie (Nostalgia for East Germany) by Former East Germans who want the Old Products, TV Shows, Music and Dictatorial Structure that they had in Communist East Germany.

In 2025 40% of Former East Germans continue to identify as East Germans instead of just Germans.

Unity Day

 

Thursday

 

91: Julie Andrews

 

Stuttering

 

October

 

Holidays

Daily October Holidays 2026 Calendar

 

October Monthly Celebrations

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

American Cheese Month

American Pharmacist Month

Apple Jack Month

Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Clergy Appreciation Month

Computer Learning Month

Cookie Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Eat Country Ham Month

International Drum Month

National Pizza Month

National Popcorn Poppin’ Month

National Vegetarian Month

Sarcastic Month

Seafood Month

 

 

October Weekly Events

Week 1

Get Organized Week

Customer Service Week

Week 2

 

Fire Prevention Week

Pet Peeve Week

14 – 20 Earth Sciences Week

Week 3

National Pharmacy Week

Pastoral Care Week

 

Daily October Holidays 2026 Calendar

October 1

International Coffee Day

International Day for the Elderly

National Homemade Cookies Day

Pumpkin Spice Day

World Vegetarian Day

October 2

National Custodial Worker Day

Name Your Car Day

World Farm Animals Day

World Smile Day

October 3

International Frugal Fun Day

National Boyfriends Day

Techies Day

Virus Appreciation Day

World Card Making Day

October 4

National Golf Day

National Taco Day

Oktoberfest

October 5

Do Something Nice Day

World Teacher’s Day

October 6

Come and Take it Day

Mad Hatter Day

Physician Assistant Day

October 7

Bald and Free Day

 Frappe Day

International Walk to School Day

National Forgiveness Day

 National Kale Day

October 8

American Touch Tag Day

National Pierogi Day

October 9

Curious Events Day

Fire Prevention Day

Leif Erikson Day

Moldy Cheese Day

World Egg Day

 October 10

International Newspaper Carrier Day

National Angel Food Cake Day

National Motorcycle Ride Day

Tender Loving Care Day

World Homeless Day

Fall Leaves Turning Point Park

October 11

International Day of the Girl Child

It’s My Party Day

October 12

Canadian Thanksgiving Day

Columbus Day

Cookbook Launch Day

Indigenous People Day

Old Farmer’s Day

Moment of Frustration Day

National Gumbo Day 

October 13

International Skeptics Day

National M&M Day

October 14

Be Bald and Free Day

Emergency Nurses Day

Fossil Day

National Dessert Day

National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day

Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day

October 15

National Grouch Day

White Cane Safety Day

October 16

Bosses Day

Dictionary Day

World Food Day

October 17

National Pasta Day

Sweetest Day

Wear Something Gaudy Day

October 18

National Meatloaf Appreciation Day

No Beard Day

October 19

Evaluate Your Life Day

National Seafood Bisque Day

October 20

Brandied Fruit Day

International Chefs Day   

U.K. National Waiters Day

October 21

Babbling Day

Count Your Buttons Day

International Nacho Day

Pumpkin Cheesecake Day

October 22

National Nut Day

Smart is Cool Day

October 23

National Mole Day

TV Talk Show Host Day

October 24

Make a Difference Day

National Bologna Day

United Nations Day 

October 25

Howl at the Moon Night

International Artist Day

Mother-In-Law Day

Punk for a Day Day

World Opera Day

World Pasta Day

October 26

National Mincemeat Day

National Pumpkin Day

October 27

Black Cat Day

National Tell a Story Day

Navy Day

October 28

National First Responders Day

Plush Animal Lover’s Day   

October 29

Hermit Day

National Cat Day

National Frankenstein Day

October 30

Frankenstein Friday

Haunted Refrigerator Night

National Candy Corn Day

Mischief Night

October 31

Carve a Pumpkin Day

Halloween

Increase Your Psychic Powers Day

Witch Stirring Cauldron, Witchcraft

https://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/october.htm

Coffee Day