Alamanac of Absurdities 10/4/10

On this day in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII institutes the “Gregorian” Calendar, and in Italy, Portugal, Poland and Spain, October the 4th is followed by October 15, which cut way back on Halloween Preparations. On this day in 1957, the Russians scared the beejezus out of the US by Launching a small electronic beeping ball into orbit. Sputnik kicks off the Space Race. Birthdays for Rutherford B. Hayes and Anne Rice.