Almanac of Absurdities for 10/12

It's National Free Thought day. Most people still can't afford it. On 1823, Charles MacIntosh sells his first raincoat. The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy was first published on this day in 1979. Birthdays for Sam Moore of “Sam and Dave”, Aleister Crowley, and Art Clokey, creator of “Gumby.”