Twin Week
First Full Week in August
The birth rate for twins has increased a whopping 76 percent since 1980. In fact, one in every 30 babies born in 2009 was a twin (compared to 1980, when the rate was one baby in every 53). One factor contributing to the upsurge is the age of mothers has trended up over the years, and a woman in her thirties is more likely to have twins than someone in her twenties. If a woman inherits a certain gene that causes her to hyper-ovulate (meaning she’s more likely to release multiple eggs during ovulation), her chance of having fraternal twins — which are produced from two separate eggs — increases. And since that gene is genetic, parents may also pass it on to their kids, making it possible for twins to run in the family.
U.S. Coast Guard Day
August 4
The original name of United States Coast Guard was Revenue Marine when it was established on August 4th, 1790 by the congress. The head of Revenue Marine was Alexander Hamilton since he held the position as Secretary of Treasury. The main function of the Revenue Marine at that time was to collect custom duties in the seaports of United States. It was estimated that 42,000 men and women were in active duty in the Coast Guard as of 2012. It also had 8.700 full time civilian employees, 32,000 auxiliarists and 7,900 reservists. It takes the 12th place of the largest naval forces in the world based on its size.
Today’s Birthdays of Note….
Barak Obama – 44th President of U.S. – born in Honolulu, Hawaii
Louis “Stachmo” Armstrong – Jazz Musician – born in New York Orleans, Louisiana
