World Senior Citizens’ Day
August 21
There are 8,000 baby boomers in the United States turning 65 every day. In 2013, adults over 65 constituted 14 percent of the population in the United States and will account for an estimated 20 percent by 2050. There are already 55,000 Americans over age 100, and by 2050 the number of centenarians will reach 600,000—roughly the population of the entire state of Vermont! Currently people over 65 years number 483 million in the world and by 2030 the number will reach 974 million. By the year 2025 approximately 18 percent of the world population will be seniors. As per the Guinness Book of World Records, Jeanne Louise Calment was the oldest human who lived for 122 years and 164 days. She was born in France on February 21, 1875, and died at a nursing home in Arles, southern France, on August 4, 1997.
World Goat Day
August 21
There are about 450 million goats in the world and more than 210 breeds. Goats were one of the first animals to be domesticated. They were even brought over on the Mayflower and early explorers used goat skins for water and wine bottles and in biblical times goat skins were used for parchment for writing. Their pupils are rectangular to give them a larger range of vision. They can see 320 to 340 degrees, however, they are unable to look up or down without moving their head. Goats live 8 to 12 years.
Today’s Birthdays of Note….
Kenny Rogers – Country Singer – 81 – born in Houston, Texas
Wilt Chamberlain – Hall of Fame Basketball Player – 63 – born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
