• Dog Days begin today. Traditionally, the hottest 40 days of the year, blamed by our ancient ancestors on Sirius, the Dog Star.

Dog Days of Summer

     • Air Conditioning Appreciation Days begin today.

     • The Calgary Stampede begins today in Alberta. It's one of the world's largest rodeos.

Calgary Stampede Fun

     • Today is Stay Out of the Sun Day. For health's sake, give your skin a break (wellcat.com)..

     • Today is Compliment Your Mirror Day.

     • Today is National Chocolate Wafer Day.

     • Today is Idaho Admission Day. Idaho became the 43rd U.S. state on July 3, 1890.

     • Today is Independence Day in Belarus and Heroes Day in Zambia.

On this date in . . .

1871: The Jesse James gang robbed the bank at Corydon, Iowa, and escaped with $45-thousand.

1922: Fruit Garden and Home magazine published its first issue. Two years later, the publication became Better Homes and Gardens.

1940: The legendary comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello debuted on NBC Radio, replacing Fred Allen for the summer

1965: Roy Rogers’ horse Trigger died at age 33. Roy had the horse stuffed and displayed at the Double-R-Bar ranch in Apple Valley, California.

1966: Tony Cloninger had a good day. His Braves beat the Giants in Candlestick Park 17 to 3, and Cloninger not only was the winning pitcher, he also hit two grand slam homers and drove in a 9th run with a single.

1970: Some 200,000 heard Jimi Hendrix play "The Star Spangled Banner" as the 3-day Atlanta Pop Festival opened in Byron, Georgia. Two days later Governor Lester Maddox said he would seek legislation to ban rock festivals in Georgia.

1974: The city of Catania, Sicily, banned the table soccer game "Flipper" because it diverted the young from their studies.

1986: President Ronald Reagan re-lit the Statue of Liberty's torch in New York Harbor. A $66 million restoration of the statue was completed 100 year after its dedication.

1989: Actor Jim Backus died at age 76. He was the voice of Mr. Magoo and played the millionaire Thurston Howell on Gilligan's Island.

1992: Three performing dolphins escaped from their pen in Key Largo, Florida and showed up several days later in a golf course lagoon in Key Biscayne. They performed for golfers voluntarily at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m., apparently hoping to be fed.

1994: Actor Liam Neeson and actress Natasha Richardson were married.

1996: Animal activists condemned a bar in Wellington, New Zealand, for encouraging customers to use frozen chickens as bowling balls.

2004: The UN brought together experts from 60 countries in Geneva to discuss standards for classification and safe storage of fireworks.

2004: Maria Sharapova won her first Grand Slam title by beating Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 at Wimbledon.

2005: Water temperatures in the lower Great Lakes were reported at a 5-year high.