May 12 - National Odometer Day

Happy National Odometer Day! On May 12 each year, today provides an opportunity to learn a little bit about the odometer. 

  

An odometer is an instrument that indicates the distance traveled by a vehicle. It may be electronic, mechanical or a combination of both.  

  

The word "odometer" comes from the Greek words hodos meaning path or gateway and metron, meaning measure. In some countries, an odometer is called a mileometer, kilometer, or tripometer. 

In the 1600s, odometers were first developed for wagons and other horse-drawn vehicles to measure distances traveled.  

  

In 1903, American inventors and brothers Arthur P. and Charles H. Warner of Beloit, Wisconsin developed the first 'newfangled' odometer for the automobile. It was later patented as the "auto-meter". 

  

At first their invention did not cause much concern, as the earliest automobiles could only attain moderate speeds. However, as cars got faster, a need to know one's speed became increasingly important.  

  

The brothers filled this need with their patented "auto-meter," which provided drivers not only with accurate readings of speeds up to sixty miles per hour but also kept track of the distances their cars had gone. 

The brothers would also patent other items including a tachometer, paper making machine, electric brake, and power clutch.  

  

At one point in their business, the Stewart-Warner Speedometer corporation developed a thermometer for the motor. However, they faced a lawsuit for patent infringement which they ultimately lost. 

Arthur P. was one of the earliest pilots in America. His largely self-educated electrical engineering background (as well as his curiosity) had led him to assemble and eventually fly a Curtiss Pusher airplane. 

Since 1903, technology has changed greatly. With that, the odometer continues to track how far we have traveled. It also tells us how far we go in a single trip. Other gauges monitor fuel consumption and oil pressure, speed and RPMs. 

  

HOW TO OBSERVE 

  

Whether your odometer is at 0 or 999,999, today is for new and classic car enthusiasts as well. Use #NationalOdometerDay to post on social media. 

  

HISTORY 

  

While National Day Calendar® continues to research this technology related holiday, they’ll check the tires and look under the hood for more information to share. 

  

How many miles does on your odometer does it say that you have traveled? 

  

#NationalOdometerDay 

@driveodometer 

@nichecinema

May 12 - National Limerick Day

Happy National Limerick Day! Observed annually on May 12, today celebrates the birthday of English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet, Edward Lear (May 12, 1812 – Jan. 29, 1888).   

Lear was also known mostly for his literary nonsense in poetry, prose, and limericks. 

  

The day also celebrates the limerick poem. Limerick poems were popularized by Lear’s 1846 poetry book A Book of Nonsense.  

A limerick is a very short, humorous, nonsense poem. Within a limerick, there are five lines. The first two lines rhyme with the fifth line and the third and fourth line rhyme together. 

The limerick also has a particular rhythm which is officially described as anapestic trimeter.  

THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY  

By Edward Lear 

"There was a Young Lady whose chin 
Resembled the point of a pin; 
So she had it made sharp, 
and purchased a harp, 
And played several tunes with her chin." 

While Lear is credited with popularizing the limerick, the poetry style existed long before the publication of his book.  

Even so, the limerick celebrates fun turns of phrase, rhythm, and humor in short form. It also plays with words and peoples’ expectations.

On August 22, 2019, the Bring Your Limericks to Limerick international poetry competition took place on a Saturday night at Dolans Music Venue, Limerick, Ireland.  

The unanimous winner that year was New York-born Dublin academic and native Sarah Moore Fitzgerald. 

Ironically living in the vicinity of Limerick, she walked away that evening with the first prize of €500 ($613.32). 

Her winning limerick went as follows: 

“While I fancy myself as a bard 

Reciting a limerick is hard 

This poem’s a mouthful 

My talent so doubtful 

That I fear I’ll be mentally scarred.”  

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Enter a limerick contest with a poem of your own. Read and share your favorite limericks using #NationalLimerickDay to post on social media.  

If you don’t have a favorite, try reading the 2011 puzzle book Looney Limericks, compiled by American author of satires Frank Jacobs. 

HISTORY 

Within their research, National Day Calendar® was unable to find the creator of this poetry day. However, the day has been observed since at least 1984. 

Do you think that you can write a limerick of your own today? 

#NationalLimerickDay
#WriteYourOwn 

@limerickcompetition 

@nichecinema 

Relevant Observances

• • Random Acts of Poetry Day 

• • Black Poetry Day 

• • National Poetry Day – United Kingdom and Ireland