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Google Gameday Doodle #1

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Laura Secord's 240th Birthday



“The Americans are coming!” Those were not the words of Paul Revere but of Canadian heroine Laura Secord, who warned British forces of an impending American attack during the War of 1812. Secord walked 20 miles in the early morning hours to the DeCew House, the HQ of British lieutenant and war hero James FitzGibbon. We mark what would have been her 240th birthday in our doodle in Canada today.

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M.F. Husain’s 100th Birthday



Today's Doodle celebrates the 100th birthday of one of India's most renowned and multifaceted artists, M.F. Husain, who passed away June 9th, 2011, at the age of 95.

Maqbool Fida Husain, commonly known as M.F. Husain, has been called "The Picasso of India.” This was partly due to his modernist, slightly cubist paintings and to the sheer volume of work he produced. His middle name, Fida, can be translated as “obsessed” or “devoted,” which could also describe his approach to making art.

Husain’s first love was cinema and he originally set out to become a film director in Bombay. But in order to make a living, he got a job painting film billboards and making toys. Painting soon became his passion, and inspired by the changes in India in the late 1940s, he helped found The Progressive Artists Group of Bombay (PAG). He and his fellow artists attempted to address Indian themes, culture and people in a modern way and bring Indian art to an international audience. Husain became particularly known for his energetic painting of horses and serial depictions of classic narratives such as the Mahabharata.

Eventually the recognition and acclaim he received from his early paintings led him back to cinema. With funding from the government of India, he wrote and directed his first film, Through the Eyes of a Painter. The success of that first film led to film projects and a close relationship with cinema that he would maintain throughout the rest of his life. Still he continued to paint, make prints, take photos and find new themes and ideas to explore. He was ever restless, ever prolific and energized by the world around him.

As he said in a television interview in 2010, "What is this physical presence? In today's world with so much technology and communication you are everywhere and a creative person is not bound by any geography." This doodle celebrates Husain's unapologetic devotion to beauty, people, and the world.

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Konstantin Tsiolkovsky's 158th birthday

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Rugby World Cup 2015 Opening Day

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Google Gameday Doodle #2



Football is back, the leaves are changing, and this week, in an overzealous bid to impress the squad, “g” decides to haul the entirety of the equipment room onto the field. Yardsticks are for referees, “g”, but there’s always next week.

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Respect for the Aged Day 2015



Since 1966, Respect for the Aged Day has been a time to revere the wisest people we know. Today Japan celebrates its elders, the men and women who paved the way for their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to leave their mark on society. Communities across the country will gather to enjoy musical performances and offer their elders gifts like bento boxes, flowers, and handmade crafts.

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Arbor Day 2015 (Brazil)



Today we celebrate Arbor Day by taking time to appreciate and help preserve the environment around us. Trees provide shelter, food, clean air, and many other benefits for wildlife and humans alike.

Doodler Olivia Huynh chose to make a short, serene, looping animation featuring a callicarpa reevesii tree and a sabiá bird, both of which are native to beautiful Brazil.

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First Day of Fall 2015 (Northern Hemisphere)



Notice what’s been popping up lately? Pumpkins, squash, and some curious little critters, hungry for a harvest?

No surprise – today’s the first day of fall! It’s also known as the Autumnal Equinox, a time when day and night are equally long... meaning nature’s about to make way for the shorter days of winter.

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Google's 17th Birthday