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[hobie16]

R. D. Burman’s 77th birthday



When R.D. Burman was growing up, it was assumed he would follow in his father's footsteps and compose music for Bollywood. But no one quite predicted that his disciplined practice and extensive music training would lead him to become one of the most popular Bollywood composers of his time!

Early on, he was given the nickname Pancham, from the Bengali word for 5. In fact, at the age of 9, R.D. Burman was already composing music for hit films, since his father S.D. Burman included his son's Sar jo tera chakraaye in the film Pyaasa. As his career developed, he was known for making music out of anything from laughter to blowing over the tops of glass bottles. Bringing in influences from all over the world, from disco, to funk, to cabaret, R.D. Burman revolutionized Bollywood and brought films like Caravan to life with the iconic Piya Tu Ab To Aaja.

Today's doodle celebrates R.D. Burman's 77th birthday and honors his lifelong commitment to composing top-notch music for Bollywood.

[hobie16]

19th Anniversary of the first Sepaktakraw Women's Competition



ให้ไปช่องระบายอากาศ! Today marks the 19th anniversary of the first women's sepak takraw competition. The sport is like volleyball except instead of using arms and hands, you use feet, knees, hips, chest and head. Athletes perform acrobatic kicks, flips, and techniques like the horse-kick serve to rocket-power the takraw over the net. A sepak or 'slam' of the takraw can hit blazing speeds of over 70 miles per hour. The Thai women's team regularly out-perform their rivals, and are poised for yet another dominant year.

[hobie16]

Edward Koiki Mabo’s 80th birthday



Born on the Australian island of Mer in 1936, Edward Koiki Mabo was an energetic campaigner for the rights of indigenous people and their claim to the lands declared terra nullius, or belonging to no one, despite the history of its earlier inhabitants. He also set up a health service and a school in Townsville, Queensland where he lived with his wife and their ten children.

The “Mabo Case” triumphed in the courts in 1992 - overturning terra nullius and returning ownership of the islands to the indigenous people. Although he died shortly before the verdict, his activism changed the lives of so many.

[hobie16]

165th Anniversary of First Firefighter's Corp in Chile




Since 1851, Chile’s bomberos have risked life and limb to keep citizens safe from fire. There are 307 individual fire departments across Chile bonded together by Chile’s National Board of Fire Departments. What makes the bomberos especially unique is that they all serve on a volunteer basis.

It all started on this day in the bustling seaport of Valparaiso, where the city’s most influential citizens came together to form the First Firefighter’s Corp. More fire departments followed, each created by and for the community it represented.

Today’s Doodle was inspired by those who’ve served the people of Chile through their dedication and selflessness. Though they operate independently, the country’s bomberos share a common goal of working hard to protect local neighborhoods and communities.

[hobie16]

Canada Day 2016



Break out the Canadian flags and barbecue - today is Canada Day! Also known as the fête du Canada and Canada’s birthday, today celebrates July 1, 1867, when three British North American provinces joined to create the confederation of Canada.

While July 1 became a holiday in Canada in 1879, it wasn’t officially celebrated until its 50th anniversary in 1917. Celebrations this year (and most) include parades, outdoor concerts, and air shows from Canada’s Air Force.

Today’s Doodle commemorates the holiday with a depiction of aurora borealis, or the Northern Lights. Arguably one of nature’s most beautiful sights, the Northern Lights are best viewed on a crisp Canadian night. Happy birthday, Canada!

[hobie16]

Medic 2016



Beep, beep! Indonesia’s streets are busier than usual today due to Mudik, the mass migration of city dwellers to their rural hometowns.

Coinciding with the end of Ramadan, Mudik sends millions of travelers weaving through the country via car, bus, motorbike, and train. Today’s Doodle captures the excitement of this journey and the gifts that are exchanged at the end of the road.

Safe travels to all this year!

[hobie16]

Fourth of July 2016



Happy Fourth of July! Today’s Doodle celebrates America’s 240th anniversary by depicting the flag’s stars participating in classic American pastimes - baseball, grilling, surfing, marching bands, and more.

Happy birthday, USA!

[felinefan]

Edward Koiki Mabo’s 80th birthday



Born on the Australian island of Mer in 1936, Edward Koiki Mabo was an energetic campaigner for the rights of indigenous people and their claim to the lands declared terra nullius, or belonging to no one, despite the history of its earlier inhabitants. He also set up a health service and a school in Townsville, Queensland where he lived with his wife and their ten children.

The “Mabo Case” triumphed in the courts in 1992 - overturning terra nullius and returning ownership of the islands to the indigenous people. Although he died shortly before the verdict, his activism changed the lives of so many.

Another Australian native who fought for the rights of indigenous Australians was Neville Bonner, known as the Quiet Achiever; the late Australian country singer Slim Dusty had a song about him, and I once read the transcript of an interview with Neville. It's quite interesting.

[hobie16]

Carmen Costa’s 96th Birthday



Throughout the years, the voice of Afro-Brazilian singer Carmen Costa has reverberated from radios, record players, boomboxes and more, with songs such as "Está Chegando A Hora," living on as a festival anthem. Beginning her music career in her late teens in the early 1940s, Costa went on to share the stage with some of the most respected samba and bossa nova artists and musicians of the 20th century. She also spent time touring and living in the U.S. where she appeared in film and produced a long list of hit records.

Born in Rio de Janeiro on July 5th 1920, today’s Doodle celebrates what would have been Costa’s 96th birthday.

[hobie16]

Juno Reaches Jupiter



A NASA satellite built like a tank is settling into polar orbit around Jupiter, the mysterious gas giant two doors down from Earth.

Juno’s five year, 500 million mile journey will culminate in a treasure trove of new pictures and measurements taken by its nine instruments. What Juno tells us about Jupiter will detail the planet’s magnetic and gravitational fields and interior structure, revealing how it was formed and providing clues to our own planet’s humble beginnings.

In satellite terms, Juno is a warrior. Building the 3,500-pound device for Jupiter’s brutal atmosphere took seven years and countless hours of testing. NASA scientists equipped Juno with titanium shields to withstand pummeling rocks, powerful radiation, and freezing temperatures. It’s armor will keep it safe and working properly over its year-long polar orbit collecting data about Jupiter.

Today's Doodle celebrates this incredible moment of human achievement. Bravo, Juno!

Visit NASA’s page on the Google Cultural Institute to see how space exploration has evolved over the years.