November 10: Sesame Street, Diplomatic Shade & Marines

November 10 is a day of counting Muppets, pole-vaulting superstars, and one royal reminding us all that "shut up" can indeed be said with impeccable manners. Grab a cookie — Cookie Monster insists — and let's dig in.

The Day TV Learned to Count

In 1969, the very first episode of Sesame Street aired in the United States, introducing generations of kids to the letter of the day, the number of the day, and the quiet dread of a monster who eats cookies with zero portion control. Decades later it's still teaching toddlers their ABCs, which is more than can be said for most of adult group chats.

Also in the "public figures behaving memorably" category: in 2007, at the Ibero-American Summit in Santiago, Chile, King Juan Carlos I of Spain turned to Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez and asked, "Why don't you shut up?" after Chávez kept interrupting a speech. It remains the most regal way anyone has ever told someone to pipe down, and frankly we'd like it embroidered on a pillow.

Birthday Candles for the Famous

The November 10 birthday club is absurdly stacked. Swedish-American pole vaulter Armand Duplantis — aka Mondo, the man who treats world records like a to-do list — was born in 1999. He shares the date with Portuguese footballer João Félix and French midfield wizard Eduardo Camavinga (2002), so the pitch is well represented.

Hollywood's in on it too: Mackenzie Foy (2000), the breakout from the Twilight saga and Interstellar, and Kiernan Shipka (1999), who went from little Sally Draper on Mad Men to teenage witch royalty on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. And yes, Scotty Pippen Jr. (2000) carries one of the most famous surnames in basketball history — no pressure whatsoever.

Semper Fi and a Slice of Cake

November 10 is the United States Marine Corps birthday, a celebration taken so seriously that the official Birthday Ball involves ceremonial cake, dress blues, and a reverence most people reserve for weddings. The Marines have been doing this since the 1700s and still party harder than your average fraternity, only with vastly better posture.

If that's a bit stateside for you, Germany celebrates Martinisingen today — a lantern-and-singing tradition that's basically cozy incarnate. Between the cake, the lanterns, and a king telling people to hush, November 10 has range. Count your blessings, like a certain purple Muppet taught you to.