November 2: Cubs, Emus, and a Space Station Housewarming

Some days just show up and refuse to behave. November 2 has seen curses broken, birds declared enemies of the state, and humans casually moving into a floating house in orbit. Let's dig in.

The Cubs Finally Remembered How Baseball Works

In 2016, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians in the World Series, ending the longest championship drought in Major League Baseball history at a staggering 108 years. That's not a slump — that's a family heirloom of disappointment passed down through generations. Entire lifetimes began and ended waiting for this. When it finally happened, Chicago collectively exhaled a sigh so powerful it probably nudged the jet stream.

Also in the "against all odds" department: in 2008, Lewis Hamilton clinched his first Formula One Drivers' Championship by a single point, overtaking Timo Glock on the final lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix. One corner later and we'd be telling a very different story. Drama doesn't get much tighter than that.

Happy Birthday to a Very Chill Quarterback

Born on November 2, 1991, is Jimmy Garoppolo, the American football quarterback whose name is impossible to say without sounding like you're ordering a fancy espresso. Sharing the day is Kendall Schmidt (born 1990), the American singer and actor who made plenty of hearts flutter during his Big Time Rush era. And football fans can also raise a glass to Jordan Love, born in 1998, who had the unenviable job of following a certain legend in Green Bay and somehow kept his cool. Strong lineup of people born to perform under pressure, honestly.

A Holiday for the Dearly Departed

November 2 is Day of the Dead — the second day of Mexico's beloved Dia de los Muertos celebration, a vibrant, marigold-drenched tribute to loved ones who've passed. It's one of the few holidays that manages to be joyful, colorful, and deeply moving all at once, proving that remembering people can involve sugar skulls and great food rather than gloom. It's also All Souls' Day in the Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions, so the theme is firmly set.

And Now, The Great Emu War

Finally, in 1932, the Australian military launched a literal "war against emus" — flightless native birds blamed for trashing crops in Western Australia. Yes, soldiers. Yes, actual weaponry. Yes, against birds that run in confusing zigzags. History does not record this as humanity's finest military campaign, but it absolutely records it as our funniest. Never underestimate a determined emu.