9/15/26 - The Mindset List, Agatha Christie, and Google

Tuesday 9/15/26

Celebrate:

Butterscotch Cinnamon Pie Day

Get Ready Day

Greenpeace Day

International Day of Democracy

International Dot Day

Make a Hat Day

National Caregivers Day

National Cheese Toast Day

National Creme de Menthe Day

National Double Cheeseburger Day

National Felt Hat Day

National IT Professionals Day

National Linguine Day

National Online Learning Day

National Thank You Day

National Voter Registration Day

Someday

Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day

World Afro Day

The Launch of Google (1997): Stanford computer science graduate students Larry Page and Sergey Brin officially registered the domain name google.com, laying the groundwork for the search engine that would completely change how humanity accesses information. 

The name "Google" was actually born out of a mathematical typo! Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin originally wanted to name the search engine Googol—referring to the number one followed by a hundred zeros—but accidentally misspelled it when searching to see if the domain name was available.

–

Bob Mackie has died at age 87. The legendary costume designer known for his iconic collaborations with Cher and other Hollywood stars

He won nine Emmys, a Tony, and was a three-time Oscar nominee for his groundbreaking work in entertainment.

Mackie was perhaps Hollywood’s most famous costume designer, best known for his collaborations with Cher over the years. He worked with dozens of stars, including Carol Burnett, Tina Turner, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Ann-Margret and Bette Midler.

–

Marist College keeps the Mindset List alive. The annual list of what Freshmen know and don't know.

More than just a bullet point list, it looks

Their list said the Class of 2026 “is exploring” a range of disciplines, featuring ten items meant to be talking points that spark discussion between students, their peers, faculty and parents.

Sports communication: The Class of 2026 has always known LeBron James as the most recognizable sports icon on the planet. LeBron James entered the NBA in 2003, and in 2004, the year many of the Class of 2026 were born, his jersey topped the best-seller list for the first time; in 2022, James’s jersey still tops the list.

Political science: For incoming students, Hillary Clinton has always had a more significant role in American politics than Bill Clinton. Incoming students born in 2004 only know her as a United States senator, secretary of state and contemporary presidential candidate.

Computer science: Created in 2004, Facebook has been active for the entire lives of the Class of 2026. Although Facebook is only 18 years old, many incoming students already see the social media platform as outdated, preferring newer platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

Ethics: Incoming students are the first generation in 50 years who must include their own reproductive rights as part of their overall college decision. The recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will affect so many decisions for young women, who currently make up 59 percent of college students in America.

Global studies: The Class of 2026 will be the first since the “duck and cover” generation of the Cold War to live with the real possibility of world war and global conflict. The Russian invasion of Ukraine echoes the experiences of growing up during the Cold War, but today’s digital technology makes the images of war much more visceral.

Environmental science: The debate on climate change is over. Incoming students are now the first generation faced with the omnipresent reality to actually effect change to combat global warming. Greta Thunberg has set the stage for youth activism; now, incoming students are part of a new generation increasingly demanding legal reforms to improve future generations’ lives.

Diversity, equity and inclusion: The Class of 2026 is the first cohort in recent memory for whom knowledge about a diverse country and world is actually regressing. Thirty-five states have recently introduced and/or passed legislation to either ban or censor teaching about race, sexual orientation, gender identity and American history in schools.

Public health: Incoming students are still recovering from the mental health impact of COVID and COVID fatigue. Mental health has been an issue for some time, but the Class of 2026 is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic on their mental health.

Education: The Class of 2026 is the first to realistically see the possibility of canceling or reducing student debt. The Biden administration has publicly announced its determination to tackle the rise of crippling student debt. Will they get results?

Fashion: Incoming students are aware of fashion sustainability, but nevertheless social media and influencer culture draw them to cheaper and faster options from online retailers. Students have a better understanding of sustainability than previous generations, but their consumer choices do not reflect a strong commitment to protecting the environment.

--

Today's Useless Fact of the Day - Agatha Christie’s Birthday (1890): Agatha Christie went on to become the best-selling fiction writer of all time, giving us iconic detectives like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

She has sold over two billion copies of her books worldwide. Her works are translated into more than 100 languages, making her second only to the Bible and Shakespeare as the most translated author in history.

Before she was a literary legend, Christie volunteered as a nurse during World War I, where she worked in a dispensary. This gave her an encyclopedic, hands-on knowledge of poisons—specifically arsenic, strychnine, and cyanide—which she later used with lethal precision to craft the plots for her fictional murders.

Christie famously didn't need a fancy office or a quiet study to write her masterpieces. She once confessed that some of her best plotting and character development happened while she was sitting in a big Victorian bathtub eating a massive pile of apples and staring at the wall.

--