Crabs and Beer

Oct

2026

THURSDAY…we’re getting close!

Today is the birthday, in 1895, of Zog I. born Ahmed Muhtar Bey Zogolli, he was an Albanian statesman and aristocrat who served as the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania’s youngest ever prime minister (1922–1924), then as president (1925–1928), and finally as king (1928–1939).

In April 1938, Zog married Countess Geraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Appony, a Roman Catholic aristocrat who was half-Hungarian and half-American. Zog had been engaged to the daughter of Shefqet Bey Verlaci before he became king. Soon after he became king, however, he broke off the engagement. According to traditional customs of blood vengeance prevalent in Albania at the time, Verlaci had the right and obligation to kill Zog.

About 600 blood feuds reportedly existed against Zog, and during his reign he reputedly survived more than 55 assassination attempts. he died at the Foch Hospital, Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, on 9 April 1961Zog was said to have regularly smoked 225 cigarettes a day, giving him a possible claim to the title of the world’s heaviest smoker in 1929, but had been seriously ill for some time. He was survived by his wife and son, and was initially buried at the cimetière parisien de Thiais, near Paris. On his death, his son Leka was pronounced H. M. King Leka of the Albanians by the exiled Albanian community.

His widow, Geraldine, died of natural causes in 2002 at the age of 87 in a military hospital in Tirana.

Zog I in 1939

Today is the birthday, in 1947, of Trinidadian vocalist, bass guitarist and songwriter, Tony Wilson from British soul band Hot Chocolate. They had the 1975 US No.3 single ‘You Sexy Thing’ the 1977 UK No.1 single ‘So You Win Again’ and over 25 other Top 40 hits. The group had at least one hit song every year on the UK Singles Chart from 1970 to 1984. Wilson died in Trinidad on 24 April 2026, at the age of 89. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DwEni2N_-A

Oct

2026

Looks like it’s WEDNESDAY

On this day in 1777, the Second Battle of Saratoga was fought resulting in a decisive victory of the American Continental Army over the British Army. It was a decisive American victory, and the surrender of the British army there. The outcome greatly affected the course of the war, persuading France to enter the war as an American ally.

The British Army’s campaign in New York was aimed at dividing New England from the middle and southern colonies. General Burgoyne led an invasion army southward from Quebec, Canada with the goal to take Albany, New York while General Howe would lead his troops northward from New York City. The strategy began promisingly, but stalled due to logistical issues.

The American army opposed to Burgoyne under General Gates was growing in size following calls by state governors, the success at Bennington, and widespread outrage over the slaying of Jane McCrea, the fiancée of a Loyalist in Burgoyne’s army by Indians under Burgoyne’s command. This massive outpouring of militia continued as the battle progressed (and Burgoyne had no way of obtaining reinforcements). This sealed Burgoyne’s fate. By the end of the battle, Burgoyne’s army totaled 5,791, and the effective colonial force was about 12,000 men.

The Death of Jane McCrea by John Vanderlyn. The slaying of Jane McCrea by Native Americans under Burgoyne’s command was widely published in newspapers throughout the colonies. This led to a massive turnout of colonial militia, outnumbering Burgoyne’s army by two to one.

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Today on “Did I just read that properly?”

October 6, 2026by Mike

Time for EXERCISE!

BADA BING!

From a retired AP History teacher… I actually had a student write in an essay, “the Vietnam war was a mistake from the gecko.”

Still laughing over a fuming one star review in which the reviewer declared a restaurant’s service to be “abdominal”.

Yes, the Halloween candy is on sale right now but no, you should not buy it. It’s a trick. Buy it now and you’ll shame eat it on your couch and have to buy it all over again. Very clever, candy companies, but you can’t fool me a 54th time.

Dating is like buying a computer. You look for features, performance, compatibility, reliability, and most of all, no viruses.

My typical weekend of working around the house. At the end, three things are now fixed. But six things that were working are now broken.

I’m currently experiencing life at the rate of several “WTF’s” per hour.

Albert Einstein’s second wife was his first cousin. This was special relativity. Other observers did not see this as he did. He failed to realize the gravity of the situation.

Trump warns Iran to accept his ultimatum or face the wrath of his next ultimatum.

“I read this article and it said that, apparently, there was a time in our history when we didn’t all stagger around in horrified disbelief.”

I’m so tired of worrying about everything, for everyone, every second of the day. But I’m also worried that nobody will worry as good as I do, about all the things that need worrying about.

Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.

Today is the birthday, in 1951, of American singer and songwriter, John ‘Cougar’ Mellencamp, who had the 1982 US No.1 and UK No.25 single ‘Jack And Diane’, and the 1982 US No.1 album American Fool. He has had fourteen top 20 hits in the United States and holds the record for the most tracks by a solo artist to hit No.1 on the US Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart, and has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, winning one, as Best Male Rock Performer for ‘Hurts So Good’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h04CH9YZcpI

Oct

2026

Our old friend, TUESDAY is here.

Today is the birthday, in 1767, of Henri Christophe, a key leader in the Haitian Revolution and the only monarch of the Kingdom of Haiti.

Born in the British Caribbean, Christophe was possibly of Senegambian descent. Beginning with the slave uprising of 1791, he rose to power in the ranks of the Haitian revolutionary military. The revolution succeeded in gaining independence from France in 1804. In 1805 he took part under Jean-Jacques Dessalines in the capture of Santo Domingo (now Dominican Republic), against French forces who acquired the colony from Spain in the Treaty of Basel.

After Dessalines was assassinated, Christophe retreated to the Plaine-du-Nord and created a separate government. On 17 February 1807, he was elected president of the State of Haiti, as he named that area. On 26 March 1811, Christophe created a kingdom in the north and was later proclaimed Henry I, King of Haïti.

In 1820, unpopular, ill and fearing a coup, he committed suicide. Jacques-Victor, his son and heir, was assassinated 10 days later. His descendants continued to be among the powerful of Haiti. Pierre Nord Alexis, President of Haiti from 1902 to 1908, was Christophe’s grandson. Michèle Bennett, who married Jean-Claude Duvalier and was First Lady of Haiti during his administration (1980 to 1986), is Christophe’s great-great-great-granddaughter.

Portrait by Richard Evans, c. 1816

Today is the birthday, in 1949, of American musician, guitarist, singer, songwriter Thomas McClary, from American funk/soul band, The Commodores, who had the 1978 UK & US No.1 single ‘Three Times A Lady’ as well as the hits ‘Easy’ and ‘Nightshift’. McClary is widely credited with having created the signature sound of The Commodores’ original music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4dl6JSf-bc

Oct

2026

Of course, MONDAY is sunny and pleasant.

Today is the anniversary of the Women’s March on Versailles, which took place in 1789 and ended the king’s independence.

he march began among women in the marketplaces of Paris who, on the morning of 5 October 1789, were rioting over the high price of bread. The unrest quickly became intertwined with the activities of revolutionaries seeking liberal political reforms and a constitutional monarchy for France. The market women and their allies ultimately grew into a crowd of thousands. The crowd besieged the palace and, in a dramatic and violent confrontation, they successfully pressed their demands upon King Louis XVI. The very next day, the crowd forced the king and his family to return with them to Paris. Over the next few weeks, most of the French assembly also relocated to the capital.

The women’s march was a signal event of the French Revolution, with an effect on par with the fall of the Bastille. For posterity, the march is emblematic of the power of popular movements. It marked the end of the king’s resistance to the tide of reform; he made no further open attempts to push back the Revolution. The marathon course used at the 2024 Summer Olympics is based on a similar route taken by the women’s march.

A contemporary illustration of the Women’s March on Versailles, 5 October 1789

Real estate can be tough

Curses!

Terri Nunn and Berlin…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx51eegLTY8

Oct

2026

FRIDAY…I say it again: FRIDAY!!

Today is the anniversary of the Nottingham Cheese Riot which took place in 1766 during the Goose Fair. Coming at a time of food shortages and rising foodstuff prices in England, violence broke out when city residents attempted to prevent Lincolnshire merchants taking away Nottinghamshire cheeses they had bought at the fair. A warehouse, shops and a cargo boat were looted and hundreds of cheese wheels were rolled through the streets by angry rioters.

Government troops were deployed when the mayor of Nottingham, Robie Swann, was unable to restore control. One man was killed and several wounded as the military opened fire on the rioters. Order was eventually restored after several days of unrest.