Month: June 2023

13
Jun
2023

TOOOOOOOSSSSDAY

Today is the Feast of St. Anthony which is celebrated in several countries around the world, most notably Portugal and Spain. Tomorrow is Flag Day in the US. It commemorates the day in 1777 when the Continental Congress approved the design of the US Flag.

Resolved, that the Flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.

According to legend, in 1776, George Washington commissioned Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross to create a flag for the new nation. Scholars, however, credit the flag’s design to Francis Hopkinson, who also designed the Great Seal and first coin of the United States. Even so, Ross most likely met Washington and certainly sewed early American flags in her family’s Philadelphia upholstery shop.

Charmed, I’m sure

Not surprised

Today is the birthday, in 1941, of Marv Tarplin, American guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist for the Miracles from the 1950s through the early 1970s who co-wrote several of their biggest hits, including the 1965 Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted ‘The Tracks of My Tears’. He died aged 70 on 30 Sep 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCwkZrj2VT4

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
12
Jun
2023

Happy MONDAY!!!!!!!

today is Independence Day – a public holiday in the Philippines. Known in the Philippines as ‘Araw ng Kasarinlan’, or ‘Day of Freedom’, this day commemorates the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12th 1898.

Since the middle of the sixteenth century, the Philippines had been part of the Spanish Empire.

A secret group called ”Katipunan’ consisting Philippine activists who wanted independence had been uncovered in 1896. This led to the beginning of the struggle for independence. By 1897, a truce had been signed between the revolutionaries and the Spanish with the leaders of the revolution accepting to be exiled outside the Philippines. In 1898, after attacks on Americans interests in the region by the Spanish during the Spanish-American War, the US gave support to the independence movement, bringing back the rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo from exile, who rallied local Filipino support.

United against the Spanish with the American forces, over 300 hundred years of Spanish rule was brought to an end when Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence of the Philippines in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12th 1898. Under the Treaty of Paris, Spain agreed to cede the Philippines to the United States for a payment of twenty million dollars.

A year later, some Filipino’s started to feel that all that had happened is that Spanish rule had been replaced by American rule, leading to the Philippine–American War. The result of that was the suppression of Filipino insurrection and ongoing American occupation with limited self-rule. It wasn’t until July 4th 1946 that the islands gained their full independence.

Test that diaper!

Round Tyres

Today is the birthday, in 1944, of Harold Cowart, from John Fred and His Playboy Band who had the 1968 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)’ which was a parodic play on the title of The Beatles’ song ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaWaQBxc0aI

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
09
Jun
2023

FRIDY

Today is the T. T. Bank Holiday on the Isle of Man. The T.T. Bank Holiday holiday takes place on the Isle of Man on the Friday in the first full week of June. The holiday may also be called ‘Senior race day’ as it is observed on the day of the Senior Race in the Isle of Man T.T. race.

The International Isle of Man T.T. (Tourist Trophy) Race is an annual motorcycle sport event that takes place on the Isle of Man, usually over the last week of May and first week of June. The event first took place in 1907. The races take place on the roads on the Isle of Man and are a thrilling spectacle for locals, racing enthusiasts and tourists alike. The Senior TT is the most prestigious event of the festival and takes place on the Friday of race week. The winner is awarded the The Marquis de Mouzilly St. Mars trophy.

Sunday will be the birthday, in 1864, of Richard Strauss. Here is one of his best-known pieces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szdziw4tI9o

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Posted by Tom in classical, Humor, Music
08
Jun
2023

THERRSSD-A

Today is Bounty Day on Norfolk Island. The day commemorates the anniversary of the mutiny and arrival of their ancestors from the island of Pitcairn on their ship Morayshire. On June 8, 1856, the Morayshire arrived in Norfolk. This day thus became known as Bounty Day or ‘Anniversary Day’ and the people of Norfolk Island celebrate it every year as a part of their colorful history with a re-enactment of the mutiny along with wreathe-laying, parades, singing of hymns, and a picnic with traditional food.

The Pitcairners are descendants of the English sailors and the Tahitian women who began a new life on Pitcairn Island under the leadership of Fletcher Christian. In 1856, Queen Victoria gave Norfolk Island to the expanding Pitcairn community.

In 1787, Lieutenant William Bligh set sail in the HMS Bounty to Tahiti to gather breadfruit plants for Caribbean slave colonies. A lot of disputes took place during the journey. Finally, Fletcher Christian and some of the crewmembers staged a mutiny. This very mutiny is re-enacted by the people of Norfolk on Bounty Day. The mutineers captured the Bounty and set Lieutenant Bligh and his followers adrift to reach the Dutch East Indies, north of Australia.

The mutineers eventually found the island of Pitcairn by 1790 and they were welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, who were settled there. By the 1850s, their population had grown significantly and they needed a larger place to settle. Finally, when the people of Pitcairn asked the British Government for a larger home, Queen Victoria gave them Norfolk Island. And by the time they resettled there, the Pitcairners had already formed their own culture and language, both of which are still alive to this day.

Airport Welcome Signs…

today is the birthday, in 1944, of American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Boz Scaggs, who was a member of The Marksmen with Steve Miller, The Wigs, and as a solo artist had the 1976 US No.3 single ‘Lowdown’, and the 1977 US No.11 and UK No.13 single ‘Lido Shuffle’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCBVwdS1Mt0

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Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
07
Jun
2023

WENZ-DAI

Today is Sette Giugno, a public holiday in Malta. Meaning ‘Seventh of June’ in Italian, this public holiday in Malta commemorates four rioters who were killed by British troops on June 7th 1919. Following the end of World War I, tensions had been rising due to the inability of the colonial government to ensure basic supplies to the island.

In early June 1919, a change in the governor of the island was treated with scepticism by some and on June 7th, a crowd started removing British flags from buildings that had been flying at half-mast across the island due to the recent death of the President of the Court.

The mob grew in size and turned their attention to the homes of the merchants who had been doing well from the recent supply issues. It was at one of these houses that a standoff between the mob and the army ended in tragedy with the soldiers firing and killing three protestors and injuring fifty others. The uprising continued for a few days during which time, a fourth civilian died from injuries received while resisting arrest.

The uprising was short-lasting, but the bloody events of June 7th 1919 led to the National Assembly drafting the new Constitution. Two years later, Malta was given responsibility for self-government and home affairs and the first Maltese Parliament was set up.

SIGNZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I was saddened to read yesterday of the death of Astrud Gilberto, whose soft and sexy vocal performance on “The Girl From Ipanema,” the first song she ever recorded, helped make the sway of Brazilian bossa nova a hit sound in the United States in the 1960s, died on Monday. She was 83. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1uEy-n4IsU

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Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, World