Month: August 2023

31
Aug
2023

THURSSSSSSSSDAY

Today is Romanian Language Day, a public holiday in Moldova. In March 2023, Moldova changed its state language to Romanian, also changing the name of this holiday to Romanian Language Day. Previously known as “Limba noastră” (Our Language), it celebrates the state language of Moldova.

In 1940, Moldova (then known as Bessarabia) had been occupied by the USSR as a result of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. The use of Russian Cyrillic was then imposed as the official alphabet of the newly founded Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic (MSSR). The majority of Moldovans had been speaking Romanian and the imposition of Cyrillic was seen as an attempt by the Soviets to drive a wedge between Moldova and Romania, forcing closer ties with Russia.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Moldova became independent. On August 27th 1989, the Popular Front of Moldova organized a mass demonstration of over 300,000 people in the capital Chişinău. This demonstration became known as the Great National Assembly and helped convince the authorities of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic to adopt a language law. On August 31st 1989, the Supreme Soviet of the MSSR adopted a law that stipulated a return to the Latin alphabet from the Cyrillic script imposed by the USSR after the second world war. The legislation explicitly mentioned the fact that the Moldovan language is identical to the Romanian language. The following year, parliament instituted August 31st as a national holiday celebrating the Romanian language.

I don’t think so…

signz

Today is the anniversary of the Premiere of the Radetzky March, Op. 228 by Johann Strauss I in 1848 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xToFOzD0M8E

Posted by Tom in classical, Humor, Music
30
Aug
2023

last WEDNESDAY in August!

Today is Victory Day in Turkey.

Victory Day commemorates the victory in the Battle of Dumlupınar which was the decisive battle in the Turkish War of Independence in 1922. The day also honors the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Türkiye was occupied by Allied forces after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the First World War (1914-1918). This led to the start of the Turkish War of Independence in 1919, with the Turkish forces led by General Mustafa Kemal.

The battle of Dumlupınar took place in Kütahya province in western Turkey. Although foreign forces didn’t leave Turkish soil until the autumn of 1922, August 30th is accepted as the date of the Turkish army’s victory.

No, Tony, Noooo

Today is the birthday, in 1944, of Charles Colbert, from American rock band American Breed who scored the 1967 US No.5 single ‘Bend Me, Shape Me’, (a hit on the British charts for the British group Amen Corner). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWg0jPV6FiM

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
29
Aug
2023

DOOZTAY

Today is Slovak National Uprising Day. This public holiday commemorates August 29th 1944, which marked the start of an uprising against the pro-Nazi government of the time.

In 1938, the Munich agreement established the independent Slovak state, led by Jozef Tiso. In June 1944 Tiso declared martial law allowing the German army to occupy the country on August 29th.

Up to that point, there had been limited and sporadic guerrilla resistance operations across Slovakia. To counteract the planned occupation, a formal military plan was put in action by the exiled Czechoslovak government, Slovak partisans and deserters from the Slovak army. Headquartered in central Slovakia, the forces of the uprising consisted of several armoured units as well as part of the Slovak Air Force.

Despite some limited support from the allies, the uprising was crushed by the German forces before the end of October 1944. After the defeat, the remaining forces of the uprising continued with small guerrilla actions until the end of the war.

Combo business…

Bada Bing!!

Running feels great unless you compare it to not running.

I told my suitcase no vacation this year. Now I’m dealing with emotional baggage.

Never try and give an introvert the silent treatment. You will be in their wheelhouse and you will lose.

Sorry I’m late. My alarm didn’t go off because I didn’t set it because I don’t like coming here.

Your inability to grasp science is not a valid argument against it.

Them: You need to listen to your body more. Body: You’re old and you want pizza.

Whenever my wife is upset, I let her color in my tattoos. She just needs a shoulder to crayon.

I watch so many crime programs that when I turn the TV off, I wipe my fingerprints off the remote.

Boss: This is the third time you’ve been late this week. Do you know what that means? Me: It’s Wednesday?

Sometimes people come into your life and they need to stop doing that.

I’m a person who wants to do a lot of things trapped in a body that does not.

Today is the birthday, in 1958, of Michael Jackson singer, songwriter, Jackson 5, The Jacksons, and solo. Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. The music videos for ‘Beat It’, ‘Billie Jean’, and ‘Thriller’ are credited with breaking down racial barriers and transforming the medium into an art form and promotional tool. His 1982 album Thriller, is the best-selling studio album of all time. Jackson died on 25th June 2009 at the age of 50, after suffering heart failure at his home in Beverly Hills. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2bVIBwpCTA

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Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
28
Aug
2023

Last MONDAY in August

Today is the Summer Bank Holiday in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, St. Helena, Isle of Man and probably some other places.

The Notting Hill Carnival coincides with this day every year. It began as a protest day in 1965 to express anger against bad living conditions by Caribbean immigrants, but it has become a carnival full of fun and entertainment. It is a very popular event and people from all walks of life and from different places participate in it, but it still maintains its Caribbean character.

Today is the birthday, in 1965, of Shania Twain, Canadian singer, (Eilleen Regina Edwards). Her 1997 album ‘Come On Over’, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time selling more than 40 million copies worldwide. Twain has won 5 Grammy Awards and 27 BMI Songwriter awards and is sometimes referred to as “The Queen of Country Pop”, she is one of the most commercially successful artists of all time, having sold over 80 million albums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJL4UGSbeFg


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Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
25
Aug
2023

FRIDIDDYDAY!!

Today is the Day of Songun (meaning ‘military-first’. ‘Son’ meaning ‘First’ and ‘Gun’ meaning ‘Military’.), a public holiday in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It marks Kim Jong-il’s inspection visit to the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards 105th Armored Division of the Korean People’s Army on this day in 1960. This tank division was part of the main advance from Seoul to Taejon (Daejeon) during the Korean War, and the leaders visit to the unit is regarded as the start of the Songun revolutionary leadership by the North Korea government.

Songun, officially ‘Songun Politics’, prioritizes the military in all aspects of Korean society and has boosted the importance of the Korean People’s Army in politics, society and culture.

7

Today is the birthday, in 1918, of American composer, pianist, conductor, Leonard Bernstein. His best-known work is the Broadway musical West Side Story, and he conducted the New York Philharmonic aged 25. Bernstein was the recipient of many honors, including seven Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, sixteen Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement, and the Kennedy Center Honor. He died on 14th October 1990 age 72. Here he both conducts and plays. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH2PH0auTUU

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Posted by Tom in classical, Humor, Music