Today is Rugby World Cup Win Public Holiday in South Africa. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a public holiday after the country won the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Paris in October.
Mr Ramaphosa said the government wanted the day to be a “a day of hope, a day of celebration and unity. Our sportsmen and women have shown us what is possible”. Following the team’s World Cup win in Stade de France, Mr Ramaphosa said he wanted the team’s unity to become a greater feature of society.
Christmas! It’s time to post my first Christmas song of the season. Here is the Mongolian version of ‘Jingle Bells’ by the Altai Band, complete with throat singing and traditional instruments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJkiYNeDsw4
Altai Band
AI can bring us together…maybe
maybe not…
Today is the birthday, in 1955, of Paul Simonon, bassist with The Clash, who had the 1979 UK No. 11 single ‘London Calling’ and the 1982 US No. 8 single ‘Rock The Casbah. Their 1991 UK No.1 single ‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go’, was first released 1982. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMaE6toi4mk
Today is the Day of the Workers of Oil, Gas, Power and Geological Industry in Turkmenistan. This holiday pays tribute to the hardworking individuals who contribute to the development and prosperity of Turkmenistan’s oil, gas, power, and geological industries. It is a time of great pride and celebration as the country recognizes the pivotal role these workers play in shaping its economy and future.
On this day, the streets of Turkmenistan come alive with colorful parades, traditional dances, and impressive displays of the latest technology and advancements in the energy sector. It is a perfect opportunity for travelers to immerse themselves in the local culture and witness the impressive strides made by the country in this field.
The oil and gas industries are very important to the Turkmenistan economy. As of May 2011, the Galkynysh Gas Field was estimated to possess the second-largest volume of gas in the world. Turkmenistan is home of the Darvaza Gas Crater (shown below) located in the Karakum Desert which has been burning since the 1980s.
SKULDAZE
Today is the birthday, in 1946, of Jane Birkin, English actress, singer, and songwriter who had the 1969 UK No.1 single with Serge Gainsbourg ‘Je t’aime…Moi non plus’, the only French language UK chart- topper. She is also known as being the namesake of the popular Hermès Birkin bag. Birkin was found dead at her home in Paris on 16 July 2023, age 76. I have no idea why this song was so popular – maybe you can figure it out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahHWxwajQL0
Today is Saint Lucia National Day. It marks the Feast Day of Saint Lucia, the patron saint of the island.
The Windward Island now known as Saint Lucia was first discovered by Europeans in the late 15th or early 16th century. The first settlers were French and they named the island after Saint Lucia.
Saint Lucy (Lucia) of Syracuse was a young Christian martyr who died during the Diocletianic Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire in 304 AD. According to legend, she converted to Christianity after an angel appeared to her. Lucy dedicated her life to Christianity and started giving away her family’s wealth to the poor and needy. She was betrothed to a man from a pagan family and when he heard that Lucy was giving away his dowry, he reported her to the authorities. Refusing to honor the Roman gods, she was put to death. She is one of the best known virgin martyrs, along with Agatha of Sicily, Agnes of Rome, Cecilia of Rome and Catherine of Alexandria.
Her Latin name derives from the same as that for light – lux, and this made her feast day a popular day as it fell on the Winter Solstice in the Julian calendar – the longest night of the year, when you want all the light-based help you can get.
Christmas Ads…
Today is the birthday, in 1952, of Berton Averre, lead guitarist with the Los Angeles rock band The Knack who scored the 1979 US No.1 single ‘My Sharona’. Their album Get the Knack became one of the most successful debuts in history, selling over one million copies in less than two months and spending five weeks at No.1 on the Billboard album chart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbr60I0u2Ng
Today is Jamhuri Day in Kenya, a public holiday. Jamhuri is Swahili for Republic and as such Jamhuri Day is also known as Republic Day or Independence Day.
This is Kenya’s National Day and as such marks two key events in the history of the country. It celebrates Kenya becoming a republic on December 12th 1964 and also marks Kenya’s independence from the United Kingdom a y
ear earlier on December 12th 1963.
BADA BING!!
My new car has a button for just about everything. There’s even one that says rear wiper. Still too afraid to try that one.
Please do not accept friend requests from my parents. They have been hacked. … Lizzie Borden
She was an illegal whiskey-maker, but he loved her still.
Her1: You should try Yoga. It makes you feel relaxed, flexible, and loose. Her2: So does vodka without all the sweating.
I’ve just turned off the news and turned on a serial killer documentary to relax.
Vegetables aren’t that bad if you know how to prepare them. Carrot cake is a perfect example.
That look on your face when today’s safety meeting is about something you did yesterday.
Just helped my neighbor bury a rolled-up carpet in the woods. She said her husband would have helped her but he’s out of town. Pay it forward. Be the change.
On the back of her jacket… “I’m so good Santa came twice”.
Son: Dad, did you know in some countries you don’t who your wife is until you get married? Dad: It’s like that everywhere, son.
Am I ready for Christmas? I’m not even ready for today.
Today is the birthday, in 1942, of Tim Hauser, singer, Manhattan Transfer, (1977 UK No.1 ‘Chanson D’amour’, 1981 US No.7 single ‘Boy From New York City’). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2fN36wq-zc
Today is Republic Day in Burkina Faso. This holiday commemorates the establishment of the Republic of Upper Volta on this day in 1958. The Republic of Upper Volta (French: République de Haute-Volta) was established on 11 December 1958 as a self-governing colony within the French Community. The name Upper Volta related to the nation’s location along the upper reaches of the Volta River. The river’s three tributaries are called the Black, White and Red Volta. These were expressed in the three colors of the former national flag.
Since it gained its independence, the country was subject to instability, droughts, famines and corruption. Various coups have also taken place in the country, in 1966, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987, and twice in 2022, in January and in September, as well as an attempt in 1989 and another in 2015.
Thomas Sankara came to power following a successful coup in 1982. As president, Sankara embarked on a series of ambitious socioeconomic reforms which included a nationwide literacy campaign, land redistribution to peasants, providing vaccinations to over 2 million children, railway and road construction, equalized access to education, and the outlawing of female genital mutilation, forced marriages, and polygamy.
He renamed the country from the French colonial name Upper Volta to Burkina Faso (‘Land of Incorruptible People’), with its people being called Burkinabé (‘upright people’). His foreign policies were centered on anti-imperialism and he rejected aid from organizations such as the International Monetary Fund. Sankara welcomed foreign aid from other sources but tried to reduce reliance on aid by boosting domestic revenues and diversifying the sources of assistance.
He was, of course, assassinated in 1987, probably with the connivance of Western powers who saw him being a bit too independent.
Today is the birthday, in 1954, of Jermaine Jackson, from American family music group The Jackson 5. They were the first group to debut with four consecutive No.1 hits on the Hot 100 with the songs ‘I Want You Back’, ‘ABC’, ‘The Love You Save’, and ‘I’ll Be There’. And with The Jacksons, had the 1979 hit ‘Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2bVIBwpCTA
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