Month: February 2024

29
Feb
2024

XTRA DAY this year is on THURDAY

Shockingly, no national holidays seem to fall on February 29, so we’ll look ahead to March 1 when Korea will celebrate Independence Movement Day.

The Korean Independence movement was an ongoing campaign to liberate Korea from Japan since 1910. The campaign reached a high point on March 1st, 1919. On this day, a series of public demonstrations happened when Japan was still occupying Korea. These were public demonstrations against the Japanese Government. It was a nationalistic show of strength and resistance against Japanese military rule in Korea.

The March 1st Movement Day, known in Korea as 삼일절 (Samiljeol).

The name 삼일절 (samiljeol) can be broken into three parts:

삼 (sam) = 3

일 (il) = day / 1

절 (jeol) = festival day (word suffix)

The direct translation is “3-1 Festival Day.” This celebration reminds Koreans what happened during the public resistance on March 1st.

On March 1st, 1919, 33 Korean Movement core activists read the Korean Declaration of Independence. Their goal was to put an end to the Japanese occupation in Korea.

Following that, over 2 million Koreans participated in over 1500 demonstrations nationwide, which the Japanese military police attempted to control. This became the biggest national protest against foreign dominance in Korean history. In the end, there were approximately 7,000 people killed, 16,000 wounded, and 46,000 were arrested by the Japanese police force and soldiers. On top of these, many houses, churches, and buildings were burned.

SIGNZZZZZZZZZ

There are no national holidays on February 29, but fortunately there are musician birthdays. Today is the birthday, in 1792, of Gioachino Antonio Rossini (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer who gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano pieces, and some sacred music. He set new standards for both comic and serious opera before retiring from large-scale composition while still in his thirties, at the height of his popularity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3T8-aeOrbg

Posted by Tom in classical, Humor, Music, opera
28
Feb
2024

Rumors of WEDNESDAY

March 1 is Mărțișor, a traditional holiday in Romania (and Moldova). The name Mărțișor is a diminutive of March (Martie in Romanian).

Not long ago, in the countryside, people used to celebrate the Martisor by hanging a red and white string at their the gate, window, cattle’s horn and shed to protect against evil spirits and to invoke nature’s regenerative power.

In eastern Romania ( Moldova and Bucovina), the red and white string was complemented with a small – gold or silver – coin. After wearing the coin for twelve days, the women would buy fresh cheese with it hopping that their skin would be healthy and beautiful the entire year.

According to archaeological research, the Mărțișor traces its history more than 8,000 years ago. Some ethnologists believe that the Mărțișor celebration has Roman origins, others support the theory that it is an old Dacian tradition.

In the old times, Mărțișor were made of small river pebbles, colored in white and red, stringed on a thread and worn around the neck. They were worn, to bring good luck and good weather, from March 1 until the first trees would bloom. When the first trees were flowering the Mărțișor were hanged on tree branches.

Bulgaria celebrates a similar holiday – Baba Marta – on the same day.

ZZ Tabby

Our magnificent legal system…

Bada Bing!

I need to know if the $400 golden high tops come with bone spur protection.

9 out of 10 times when I lose something… It’s because I put it in a safe place.

My dog has 4 beds and takes medicine for his seasonal allergies just like his wolf ancestors.

In a packed elevator, everyone is silent. Stomach: I will now demonstrate the mating call of a whale.

In Alabama, an egg frying in a pan is now called a murdered chicken.

It’s a good day. The bulb finally burned out on my check engine light.

You aren’t doing it wrong if no one knows what you’re doing.

My friend told me he had the body of a Greek god. I had to explain to him that Buddha is not Greek.

Definition of “disappointment”. Running into a wall with an erection and breaking your nose.

Today is the birthday, in 1943, of American rock musician Donnie Iris, guitarist. He wrote the No.2 Billboard hit, ‘The Rapper’, with the Jaggerz in 1970 and was a member of Wild Cherry who had the 1976 US No.1 & UK No.7 single ‘Play That Funky Music’. He also achieved fame as a solo artist in the early 1980s with the hit ‘Ah! Leah!’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHcYFxU4fMo

Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
27
Feb
2024

Hmm…looks like it might be TUESDAY

Today is Independence Day in the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic Independence Day is celebrated every year on February 27. The first celebration was observed in 1844 and it has been almost two centuries since. The Dominican Republic was under Haitian rule for 22 years before the independence war finally set them free. After they gained autonomy, the island of Hispaniola was divided into Haiti and Dominican Republic. Today, the Dominican Republic is the most visited destination in the Caribbean.

SUBWAY PEOPLE…

Today is the birthday, in 1954, of American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist, Neal Schon with Journey who had the 1982 US No.2 single ‘Open Arms’. Schon was also a member of Santana, who had the 1977 UK No.11 single ‘She’s Not There’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atxUuldUcfI

Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
26
Feb
2024

Last Monday of February (this year at least!)

I’m back to posting content on this blog and I’ll try to keep it up. I might miss a day from time to time, though.

Today is Makha Bucha, a public holiday in several Mekong region countries such as Cambodia and Thailand. This festival is the second most important Buddhist festival. As with most Buddhist festivals, its date depends on the Lunar cycle. The holiday may also be known as Magha Puja or Lord Buddha Day.

On this day, the full moon of the third lunar month (called Tabodwe); seven months after Buddha began his teachings, over a thousand monks gathered to hear Buddha preach.

Buddha ordained these monks and spread the principles of Buddhism. This marked a key event in the development of the religion. 45 years later, on the same full moon in the third lunar month, Buddha again delivered his teachings shortly before his death.

Only the Noly…

So many great birthdays today, including, in 1932, Johnny Cash US country singer, songwriter who was considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is remembered as a country icon, his songs spanned other genres including rock and roll and rockabilly and blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honour of induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. During the last stage of his career, Cash covered songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, most notably ‘Hurt’ by Nine Inch Nails. Cash died of respiratory failure on September 12th 2003, aged 71. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG0fS4DoGUc

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies