Month: May 2024

23
May
2024

Could it be…THURSDAY?

Today is Labour Day in Jamaica – a national holiday. Labour Day in Jamaica commemorates a labor rebellion on this day in 1938 that contributed to Jamaican independence.

As part of the British Empire, Jamaica had historically had a public holiday on May 24th to mark Queen Victoria’s birthday. This holiday was known as Empire Day. Empire Day was renamed Commonwealth Day in the 1950s, but is still celebrated as Victoria Day in some places.

In 1962, Jamaica gained its independence from the United Kingdom. Celebrating Empire Day was no longer seen as relevant to the fledgling country and in 1961, Jamaican Chief Minister Norman Washington Manley proposed replacing Empire Day with a new holiday called Labour Day.

This new holiday was to be a commemoration of a labor rebellion on May 23rd 1938. The rebellion was led by Alexander Bustamante who gained prominence during the rebellion, becoming a noted trade union leader and eventually becoming Jamaica’s first prime minister following independence.

In 1972, Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley started the movement to make Labour Day a day when Jamaicans would get involved in local community projects. Today, on Labour Day, groups, individuals, and communities all over Jamaica will dedicate their time and labor to improve public areas, do repairs, paint or build homes, schools, and churches.

Cute…

I got my garden started and am looking forward to a big harvest…

Today is the birthday, in 1946, of Daniel Klein, bassist with American rock band The J Geils Band, who had the 1982 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘Centerfold’ which was taken from their US No.1 1981 album Freeze Frame. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqDjMZKf-wg

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
22
May
2024

WEDNESDAY is today (and vice versa)

Today is Abolition Day in Martinique. This is the National Day of Martinique and commemorates a slave rebellion in 1848 on Martinique that forced Governor Claude Rostoland to issue a decree abolishing slavery.

Martinique is an Overseas Department/region and single territorial collectivity of France, and therefore an integral part of the French Republic, located in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1493 and landed on it in 1502.

Like the other major European nations at the time, France was keen to expand its reach into the new world. It established colonies on the American mainland but also took control of several islands in the Caribbean.

These new settlements needed a plentiful supply of workers to drive labor-intensive activities with high mortality rates such as sugar cane plantations, with the French turning to slaves from Africa. By 1778, the French were importing approximately 13,000 Africans for enslavement to the French West Indies.

Louis X of France had abolished slavery within the Kingdom of France way back in 1315, but that particular law never applied to the colonies despite an attempt to extend it to all parts of the Kingdom in the 16th century.

On April 27th 1848, under the Second Republic, the decree-law of Schœlcher abolished slavery in all French colonies with a general and unconditional emancipation. The state bought the slaves from the colonists and then freed them.

SIGNS of the TIMES

Today is the birthday, in 1924, of Charles Aznavour, French singer, actor, public activist and diplomat, famous for his 1974 UK No.1 single ‘She’. He was one of France’s most popular and enduring singers and was dubbed France’s Frank Sinatra, selling more than 180 million records, recording more than 1,200 songs (interpreted in nine languages) and he wrote or co-wrote more than 1,000 songs for himself and others. On 1 October 2018, Aznavour was found dead in a bathtub at his home at Mouriès at the age of 94. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajjdY070VU4

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, World
21
May
2024

2 2 2SDAY

Today is Navy Day in Chile. In Chile, it is known as The Day of the Glories of the Chilean Navy (‘Día de las Glorias Navales’) and marks the date of the battle of Iquique on May 21st 1879.

The battle took place during the War of the Pacific between Chile and Peru. The town of Iquique in the north of Chile was under Peruvian control. Chile had blockaded the port with two ships. In response, Peru sent two ships to break the blockade.

The Peruvian ships were more modern and the battle soon ended with defeat for the Chilean navy. At first glance, this may not seem to be a great basis for a holiday celebrating the glories of the navy, but during the battle, great courage was shown by the captain of one of the Chilean ships, Arturo Prat.

Prat’s bravery inspired many Chileans and following his death, there was a large rise in the number of men enlisting in the navy. The legacy of Prat’s heroism can be said to have led to the eventual victory of Chile in the War of the Pacific.

Bada Bing!!!!!

There is no such thing as a grouchy old person. The truth is, once you get old, you stop being polite and start being honest.

If I were a plastic surgeon, I would 100% put a squeaky toy in every breast implant.

Make your pancakes more awesome by referring to maple syrup as ‘tree blood’.

Overheard at a used book store – “Shouldn’t Orwell’s ‘1984’ be in the non-fiction section by now?”

Dad: Son, one day you’ll be a man. Son: Dad, I’m already 36. Dad: But the Autozone guy had to change your wiper blades.

Fellas, if the relationship fails don’t blame only her. It takes two people to mess up a relationship. Blame her and her mother.

Q: What candy do you eat on the playground? A: Recess Pieces!

Mom: What’s the magic word we use to get what we want? Son: I’m offended.

When I’m at a hospital I put half-eaten sandwiches in coma patients hands to give their families hope.

Statistics show that six out of seven dwarfs are not happy.

Unlike the brain, the stomach warns you when it’s empty.

One day you are young. The next day you have to use strategically placed pillows to sleep so your body doesn’t break in half.

If every time someone asks you to do something, you quietly gasp and mumble, “Like the prophecy foretold”, people will stop asking you to do things.

The fact that Jellyfish have survived for 650 million years despite not having brains gives hope to many people.

I was pulled over by a cop and he asked me if I had a police record. I said Roxanne.

More women may be psychopaths than previously thought says the Guardian.com. Yessss! I love to see more women in male dominated fields!

You can feed a lot of squirrels into those pneumatic tubes at the bank before the teller finds the shutoff switch.

Today is the birthday, in 1941, of Ronald Isley, from American group The Isley Brothers who first came to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, ‘Shout’, and then the 1962 hit ‘Twist and Shout. The Isley Brothers also scored the hits ‘This Old Heart Of Mine’, ‘Summer Breeze’ and ‘Harvest for the World’. Sixteen of their albums charted in the Top 40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjLFpU2pJ4

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
20
May
2024

MONDAY owns us

Today is Cameroon’s National Day. Also known as Unity Day, this holiday marks the adoption of a unitary state on this day in 1972.

Cameroon National holiday holds immense cultural and historical significance for the people of the nation. It serves as a symbol of national unity, bringing together individuals from diverse linguistic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.

Cameroon became a German colony in 1884, known as Kamerun.  After Germany’s defeat in the first world war, the administration of the colony was divided between Britain and France, becoming UN Trust Territories after the end of the second world war and the creation of the United Nations.

The United Nations Trust Territory known as French Cameroun achieved independence from France on January 1st 1960, and British Southern Cameroons became a federated state within Cameroon on October 1st 1961. 

On May 20th 1972, in a national referendum, Cameroonians voted for a unitary state as opposed to the existing federal state.  President Ahmadou Ahidjo then abolished the federal system of government in favor of a unitary state, the Republic of Cameroon.

A mystery…

Today is the birthday, in 1946, of Cherilyn Sarkasian, (Cher), American singer and actress, one-half of the folk rock husband-wife duo Sonny & Cher who had the 1965 UK & US No.1 single ‘I Got You Babe’. She became a television personality in the 1970s with her shows The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, watched by over 30 million viewers weekly during its three-year run. Solo hits include the 1991 UK No.1 single ‘The Shoop Shoop Song’, 1998 UK No.1 & 1999 US No.1 single ‘Believe’, plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOSZwEwl_1Q

Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
17
May
2024

FRIDAY already?

Today is Constitution Day in Norway. It is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday each year on May 17th. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to as ‘Syttende Mai‘ (simply meaning May Seventeenth), Nasjonaldagen (National Day) or less commonly, Grunnlovsdagen (Constitution Day).

Following the Napoleonic Wars, Norway’s Constitution, which declared the country as a kingdom independent of Sweden was signed at what is now widely considered one of Norway’s most symbolic markers of national pride, the Eidsvoll Manor House, officially beginning its path to total independence.

Constitution Day is often kicked off by many Norwegians with a traditional 17. Mai breakfast of smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, and a fresh loaf of bread, accompanied by a glass of champagne. Breakfast is just the start of the spring holiday that many view as a time to indulge in guilty food pleasures, especially ice cream and hot dogs. The national pastry for May 17th is pavlova, a cake filled with cream and fruit made from a meringue mass.

The May 17th celebrations vary across Norway, but they all follow a traditional pattern that makes this a day centered on the children.

The highlights are the children’s processions, made up of school classes marching through the local community, led by the school band. Most children have their own small Norwegian flag to wave, and the route is lined with enthusiastic onlookers. The first children’s processions were duly arranged in 1870. Since 1906, the Royal Family have gathered on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo to wave to the children marching by.

Gratulerer med dagen, Norge!

Today is the birthday, in 1961, of Enya Ni Bhraonain, from Irish family band Clannad who had the 1982 UK No.5 single ‘Harry’s Game’. Enya had the solo, 1988 UK No.1 single ‘Orinoco Flow’, and the 2001 US No.2 album ‘A Day Without Rain’. Enya is Ireland’s biggest selling solo artist and second overall behind U2 with an estimated 75 million records sold worldwide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wfYIMyS_dI

Posted by Tom