Month: July 2024

31
Jul
2024

WEDNESDAY, the last of July

The Martyrdom Day of Shaheed Udham Singh is a regional Indian public holiday observed in the states of Haryana and Punjab on July 31st. This day commemorates the execution of a famous revolutionary on this day in 1940.

In one of the more shameful episodes of the British Empire, on April 13th 1919, Indian troops under the command of Brig-Gen Reginald “Rex”’ Dyer fired on peaceful demonstrators in a walled garden (the Jallianwala Bagh) in the city of Amritsar in the Punjab. At least 379 were killed and more than a 1,000 injured.

Liberal Britain and Indian nationalists denounced the massacre; Winston Churchill called it a “monstrous event” and Dyer had to retire in disgrace. Shaheed Udham Singh witnessed the massacre first hand and vowed from that day forward he would track down the men responsible for the foul deed.

Sir Michael O’Dwyer was Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab at the time of the massacre. Although O’Dwyer did not order the massacre, he sent a message afterwards approving of what Dyer had done which made many people, including Singh, consider O’Dwyer as responsible for the killings. O’Dwyer didn’t deflect any blame, by bullishly continuing to defend the use of lethal force at Jallianwala Bagh.

O’Dwyer retired from the Indian Civil Service in 1925. On March 13th 1940, O’Dwyer made a rare public appearance at a public meeting in London to discuss the future of Afghanistan. At the end of the meeting, Singh made true on the vow he had made over 21 years earlier by walking up to O’Dwyer and shooting him twice through the heart.

During the subsequent trial for killing O’Dwyer, Singh said, “He wanted to crush the spirit of my people, so I have crushed him. For a full 21 years, I have been trying to wreak vengeance. I am happy that I have done the job. I am not scared of death. I am dying for my country.” Singh was executed on July 31st 1940.

Get in Shap

Dog Days of Summer

CATZ

Today is the birthday, in 1958, of Bill Berry, drums, R.E.M. (1991 UK No.6 & US No.10 single ‘Shiny Happy People’, plus over 20 Top 40 UK singles, 1992 UK No.1 & US No.2 album ‘Automatic For The People’). Berry quit the band in 1997. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYOKMUTTDdA

Posted by Tom
30
Jul
2024

Oh boy, it’s TUESDAY!!

Today is Enthronement Day, a public holiday in Morocco. Also known as Throne Day, this day marks the King’s accession to the throne on this day in 1999.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI, son of the late King H.M. Hassan II, was born on August 21st 1963, in Rabat.

Following the death of his father on July 23rd 1999, King Mohammed VI officially took the throne in accordance with Article 20 of the kingdom’s Constitution on Friday July 30th 1999.

This date then became Throne Day to be celebrated with a public holiday each year.

The Enthronement took place in the Throne Room of the Royal Palace in Rabat. After the ceremony, the new king solemnly performed the Friday prayer and pronounced His first Speech of the Throne. King Mohammed VI is the 23rd king of the Alaouite Dynasty, which has ruled Morocco since 1631.

Socrates vs Nietzsche…

BADA BING!!

I’m not brave. I’m just past the age when running is an option.

As I’ve aged, I’m eternally grateful that I’ve gotten fatter instead of more politically conservative.

I’m at the age where not finding parking for an event is enough to make me go home.

I really think I deserve an award for the amount of sarcastic comments I manage to keep to myself on a daily basis.

Don’t wear headphones while vacuuming. I’ve just finished the whole house before realizing the vacuum wasn’t plugged in.

Accidentally rubbed ketchup in my eyes. Now I have Heinzsight.

Free Marriage Tip: Don’t ask your wife when dinner will be ready while she is mowing the lawn.

I’ve never tried yoga but have tried bending over to pick up my car keys, so I’m pretty sure I’d hate yoga.

My wife left me today. She says I put sports ahead of our relationship. We were together for 6 seasons.

I hate that moment when you are tired and sleepy but as soon as you go to bed, your brain is like, “Just kidding”.

I thought the dryer made our clothes shrink. Turns out it’s the fridge.

I’ve learned so much from my mistakes, that I’m thinking about making a lot more.

I love reading motivational posts from people I know are toxic in real life.

Netflix needs to stop asking if I’m still watching and start asking if I moved the laundry to the dryer yet.

My housekeeping style is best described as ‘there appears to have been a struggle’.

Today is the birthday, in 1944, of Jamaican ska and reggae musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer Jimmy Cliff who had the 1969 UK No.6 & US No.25 single ‘Wonderful World Beautiful People’, and the 1970 UK No.8 hit with his version of Cat Stevens’ ‘Wild World’. He starred in the film The Harder They Come, which helped popularize reggae across the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrHxhQPOO2c

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, World
29
Jul
2024

Again…….MONDAY…….ugh

Today is Territory Day, a public holiday in the territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands. The day commemorates the islands becoming a French Overseas Territory on this day in 1961.

Wallis and Futuna is a French Island Collectivity located in the South Pacific situated between Tuvalu to the northwest, Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast, Samoa to the east, and Tokelau to the northeast. Mata Utu is its capital and largest city. The territory’s land area is 142.42 km2 (54.99 sq mi). It had a population of 11,151.

The islands became a French protectorate at the end of the 19th century, before being annexed by France in 1917, becoming a colony, under the authority of New Caledonia.

In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory, effective on July 29th 1961, thus ending their subordination to New Caledonia.

Today is the birthday, in 1953, of American singer-songwriter Patti Scialfa who has worked with The Rolling Stones and on Keith Richards’ Talk Is Cheap album. She toured with Bruce Springsteen Band from the 1984 Born in the USA tour and later married Springsteen on June 8th 1991. She has released two solo albums. Scialfa was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band. Here are Bruce and Patti in this wonderful song that has special meaning for us older couples. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYlZcFuAXmI

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music
26
Jul
2024

Did you say FRIDAY??!?

Today is Independence Day in Liberia. This is the National Day of Liberia and commemorates Liberia’s Independence from the USA and adoption of the constitution on July 26th 1847.

The Republic of Liberia began as a settlement of the American Colonization Society (ACS), who believed black people would face better chances for freedom in Africa than in the United States.

Between 1822 and 1861, thousands of free blacks were relocated to the settlement at Cape Mesurado on the Pepper Coast of West Africa. In 1824 the colony was named Liberia, and the main settlement was named Monrovia, which remains the present-day capital.

The settlers faced immense hardships in the initial years with atrocious mortality rates due to disease and conflict with the indigenous peoples. Within twenty years, the colony had grown and established economic stability.

On July 26th 1847, the settlers issued a Declaration of Independence and promulgated a constitution. The constitution was heavily based on the United States Constitution and established the independent Republic of Liberia. The United Kingdom was the first country to recognize Liberia’s independence, the United States only recognized Liberia’s independence in 1862 during the American Civil War.

Liberia was the first African republic to proclaim its independence, and is Africa’s first and oldest modern republic, maintaining independence despite the colonial expansion in Africa in the late nineteenth century.

Today is the birthday, in 1943, of Mick Jagger, singer, songwriter with The Rolling Stones, (1969 UK & US No.1 single ‘Honky Tonk Women’, and over 35 UK & US Top 40 singles and albums). Solo (1985 UK No.1 single with David Bowie ‘Dancing In The Street’). 1985 UK No. 6 solo album ‘She’s The Boss.’ In 2003 he was knighted for his services to popular music and in early 2009 he joined the electric supergroup SuperHeavy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef9QnZVpVd8

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
25
Jul
2024

THURSDAYs just keep on comin’

Today is Republic Day, a public holiday in Tunisia. It commemorates the anniversary of the vote to abolish the monarchy and found the republic on July 25th 1957.

Tunisia came under French control in 1881 and became a French protectorate in 1883.

The movement for independence had begun in 1920 with the creation of the political party, Destour. In 1934, the fervor for independence was increased with the formation of a new party called Neo Destour, led by Habib Bourguiba.

In March 1956 Bourguiba led Tunisia to independence, as a constitutional monarchy with Muhammad VIII al-Amin as King and Bourguiba as Prime Minister. The constitutional monarchy was seen as a French decision and many thought the king was pro-France, so the National Assembly moved to change the political structure of the country from a constitutional monarchy to a republic.

On July 25th 1957, the monarchy was abolished, the king abdicated and the Republic of Tunisia was proclaimed with Habib Bourguiba as its first president. President Bourguiba went on to rule Tunisia for 31 years, finally being deposed in a medical coup d’état.

Air Loom

Today is the birthday, in 1942, of Bruce Woodley, from Australian folk-influenced pop quartet The Seekers who scored the 1965 UK No.1 single ‘I’ll Never Find Another You’. They were the first Australian group to achieve major chart and sales success in the UK and the US. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZf41UudAbI

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies