Month: October 2024

Today is Independence Day (Azerbaijani: Istiqlaliyyət günü), a national holiday in Azerbaijan, though it is not one of the official non-working days. It may also be known as ‘State Sovereignty Day’. It is celebrated on October 18th, on the anniversary of the day in 1991 when Azerbaijan left the USSR.

This day is essentially the second of two independence days celebrated in Azerbaijan. The first is Republic day which marks the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan on May 28th 1918. This republic only lasted two years before Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union.

In 1991, perestroika (social and economic reform) had swept across the Soviet Union leading to many of the countries to declare their independence from the USSR

On August 30th 1991, Azerbaijan made clear its intention to become an independent nation once again when the Declaration on the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan was adopted by Parliament. On October 18th 1991 the constitutional act “On the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan” was approved and adopted by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

This made Azerbaijan the sixth country to leave the USSR following Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia and Armenia.

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Rebel!

gotcha

All forty!

SINES or something

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Today is the birthday, in 1949, of Joe Egan, Stealers Wheel, (1973 UK No.8 single ‘Stuck In The Middle With You’). The song was used in Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 movie Reservoir Dogs, during the famous “ear” scene. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMAIsqvTh7g

Today is Dessalines Day, a public holiday in Haiti. It commemorates the life of Jean-Jacques Dessalines on the anniversary of his assassination in 1806.

The Haitian Revolution is regarded as the largest and most successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere. The rebellion against French authority began in 1791. Toussaint Louverture emerged as the leader of the revolt against the French. Napoleon sent troops to the colony to restore French authority and Louverture was captured in 1802 and died in a French jail in 1803.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a lieutenant to Louverture, then took the leadership of the revolution, defeating French troops at the Battle of Vertières on November 18th 1803. France then withdrew its remaining 7,000 troops from the island.

On January 1st 1804, in the city of Gonaïves, Dessalines officially declared the former colony’s independence as a free republic, renaming it “Haiti” after its indigenous name. He also freed all slaves making Haiti the first country in the Americas to permanently abolish slavery. Though it wasn’t all good news for the former slaves, who were either forced to work on the plantations or join the army.

It was also in 1804 that Dessalines ordered the massacre of all the French people on the island, resulting in the deaths of up to 5,000 people.

Dessalines became the first Emperor of Haiti in October 1804. He was made Emperor for life in 1805, which proved accurate but short-lived as he was assassinated by his political rivals in October 1806.

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For golfers???

bumper fun…

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Today is the birthday, in 1946, of Jim Tucker, rhythm guitarist from the American rock The Turtles who had the US 1967 No.1 single ‘Happy Together’ and the 1967 hit ‘She’d Rather Be with Me’. He died on 12 November 2020 age 74. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRCe5L1imxg

Today is the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut, a public holiday in Myanmar. The festival marks Buddha’s preaching of Abhidhamma to the gods in Trayastrimsa and the end of the Buddhist period of fasting.

Maya, the mother of Buddha died a week after Buddha was born. She was reborn in the Trayastrimsa Heaven as a god named Santusita. To honour his mother, Buddha ascended to the Trayastrimsa Heaven and preached from the Abhidhamma texts to Santusita for three months.

The full moon of the month Waso (Dhammasetkya Day) marks the ascent by Buddha and the start of the three month period of Buddhist Lent, when the monks retreat to their monasteries. During this time, monks dedicate themselves to meditation and study. During Buddhist Lent, marriages are forbidden and many people give up meat and alcohol. Buddhist lent often coincides with the rainy season in Myanmar.

The full moon in Thadingyut marks Buddha’s return to earth and signifies the end of Buddhist Lent.

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Bada BING!!!

If someone who can’t speak English with no education is able to walk across the border and take your job, well…

Spice up Halloween by giving out chocolate covered brussels sprouts.

If ignorance really was bliss we’d have a lot more really happy people.

Insomnia sufferers. Only 3 more sleeps until Christmas.

“What common English word contains all the vowels in order? I should warn you that the answer is facetious.”

Two doctors and an HMO manager are killed in a train wreck and line up at the Pearly Gates for admission to heaven. Saint Peter asks them to identify themselves.

One doctor steps forward and says, “I was a pediatric spine surgeon. I helped hundreds of kids overcome their deformities.” Saint Peter says, “Enter.”

The other doctor says, “I was a psychiatrist. I helped rehabilitate thousands of people.” Saint Peter nods and invites him into heaven.

The third applicant steps forward and says, “I was an HMO manager. I helped countless people get cost-effective health care.” Saint Peter tells him, “You can come in, too.” As the HMO manager walks by, Saint Peter adds, “But you can only stay for 3 days.” 

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Today is the birthday, in 1943, of Fred Turner, bass, vocals, Bachman Turner Overdrive, (1974 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cia_v4vxfE

Today is Evacuation Day, a public holiday in Tunisia. This holiday commemorates the retreat of last French soldiers from Bizerte on this day in 1963.

France occupied Tunisia in 1881, as part of a partition plan of the Western powers, led by Great Britain and France, known as the ‘scramble for Africa’. The French more or less occupied the Maghreb region of North Africa.

Following independence from France in 1956, France had maintained control of the city of Bizerte, a strategic location south of Sicily. France also kept land farmed by colonists in Tunisia’s most fertile areas. In July 1961, Tunisian forces blockaded the city in an attempt to wrest control of the city from France. After a few days of fighting, the French took control of Bizerte.

Evacuation Day commemorates the eventual retreat of the last French soldiers from Bizerte on October 15th 1963, when French Admiral Maurice Amman left the city, announcing the end of the French colonial phase in Tunisia.

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Beans…

Save 15% or more!

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On this day in 1973, Dolly Parton released ‘Jolene’ as the first single and title track from her album of the same name. According to Parton, the song which peaked at No. 1 on the Country charts was inspired by a red-headed bank clerk who flirted with her husband Carl Dean at his local bank branch when they were newly married. ‘Jolene’ is the song most recorded by other artists, out of all the songs Parton has written. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0eeSoU35wM

Today is the festival of Chung Yeung in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. The festival of Chung Yeung (Chongyang in Mandarin), otherwise known as the Double-Ninth, the Festival of High Places or Autumn Remembrance, has been celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month for millennia.

Since the festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, it is also known as the Double-Ninth festival. Odd numbers are considered Yang, meaning positive and masculine, according to the ancient Chinese divination text Yi Jing. Nine, being the largest single odd number, is considered the most positive.

In mainland China, the festival is considered a fortunate day that should be celebrated. In Chinese, nine has a similar pronunciation to the Chinese character ‘jiu’, meaning long, so the day has become a symbol of longevity in life. It is now considered good luck to travel to a high place on the ninth day of the ninth moon. A traditional custom on this day is to fly kites, as it is said that kites can carry bad luck up into the sky. They may also carry some sprigs of an aromatic herb called zhuyu.

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Prom Accessories???

’tis the season…(thanks to She Who Seeks)

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Uh oh…

Today is the birthday, in 1946, of American rock, R&B, and soul singer, Daryl Hall, from Hall and Oates, who had the 1982 US No.1 & UK No.6 single ‘Maneater’, plus five other US No.1 hits. Hall scored the solo 1986 UK No.28 single ‘Dreamtime’. Since late 2007, he has hosted the web television series, Live from Daryl’s House, which is now aired on MTV. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004. Hall and Oates have sold an estimated 40 million records, making them the third-bestselling music duo of all time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRYFKcMa_Ek