sixties and seventies

12
Sep
2024

Sunny and THURSDAY today

Today is a public holiday in Iran to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hasan al-Askari, the 11th Imam of Twelver Shia Islam, who was poisoned in 874 AD.

Hassan Agari was born in Medina on 8th of Rabi-ul-Akhar 232 AH His father was Ali Naqi, the 10th Shia Imam. Imam Ali Naqi lived under house arrest in a Samarra, a garrison town about 60 miles north of Baghdad. Hassan’s title became known as Asgari, meaning “the one who lived all his life in a garrison town.”

Even from an early age, Asgari was known for his divine knowledge and he became the 11th Shia Imam on the death of his father in 254 AH at the age of 22. Becoming the 11th Imam was a big deal. In both the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam, it is believed that the 12th Imam would be the final Imam who would be the ‘Mahdi’ or ‘Guide’ for humanity until the Day of Judgement.

Askari died aged 28 on 8th Rabi’ al-Awwal 260 AH (January 4th 874 AD) after being poisoned on the orders of the Abbasid caliph Al-Mu’tamid and was buried in Samarra, a town some 60 miles north of Baghdad.

Al-Askari died without leaving an obvious heir, which created widespread confusion and fragmented the Shia community into several sects, all of which disappeared within a few decades except the Twelver Shia. The Twelvers hold that al-Askari had a son, commonly known as Muhammad al-Mahdi (lit. ’the rightly guided’), who was kept hidden from the public out of the fear of Abbasid persecution. Al-Mahdi succeeded to the imamate after the death of his father and entered a state of occultation. His life is said to be miraculously prolonged until the day he manifests himself again by God’s permission to fill the earth with justice. Though in occultation, the Imam still remains responsible in Twelver belief for the spiritual guidance of humankind and the Shia accounts of his occasional encounters with the pious are numerous and popular.

Today is the birthday, in 1943, of Maria Muldaur (Maria D’Amato), American singer, songwriter, who had the 1974 US No.6 & UK No.21 single ‘Midnight At The Oasis’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGSRjTchL38

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
09
Sep
2024

Hello MONDAY!

Today is Knabenschiessen, a traditional celebration in Zurich. Knabenschiessen is a traditional shooting competition for teenagers and is held on the second weekend of September each year. The Monday afternoon is a holiday observed across the city. Even though this is only a half-day holiday, many workers will take the morning as a holiday to create a long weekend or work from home in the morning.

While the date of the first festival is officially 1889, the custom can be dated back to older roots in the 17th century.

The competition is open to 13-17-year-old boys (“Knaben”) and girls in the canton of Zürich. The competition has been open to female participants since 1991.

The shooting within the competition is done with the Swiss Army ordinance rifle, which the children will encounter a few years later as they do their national service.

The competition is held in the shooting range at Albisgütli on the slope of Üetliberg.

Today is the birthday, in 1941, of Otis Redding, American singer-songwriter, record producer. After appearing at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival Redding wrote and recorded his iconic ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay’ with Steve Cropper. The song became the first posthumous No.1 record on the Billboard Hot 100 and The Dock of the Bay became the first posthumous album to reach No.1 on the UK Albums Chart. Redding was killed in a plane crash on 10th December 1967. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTVjnBo96Ug

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
03
Sep
2024

TUESDAY – back to work

Today is Foundation Day in San Marino. It commemorates the foundation of San Marino on this day in 301 AD by Saint Marinus.

During the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284 – 306 AD), the imperial view of Christianity became less benign and Christians were increasingly being persecuted and killed for their faith.

In this atmosphere, Marinus, a stonemason, fled from Dalmatia (in modern-day Croatia) to escape from religious persecution for his Christian beliefs. He arrived at Monte Titano, where he founded and built a chapel and a monastery. 

Over the years, the monastery and the area around it grew until a sizable population had been established, safe high in the mountains from the persecution of Diocletian. When the mountain people were discovered, the landowner Felicissima bequeathed it to the community in perpetuity.

The first mention of a church named after Saint Marinus dates to the year 530. Today the old church has been replaced on the site by the Basilica of San Marino, which was built in the 19th century.

I hope you celebrated Labor Day!

Today is the birthday, in 1945, of George Biondo, from Steppenwolf who had the 1969 US No.2 hit single ‘Born To Be Wild’. Steppenwolf sold over 25 million records worldwide, released eight gold albums and scored 12 Billboard Hot 100 singles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egMWlD3fLJ8

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
27
Aug
2024

TUESDAY is back!

Today is Independence Day in Moldova. This public holiday is always celebrated on August 27th. In Romanian, it is called ‘Ziua Independenței’. This is Moldova’s National Day. The day marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from the Soviet Union on August 27th 1991.

Moldavia became a principality in 1359 when Bogdan I crossed the Carpathians and took control from the Hungarians. In the middle of the sixteenth century, it came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire becoming a vassal state, though Moldova retained control of its own affairs.

Following the end of the Russo-Turkish War, the 1812 Treaty of Bucharest ceded the eastern half of Moldavia to the Russian Empire, which was named the region Bessarabia. In 1918, after the end of the First World War and the collapse of the Russian Empire, Bessarabia united with Romania.

This unity lasted until 1940 when Romania was compelled to cede the country to the Soviet Union as a consequence of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact when Romania was carved up between Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s USSR. 

Like other Soviet regions, the movement for independence gathered pace in the late 1980s with the change in the political situation created by glasnost and perestroika. The first democratic elections were held in early 1990. After the failure of the 1991 Soviet coup attempt to remove President Gorbachev, Moldova declared declared itself an independent and sovereign state on August 27th 1991.

I WILL HELP!!!

Today is the birthday, in 1942, of American musician and songwriter Daryl Dragon, from husband-and-wife duo The Captain and Tennille. They scored numerous hits on the US singles charts, the most enduring of which included ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’, ‘Do That to Me One More Time’, and ‘Muskrat Love’. They hosted their own television variety series on ABC in 1976–77. Dragon also worked on The Beach Boys’ 1972 release Carl and the Passions – ‘So Tough’. Dragon died on 2 January 2019 from kidney failure aged 76. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s3kN-YzKxQ

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
23
Aug
2024

fridayfridayfridayFRIDAY

Today the Philippines celebrate Ninoy Aquino Day. In Filipino, it is known as ‘Araw ng Kabayanihan ni Ninoy Aquino’. The holiday commemorates the assassination of former Senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr. on this day in 1983.

His wife was Corazon Aquino, who later became President of the Philippines, and as a couple, they are seen as two heroes of democracy in the Philippines.

In the early 1970s, Aquino was a prominent critic of the President of the Philippines at that time – Ferdinand Marcos. Martial law was declared in September 1972 and Aquino was imprisoned. While in prison, Aquino continued to campaign for democracy and even stood for election.

In 1980, he suffered two heart attacks and rather than treat him and have something go wrong and get accused of intentionally treating him badly, the Filipino authorities allowed him to leave to go to the United States for medical treatment, where he remained in exile for about three years.

His intention was to return to the Philippines to challenge Marcos in the parliamentary elections of 1984. On August 21st 1983, while he was being escorted off the plane at Manila International airport, he was shot and killed.

Edmund Burke (or somebody) Runs For Re-election

Today is the birthday, in 1942, of Roger Greenaway, singer, songwriter, member of David & Jonathan and the Kestrels. Best known for his songwriting collaborations with Roger Cook: ‘My Baby Loves Lovin’, (White Plains); ‘Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress’, ‘Gasoline Alley Bred’, (The Hollies); ‘You’ve Got Your Troubles’, (The Fortunes); ‘Melting Pot, Good Morning Freedom’ (Blue Mink); and ‘Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart’ (Gene Pitney). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwO0lNfc_h8

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies