Today is Independence Day in Ghana. It is Ghana’s National Day and commemorates Ghana’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1957.
The area now part of Ghana has an abundance of natural resources, including gold and ivory, which attracted the attention of colonists. While the Portuguese had been the first to establish a settlement in the region, the attractiveness of the local riches led to a struggle for control between many European nations. In 1874, Britain took control over parts of the country, naming them the British Gold Coast.
Weakened by the efforts of World War II, Britain had begun the process of reducing its colonies around the world, including those Africa. This desire was matched by a rising call for independence in the Gold Coast. In 1947, the United Gold Coast Convention called for “self-government within the shortest possible time” following the Gold Coast legislative elections. In 1951, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah won a majority in the Gold Coast legislative election and in 1952. Nkrumah was appointed the leader of the Gold Coast government.
The Gold Coast region declared its independence from the United Kingdom on March 6th 1957 and established the nation of Ghana. Nkrumah went on to become the first Prime Minister of Ghana.
Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve independence, on March 6th 1957.
Yoga…
Knit/Crochet
What were you thinking?????
Today is the birthday, in 1947, of Kiki Dee, (Pauline Matthews), singer and actress who had the 1976 UK & US No.1 single Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ with Elton John. As a session singer she worked with Dusty Springfield and also became the first white British artist to be signed by Motown Records, releasing her first Motown single in 1970. Dee now performs with guitarist Carmelo Luggeri. I’ve posted the great recording studio video of Elton John and Kiki Dee singing ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’. Here is a great followup from years later. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf3KiRzZRCQ
Today is the National Day of Heroes, a public holiday in Paraguay. The aim of the holiday is to pay tribute to the work of citizens who have helped make Paraguay what it is today.
In the words of President Horacio Cartes, “Our heroes build a better Paraguay; today we pay homage to all Paraguayans who, with sacrifice and courage, make this a great country.”
This national holiday falls on the anniversary of the death of Marshal Francisco Solano Lopez, President of Paraguay from 1862 – 1870, who was killed in combat during the Battle of Cerro Corá. This was the last conflict in the War of the Triple Alliance (1864 – 1870) that pitted Paraguay against the tri-national alliance of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
Ice in the back yard
confusing…
Nice guy…
Demotivational Posters
Today is the birthday, in 1927, of American singer, actor, and civil rights activist, Harry Belafonte who had the 1957 UK No.1 & US No.12 single with ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ and a 1957 UK No.2 & US No.5 with ‘Banana Boat Song’. He also scored over 15 US Top 40 albums, including the 1956 Calypso. Belafonte died from congestive heart failure at his home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City, on 25 April 2023, at the age of 96. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-4xyg4PU-U
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
Today is Coming-of-Age Day, a public holiday in Japan. Sometimes called ‘Adult Day’, the day honors young Japanese who will reach the age of majority at any point in the 12 months since the start of April in the previous year. Twenty is the age of majority in Japan and people who have reached this age gain the right to vote in elections as well as to drink, smoke, and get married without parental consent.
“The purpose of this holiday is to congratulate and encourage young men and women who attain the legal age of adulthood to fulfil their new-found responsibilities and become self-reliant members of society,” said Masahiko Uchino, of the National Cabinet Office’s holiday section.
Local governments usually have a ceremony known as a seijin shiki (adult ceremony) to honor the “new adults”. The ceremony is held in the morning of the national holiday at local city offices across Japan. Those reach majority during the current school year, which runs from April 2nd to April 1st the next year, are invited to attend. During the ceremony, heads of local government and guest speakers from various backgrounds give speeches and small presents are handed out to the new adults.
Women celebrate the day by donning special kimonos in which the sleeves are long, compared to the kimono with shorter sleeve portions that is worn by mature, married women. Some women will also wear hakama (baggy pants).
Most young women cannot put on a kimono themselves and have to go to a kimono kitsuke who dresses them. They also go to a hairdresser to have their hair done the day before or early in the morning. Many women rent their kimonos because of the cost of buying one.
Most young men wear business suits, although sometimes men wearing dark-colored kimonos, called a “haori” (half-coat), can be seen. Certainly, It is a much less expensive day for young men than the women.
Ed. Note: This will be my last post for a few days, I’ll be back though, whether you want me to or not!!
BADA BING!!
Some people say the problem with Christianity is that is not taught in schools. I say the problem with Christianity is that it’s not taught in churches.
Pickles are fantastic until you’re in one.
Whenever a Southerner tells me that it’s not ‘soda,’ it’s ‘pop,’ I always feel the need to ask them how many times they go to a bar and order ‘vodka and pop’?
If you identify a UFO as a UFO then it becomes an FO. Unless it has landed, then it’s simply an O.
If you don’t have something nice to say, post anonymously.
My wife asked if she had any annoying habits and then got all offended during the PowerPoint presentation.
#whoremembers
If you first read that as “whore members”, we’re probably already friends.
Dear paranoid people who check behind the shower curtain for murders…What exactly is the plan if you find one?
To those that I have offended in 2023; work on yourself so I don’t have to do it again in 2024.
Being an introvert isn’t easy. Imagine waiting for a reply without sending a message.
When she’s standing at the guillotine and regrets saying she wanted a man that would treat her like a queen.
I told my kids the shoes on telephone wires are from kids who lied and got sucked up into space.
Diet tip: Your pants won’t get too tight if you don’t wear any.
My housekeeping style is best described as “there appears to have been a struggle”.
Today is the birthday, in 1947, of David Bowie English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, painter and actor. His first UK Top 40 single was the 1969 ‘Space Oddity’ which became a UK No.1 in 1975, plus over 50 other UK Top 40 hits including five No.1’s. Bowie has also scored two US No.1 singles, the 1975 ‘Fame’ and 1983 ‘Let’s Dance’. His music and stagecraft significantly influencing popular music and during his lifetime, his record sales, estimated at 140 million worldwide, made him one of the world’s best-selling music artists. Bowie died from liver cancer at his New York home on 10 January 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYYRH4apXDo
Today is Christmas Eve in Armenia, a public holiday. Each year, Armenians enjoy a series of holidays from January 1st to January 6th bridging the period between the New Year and Armenian Christmas.
Right at the start of the 4th century, Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion. This meant the customs of festivals developed independently from the influence of Rome. One upshot of this was that Armenia chose the date of January 6th for the birth of Christ, rather than switching to the December 25th date later observed in most countries.
An Armenian Christmas Eve tradition is to eat fried fish, lettuce, and boiled spinach. The spinach is eaten in honor of the Virgin Mary, who, according to legend, had a meal of spinach on the evening before Jesus’ birth. While there is a recipe called ‘Spinach Mother Of Christ’ you won’t find the recipe in the Bible and some historians claim that there is no evidence for Spinach being part of the diet in that part of the world at that time, so we may be looking at some early form of marketing and branding by medieval spinach growers.
Just don’t
OOPS!!!
Today is the birthday, in 1950, of Chris Stein co-founder and guitarist of the new wave band Blondie. In 1973 Stein became the guitarist of the Stilettos and began a romantic relationship with Debbie Harry, one of the singers. Blondie scored five UK No.1 singles including the 1979 UK & US No.1 single ‘Heart Of Glass’ and the 1978 worldwide No.1 album Parallel Lines. Stein is also an accomplished photographer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGU_4-5RaxU
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