sixties and seventies

Aug

2023

and again it’s FRIDAY – two days in a row!!!

Today is Hawaiian Statehood Day. Also known as Admission Day, it commemorates the admission of the state to the Union in 1959.

From as early as 1849, there had been several attempts to make Hawaii a part of the United States.

Hawaii was annexed by the American in 1898, becoming the Territory of Hawaii.

In the 1940s, ballots during elections showed an increasing majority in favor of statehood and in 1959, the U.S. Congress approved a statehood bill, the Hawaii Admission Act. This was followed by a referendum in which Hawaiian residents voted 94% in support of statehood.

On August 21st 1959 (which was the third Friday in August in that year), President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the proclamation making Hawaii the 50th state.

compliance attempt

Introverts…

Today is the birthday, in 1953, of Marvin 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. Marvin Isley died from complications of diabetes on June 6, 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjLFpU2pJ4

Aug

2023

WENNNSSDA

Today is Restoration Day in the Dominican Republic. Known in Spanish as ‘el día de la Restauración Dominicana’, this holiday commemorates the start of the Dominican Restoration War on this day in 1863.

In 1844, the Dominican Republic had regained independence from Haiti. For political and economic reasons, Pedro Santana, the then President of the Dominican Republic signed a pact with Spain in 1861 to revert the status of the Dominican Republic to that of a colony of Spain.

The move led almost immediately to a failed rebellion and Santana realized his decision to impose Spanish rule had reduced his power, and he resigned in January 1862. On August 16th 1863, 15 men under the leadership of Santiago Rodríguez made a daring raid from the city of Dajabon and raised the Dominican flag on the Capotillo hill. This action, known as the ‘grito de Capotillo’, was the beginning of the Dominican Restoration War which was fought until 1865 between nationalist Dominicans and Spain.

The war ended when a decree of Queen Isabel II of Spain, on March 3rd 1865, repealed the Dominican Republic’s reinstatement to the Spanish Monarchy. The last Spanish troops left on July 15th 1865.

New Products

Today is the birthday, in 1945, of Gary Loizzo, from American rock band American Breed who scored the 1967 US No.5 single ‘Bend Me, Shape Me’, (a hit on the British charts for the British group Amen Corner). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWg0jPV6FiM

Aug

2023

FRIIIIIIIIIIIDAY!!!!!!!!

Today is Mountain Day (Yama no hi), a public holiday in Japan. Mountain Day is intended is to provide “opportunities to get familiar with mountains and appreciate blessings from mountains”.

This is fitting as around 70% of the landmass of Japan is mountainous, and activities such as hiking and skiing are popular. All of Japan’s primary islands has a mountain range running through it. Mount Fuji (3,776 m) is the highest mountain in Japan, one of the nation’s “Three Holy Mountains”, and one of the most recognizable symbols of Japan. Other prominent mountains include Mount Kita, Mount Hotaka, Mount Yari, Mount Tate, Mount Haku, and Mount Kumotori. Some of them are active volcanoes.

Today is the birthday, in 1949, of Eric Carmen, American singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist, who with the The Raspberries had the 1972 US No.5 single ‘Go All The Way’ and the 1976 solo US No.2 single, ‘All By Myself’, plus other hits with ‘She Did It’, ‘Hungry Eyes’, and ‘Make Me Lose Control. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ssCL292DQA

Aug

2023

TUESDAY (the eighth)

Today is Nane Nane (‘eight eight’ in Swahili), a public holiday in Tanzania observed on August 8th each year. Also known as Farmers’ Day, this day marks the contribution of farmers to the national economy.

Like other African countries who rely on farming and agriculture a Farmers’ Day is a day to honor farmers and focus on the contribution of the sector to the country. Nane Nane is an important opportunity to showcase new technologies and developments in farming, improve education and highlight best practice.

Today is the birthday, in 1933, of Joe Tex, US soul singer, (1965 US No.5 single ‘Hold On To What You’ve Got’, 1977 UK No.2 single ‘Ain’t Gonna Bump No More With No Big Fat Woman’). Tex died on 12th August 1982 aged 49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ichhoTcdzaY

Aug

2023

THURSSSSSSSSS-DAY

Today is Emancipation Day in Bermuda – the first day of a two-day holiday. This holiday marks the end of slavery in the British Empire. Slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire by the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which came into effect on August 1st 1834. The territories controlled at that time by the East India Company, Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) and St. Helen’s were excluded. Slavery was not abolished in these regions until 1843.

Tomorrow is Mary Prince Day in Bermuda. This holiday takes place on the day after Emancipation Day and coincides with the second day of Cup Match, an annual cricket match between Somerset and St. George’s.

Mary Prince was a Bermudian slave who published her autobiography, “The History of Mary Prince, A West Indian Slave“. Published in 1831, the book was a first-hand account of the brutality of slavery in Bermuda and the first account of the life of a black woman to be published in England.