classical

Dec

2023

‘W’ is for WEDNESDAY

Today is Macau SARE Day. Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment (SARE) Day (known as ‘Dia Commemorativo do Estabelecimento da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau’ in Portuguese) is celebrated on December 20th and commemorates the Chinese government assuming formal sovereignty over Macau on December 20th 1999. This day is an Obligatory holiday in Macau according to the Article 44th of the Law no. 7/2008 issued on August 18th 2008.

Macau first became a major settlement and trading post with the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century. In 1557, the Portuguese established a permanent settlement in Macau, paying an annual rent of Silver to the Chinese. Up to 1863, the Portuguese continued to pay an annual tribute to stay in Macau.

Following the Carnation Revolution of 1974 in Portugal, the new Portuguese government decided it would relinquish all its overseas possessions. In 1976, Lisbon redefined Macau as a “Chinese territory under Portuguese administration” and granted it a large measure of administrative, financial, and economic autonomy.

In June 1986, the Chinese and Portuguese governments commenced negotiations on the sovereignty of Macau. The two countries signed a Joint Declaration in 1987, making Macau a special administrative region (SAR) of China. The Chinese government assumed formal sovereignty over Macau on December 20th 1999.

SIGNS!!!

No good birthdays today but WInter is Here… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPdk5GaIDjo

Dec

2023

TUESDAY – all you need to know

Today is King Bhumibol’s Birthday, a public holiday in Thailand. The day commemorates the birthday of the late King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej. It is also Thailand’s National Day and is the day when Father’s Day is celebrated in Thailand.

Known as Rama IX, he reigned Thailand since June 9th 1946 until his death on October 13th 2016, making him the longest-reigning monarch ever in Thailand’s history.

Despite being a constitutional monarch, and not legally being allowed a role in politics, Bhumibol made several decisive interventions in the Thai political sphere and has been credited with helping facilitate Thailand’s transition to democracy in the 1990s.

The holiday itself is a colorful affair. Buildings across Thailand will display flags, bunting and portraits of the late King, while around the Grand Palace area of Bangkok, the streets are decorated with thousands of marigolds.

BADA BING!!!!!

It’s never too late to start exercising. That’s why I’m waiting until later.

Alien1: Did you catch the latest episode of “Earth”? Alien2: I did. this season is CRAZY!

I never thought I’d be the kind of person to wake up early and exercise… and I was right!

A guy asked me what it was like to be a woman in the workplace and another guy answered for me. Nailed it.

The correct term for gluten-free, sugarless, vegan brownies is “compost.”

Nothing embarrasses psychics more than throwing them a surprise birthday party.

Doctor: Is there a chance you might be pregnant? Her: If I am, I’ll be giving birth to some batteries.

Scientists warn that Earth could run out of conspiracy theories by 2025 if they keep coming true at the current rate.

I totally think Santa should publish the naughty list. What a great way to meet people.

tRUMP sandwich – white bread; full of baloney; with Russian dressing; and a small pickle.

Mom’s For Liberty should rebrand as Klanned Karenhood.

Someone called Moms for Liberty “Assholes with Casseroles” and it’s my new favorite.

My wife never complained until I got hearing aids.

2 hyrogen buffalo + 1 oxygen buffalo = 1 water buffalo

Today is the birthday, in 1756, of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It’s hard to imagine a single piece being representative of his work – here are a couple. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MafAZeag1_0 and the flying fingers of Yuja Wang here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGAPTRrAilY

Nov

2023

something something MONDAY

Today if Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone, the eighth month in the Burmese calendar. It usually falls in November in the Western calendar. The full moon of Tazaungmone marks the end of the rainy season in Myanmar as well as the end of the Kathina festival during which monks are offered alms including new robes.

The number nine is a lucky and auspicious number in Myanmar and 9,999 candles are lit up as offerings to Buddha in the Chaukhtatgyi Paya Pagoda on the night of the full moon day of Tazaungmone.

Following on from Thadingyut, celebrated on the previous full moon, Tazaungmone is another festival of lights as the festival of Tazaungdaing is also held at this time. Across Myanmar, hot-air balloons are lit with candles and released into the night sky. The balloons are released as an offering to the home of the devas in Buddhist cosmology and as a way to drive away evil spirits.

Today was the premier, in 1896, of Also sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spoke Zarathustra), Op. 30 by Richard Strauss. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szdziw4tI9o

Nov

2023

TUESDAY is here already

Today is Armed Forces Day in Greece, honoring the Hellenic National Defense General staff, the Hellenic Navy, the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Air Force.

This day coincides with another religious feast of a great importance in Greece, the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. The feast is known for the Western Christians as the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The feast is associated with an event recounted not in the New Testament, but in the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James. According to that text, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne, who had been childless, received a heavenly message that they would have a child. In thanksgiving for the gift of their daughter, they brought her, when still a child, to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God.

Bob has limits…

No good birthdays today, but tomorrow is the anniversary of the first performance of Ravel’s Bolero in 1928. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrEk06XXaAw

Nov

2023

What day starts with ‘M’…MONDAY!

Today is Constitution Day in the Dominican Republic. This holiday marks the adoption of the country’s first Constitution on this day in 1844.

1844 was a momentous year for this Caribbean country, which was commonly known as Santo Domingo until the 20th century. In February, the nation had proclaimed its independence from Haiti.

The first Constitution followed on November 6th of that year. It was signed in San Cristóbal, a town near the capital, Santo Domingo. It was modeled on the United States constitution and featured a presidential form of government with many liberal tendencies.

Since then the Dominican Republic has gone through 39 constitutions, more than any other country. This statistic is a somewhat deceiving indicator of political stability, however, because of the Dominican practice of promulgating a new constitution whenever an amendment is ratified. Although technically different from each other in some particular provisions, most new constitutions contained only minor modifications of those previously in effect.