Music

05
Sep
2024

Yes, it’s THURSDAY

Today is Jeûne genevois, a public holiday in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland. Meaning Genevan Fast, it is observed on the Thursday after the first Sunday of September. This holiday is related to the Federal Fast, a Swiss government-arranged multi-denominational holiday celebrated by all Christian Churches and the Jewish community.

In 1831, the Federal Fast was fixed in all cantons in Switzerland on 8 September, before moving to the third Sunday in September. Geneva has instead kept to its own date.

Fasting days had been a tradition in Switzerland since the late medieval period. Despite not being seen as part of the reformed Protestant faith, they continued to be observed in parts of Switzerland.

In October 1567, there was a Geneva-wide fast to show support to the Protestants who were being persecuted in Lyon, France. This fast is recognised as the first Jeûne genevois.

In 1869 as a result of the Federal Fast across Switzerland, Jeûne genevois was no longer an official holiday, though it continued to be observed by many Genevans. In 1966, it was reinstated as a holiday. While the religious fasting element is no longer widely observed, banks, most businesses and shops will be closed on Jeûne genevois.

In the sixteenth century, the only food that was allowed to be eaten on Jeûne genevois was plum pie. It remains a treat to be enjoyed on this holiday to this day.

Bada Bing!!

I want to lose weight but I don’t want to get caught up in one of those “eat right and exercise” scams.

Walmart is opening dental offices in some of its stores. They will have an express lane for people with 10 teeth or less.

Woke up this morning and found out that someone had put vegetables in the beer crisper.

You’d be amazed how often I’m wrong when people ask me, “Guess what?”

Accidentally went shopping on an empty stomach and am now the proud owner of aisle 5.

Old age is when it takes longer to get over a good time than to have it.

I joined a dating site for people my age. It’s called Carbon Dating.

Another site I found is called Shingles Only.

When I go for walks I worry about tripping and falling, so I wear a helmet. But I also worry about looking ridiculous, so I carry a skateboard.

It’s tough getting older. I went into an antique store and they wouldn’t let me leave.

I went to the doctor because I thought I had arthritis. I don’t, I have early onset rigor mortis.

Yesterday the guy that was supposed to fix my doorbell didn’t show up. Or did he…

A Missionary group visited a Cannibal Tribe in New Guinea. It was their first taste of Religion.

If it’s so great outside, why do bugs try to get in my house?

If I could only use one word to describe myself, it would probably be: “not good at following directions”.

A man going on a honeymoon cruise stopped to buy seasick pills and condoms. The druggist said, “If it makes you sick, why do you do it?”

If you suck at playing the trumpet that’s probably why.

Five out of six scientists have proven that Russian roulette is harmless.

The best part of Kamala’s tax on wealth is if you don’t have $100 million, it won’t affect you. (If you are reading this, that includes you and everyone you’ve ever known)

“I was hoping to find a driverless taxi.” “Would you feel better if I told you I didn’t have a drivers license?

Today is the birthday, in 1946, of Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) British singer, songwriter, record producer with Queen. Regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range. Born in Zanzibar to Parsi-Indian parents, Mercury attended English boarding schools in India from the age of eight and returned to Zanzibar after secondary school. In 1964, his family fled the Zanzibar Revolution, moving to Middlesex, England. Having previously studied and written music, he formed Queen in 1970 with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. Queen had had the 1975 UK No.1 single ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, plus over 40 other UK Top 40 singles. And the 1980 US No.1 single ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’. As a solo artist he scored the 1987 UK No. 4 single ‘The Great Pretender’. Mercury died of bronchio-pneumonia on November 24th 1991 aged 45, just one day after he publicly announced he was HIV positive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO6D_BAuYCI

Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
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
29
Aug
2024

THURRRSSSDAY

Today is Slovak National Uprising Day (Výročie Slovenského národného povstania), a public holiday in Slovakia. This public holiday commemorates August 29th 1944, which marked the start of an uprising against the pro-Nazi government of the time. In 1938, the Munich agreement established the independent Slovak state, led by Jozef Tiso. In June 1944 Tiso declared martial law allowing the German army to occupy the country on August 29th.

Up to that point, there had been limited and sporadic guerrilla resistance operations across Slovakia. To counteract the planned occupation, a formal military plan was put in action by the exiled Czechoslovak government, Slovak partisans and deserters from the Slovak army. Headquartered in central Slovakia, the forces of the uprising consisted of several armoured units as well as part of the Slovak Air Force. Along with the Warsaw Uprising, it was the largest uprising against Nazism and its allies in Europe.

cookie-flavored cookies

SIGNZZZ

Today is the birthday, in 1958, of Michael Jackson singer, songwriter, Jackson 5, The Jacksons, and solo. Jackson is recognised as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. The music videos for ‘Beat It’, ‘Billie Jean’, and ‘Thriller’ are credited with breaking down racial barriers and transforming the medium into an art form and promotional tool. His 1982 album Thriller, is the best-selling studio album of all time. Jackson died on 25th June 2009 at the age of 50, after suffering heart failure at his home in Beverly Hills. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsUXAEzaC3Q

Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
28
Aug
2024

WEDNESDAY already

Ayyankali Jayanthi is a regional Indian public holiday observed in Kerala on August 28th. The day commemorates the birth of a notable social reformer in Kerala who was born on this day in 1863.

AyyanKali was born on August 28th 1963 in a small village in the princely state of Travancore, now in the south of the modern-day state of Kerala. He was born into the Pulayar, the lowest social class in the caste system.

Growing up illiterate and seeing that many Pulayars were effectively rural slaves, he resolved to do what he could to remove limitations of the caste system. Ayyankali became a noted protestor for Pulayar rights gaining rights for the community by highlighting the injustices of the caste system.

Ayyankali sought to improve access to education, and as a result of the protests led by Ayyankali, in 1907 a decree was issued to admit students from the untouchable community to government schools. When a school was burned down because a Puluyar girl had tried to enrol, Ayyankali organised a strike by the agricultural workers in the region.

As well as addressing the lower levels of education level, he pushed for jobs for Dalits in government departments such as public works, police and excise. His aim was to provide better living amenities and dignity to the Dalits. Ayyankali worked tirelessly to make the Dalits a part of modern and civilized society.

BADA BINGGGGGGGGGG

The homeless always find markers to write signs. I can never find one in my house.

Using Fox News to support your arguments is like saying you’re a marine biologist because you watch Sponge Bob Squarepants.

I’m trying to figure out how to tell my boss I don’t want to work anymore but I still want the money.

The Roomba vacuum cleaner just beat me to a piece of popcorn I dropped on the floor and this is how the war against the machines begins.

Walmart is giving out free school supplies to anyone who can outrun security.

Fox News did to our parents what our parents were afraid video games would do to us. – Steven King

How is a $7,500 tax credit for buying a Tesla capitalism, but the $25,000 tax credit for buying a house is communism?

Believing that your behavior is affected by the phases of the moon is lunacy.

Gynecologist: What are you using for birth control? Patient: My personality.

My wife just completed a 40-week bodybuilding program this morning. It’s a girl and weighs 7lbs 12 oz.

I made a huge to-do list for today. I just can’t figure out who’s going to do it.

Interviewer: Do you have any accomplishments at your last job? Me: I’m personally responsible for several new rules in the employee handbook. Interviewer: Impressive. You wrote them? Me: That’s not what I said.

If I was a plastic surgeon I would 100% put a squeaky toy in every breast implant.

Living with a dog is mostly following each other around, watching each other go potty, and wondering what the other has in their mouth.

Somedays, the supply of available swear words are insufficient to meet my demands.

Today is the birthday, in 1965, of Shania Twain, Canadian singer, (Eilleen Regina Edwards). Her 1997 album ‘Come On Over’, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time selling more than 40 million copies worldwide. Twain has won 5 Grammy Awards and 27 BMI Songwriter awards and is sometimes referred to as “The Queen of Country Pop”, she is one of the most commercially successful artists of all time, having sold over 80 million albums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJL4UGSbeFg

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music
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