Music

04
Jan
2024

THUUUURRRSSSDAY

Today is the Day of King Amador, a public holiday in Sao Tome and Principe. The day commemorates Amador Viera—a man who is seen as a king and who helped to mobilize Africans to escape the bonds of slavery and to create their own free kingdom. He led a slave rebellion in 1595 against the Portuguese and declared himself to be the king of Sao Tome and Principe.

During 1595 and 1596, the Angolars ruled the island of Sao Tome under Amador Vieira’s command. On January 4, 1596, the Portuguese would end up capturing him and sending him to prison where the Portuguese executed him. And that’s why this holiday is observed every January 4th.

It’s currently unknown how the Angolars came to inhabit the island of Sao Tome, but there are several origin stories about it. One of the most told stories is that the Angolars were African slaves that were brought from the mainland and survived a shipwreck about 3-miles off the southern coast of Sao Tome Island.

Regardless of how the Angolars ended up in Sao Tome and Principe, it’s clear that Amador Viera—also known as Rei Amador—lead a slave rebellion in 1595 against the Portuguese and declared himself to be the king of the Angolars.

Small group…

Ed note: Augustus de Moran actually had some really great quotes, including my favorite: “I did not hear what you said, but I absolutely disagree with you.”

Today is the birthday, in 1960, of Michael Stipe, American singer, songwriter, musician, R.E.M. The band was pivotal in the creation and development of the alternative rock genre. They scored the 1991 UK No.6 & US No.10 single ‘Shiny Happy People’ plus over 20 Top 40 UK singles, and the 1992 UK No.1 & US No.2 album Automatic For The People. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYOKMUTTDdA

Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
03
Jan
2024

First WEDNESDAY of the year!!

Today is Winter Solstice, a national holiday in the Kingdom of Bhutan on January 2nd each year. Known as Nyilo, in the Bhutanese calendar, this is the first day of Winter and the shortest day of the year.

Nyilo, according to the Bhutanese calendar based on Buddhist astrology, is the first day of winter and the shortest day after which the days start getting longer until the summer solstice. Of course, on an astronomical rather than an astrological basis, the Winter Solstice takes place on December 21st or December 22nd.

Nyilo literally means “the return of the sun”. As with other new year’s days around the world, Nyilo is an auspicious day on which past mistakes can be removed and the benefit of good deeds is multiplied. It is considered as a sacred day and everyone is discouraged from taking part in negative activities.

Traditionally on the eve of Nyilo, Children visit every home in their village, singing “Lolay” – ancient verses which basically wish a prosperous or good new year to the house, home and family of the people the children are visiting. In return, the head of the family gives the children gifts of rice, meat and other ingredients, with which they cook a sumptuous meal or go for a picnic the following day. It’s a custom that children should be in odd numbers when visiting homes, as even numbers bring bad luck.

Today is the birthday, in 1945, of American singer, songwriter Stephen Stills who was a member of Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and Manassas. With CS&N he had the 1969 UK No.17 single ‘Marrakesh Express’ and the 1970 US No.1 album Deja Vu plus the 1971 solo UK No.37 single ‘Love The One Your With.’ Stills’s first solo album, Stephen Stills, (1970) went gold and is the only album to feature both Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj8FlXGPcOQ

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
29
Dec
2023

Final FRIDAY of the year

Today is Independence Day (Mongolian: Монгол Улсын тусгаар тогтнол), a public holiday in Mongolia. This holiday commemorates Mongolia’s independence from China on this day in 1911.

From the end of the 17th century, Outer Mongolia had been a territory of the Chinese Qing dynasty. A move for Mongolian independence had been stoked at the start of the 20th century after the Qing dynasty implemented cultural assimilation policies in Outer Mongolia to strengthen the Chinese identity of the territory.

In May 1911, the Xinhai Revolution led to the overthrow of the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China. The turmoil in China was pounced upon by the Mongols, and on December 29th 1911, Mongolia officially declared its independence from China. The spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists was proclaimed Bogd Khan of Mongolia, becoming the head of state.

The Republic of China invaded Mongolia in 1919. They were ousted in 1921. The Soviets then supported Mongolian independence leading to the Mongolian People’s Party declaring independence for a second time on July 11th 1921. This second independence is commemorated each year on Revolution Day which marks the start of the Naadam Festival and is the National Day of Mongolia.

Today is the birthday, in 1946, of English singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull and one time girlfriend of Mick Jagger. She achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her hit single ‘As Tears Go By’ (written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham) and became one of the lead female artists during the “British Invasion” in the United States. She was 17 when this song was released.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8EykQaZ8CU

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
28
Dec
2023

THRSDY

Today is Incwala Day in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). The date is based on ancestral astrology. The Eswatini National Trust Commission gives the date as the fourth day after the full moon nearest the longest day, December 21st. This unique date rule means the festival can take place in December or January.

Incwala is Eswatini’s most important cultural event and celebrates the start of the harvest season. In the run-up to the festival, men journey to the coast of Mozambique to gather water.

It is only after the king eats the first fruit that the people can partake of the harvest. This is why the festival is sometimes called the ‘First Fruits Festival’, but that event takes place on the fourth day and the festival extends over six days, full of rituals and traditions developed over many centuries:

Day 1: Fetching the Lusekwane (sickle bush)

Unmarried male youths set off from the Queen Mother’s village and march 50 kilometres to cut branches of the “lusekwane” under the light of the full moon.

Day 2: Dropping the Lusekwane

The boys place their “lusekwane” branches in the national cattle byre/kraal. The elders weave these branches in between the poles of the “inhlambelo” – the king’s private sanctuary.

Day 3

In the morning, young boys cut branches of the “black imbondvo” (red bushwillow) and these are added to the “inhlambelo”. In the afternoon, the king is receives traditional medicines in his sanctuary.

Day 4: Eating the First Fruits and Throwing the Gourd

The main day and the public holiday: all the key players perform in a spectacular pageant inside the cattle byre; the king and regiments appear in full war-dress.

Day 5: Day of Abstinence

After the spectacle, excitement and noise of the main day, today is set aside to gather breath and reflect upon the year. During the daylight hours, there is no sexual contact, touching water, wearing decorations, sitting on chairs/mats, shaking hands, scratching, singing or dancing.

Day 6: Day of the Log

The regiments march to a forest and return with firewood. The elders prepare a great fire in the center of the cattle byre. On it, certain ritual objects are burnt, signifying the end of the old year, while the key players dance and sing inside the byre. The king remains in seclusion until the next full moon, when the “lusekwane” branches are removed and burnt.

Door Mat

Supersymmetry

Today is the birthday, in 1875, of composer Maurice Ravel, best know for this piece…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILNDWCLVnpw

Posted by Tom in classical, Humor, Music
27
Dec
2023

WED-NES-DAY, The day of syllables

Today is the National Day of the Victorious Greater Poland Uprising. It commemorates the 1918-19 Greater Poland Uprising.

The uprising took place in the wake of World War One, as Poland sought to re-establish itself as an independent state following over a century of partition between Germany, Russia and Austria.

The Greater Poland Uprising, which was one of the two successful Polish uprisings, ended in the triumph of Polish insurgents over the Germans. The uprising broke out on December 27, 1918, in Poznań (western Poland) after a patriotic speech by Ignacy Paderewski, the famous pianist and diplomat, who became the Polish prime minister in 1919. The city was liberated on January 6, 1919. Almost the entire province was liberated by mid-January.

Under the Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919, almost the entire Wielkopolskie province returned to Poland.

BADA BING!!

Dear Texas, If you’re really obsessed with going backward in time, return your state to Mexico.

Of all the poop in the world, who decided that bat shit was the craziest?

I’m looking for either buttons or a zipper. I guess I’m really just looking for some closure.

When the FBI is searching your phone for evidence but has to go through 60,000 memes.

Does anyone else feel the urge to walk out of a business the moment they see Fox News on?

Instead of a condom, I carry a moist towelette in my wallet. I run into chicken wings more often than sex.

I used to be against organ donation. Then I had a change of heart.

Not bragging, but, I do live in a gated community with 24-hour guards at the gates.  Ok. it’s a prison, I said I wasn’t bragging.

Walmart is giving free turkeys to anyone who can outrun security.

I have a pet termite named Clint.  Clint eats wood.

Today is the birthday, in 1952, of British singer-songwriter, guitarist, David Knopfler, (the younger brother of guitarist Mark Knopfler). He is a co-founder of the rock band Dire Straits, with whom he spent three years. After quitting the band, Knopfler embarked upon a solo career. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd9TlGDZGkI

Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music