Music

23
Aug
2024

fridayfridayfridayFRIDAY

Today the Philippines celebrate Ninoy Aquino Day. In Filipino, it is known as ‘Araw ng Kabayanihan ni Ninoy Aquino’. The holiday commemorates the assassination of former Senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr. on this day in 1983.

His wife was Corazon Aquino, who later became President of the Philippines, and as a couple, they are seen as two heroes of democracy in the Philippines.

In the early 1970s, Aquino was a prominent critic of the President of the Philippines at that time – Ferdinand Marcos. Martial law was declared in September 1972 and Aquino was imprisoned. While in prison, Aquino continued to campaign for democracy and even stood for election.

In 1980, he suffered two heart attacks and rather than treat him and have something go wrong and get accused of intentionally treating him badly, the Filipino authorities allowed him to leave to go to the United States for medical treatment, where he remained in exile for about three years.

His intention was to return to the Philippines to challenge Marcos in the parliamentary elections of 1984. On August 21st 1983, while he was being escorted off the plane at Manila International airport, he was shot and killed.

Edmund Burke (or somebody) Runs For Re-election

Today is the birthday, in 1942, of Roger Greenaway, singer, songwriter, member of David & Jonathan and the Kestrels. Best known for his songwriting collaborations with Roger Cook: ‘My Baby Loves Lovin’, (White Plains); ‘Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress’, ‘Gasoline Alley Bred’, (The Hollies); ‘You’ve Got Your Troubles’, (The Fortunes); ‘Melting Pot, Good Morning Freedom’ (Blue Mink); and ‘Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart’ (Gene Pitney). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwO0lNfc_h8

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
22
Aug
2024

calendar sez THURSDAY

Today is the Grand Magal of Touba, a national holiday in Senegal. This day sees the largest pilgrimage, or Magal, in the country as hundreds of thousands of followers make their way to the holy city of Touba.

The Grand Magal is the main religious festival of the Senegalese Muslim brotherhood, the Mourides. Mouridism is a branch of Sufi Islam that was founded by Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba Mbacké. This branch of Islam combines the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad with values from the Wolof culture, the largest ethnic group in Senegal. Mouridism is practised by around 28% of the Senegalese population.

getting tired…

The leaning sign of Pisa Place

Back to school!!!

yet more SIGNZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Today is the birthday, in 1936, of American rock singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist Dale Hawkins best known for his recording of his swamp-rock classic, ‘Susie Q.’ Hawkins later became a record producer and executive. He died aged 73 on 13 February 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIJIvfR1mjU

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music
21
Aug
2024

‘W’ means WEDNESDAY

Today is the Day of Memory, a public holiday in the Czech Republic. The full name of this holiday is the “Day of Memory of the Victims of the 1968 Invasion and subsequent occupation of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops.”

In 1968, Alexander Dubček was appointed to the key post of First Secretary of the Czechoslovak Communist Party. Dubček made changes that liberalized the nation, a period known as the Prague Spring. In response, after failing to persuade the Czechoslovak leaders to change course, five other members of the Warsaw Pact invaded, with Soviet tanks rolling into Czechoslovakia on the night of August 20th 1968.

A massive wave of emigration swept the nation. Resistance was mounted throughout the country, involving attempted fraternization, sabotage of street signs, defiance of curfews, etc. While the Soviet military had predicted that it would take four days to subdue the country, the resistance held out for almost eight months until diplomatic maneuvers finally circumvented it.

Czechoslovakia remained a Soviet satellite state until 1989 when the Velvet Revolution peacefully ended the communist regime; the last Soviet troops left the country in 1991.

The Prague Spring inspired music and literature including the work of Václav Havel, Karel Husa, Karel Kryl and Milan Kundera’s novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

SIGNZ and SIGNZ and SIGNZ

Today is the birthday, in 1954, of Nick Kane from the American band The Mavericks who had the 1998 UK No.4 single ‘Dance The Night Away’. The Mavericks won a Grammy Award for the song ‘Here Comes the Rain’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UajuBAUkBs

Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
20
Aug
2024

Sort of TUESDAYish

Today is Revolution Day, a public holiday in Morocco. Also known as the King and People’s Revolution Day, this day commemorates the exile of Sultan Mohammed V on this day in 1953.

In 1912 Morocco became a French protectorate under the Treaty of Fez, administered by a French Resident-General. Morocco had traditionally been ruled by a sultan. Under France’s rule, the role of the monarch was greatly reduced to that of a figurehead.

The 1940s saw a growing level of nationalism with Istiqlal, a political party aimed at bringing independence to Morocco founded. To quell the nationalism, the French authorities asked the highly respected Sultan Mohammed V to sign a ‘pact of surrender’. The Sultan refused and on August 20th 1953, the French exiled the Sultan; first to Corsica, then to  Madagascar.

This backfired on the French as Moroccans who wanted independence and those who followed the Sultan as a religious leader, united in active opposition. The opposition turned to armed resistance.

In November 1955, Mohammad V returned to Morocco. Receiving overwhelming support from the Moroccan people, and with rising levels of violence in Morocco and Algeria, the colonial authorities were forced to enter into negotiations with Morocco over independence. A year later, Morocco gained its independence with Sultan Mohammad becoming King.

High school…

BADA BING!

Whoever is in charge of making sure I don’t do stupid shit is FIRED!

So are you seeing anyone? You mean like a therapist or hallucinations?

All I’m saying is that MF grew an ear back like a salamander.

Better woke than weird.

If anybody knows how to handle a bully, it’s a prosecutor and a high school coach.

Make fixing a printer an Olympic sport.

What do you call a paper airplane that can’t fly? Stationary.

Just a reminder, you’re never too old to throw random shit in people’s shopping carts when they aren’t looking.

It’s stupid that you can’t smoke with kids in the car anymore. Look how wet they’re getting standing out in the rain.

My ancestors navigated the ocean using stars and I’m over here missing my exit with GPS.

The first rule of our “Condescending Club” is quite complex and I don’t think you would understand it even if I explained it to you.

We members of the Procrastinator’s Club will be discussing this at length. Maybe tomorrow or sometime in the future. Not sure when. We’re going to meet soon to try to set up a time for the meeting when the members can decide when they might be available. I think.

I’ve made some bad choices in life but I’ve never bought a pair of crocs.

I’m glad you’re learning to laugh at yourself. It was getting kind of awkward for the rest of us.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.  Those who prevent history from being taught intend to repeat it.

Doctor: What’s wrong? Her: Nothing… Doctor: I’m your Doctor, not your husband.

Today is the anniversary of the premiere, in 1882) of the 1812 Overture (The Year 1812, Solemn Overture, Op. 49) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The piece commemorates Russia’s successful defense against the French invasion of the nation in 1812. The fifteen-minute overture is best known for its climactic volley of cannon fire, ringing chimes, and a brass fanfare finale. It has also become a common accompaniment to fireworks displays on the United States’ Independence Day. Here’s the climax… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MGTK-MHSSg

Posted by Tom in classical, Humor, Music
19
Aug
2024

Must be MONDAY

Today is St. Stephen’s Day, a public holiday in Hungary. It is also known as Foundation Day and Constitution Day. This is the official state holiday of Hungary. This is a ‘bridge day’ allowing a four day holiday including the official St. Stephen’s Day on the 20th.

St. Stephen of Hungary (Szent István király) was the first king of Hungary and he laid the foundation of the state by converting the Magyar people to Christianity.

After a serious military loss in 955 AD, Hungarian tribal leaders decided to abandon their nomadic existence. Stephen, the Grand Prince of the Hungarians, realized that conversion to Christianity would be a way of strengthening the idea of Hungarian nationhood.

St. Stephen’s Day may be called “the day of the new bread” as it is a tradition to cut bread on this day to celebrate the arrival of the harvest.

Stephen received the “Sacred Crown” from Pope Sylvester II becoming Hungary’s first king on Christmas Day in 1000 AD, ruling until his death on August 15th 1038. Stephen was buried next to his son, Imre in St. Mary’s Church in Székesfehérvár. His remains were later transferred to Buda. His Holy Crown has survived the centuries since and it is now Hungary’s most precious treasure.

August 20th was first celebrated in 1092, when another saint king, Ladislaus I declared it a sacred day.

Until 1687, August 20th was St. Stephen’s feast day and thus became Hungary’s national day, even after the feast day itself has switched around in the calendar a few times. August 20th has been a national holiday since 1771 when Queen Maria Theresia changed it from a church feast to an official national holiday. 

In 1945 Communist leaders prohibited celebrations due to its religious nature and in 1950 it was changed to Constitution Day. It was reinstated as a celebration of St. Stephen in 1990 by the Hungarian Parliament.

Today is the birthday, in 1940, of American singer-songwriter Johnny Nash, who had the 1972 US No.1 single ‘I Can See Clearly Now’, and the 1975 UK No.1 single ‘Tears On My Pillow’. Nash died of natural causes on 6 October 2020 age 80. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDNKOblg3gs

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies