Music

25
Jul
2023

TUESDAY – Monday is done!

Today is Guanacaste Day in Costa Rica. Also known as ‘Annexation of Nicoya Day’ (La Anexión del Partido de Nicoya), this day marks the annexation of Guanacaste in 1824 when the province became part of Costa Rica.

Spanish rule in the central Americas ended in 1812 following the Mexican War of Independence. In 1824, Costa Rica was part of the Federal Republic of Central America, along with other states such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

The region of Guanacaste was part of Nicaragua and bordered by the northern part of Costa Rica. In the three major cities in Guanacaste, there had been open meetings discussing a switch from Nicaragua to Costa Rica. A referendum was called to decide on what to do. In the referendum, Nicoya and Santa Cruz voted yes to joining Costa Rica, while Liberia voted to stay with Nicaragua. The overall result was in favor of the annexation by Costa Rica. The Central American Federal Republic duly passed the law and signed it on July 25th 1824, allowing Guanacaste Province to become part of Costa Rican territory.

The Cerberus Heatwave…It’s a fitting reference to classical Roman/Greek mythology. Cerberus is the three-headed dog who guards the gates of Hell (well, technically, the gates of Hades). Cerberus doesn’t guard the gates against people trying to get in, of course, but against people trying to get out.

Today is the birthday, in 1944, of Tom Dawes from American rock and roll band Cyrkle who had the 1966 US No.2 single ‘Red Rubber Ball’. They were signed by Brian Epstein and supported The Beatles on their 1966 US tour. He died on 13 October 2007. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emx6dU7suvg

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Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
24
Jul
2023

Oh, MONDAY…

Today is National Remembrance Day in Papua New Guinea. This day commemorates those Papua New Guineans who have died in military service.

While isolated for most of its history by its remote location and difficult terrain, Japanese soldiers invaded PNG in 1942 with the aim of building a base for the invasion of Australia. On July 23rd 1942, a number of soldiers from the PNG infantry battalion supported Allied forces in attacking a forward party of Japanese troops at Awala in the Kokoda region. This was a historic landmark in the country’s history as it was the first time, PNG soldiers had engaged in battle on native soil. As such the date has become a focal point for this memorial day intended to remember the members of the PNG armed forces who have died on duty in the first world war, the second world war, and subsequent peacekeeping and law and order engagements within PNG and abroad.

Awesome…

Since it’s the middle of summer, here are the Beach Boys! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcrbDYe4qL4

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
21
Jul
2023

and..(hold applause)…it’s FRIDAY!!!

Today is the Anniversary of the First Sermon of Lord Buddha (Drukpa Tshe Zhi), a public holiday in Bhutan.

After achieving enlightenment, Buddha gave his first sermon in the Deer Park in Isipatana, India and founded the Buddhist sangha (monkhood) about 2,500 years ago. In the sermon, which is known as ‘Setting the Wheel of Dharma in Motion’, the Buddha first spelt out the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

Brain not engaged…

I was saddened to read this morning of the death of Tony Bennett – he was a great singer and great showman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPAmDULCVrU

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Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
20
Jul
2023

it must be THURSDAY!

Today is Lao Women’s Union Establishment Day – a public holiday in Laos. This day marks the establishment of the Lao Women’s Union on this day in 1955.

The Lao Women’s Union (LWU) was established on July 20th 1955 to promote the role of women under the National Constitution. The aim of the LWU is to protect the rights and interests of Lao women and children. The union also incorporates promoting the implementation of policy geared toward gender equality and the advancement of women in national socio-economic development.

for the math-challenged…

SIGNZZZZZ

Today is the birthday, in 1947, of Carlos Santana, Mexican and American rock guitarist. Santana had the 1977 UK No.11 single ‘She’s Not There’, and their 1999 US No.1 single ‘Smooth’ spent eleven weeks at No.1, (also No.1 in the UK). He won eight Grammy Awards for his Supernatural album at the 2000 awards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPauXWjY4T8

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
19
Jul
2023

WHENS DAY?

Today is Sandinista Revolution Day, a public holiday in Nicaragua. This day commemorates the defeat of the Somoza dictatorship on this day in 1979.

In 1936, Anastasio Somoza García, the head of Nicaragua’s army deposed the elected President, Juan Bautista Sacasa (who was also Somoza’s uncle), and installed himself as President. This effectively established a hereditary dictatorship in the country for over 45 years, with two of Somoza’s sons serving as president after Somoza had been assassinated in 1956.

Backed by the US because of their anti-communist stance, the Somozas exhibited the usual dictatorial traits of accumulating incredible personal wealth and exiling any potential opponents. Anastasio Somoza Debayle, the second of Somoza’s sons to be president was particularly brutal and was accused of human rights violations.

Not too far in the background of the Somoza rule was the Sandinista National Liberation Front. This was a socialist revolutionary group founded in 1962 and named after Augusto Sandino, a hero of the resistance to U.S. military occupation between 1927 and 1933.

Since their creation, the Sandinistas had steadily built their support base amongst workers, students and peasants. In the 1970s, the political aims spilt over into military attacks on the Nicaraguan government. And although the Somozas retaliated, the revolution was gaining momentum, exploding into direct confrontations between the Sandinistas and the Nicaraguan army in 1978.

On July 19th 1979, Sandinista soldiers defeated the National Guard and toppled Somoza, who fled to Paraguay where he was assassinated in 1980.

a choice was made…

Today is the birthday, in 1947, of Brian May, guitarist, singer and songwriter with Queen who had the 1975 UK No.1 single ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ which returned to No.1 in 1991. Queen scored over 40 other UK Top 40 singles, and also scored the 1980 US No.1 single ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’. May had the solo 1992 UK No.5 single ‘Too Much Love Will Kill You’. May was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2005 for ‘services to the music industry and his charity work’. May earned a PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College, London, in 2007. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO6D_BAuYCI

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies