World

17
May
2024

FRIDAY already?

Today is Constitution Day in Norway. It is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday each year on May 17th. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to as ‘Syttende Mai‘ (simply meaning May Seventeenth), Nasjonaldagen (National Day) or less commonly, Grunnlovsdagen (Constitution Day).

Following the Napoleonic Wars, Norway’s Constitution, which declared the country as a kingdom independent of Sweden was signed at what is now widely considered one of Norway’s most symbolic markers of national pride, the Eidsvoll Manor House, officially beginning its path to total independence.

Constitution Day is often kicked off by many Norwegians with a traditional 17. Mai breakfast of smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, and a fresh loaf of bread, accompanied by a glass of champagne. Breakfast is just the start of the spring holiday that many view as a time to indulge in guilty food pleasures, especially ice cream and hot dogs. The national pastry for May 17th is pavlova, a cake filled with cream and fruit made from a meringue mass.

The May 17th celebrations vary across Norway, but they all follow a traditional pattern that makes this a day centered on the children.

The highlights are the children’s processions, made up of school classes marching through the local community, led by the school band. Most children have their own small Norwegian flag to wave, and the route is lined with enthusiastic onlookers. The first children’s processions were duly arranged in 1870. Since 1906, the Royal Family have gathered on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo to wave to the children marching by.

Gratulerer med dagen, Norge!

Today is the birthday, in 1961, of Enya Ni Bhraonain, from Irish family band Clannad who had the 1982 UK No.5 single ‘Harry’s Game’. Enya had the solo, 1988 UK No.1 single ‘Orinoco Flow’, and the 2001 US No.2 album ‘A Day Without Rain’. Enya is Ireland’s biggest selling solo artist and second overall behind U2 with an estimated 75 million records sold worldwide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wfYIMyS_dI

Posted by Tom
29
Apr
2024

Oops, it’s MONDAY again

Today is Showa Day in Japan, a public holiday. Known in Japan as ‘Shōwa no Hi‘, it is part of Golden Week. Showa Day honors the birthday of Emperor Hirohito, the reigning Emperor before, during, and after World War II (from 1926 – 1989).

The Showa Era is the longest and most dramatic reign of an emperor in Japan’s history. Emperor Showa was the longest-living emperor. He died at age 87 after reigning for 63 years. In fact, the Showa Era literally covers some of modern Japan’s brightest and darkest hours. After his death in 1989, he was renamed Emperor Showa.

Showa Day is the first holiday of Golden Week. The Golden Week is a period when four national holidays fall within the space of seven days. The days which are holidays each year depending on how the holidays fall in combination with the two weekends either side of Golden Week. It has become a very popular and busy holiday season in Japan.

Your choice…

D section is incorrectly named.

Today is the birthday, in 1899, of Duke Ellington, American composer, bandleader, pianist. He worked with Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday. Ellington died on May 24, 1974, of complications from lung cancer and pneumonia, a few weeks after his 75th birthday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDQpZT3GhDg

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, World
08
Apr
2024

MUN…DAE…hmmm

Today Thailand observes Chakri Memorial Day. Officially known as ‘King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the Great Day and Chakri Dynasty Memorial Day’, Chakri Day commemorates the establishment of the Chakri Dynasty by Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke ( Rama I) in 1782. One of King Rama’s first acts was to make Krung Thep (modern-day Bangkok) the capital of Siam.

Chakri day commemorates the coronation of Rama I but it is also a day for the people of Thailand to recognise the contributions of all the kings in the dynasty.

The current and tenth King (Rama X) of the dynasty is King Vajiralongkorn, who succeeded his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej who died in October 2016.

Today is the birthday, in 1929, of Jacques Brel, Belgian singer, songwriter. Marc Almond, Alex Harvey, David Bowie, Dusty Springfield, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, The Kingston Trio, Gavin Friday, Joan Baez, Shirley Bassey, Judy Collins, Beach Boys and many, many others have all covered his songs. Brel has sold over 25 million records worldwide, including over 12 million albums and singles in France and Belgium. He died of cancer 9th October 1978. Here’s a cover of one of his songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWdQbxNEFEs

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, World
01
Mar
2024

First FRIDAY in March!!!

Today is the National Day of Heroes, a public holiday in Paraguay. The aim of the holiday is to pay tribute to the work of citizens who have helped make Paraguay what it is today.

In the words of President Horacio Cartes, “Our heroes build a better Paraguay; today we pay homage to all Paraguayans who, with sacrifice and courage, make this a great country.”

This national holiday falls on the anniversary of the death of Marshal Francisco Solano Lopez, President of Paraguay from 1862 – 1870, who was killed in combat during the Battle of Cerro Corá. This was the last conflict in the War of the Triple Alliance (1864 – 1870) that pitted Paraguay against the tri-national alliance of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

Ice in the back yard

confusing…

Nice guy…

Demotivational Posters

Today is the birthday, in 1927, of American singer, actor, and civil rights activist, Harry Belafonte who had the 1957 UK No.1 & US No.12 single with ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ and a 1957 UK No.2 & US No.5 with ‘Banana Boat Song’. He also scored over 15 US Top 40 albums, including the 1956 Calypso. Belafonte died from congestive heart failure at his home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City, on 25 April 2023, at the age of 96. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-4xyg4PU-U

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies, World
12
Nov
2023

Africa

The population of Africa is growing rapidly. By 2050 25% of the world’s population will be African. Africa is young – the median age of Africans is 19. One of the many nonprofits working with these young Africans is the Hout Bay Music Project in South Africa. Hout Bay is a suburb of Cape Town and the residents there created the Hout Bay Music Project to educate both youth of the area, particularly the disadvantaged youth of the informal settlement in the wonders of music.

Here is a presentation the students of the music project gave along with Dutch violinist and conductor Andre Rieu. It’s an amazing concert – be sure to listen to the end. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsIuMLz1hkM&t=609s

Posted by Tom in Music, World