Crabs and Beer!

Thoughts from the depths of the Eastern Shore
06
Nov
2023

What day starts with ‘M’…MONDAY!

Today is Constitution Day in the Dominican Republic. This holiday marks the adoption of the country’s first Constitution on this day in 1844.

1844 was a momentous year for this Caribbean country, which was commonly known as Santo Domingo until the 20th century. In February, the nation had proclaimed its independence from Haiti. 

The first Constitution followed on November 6th of that year. It was signed in San Cristóbal, a town near the capital,  Santo Domingo. It was modeled on the United States constitution and featured a presidential form of government with many liberal tendencies.

Since then the Dominican Republic has gone through 39 constitutions, more than any other country. This statistic is a somewhat deceiving indicator of political stability, however, because of the Dominican practice of promulgating a new constitution whenever an amendment is ratified. Although technically different from each other in some particular provisions, most new constitutions contained only minor modifications of those previously in effect.

Count on Fox…

Saturday was the anniversary of the premier, in 1890, of Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiexn6O9To4

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Posted by Tom in classical, Humor, Music
03
Nov
2023

it’s…..FRIDAY!! 😍😍😍

Today is Culture Day, a public holiday in Japan. Culture Day, otherwise known as Bunka no hi, is a day to honor traditional Japanese culture and promote the love of freedom and peace that was enshrined in the Japanese constitution which came into force in 1948. November 3rd is a notable date in Japan as it also marks the date of birth of Emperor Meiji, who ruled Japan from 1867 until his death in 1912. From 1927 until 1947, November 3rd was a national holiday called “Meiji Setsu,” in honor of the late Emperor.

Throughout the country, festivals and parades are held celebrating traditional Japanese customs. It’s a great day to delve into the rich history and culture of Japan as most museums in Tokyo and across the rest of the country are open for free on Culture Day.

Today is the birthday, in 1933, of English composer and conductor John Barry. He composed the scores for 11 of the James Bond films between 1963 and 1987 and is credited with arranging the ‘James Bond Theme’ in every movie. He wrote the Grammy- and Academy Award-winning scores to the films Dances with Wolves and Out of Africa, as well as the theme for the British television cult series The Persuaders! Barry died of a heart attack on 31st January 2011 aged 77. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9-cDa4JCwM

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Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
02
Nov
2023

TH…U…RS…DA……….Y!

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Liberia. President George Manneh Weah, has by Proclamation declared Thursday November 2nd 2023 as “National Thanksgiving Day” to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday. Each year, the Liberian President issues a Proclamation for this holiday declaring the day as National Thanksgiving Day, to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday. The Proclamation calls on Liberians and foreign residents within the borders of Liberia,  Priests, Imams, Bishops, Pastors, Clergies as well as religious organizations in the country to gather in their various places of worship and offer thanks.

Dumboy (boiled and then pounded cassava) and Fufu (a derivative of cassava) have been the staple side dishes for Thanksgiving alongside a roasted chicken where available

Chicken Coupe

Well that’s a surprise!

From days past…

Today is the birthday, in 1938, of American singer Jay Black, known as ‘The Voice,’ whose height of fame came in the 1960s when he was the lead singer of Jay and the Americans. The band had numerous hits including ‘Come a Little Bit Closer’, ‘Cara Mia’, and ‘This Magic Moment’. He died from pneumonia age 82 on 22 October 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sFy5_kmEi4

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Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
01
Nov
2023

It’s already WEDNESDAY

Today is Anniversary of the Revolution Day in Algeria. It is celebrated on November 1st and commemorates the start of the war of independence against France.

From the start of the sixteenth century, Algeria had been under the partial rule of the Ottoman Empire. In 1830, the country was invaded by France. The conquest of Algeria was a long and bloody affair, and unusually for French foreign territories, Algeria’s status was that it was treated as being part of France rather than as a colony.

Emigration from Europe to Algeria was encouraged by the French, with tribal lands confiscated by the French government or French settlers and Europeans even becoming the majority of the population in some cities like Algiers.

On November 1st1954, the Christian festival of All Saints’ Day, 70 individual coordinated attacks were made on police and military targets across Algeria by the National Liberation Front (FLN). These attacks signaled the start of the Algerian War. The events of November 1st 1954 became known as the ‘Red (bloody) All Saints’ Day’ (French: Toussaint Rouge).

While France won the conflict and regained control of the country, the brutality of the suppression of the revolution further alienated the Algerians and resulted in a loss of support for France’s control of Algeria, both in France and abroad. This change in attitude directly led to independence from Algeria on July 5th 1962.

Unfortunate juxtaposition…

SIGNZZZZZ

Today is the birthday, in 1954, of Chris Morris, guitar, from Paper Lace who scored the 1974 UK No.1 single ‘Billy Don’t Be A Hero’, and the 1974 US No.1 single ‘The Night Chicago Died’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c82thy_x1M8

Posted by Tom in Humor, Music, sixties and seventies
31
Oct
2023

TOOOOOOOOOSDAY

Today is Reformation Day, a public holiday in Chile, Slovenia and parts of Germany. Reformation Day commemorates the day in 1517 when a German monk named Martin Luther (1483-1546) strode up to the church in Wittenburg and nailed his 95 ‘theses’ (or propositions) to the church door. Luther chose to do this on October 31st as he knew the church would be full on the next day for All Saints’ Day.

Luther had hoped that pinning his protestations would spark wider debate about the process of ‘buying’ indulgences (which forgave sins) and harden public opinion against the practice. However, so many people agreed with his ideas that they quickly spread across western Europe, helped by the recent invention of the printing press, leading to the religious revolt known as the Reformation.

The reformation led many Christians to break off from the Roman Catholic Church and establish new, independent churches of their own, such as the Lutheran Church. The pivotal act would ultimately lead to the creation of the numerous Protestant denominations, so-called as they trace their theological lineage to this “protestation” of the Catholic Church. 

Pizza Party!!!!

Today is the birthday, in 1950, of American singer, songwriter and guitarist Moon Martin. Originally a rockabilly artist, he wrote the songs ‘Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)’, made famous by the English singer Robert Palmer, and ‘Cadillac Walk’, a hit for American singer Willy DeVille. Hi died on 11 May 2020 age 74. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlPHmYtqSdA

Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music

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