Crabs and Beer

Jun

2023

Happy THURSDAY and welcome June!

Today is Independence Day – a public holiday in Samoa. This day is Samoa’s National Day and marks independence from New Zealand which was gained in 1962.

Samoa became of interest to the USA and European colonial powers in the late 19th century. A civil war resulted in the US controlling the western islands as American Samoa, with the east becoming German Samoa.

At the outbreak of World War I, New Zealand troops took control of German Samoa. From the end of the war, New Zealand controlled Samoa as a Trust Territory through the League of Nations, then through the United Nations.

Although the relationship between Samoa and New Zealand was amicable, Samoa gained its independence on January 1st 1962 after the New Zealand Western Samoa Act 1961 was passed on November 24th 1961.

When it became independent, the country was called Western Samoa and was the first small-island country in the Pacific to gain independence. Western Samoa was renamed as Samoa in 1997. It should be noted that nearby American Samoa remains an unincorporated territory of the United States.

Despite the act of independence taking place on 1st January, the holiday is celebrated on June 1st as January is in the middle of the rainy season, which would put a damp dampener on any celebrations. Also having the celebrations on January 1st meant it would clash with the two days of holidays for New Year.

Bad Bunny

Pride Month

Today is the birthday, in 1974. of Alanis Morissette, Canadian-American, singer, songwriter, who had the 1996 US No.4 & UK No.11 single ‘Ironic’ from Jagged Little Pill which has sold more then 30 million copies, making it the best ever selling record by a female performer. Morissette appeared on the Canadian children’s television show You Can’t Do That for five episodes when she was in elementary school and has now sold more than 60 million albums worldwide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jne9t8sHpUc

May

2023

WEDNESDAY, the last of May

Today is Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day – a public holiday in Brunei Darussalam. This public holiday marks the formation of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces on 31 May 1961. Brunei had been a British protectorate since 1888, and as such, was reliant on the British armed forces for protection and defense.

On 31 May 1961, to prepare for future independence, recruits from Brunei began military training, creating the first Brunei military force named the Brunei Malay Regiment. On 31 May 1965, the regiment was honored with the royal title.

When Brunei gained independence from Britain on 1 January 1984, the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment was renamed as the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

Bada Bing!

Sometimes I think I’m reasonably intelligent, and sometimes I click the remote car door lock a second or third time for extra lockiness.

Every one thinks you’re good at keeping secrets when actually you’re just good at forgetting them.

At Halloween, a kid came to the door with a sign for a costume. It said, ‘I love ceilings’. “What are you?” “I’m a ceiling fan!” I gave him all the candy.

My boss asked me why I only get sick on work days. I said it must be my weekend immune system.

That feeling you have when your lunch break is over and you still have to work another 30 years.

Why do you want this job? I’ve always been passionate about not starving to death.

My mind thinks I’m 25 but my body thinks I’m an idiot.

I never finish anything. I have a black belt in partial arts.

Interviewer: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Me: In your chair, but asking better questions.

Today is the anniversary of the death in 1809 of Joseph Haydn. This piece is the second movement of his symphony 101 – The Clock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN8sV0CPXr8

May

2023

the very last TUESDAY in May for the WHOLE YEAR!

Today is Anguilla Day, a public holiday in…Anguilla. At only 16 miles (26km) long, Anguilla is the smallest of the five British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean. It was first colonized by English settlers from nearby St. Kitts in 1650.

The 1830s saw a union of St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla on Britain’s recommendation, a move that was unpopular with the majority of Anguillans as it was thought that representation of the island was neglected.

In 1958, St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla became part of the Federation of the West Indies. The Federation collapsed in 1962, and St. Kitts -Nevis-Anguilla was made an associated statehood.

Resentment against this political decision grew, and on May 30th 1967, the people of Anguilla marched on the Police Headquarters and evicted the Royal St. Kitts Police Force from the island. Britain intervened and a peacekeeping committee was established, with British authority being fully restored in July 1971. Although it took until December 19th 1980 before Anguilla fully seceded from the association, the events of May 30th are celebrated today as the most important step towards Anguilla’s autonomy.

WARNING!

Today is the birthday, in 1958, of Swedish pop singer-songwriter and pianist Marie Fredriksson, with Swedish group Roxette, who had the 1990 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘It Must Have Been Love’. Roxette have sold an estimated 75 million records worldwide. Fredriksson died on 9 December 2019, aged 61 following a 17-year long battle with cancer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2C5TjS2sh4

May

2023

FRIDAY before summer

Today is Bermuda Day, a public holiday in…Bermuda. Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory located in the North Atlantic Ocean. The islands are named after the Spanish captain Juan de Bermúdez, who claimed the islands for Spain while traveling to the Americas in 1505.

Bermuda Day is seen as an important date in the Bermudan calendar not only as an opportunity to celebrate the islands but also the position of the holiday at the end of May is used to signify the arrival of summer when it is warm enough to consider swimming in the ocean after winter and for the famous Bermuda shorts to be worn as business attire instead of trousers.

This style of shorts was used by the British Army in tropical regions. After the Second World War, there was a shortage of cloth in Bermuda, so to ensure their staff could be dressed properly, the owners of two banks arranged for a local tailor to make pairs of shorts, modeled on those used by the British military.

Today is the birthday, in 1948, of American singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks, from Fleetwood Mac who scored the 1987 UK No.5 single ‘Little Lies’ and 1977 US No.1 single ‘Dreams’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3ywicffOj4

May

2023

THURSDAY is here

Today is African Unity Day. African Unity Day, also known as Africa day is celebrated annually on May 25th. It commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on this day in 1963. On May 25th 1963, the leaders from 30 of the then 32 independent African states signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Over 25% of the world’s languages are spoken only in Africa. Africa is the second-largest and second most populous continent. It contains 54 sovereign countries, eight territories and two de-facto independent states with little or no recognition.