Crabs and Beer!

Today is Independence Day in Zambia. This holiday marks independence from the United Kingdom on this day in 1964 and is the National Holiday of Zambia.

Due to its land-locked location, Zambia was not visited by European settlers until the end of the nineteenth century.

Previous contact with outsiders had been limited to a few Arab and Portuguese visits in the eighteenth century that had not ended in any lasting relationship.

In 1888, Cecil Rhodes, the leader of the British South Africa Company (BSA Company), obtained mineral rights in the region. Suppression of tribal rebellions and the discovery of copper deposits led to control of other areas in the region. These regions were administered as separate units until 1911 when they were merged to form Northern Rhodesia (Rhodesia named after Cecil Rhodes).

Northern Rhodesia was a British protectorate; governed by an administration appointed from London with the advice of the BSA Company, until their company charter was not renewed in 1923 and the British Government took control.

In 1953, several countries under British control in the region were put into the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The creation of the federation was especially resented in Northern Rhodesia leading to the rise of two nationalist parties. Following elections in 1962, the two parties joined forces to pass resolutions calling for Northern Rhodesia’s secession from the federation and demanding full internal self-government.

The federation was dissolved on December 31st 1963, and in January 1964, Kaunda won the only election for Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia. On October 24th 1964, the British colony of Northern Rhodesia became the independent Republic of Zambia and prime minister Kenneth Kaunda became the inaugural president serving until 1991.

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Bound to happen…

Waiting for the lineup…

Today is the birthday, in 1936, of Bill Wyman, bass, The Rolling Stones (1969 UK & US No.1 single ‘Honky Tonk Women’, and over 30 Top 40 UK & US singles and albums. Quit The Stones in 1993, 1981 UK solo No.14 ‘Je Suis Un Rock Star’). Now tours with his backing band, The Rhythm Kings, which has featured Albert Lee and Georgie Fame. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqqkGxZ1_8I

Today is Chulalongkorn Day, a public holiday in Thailand. The day commemorates King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) who passed away on October 23rd 1910. He was the fifth monarch of Siam from the House of Chakri and is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam (now Thailand).

He is remembered as the king who introduced many social and political reforms that helped to modernize Siam including the abolishment of slavery. He succeeded to the throne in 1868 when he was 15 years old and was crowned king in 1873. He ruled until his death in 1910. He was known to the Siamese people as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang.

In his youth, Rama V was taught English and western customs by Anna Leonowens. The memoirs of her time in the Siam royal court was retold in the book, ‘Anna and the King of Siam’ by Margaret Landon. The book was the basis for the popular Broadway musical and film, The King and I. The King in the title was Chulalongkorn’s father, King MongKut.

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Dracula’s busy these days trying to update his image in order to lure a younger generation of victims . . . 

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SIGNZZZZZZZZ

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Today is the birthday, in 1940, of English musician Freddie Marsden who with Gerry And The Pacemakers had the 1963 UK No.1 single ‘How Do You Do It’ and the 1965 US No.6 single, ‘Ferry Cross The Mersey’. In common with The Beatles they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein, and were recorded by George Martin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08083BNaYcA

Amazingly, no prominent national holidays today, so we’ll go right to the humor because we need it.

Priorities:

Learn Spellimg

Twenty-one important things…

1. When one door closes and another door opens, you are probably in prison.

2. To me, “drink responsibly” means don’t spill it.

3. Age 60 might be the new 40, but 9:00 pm is the new midnight.

4. It’s the start of a brand new day, and I’m off like a herd of turtles.

5. The older I get, the earlier it gets late.

6. When I say, “The other day,” I could be referring to any time between yesterday and 15 years ago.

7. I remember being able to get up without making sound effects.

8. I had my patience tested. I’m negative.

9. Remember, if you lose a sock in the dryer, it comes back as a Tupperware lid that doesn’t fit any of your containers.

10. If you’re sitting in public and a stranger takes the seat next to you, just stare straight ahead and say, “Did you bring the money?”

11. When you ask me what I am doing today, and I say “nothing,” it does not mean I am free. It means I am doing nothing.

12. I finally got eight hours of sleep. It took me three days, but whatever.

13. I run like the winded.

14. I hate when a couple argues in public, and I missed the beginning and don’t know whose side I’m on.

15. When someone asks what I did over the weekend, I squint and ask, “Why, what did you hear?”

16. When you do squats, are your knees supposed to sound like a goat chewing on an aluminum can stuffed with celery?

17. I don’t mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.

18. When I ask for directions, please don’t use words like “east.”

19. Don’t bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Spend 30 seconds in my head. That’ll freak you right out.

20. Sometimes, someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race, and changes you forever. We call those people cops.

21. My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.

(thanks Billions of Versions of Normal)

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Today is the birthday, in 1811, of Franz Liszt. Here is Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvili playing an encore of Hungarian Rhapsody #2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqtz6a8ikGg

Today is National Heroes’ Day, a public holiday in Jamaica observed on the third Monday in October. The holiday commemorates seven national heroes from Jamaican history.

• Paul Bogle, birth date uncertain – 1865. A Jamaican Baptist deacon and activist. He was a leader of the 1865 Morant Bay protesters, who marched for justice and fair treatment for all the people in Jamaica.
• Sir Alexander Bustmante, 1884-1977. A Jamaican politician and labour leader who in 1962 became the first prime minister of Jamaica.
• Marcus Garvey, 1887-1940, born in St. Ann. A proponent of Black nationalism in Jamaica and especially the United States.
• George William Gordon, 1815-1865. A wealthy Jamaican businessman, magistrate and politician, one of two representatives to the Assembly from St. Thomas-in-the-East Parish.
• Norman Washington Manley, 1893-1969. A Rhodes Scholar, Manley became one of Jamaica’s leading lawyers in the 1920s.
• Nanny. Queen Nanny or Nanny, Jamaican National Hero, was a well-known, 18th-century leader of the Jamaican Maroons.
• Samuel Sharpe, 1801-1832. An enslaved African Jamaican man who was the leader of the widespread 1832 Baptist War slave rebellion in Jamaica.

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Thanks for clearing that up…

Inspiration…

shots heard where???

Ghost Dogs!!

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Today is the birthday, in 1957, of American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer Steve Lukather, who with Toto had the 1983 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘Africa’. Lukather has recorded guitar tracks for more than 1,500 albums including the guitar solo for Olivia Newton-John’s 1981 No.1 single ‘Physical’, Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’, and was also heavily involved in the recording of virtually all of Jackson’s Thriller album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWz9VN40nCA

Today is Independence Day (Azerbaijani: Istiqlaliyyət günü), a national holiday in Azerbaijan, though it is not one of the official non-working days. It may also be known as ‘State Sovereignty Day’. It is celebrated on October 18th, on the anniversary of the day in 1991 when Azerbaijan left the USSR.

This day is essentially the second of two independence days celebrated in Azerbaijan. The first is Republic day which marks the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan on May 28th 1918. This republic only lasted two years before Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union.

In 1991, perestroika (social and economic reform) had swept across the Soviet Union leading to many of the countries to declare their independence from the USSR

On August 30th 1991, Azerbaijan made clear its intention to become an independent nation once again when the Declaration on the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan was adopted by Parliament. On October 18th 1991 the constitutional act “On the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan” was approved and adopted by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

This made Azerbaijan the sixth country to leave the USSR following Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia and Armenia.

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Rebel!

gotcha

All forty!

SINES or something

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Today is the birthday, in 1949, of Joe Egan, Stealers Wheel, (1973 UK No.8 single ‘Stuck In The Middle With You’). The song was used in Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 movie Reservoir Dogs, during the famous “ear” scene. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMAIsqvTh7g