Kiki Dee

Today is Independence Day in Ghana. It is Ghana’s National Day and commemorates Ghana’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1957.

The area now part of Ghana has an abundance of natural resources, including gold and ivory, which attracted the attention of colonists. While the Portuguese had been the first to establish a settlement in the region, the attractiveness of the local riches led to a struggle for control between many European nations. In 1874, Britain took control over parts of the country, naming them the British Gold Coast.

Weakened by the efforts of World War II, Britain had begun the process of reducing its colonies around the world, including those Africa. This desire was matched by a rising call for independence in the Gold Coast. In 1947, the United Gold Coast Convention called for “self-government within the shortest possible time” following the Gold Coast legislative elections. In 1951, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah won a majority in the Gold Coast legislative election and in 1952. Nkrumah was appointed the leader of the Gold Coast government.

The Gold Coast region declared its independence from the United Kingdom on March 6th 1957 and established the nation of Ghana. Nkrumah went on to become the first Prime Minister of Ghana.

Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve independence, on March 6th 1957.

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Yoga…

Knit/Crochet

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What were you thinking?????

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Today is the birthday, in 1947, of Kiki Dee, (Pauline Matthews), singer and actress who had the 1976 UK & US No.1 single Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ with Elton John. As a session singer she worked with Dusty Springfield and also became the first white British artist to be signed by Motown Records, releasing her first Motown single in 1970. Dee now performs with guitarist Carmelo Luggeri. I’ve posted the great recording studio video of Elton John and Kiki Dee singing ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’. Here is a great followup from years later. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf3KiRzZRCQ

Today is Greek Independence Day commemorating the start of the war of Greek independence in 1821.

Signzzzzz

Infrastructure work

Today is the birthday, in 1947, of Reginald Kenneth Dwight, better known as Sir Elton John. Elton and Bernie Taupin wrote this song under the pseudonyms Ann Orson and Carte Blanche. Enjoy this fun video.

and…study results are in:

My wife and I hosted a dinner party for many of our old friends, some of whom we hadn’t seen for years. Everyone was encouraged to bring their children and grandchildren along as well.

All throughout dinner, Emma, my wife’s best friend’s four-year-old granddaughter kept staring at me. This beautiful little girl could hardly eat her food for staring at me. I checked my shirt for spots, felt my face for food, and patted my hair in place, but nothing stopped her from staring at me.

Finally, I asked her, “Emma, why are you staring at me so?”

Everyone at the table had noticed her behavior also, and the table went quiet, waiting for her response.
Little Emma said, “I just wanna see how you drink like a fish.”

For you OCD people…

Some people…

and this…

Well, today is the birthday of Loretta Lynn (in 1832). But none of her work really appeals to me. Instead I’m going to give you this great video of Elton John and Kiki Dee. Apparently it was shot all in one take with a three camera setup.