Today is...

[Oxford]

Good day to you my friend

Thank you for your help 

Oxford

[G.Elias]

21 August 2017 is witness to a total solar eclipse in Oregon USA, you are very very lucky if you got to see it occur out there, these things may not happen again where you live in your own life times .

( I am just a little envious of you guys and women lucky enough to be out there to witness it .)

[IceWizard]

21 Aug 2017


Older Peoples Day



With people living and working longer, it’s increasingly important that we recognise the importance of supporting senior citizens and OAPs within our society. Senior Citizens Day is an opportunity to acknowledge the long-term contribution and dedication of older people, and to ensure that we’re doing our best to give something back to older people.


And




Poet's Day



Poetry… We hear the term bandied about all the time, and there isn’t a one of us that avoided writing some in our younger days. Whether that poetry was written by the dictate of our instructors in school, or driven by hormone fueled teenage angst, there was a portfolio of our work available to embarrass or edify us. But the question has to be asked, what is poetry really? There seems to be so many varieties of it, and in a world containing hundreds of countries and thousands of cultures, it’s the one thing that is nearly universal. So what is poetry, let’s take a look shall we?

The History of Poetry

At it’s most base description, Poetry is a form of writing that uses the aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of a language, combined with simile and metaphor, to bring out meanings deeper than the mere definition of the words. The history of poetry is lengthy, traceable in written form as far back as the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh, and has been used as a memetic method of passing down stories and mythologies throughout cultures for countless ages before that. The question of “What is Poetry?” has been a question that has vexed philosophers for time out of mind, with Aristotle writing a book aptly named Poetics, trying to define it. However he was only able to address a small portion of what poetry is, and how it is used in rhetoric, song, drama, and comedy.

One of the greatest poets of all time heralded from England, along the Avon river in the aptly named Stratford-upon-Avon in south Warwickshire, England. This, of course, was the man who was to come to be known as ‘The Bard’, William Shakespeare. His body of work is the foundation for the study of poetry in college’s throughout the world, and is considered to be the absolute pinnacle of the art by many. Such was the love of ‘The Bard’s works, that during the time of the Victorian’s, the term ‘Bardolotry’ was used to describe their love of his works. Perhaps the most important lesson to take from the Bards rise to prominence in the world of Poetry and literature lay in the time it took for his works to become legend. It wasn’t until the 19th Century, hundreds of years after his death, that Shakespeare became the legend we know today.

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August 21 Birthdays




Usain Bolt - 31




Wilt Chamberlain - (1936 - 1999) (63)




Serj Tankian - 50




Kenny Rogers - 79




Asher Brown Durand - (1796 - 1886) (90)




Loretta Devine - 67










August 21st


2005: The Rolling Stones kicked off their tour in support of A Bigger Bang at Fenway Park in Boston. The tour would go on to be the biggest grossing tour of all time grossing over $550 million.

1995: R.E.M. filed a trademark infringement suit against the Hershey Food Corporation claiming they launched an unauthorized “Kit Kat/R.E.M. Concert” for free tickets and trips, alleging injury to business reputation, false advertising & deceptive practices.

1994: Metallica performed the final date on their three year tour in support of their self-titled fifth album at Bicentennial Park in Miami. During the concert, Judas Priest singer Rob Halford sang guest vocals on a rendition of Judas Priest’s “Rapid Fire”. While touring in support of Metallica, they performed over 300 concerts.

1992: Eric Clapton & Elton John began a co-headlining two night stand at Shea Stadium in Flushing, NY. Both concerts sold out in 90 minutes.

1982: Bono married longtime girlfriend Alison Stewart in Dublin, Ireland. Unlike most rock and roll marriages, the couple is still married to this day.

1982: Crosby, Stills and Nash peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Wasted on the Way” which was their second and final top ten single in the U.S.

1972: In Akron, OH, Jefferson Airplane bassist Jack Casady was arrested for calling police officer “pigs”. Grace Slick was also maced & guitarist Paul Kantner was injured at the hands of Akron police officers.

1971: Creedence Clearwater Revival peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Sweet Hitch-Hiker” which was their final top ten single in the U.S.

1965: The Rolling Stones reached the top of the Billboard 200 Album Chart for the first time with Out of Our Heads which spent three weeks on top.




Birthdays:

Glenn Hughes - Bassist for Deep Purple born in 1951

Joe Strummer - Singer & guitarist for The Clash born in 1952

Steve Smith - Drummer for Journey born in 1954

[IceWizard]

22 Aug 2017


Take Your Cat to the Vet Day



If you’re struggling to decide what to do towards the end of August, then you may be relieved to know that one special day is Take Your Cat to the Vet Day (unless you don’t have a cat, that is). Bizarre though this might sound, there is, in fact, a very legitimate purpose to this annual occasion. While humans are used to visiting the dentist, doctor and optician regularly for health assessments, many cat owners forget to take their moggies to the vet for check-ups and instead only when a medical problem arises. This, of course, results in costly bills which might otherwise have been avoided if routine checks, worming, inoculations and blood screening were carried out. In other words, you can celebrate Take Your Cat to the Vet Day by doing just that, helping your feline friend to stay supple and healthy by identifying any medical problems long before they require extensive and expensive treatment.


And




Be An Angel Day



Whether it is through the hand that offers you a way back to standing, or the fireman that pulls someone out of a building, we have all experienced someone in our lives whom we can call an angel. Whether it was a minor thing on a bad day that just helps us cope, or a major action that changed our lives, most of us have looked skywards and thanked God for that person’s help. Today is the day to recognize that, during Be An Angel Day.

History of Be An Angel Day

Started to encourage people to do random acts of kindness, Jayne Howard Feldman opened the doors to this celebration in 1993. Since then, it has become an entity in and of itself, helped along in no small part by social media. The movie Pass It Forward is an amazing example of how random acts of kindness can become something more than any one person could ever have hoped. Even now, this day gets more and more recognition every year, more and more are jumping on the bandwagon of random kindness.

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August 22 Birthdays




Ty Burrell - 50




Layne Staley - (1967 - 2002) (34)




Tori Amos - 54




Valerie Harper - 78










August 22nd


1992: The Police performed together for the first time in six years at Sting’s wedding reception. Sting married longtime girlfriend Trudie Styler on the 20th.

1992: Nearly a year after its initial release, Pearl Jam peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with their debut album Ten which spent four weeks at number two.

1987: Bon Jovi headlined the eighth annual Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K. on a bill that also included Dio, Metallica, & Cinderella. During Bon Jovi’s set, Paul Stanley of Kiss, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden & Dee Snider of Twisted Sister joined them onstage for a rendition of “We’re An American Band”.

1987: The Grateful Dead peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with In the Dark which was their highest charting album & go on to sell two million copies in the U.S.

1981: Foreigner’s fourth album appropriately titled 4 reached number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart for the first of ten non-consecutive weeks on top of the chart.

1977: Peter Frampton began a three night stand at Madison Square Garden. All three concerts were sold out.

1970: Cosmo’s Factory by Credence Clearwater Revival reached number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart at the start of a nine week run on top.

1970: Derek and the Dominos entered Criteria Studios in Miami to begin recording their first and only album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.

1970: Elton John signed with MCA Records’ Uni subsidiary in the U.S. at the invitation of label boss Russ Regan.




Birthdays:

John Lee Hooker born in 1917

Donna Godchaux - Singer for Grateful Dead born in 1947

Vernon Reid - Guitarist for Living Colour born in 1958

Layne Staley - Singer for Alice in Chains born in 1967

[IceWizard]

23 Aug 2017


Valentino Day



Valentino Day commemorates the death of Rudolph Valentino (or Rudolfo Alfonzo Raffaelo Piero Filibert Guglielmi De Valentina D’Antonguolla), 1920’s film star of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik.


And




National Ride the Wind Day



There’s no better feeling than the wind in your hair as you look out at a beautiful horizon. Ride the Wind Day is an excellent opportunity to marvel at all things flying, and perhaps take part in some flying yourself. Wind powers movement in many different ways, helping us travel through air and over water, as well as providing us with energy to use in our homes.

Created to celebrate the anniversary of the first man powered flight, Ride the Wind Day is a fun day that all members of the family can take part in. Some ideas for celebrating this special day include kite flying, windsurfing, hang gliding, making and sailing boats, watching birds soar through the sky or simply a picnic on a windy day, watching the wind in the trees. Children will love making paper airplanes or other flying toys and watching them zoom through the air.

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August 23 Birthdays




Kobe Bryant - 39




River Phoenix - (1970 - 1993) (23)




Gene Kelly - (1912 - 1996) (83)




Rick Springfield - 68




Barbara Eden - 86




Keith Moon - (1946 - 1978) (32)









August 23rd


2007: Queen guitarist Brian May completed his Doctorate in astrophysics at Imperial College in London.

1991: Dire Straits kicked off a two year tour at The Point Depot in Dublin. It was their first tour together since 1986.

1989: The Cars’ singer & guitarist Ric Ocasek married longtime girlfriend Paulina Porizkova on the Caribbean island of St. Bart’s. They remain married to this day.

1986: David Lee Roth peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with his debut full-length solo album Eat ‘Em and Smile which went on to sell one million copies in the U.S.

1980: David Bowie went to number one on the U.K. Single Chart with “Ashes to Ashes”. The video would go on to become one of the most iconic videos of the 1980’s.

1970: After a concert at Max’s Kansas City in New York City, Lou Reed left The Velvet Underground.

1969: The Rolling Stones reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart for the fifth time with “Honky Tonk Women” which stayed on top of the chart for four weeks.

1969: The Guess Who peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Laughing” which was their second top ten single in the U.S.

1962: John Lennon married his first wife Cynthia Powell at the Mount Pleasant Registry Office in Liverpool. One day before their sixth anniversary, Cynthia filed for divorce.




Birthdays:

Keith Moon - Drummer for The Who born in 1946

Dean DeLeo - Guitarist for Stone Temple Pilots born in 1961

[IceWizard]

24 Aug 2017


Vesuvius Day



The rumble and groaning of the earth as it starts to boil and roll. A cloud of dark ash that spread wherever the wind takes it. Bright, and extremely hot molten rock flowing down the hillside. These are just a few of the markers that explain a volcanic event, and none are large than the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This is in remembrance, of that very location, and the destruction that has been caused by Mount Vesuvius.


History of Vesuvius Day
The Mount of Vesuvius is most widely known for it’s eruption in 79 A.D. It was this very eruption that killed over a thousand souls, and destroyed the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum and a number of other, smaller settlements. Mount Vesuvius has erupted many times since, being regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world due to the large population living nearby. Being only 9 km from Naples, it is that very area being one of the most highly populated volcanic areas on the planet, being hope to over 3,000,000 people. The tendency towards explosive, or Plinian, eruptions also factors into that title.
The large cone at the top, or summit, was formed by the collapse of an earlier mountain structure, orginally much higher than the summit is now. This, along with Mount Vesuvius’ active status as a volcano, makes it a dangerous, if beautiful, site to be around.


And




Pluto Demoted Day



Many of us are fascinated by outer space and its many mysteries. Our own solar system went through a change in classification on 2006, when Pluto was demoted from a planet to a dwarf planet. Pluto Demoted Day now takes place every year to mark that very occasion. While sad for fans of the former ninth planet of the solar system, Pluto Demoted Day is an important day for our scientific history and is important to remember.

Pluto Demoted Day is a great opportunity for study into space and our solar system in general, as well as the history of Pluto itself. Children will be interested to learn about the composition and nature of planets, and Pluto is a fascinating subject for science projects. Marking the day itself is a good way to remember Pluto’s former status as a planet, from its discovery in 1930 to its demotion in 2006.

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August 24 Birthdays




Vince McMahon - 72




Dave Chappelle - 44




Kenny Baker - (1932 - 2016) (81)




Stephen Fry - 60




Cal Ripken Jr. - 57










August 24th


1996: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers entered the Billboard 200 Album Chart at number fifteen with their ninth studio album, Songs and Music from “She’s the One” which went on to go Gold in the U.S.

1990: Judge Jerry Whitehead ruled that Judas Priest were not responsible for the deaths of two teenagers who committed suicide in Reno, NV in 1985.

1989: The Who performed Tommy at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles with an all-star cast that included Elton John, Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Steve Winwood & Patti LaBelle.

1979: The Cars performed a free concert at Central Park in New York City in front of an audience of 500,000.

1979: Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, the movie featuring The Ramones premiered in theatres across North America.

1975: Queen began recording “Bohemian Rhapsody” at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales. The song took three weeks to record and featured 180 separate overdubs.

1968: Steppenwolf peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Born to Be Wild” which was their highest charting single in the U.S.

1967: During his 21st birthday party, The Who’s drummer Keith Moon drove a Lincoln Continental into a pool at the Holiday Inn in Flint, MI which earned The Who a lifetime ban from the chain.

1966: The Doors entered Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood to begin recording their self-titled debut album which was released the following January.



Birthdays:

David Freiberg - Bassist for Quicksilver Messenger Service born in 1938

John Cipollina - Guitarist for Quicksilver Messenger Service born in 1943

Ken Hensley - Keyboardist for Uriah Heep born in 1945

Jimmy Fox - Drummer for the James Gang born in 1947

Michael Derosier - Drummer for Heart born in 1951

[IceWizard]

25 Aug 2017


National Kiss And Make Up Day



We all have fights with our nearest and dearest now and again. Whether a sibling dispute, a marital tiff, a spat with a best friend or a clash with the parents; whether it’s about a lie, a misunderstanding, relationships or the state of the kitchen, today it’s time to kiss and make up.

Sometimes a grudge gets held too long or we allow the little things that irritate us in a relationship to become bigger than they really are; Kiss and Make Up Day works to end those frosty silences, mood swings and critical comments. Instead, buy the person you love flowers, say sorry and tell them how much they mean to you, or if all else fails chocolate is usually a swift way to a person’s heart.

Today celebrates the fact that kissing and making up is the best part of an argument (especially where lovers are concerned), and sometimes even makes the fight worthwhile. Annoying habits and irritability aside, it’s good to have the people you love around you. So remember not to take loved ones for granted and appreciate the good stuff in your relationship. Top it all off with a big smooch and you’ve fully embraced the spirit of the day.



And




National Whiskey Sour Day



The Whiskey Sour is a drink that has an excellent pedigree, with the first mention of being found in 1870 in a Wisconsin Newspaper. This drink has been a favorite of the world’s manliest men since its inception, being enjoyed by soldiers and officers alike. It’s somewhat strange that in recent years it has gained something of a reputation as a ‘girly drink’, but the contestation of which side of that line of machismo it falls on matters not when you’re enjoying this refreshing bit of historical liquor.

One thing that’s decidedly not girly about this drink is the robustness of whisky, which has the staying power any man would envy. Whisky, when kept in an unopened bottle, can see the passing of a century without becoming undrinkable, and once opened is still good for a solid 5 years after the seal has been broken. Needless to say, with a durability like that, there’s nothing weak or frail about this bold drink.

Recipes

Over the years there have been an increasing number of variations on this drink, but the foundation of the Whisky Sour has always been whisky (often but not always bourbon) mixed with lemon juice and sweetened with sugar. A half Orange is then used to garnish the glass, and a maraschino cherry will be dropped in to top it all off.

Stone Sour

1.5 oz Wild Turkey 101
¾ oz Squeezed Lemon Juice
1 oz Squeezed Orange Juice
1 oz Simple Syrup

Add all of these ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, proceed to shake the drink to mix it thoroughly, and strain it into a glass filled with fresh ice and garnished with a slice of orange and a maraschino cherry.

Kilbeggan Secret Sour

1.5 oz Irish Whisky (Traditionally Kilbeggan)
¾ oz Vermouth
½ oz Grapefruit Juice
¾ oz simple syrup
1.5 oz Club Soda
1 splash of Orange Bitters

Add all of these ingredients to your favorite shaker, filled with ice as usual. Vigorously shake it to get everything mixed up properly, and then pour it into a tall Collins glass with fresh ice, and garnished with a twist of lemon.

Forbidden Sour

1 oz Pomegranate Liquor
1 oz Bourbon
1 oz Lemon Juice
½ oz Simple Syrup

This drink has an amazingly vibrant color that will be as much a treat for the eye as the palette. Its deep purplish red color speaks of the decadent forbidden nature of this drink, and the burst of sweet and sour that’ll course across your tongue will leave you wanting more. Like any other drink of its type, its prepared in a cocktail shaker full of ice, strained into a glass of ice, and garnished with a slice of orange and one… tiny… cherry.

Whisky Sour Day is a great opportunity to remember this classic drink made with some of the worlds most popular alcohol. These are just a few of the potential mixes you can put together within the realm of the Whisky Sours base. If you’re looking for a real different experience with a Whisky Sour base, go for the 1870’s Sour. I won’t ruin it for you, but Whisky Sour Day just wouldn’t be complete without this as a topper.

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August 25 Birthdays




Billy Ray Cyrus - 56




Tim Burton - 59




Sean Connery - 87




Rachael Ray - 49




Gene Simmons - 68




Elvis Costello - 63




Regis Philbin - 86




Rob Halford - 66








August 25th


2006: Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton announced he was undergoing treatment for throat cancer which would cause him to sit out the first half of the group’s upcoming tour with Motley Crue. David Hull, a longtime friend of the band and bassist for The Joe Perry Project filled in.

2004: Judas Priest singer Rob Halford was the guest vocalist for Black Sabbath at an Ozzfest date in Camden, NJ as Ozzy Osbourne had come down with bronchitis. This was Halford’s third time singing for Black Sabbath as he sang for them during two concerts in 1992.

1994: Billy Joel’s divorce to Christie Brinkley was made official. The couple was married for nine years and they still remain on friendly terms to this day.

1990: Six months after being seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, Billy Idol kicked off his tour in support of Charmed Life in Montreal. Idol had to use a walking stick while on this tour, which featured Faith No More as the support act.

1979: During Cheap Trick’s appearance at the Reading Festival in the U.K., they were joined onstage by Dave Edmunds & Bad Company guitarist Mick Ralphs for a rendition of The Beatles’ “Day Tripper”.

1975: Bruce Springsteen released his third album Born to Run which went on to become Springsteen’s breakthrough album, going to number three on the Billboard 200 album chart & selling six million copies in the U.S.

1973: The Faces performed what they said would be their last British concert due to the Musicians Union refusing to give bassist Tetsu Yamauchi a work permit.

1970: Elton John made his U.S. live debut at the Troubadour in Los Angeles where he was booked for a full week.

1970: Emerson, Lake & Palmer made their live debut at The Guildhall in Plymouth, England.



Birthdays:

Gene Simmons - Bassist for Kiss born in 1949

Rob Halford - Singer for Judas Priest born in 1951

Elvis Costello born in 1954

Vivian Campbell - Guitarist for Dio, Whitesnake & Def Leppard born in 1962

[IceWizard]

26 Aug 2017


National WebMistress Day

”Behind every great site is a webmistress rolling her eyes.”
~ Jim Carrey (Sort of)

We often hear a lot of talk about webmasters, those fantastic men who work really hard developing the internet every day. Without them, the digital world wouldn’t be as incredible as it is. Or would it? You see, not all of those architects of the internet were men. Webmistress Day celebrates these women and the role they play, giving them the equal time and attention they deserve. How many webmistresses do you know?

History of Webmistress Day

Alright, just in case you missed the point, let’s talk about what a webmistress is. They are women who develop and maintain websites, as well as developing and marketing them to the digital marketplace. The origin of the term webmistress, on one hand, is simply an extension of webmaster, but Kat Valentine made it official when she purchased webmistress.com and started working under that title. Thousands of women all over the world are now working under the title of WebMistress, yet people still quirk a brow when they hear it.

Webmistress Day stresses that this is a legitimate job title used by thousands of skilled professionals all over the world. The stigma associated with it must be lifted so that women can be recognized as a valid and important part of developing the digital world. Whenever you visit a website, you should stop and take a moment to figure out whether or not the person responsible for that site is a webmistress. You’d be surprised just how often your favorite sites will turn out to have been designed by one, and maybe that’s part of the problem.

It’s time to stop being surprised, and know that webmistresses are here to stay, once and for all.



And




Women's Equality Day



Women’s Equality Day commemorates 26th August 1920 when votes to women officially became part of the US constitution. This day marks a turning point in the history of the struggle for equal treatment of women and women’s rights.

In 1920, the day stood for the result of 72 years of campaigning by a huge civil rights movement for women. Prior to movements like these, even respected thinkers such as Rousseau and Kant believed that woman’s inferior status in society was completely logical and reasonable; women were ‘beautiful’ and ‘not fit for serious employment’.

Over the last century, great women have proved these views wrong as the world has witnessed just what women are capable of achieving, from the likes of Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt fighting for civil rights and equality to great scientists such as Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin and Jane Goodall. The last century has shown more than ever what both women and men are capable of achieving, given the opportunity.

Today, women’s equality has grown to mean much more than just sharing the right to the vote. Organisations such as Equality Now and Womankind Worldwide continue to work to provide women across the globe with equal opportunities to education and employment, pushing against suppression and violence towards women and against the discrimination and stereotyping which still occur in every society.

So on Women’s Equality Day, let the men do the dishes and the women do the DIY, think about supporting women’s empowerment projects in developing countries, stop thinking about men and women as separate beings with separate roles and start thinking about treating people as equals.

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August 26 Birthdays




Melissa McCarthy - 47




Macaulay Culkin - 37




Mother Teresa - (1910 - 1997) (87)




Sal Valentinetti - 22










August 26th


1995: Ozzy Osbourne kicked off his Retirement Sucks tour in Monterey, Mexico which was Osbourne’s first tour of Latin & South America & Osbourne’s first tour in three years.

1991: Kiss drummer Peter Criss filed a libel lawsuit in Los Angeles against The Star for publishing a story which claimed he was a homeless alcoholic living on the streets of Santa Monica. They would reach an out of court settlement in April of 1993.

1990: Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble performed their last show at Alpine Valley in East Troy, WI. During their encore, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy & Jimmy Vaughan joined them onstage for a jam.

1980: Cheap Trick announced the departure of bassist Tom Petersson, citing personal & musical differences as the reasons for his departure. He rejoined Cheap Trick in 1988.

1979: At the Reading Festival in England, Phil Collins joined his former Genesis bandmate Peter Gabriel onstage for a rendition of “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”.

1978: The first Canada Jam took place at Mosport Park in Bowmanville, ON before a crowd of 80,000. The acts on the bill included The Doobie Brothers, Kansas, Dave Mason, The Commodores and Village People.

1978: The World Series of Rock took place at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium with Fleetwood Mac headlining. Other acts on the bill included Todd Rundgren, The Cars and Eddie Money.

1970: The Isle of Wight Festival kicked off in England. Acts who appeared included Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Jethro Tull, Chicago & Free.

1970: After an all-night jam session, Duane Allman asked Eric Clapton if he would attend the recording sessions for his new group Derek and the Dominoes. Clapton agreed to it, only on the condition that Allman also played on the sessions.



Birthdays:

Chris Curtis - Drummer for The Searchers born in 1941

[IceWizard]

27 Aug 2017


The Duchess Who Wasn't Day



“The Duchess” Who Wasn’t Day celebrates the life of Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, an irish novelist who was always published under the pen name “The Duchess” in the United States – also the name of her most popular novel, published in 1887. Margaret is responsible for the popular phrase “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, in her book Molly Bawn, so try and slip it into conversation!

In total, The Duchess had at least 57 works attributed to her name but could have written many, many more as a lot of her early work was published as Anonymous, and later as Mrs Hungerford, before “The Duchess” became popular in the States. She also wrote many newspaper articles and had a large family – four daughters and two sons.

Born on the 27th April 1855 in County Cork, she won prizes in school for writing stories. After the death of her first husband in 1876 The Duchess took to writing more seriously to support her three daughters, and it was shortly after this that her first book “Phyllis” was written, and a little later on “Molly Bawn”.

She remarried in 1882, had two sons and a daughter with her second husband and eventually died of typhoid fever in 1897.


And




International Bat Night

Bats drink on the wing, like swallows, by sipping the surface, as they play over pools and streams.
– Gilbert White

Bats have many places in literature and history, and serve roles both dark and hilarious depending on where you find them. Probably the most common association with the bat is with vampires, but there is also the fun-loving bat from Ferngully (Batty Coda) along with a host of other characters from literature and cinema. But bats have an important role to play in our eco-system, and some of them are becoming endangered. International Bat Night serves to raise awareness from our flying rodent friends and why they deserve to be protected.

History of International Bat Night

International Bat Night was established to help promote the good image of bats, and to help start creating some clarity on the facts about them above and beyond the rumors and Hollywood image. While we often think of bats as nocturnal predators feasting on the blood of the innocent and harboring rabies, the truth is quite different. Yes, there are bats that feed on blood, but they mostly feed on insects and believe us, you want bats to be out there patrolling the night and helping eliminate them.

Bats are one of the major contributors to keeping down obnoxious night insects like mosquitoes, and if you’re a camper, you know how unpleasant mosquitoes can make an otherwise pleasant camping expedition. There are also bats that feed on nectar and fruit, and actually help to pollinate and spread the seed of plants, in many cases they’re the only ones working to help those plants procreate!
These are just the beginnings of the wonders that bats possess, and there is far more just a flicker away, and International Bat Night is a great time to spend learning about them!

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August 27 Birthdays




Paul Reubens - 65




Lyndon B. Johnson - (1908 - 1973) (64)




Chandra Wilson - 48




Alex Lifeson - 64




Mike Smith - 45









August 27th


1995: Neil Young headlined the final night of the three-day Reading Festival in Reading, U.K. with Pearl Jam as his backing band. Other acts on the bill included Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins and the Foo Fighters.

1992: John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics for “A Day in the Life” sold for $87,000 at a Sotheby’s auction.

1991: Pearl Jam released their debut album Ten which contained the rock radio staples “Alive”, “Even Flow”, “Jeremy” and “Black”. Ten would later peak at number two on the Billboard 200 Album Chart in 1992.

1990: Stevie Ray Vaughan died in helicopter crash in East Troy, WI en route to Chicago when the helicopter collided with a ski slope. He was 35 years old.

1983: Asia’s sophomore album Alpha entered the Billboard 200 Album Chart. It would go on to peak at number six & go on to be certified Platinum that October.

1977: Jackson Browne recorded “Running on Empty” during a concert at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. “Running on Empty” went on to reach number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart the following year.

1977: Crosby, Stills and Nash peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Just a Song Before I Go” which was their highest charting single in the U.S.

1967: The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein died of a sleeping pill overdose. The Beatles found this out while they were on a retreat with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

1965: Elvis Presley & The Beatles meet for the first and only time at Elvis’ home in Bel Air, CA. They had a brief jam session after Paul McCartney offered to give Elvis some lessons on the bass. When The Beatles left, John Lennon told Elvis’ friend Jerry Schilling to make sure that Elvis knew that “if it hadn’t been for him, The Beatles would be nothing.”



Birthdays:

Tim Bogert - Bassist for Vanilla Fudge born in 1944

Alex Lifeson - Guitarist for Rush born in 1953

Glen Matlock - Bassist for the Sex Pistols born in 1956

[IceWizard]

28 Aug 2017


Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

”Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what’s on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions and rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we’ve been told and some choose to believe it.
I know they’re wrong wait and see.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.”
~ The Muppets

We have all had pets that we have loved as family members, ones that were like our little furry children. But like all family members, there comes a time when they pass from this world, and often this leaves us with a profound feeling of loss and pain. Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day celebrates our furbabies who have passed before us.

History of Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day was founded by Deborah Barnes, author and blogger of Zee & Zoey’s Cat Chronicles in tribute to her Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz, who she had to say goodbye to on August 28, 2013. She shared the journey of letting him go in her book, Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond and the reaction from her readers was so overwhelming, she decided to create the day in his honor as a way for others across the world to share memories of their own pets they had loved and lost.

Animals have served as beloved members of our family for time out of mind, and continue to do so to this day. This includes as service animals that help those with conditions like blindness, PTSD, and epilepsy, as well as working animals on farms and police forces, as well as the simple companion pet who helps us through our loneliest times with undying unconditional love.

Rainbow Bridge carries on an ancient tradition of memorializing our beloved pets with the same care and consideration as our departed human family. Pharaohs would entomb and mummify their cats, and animals of all sorts have been found in ritualized burials. The Ancient Egyptians buried their pets with all the things they would need in their afterlife, just like the humans that were mummified and buried. Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day celebrates these ancient traditions and reminds us that there’s no reason for them to fade.


And




Radio Commercials Day



Radio commercials are often seen as an irritation to be endured while waiting for some music to come on, but they have been part of the entertainment business for nearly a century and provide employment for many people. Radio Commercials Day commemorates the day when the very first radio commercial was broadcast on New York station, WEAF. This took place on August 28th 1922 and was for an American estate agent, Queensboro Realty. It wasn’t until 1973 that the UK had its first radio commercial, which ran on LBC and promoted Birds Eye frozen food. Many early radio commercials can be found online, and a great way to celebrate Radio Commercials Day is to listen to a few and be transported back in time. Alternatively, track down some radio commercials from around the world and be entertained by the huge variety of tone and style that are used in radio adverts from different countries.

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August 28 Birthdays




Jack Black - 48




Shania Twain - 52




LeAnn Rimes - 35




David Soul - 74




Leo Tolstoy - (1828 - 1910) (82)




Luis Guzman - 61








August 28th


1999: Cheap Trick performed their 25th anniversary concert at Davis Park in their hometown of Rockford, IL. Some special guests included Slash, Billy Corgan, and Art Alexakis. They performed at least one song from all of their albums.

1993: Iron Maiden performed their final concert with singer Bruce Dickinson at the Pinewood Studios in London & it was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the U.S. Dickinson later re-joined Iron Maiden in 1999 & is still singing for them to this day.

1991: The final date of the first annual Lollapalooza tour took place at the King County Fairgrounds outside of Seattle which was headlined by Jane’s Addiction & also featured Living Colour and Nine Inch Nails. The tour was one of the hottest tickets on the U.S. summer tour circuit becoming the 1990’s most successful tour packages.

1986: Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks and Neil Young performed at a concert in Long Beach, CA that was billed Get Tough on Toxics.

1982: Eddie Money appeared on American Bandstand where he performed “Think I’m in Love” & “Shakin’”.

1976: Peter Frampton peaked at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Baby, I Love Your Way” Frampton’s second top forty single in the U.S.

1971: Five Man Electrical Band peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Signs” which was their first and only top ten single in the U.S.

1969: Mary McCartney, the first child of Linda & Paul McCartney was born in London.

1964: After a concert at New York’s Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, The Beatles met Bob Dylan for the first time. Dylan introduced marijuana to The Beatles during this meeting.



Birthdays:

Danny Seraphine - Drummer for Chicago born in 1948