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Richard Frost
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On this day

Post by Richard Frost » Tue Aug 10 2021 11:16am

10th August 2021

ISLAMIC NEW YEAR 1443 / AL-HIJRA / RA'S UL 'AM (Muharram 1) Muslim
This day commemorates the Hijra or migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Medina in 622 CE, which led to the establishment of the Muslim community there. The day is not universally celebrated amongst Sunni Muslims but is notable as Muslim years are dated from this time and are marked AH (After the Hijrah). In 2021 CE the Muslim year 1443 AH begins.

World Lion Day
Lion Day aims to raise awareness of the majestic hunter, the ultimate feline, the king of the jungle, the big fluffy kitty of the Serengeti… Hmm, we should have left it at ‘king of the jungle’? Basically, it’s all about lions, but you’ve probably got that from the name.

Lazy Day
Here’s a special day you can celebrate without getting up from the sofa. Lazy Day is an ideal excuse to take a break and enjoy some precious “me” time, without feeling guilty about it. Now’s your chance to stop tearing around doing chores and organising events. Sit down and relax, or go back to bed for a nap. You could even mark the occasion by pampering yourself with a massage treatment or visit to a spa – if getting there doesn’t seem too much like hard work, that is.

Vlogging Day
Vlogging has become a new and popular way for people to connect over the internet. People upload videos of themselves and talk about their experiences and build viewers and fans that watch and support their vloggers. There’s a whole day dedicated to the act of vlogging and building communities and it’s called Vlogging Day.

S’mores Day
Graham crackers, melted chocolate and sticky toasted marshmallows, all in one little sandwich—if that can’t get people licking their chops (and their fingers!), what can? S’mores are the one of the most popular North American desserts and they are practically the quintessential campfire treat. In fact it is estimated that over 50 million pounds of marshmallows are toasted over a fire in North America each year! Never tried them? Then S’mores Day is the perfect day to get started. And even for those people who have tried them, there is no reason to pass up the opportunity to enjoy them again! It’s time to get started on S’mores Day!

Skyscraper Appreciation Day
Skyscraper Appreciation Day is the birthday of the famous architect William Can Alen, who is the genius behind the construction of the Chrysler Building, which is one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks.
Skyscraper Appreciation Day was initiated and founded by Dr. Tom Stevens. Interestingly, it was created so that the general public could admire the structural and architectural brilliance of skyscrapers. Furthermore, it also celebrates the triumph of reason and man’s ability to construct industrial masterpieces.

A selection of Birthdays

1520 Madeleine of Valois, French princess who briefly became Queen of Scotland after marrying James V, born in the St. Germain-en-Laye, Paris (d. 1537)
1729 William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe, British Military Leader (commander of British forces in the American Revolutionary War), born in England (d. 1814)
1782 Charles Napier, British soldier and Major General of the Bombay Army who conquered Sindh and became its Governor (1843-47), born in Whitehall Palace, London (d. 1853)
1814 Henri Nestlé, German-Swiss industrialist (founder of Nestlé), born in Frankfurt, Germany (d. 1890)
1823 Charles Samuel Keene, Artist. Born Hornsey, N London was an English artist and illustrator, who worked in black and white. (D. 1891)
1823 Hugh Stowell Brown, was a Manx Christian minister and renowned preacher. He was a preacher, pastor and social reformer in Liverpool in the nineteenth century. His public lectures and work among the poor brought him great renown. On his death a statue was raised to him, one of only three Liverpool clergymen to receive that honour. (d. 1886)
1848 William Harnett, Irish-American painter (Old Violin), born in Clonakilty, County Cork (d. 1892)
1854 John Scott Lidgett, CH Wesleyan Methodist minister and educationist. He achieved prominence as a theologian and reformer within British Methodism, stressing the importance of the church's engagement with the whole of society and human culture & as an effective advocate for education within London. He served as the first President of the Methodist Conference in 1932–33. (d.1953)
1856 William Willett, British builder & promoter of British Summer Time. Born in Farnham (d.1915)
1861 Sir Almroth Edward Wright KBE CB FRCSI FRS was a British bacteriologist and immunologist. He is notable for developing a system of anti-typhoid fever inoculation, recognizing early on that antibiotics would create resistant bacteria and being a strong advocate for preventive medicine. born in Middleton Tyas, Yorkshire (d. 1947)
1868 Hugo Eckener, German inventor and commander of the famous Graf Zeppelin during its record-setting flights, born in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein (d. 1954)
1889 Cecil Armstrong Gibbs, English composer, born in Great Baddow, Essex (d. 1960)
1889 Irene Steer, was a Welsh freestyle swimmer. In 1912, Steer won a gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay and failed to reach the final of the individual 100 m race. Steer started as a breaststroke swimmer, but in 1908–1909 changed to crawl.
1904 Geraldo [Gerald Walcan Bright], British "sweet music" dance band leader (Gaucho Tango Orchestra), born in London, (d. 1974)
1909 Brian Easdale, composer, studied under Gordon Jacob and C. Armstrong Gibbs at the RCM (Royal College of Music). He wrote his first opera (Rapunzel) at the age of 17 and at age 20 had the honor of having a Dead March processional he had written performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir 'Malcolm Sargent'. (d.1995)
1911 A. N. Sherwin-White, English historian (d. 1993)
1923 Fred Ridgway, England cricket pace bowler (1951-52 Indian tour)
1925 Alastair Webster Mackie, poet/teacher. Alastair Mackie was a Scots makar; a skilled wordsmith and an incorrigibly restless and cross-grained literary archaeologist. Add to this an imagination that often saw the world as dark and foreboding, and we can glimpse something of what made Mackie an important Scots poet.
1929 John Alldis, composer/conductor quickly became highly regarded as a choral conductor. In 1966, the London Symphony Orchestra engaged him to form and direct its first standing choral group. He switched to the London Philharmonic Choir in 1969 & he remained until 1982, (d.2010)
1930 Barry Unsworth FRSL. novelist was an English writer known for his historical fiction. He published 17 novels, and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times, winning once for the 1992 novel Sacred Hunger.(d. 2012)
1931 Tom Laughlin, American actor and director (Billy Jack), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2013)
1932 Peter Alexander Goehr is an English composer and academic. Goehr was born in Berlin in 1932, the son of the conductor and composer Walter Goehr, a pupil of Arnold Schoenberg. In his early twenties he emerged as a central figure in the Manchester School of post-war British composers. In 1955–56 he joined Olivier Messiaen's masterclass in Paris. Although in the early sixties Goehr was considered a leader of the avant-garde, his oblique attitude to modernism—and to any movement or school whatsoever—soon became evident. In a sequence of works including the Piano Trio (1966), the opera Arden Must Die (1966), the music-theatre piece Triptych (1968–70), the orchestral Metamorphosis/Dance (1974), and the String Quartet No. 3 (1975–76), Goehr's personal voice was revealed, arising from a highly individual use of the serial method and a fusion of elements from his double heritage of Schoenberg and Messiaen. Since the luminous 'white-note' Psalm IV setting of 1976. He has urged a return to more traditional ways of composing, using familiar materials as objects of musical speculation, in contrast to the technological priorities of much present-day musical research.
1933 Ann Elizabeth Oldfield Butler-Sloss, Baroness Butler-Sloss, GBE, PC (née Havers, is a retired English judge. She was the first female Lord Justice of Appeal and, until 2004, was the highest-ranking female judge in the United Kingdom. Until June 2007, she chaired the inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Fayed. She stood down from that task with effect from that date, and the inquest was conducted by Lord Justice Scott Baker.
1933 Keith Duckworth, English mechanical engineer (Cosworth; d. 2005)
1939 Kate O'Mara, Leicester England, actress (Caress Morell-Dynasty, AbFab) (d.2014)
1940 Sid Waddell, English darts commentator (the 'Voice of Darts'; Grenarda, BBC, Sky Sports), born in Alnwick, Northumberland (d. 2012)
1941 Anita Lonsbrough, Born York. 200m backstroke swimmer (Olympic gold 1960)
1941 George Bellamy, English rocker (The Tornados), born in Sunderland
1946 Jimmy Conway, Irish soccer midfielder (20 caps Republic of Ireland; Fulham), born Dublin (d.2020)
1947 Alan Ward, England cricket pace bowler (5 Tests, 14 wickets; Derbyshire), born in Dronfield,
1947 Ian Anderson, Scottish rock singer, flute player, guitarist, and songwriter (Jethro Tull - "Bungle In The Jungle"; "Locomotive Breath"), born in Dunfermline
1958 Jack Richards, English cricket wicket-keeper (mid-80's)
1962 Dan Donovan, English musician (Big Audio Dynamite)
1962 Julia Fordham, British pop and jazz singer-songwriter ("Happy Ever After"), born in Portsmouth,
1963 Andrew Sullivan, is a British-American author, editor, and blogger. Sullivan is a political commentator, a former editor of The New Republic, and the author or editor of six books. He started a political blog, The Daily Dish, in 2000, and eventually moved his blog to platforms, including Time, The Atlantic, The Daily Beast,
1966 (Charlotte) "Charlie" Dimmock, British gardener and television presenter (Ground Force; Garden Rescue), born in West Wellow, Hampshire
1967 Lorraine Pearson, Born Romford, Essex. rock vocalist (5 Star-Silk & Steel)
1972 Lawrence Dallaglio OBE, English rugby union flanker and captain (85 caps England, 3 British & Irish Lions; Was[s), born in London
1977 Danny Griffin, Northern Irish footballer
1977 Matt Morgan, British comedian
1978 Chris Read, Cricketer & captain of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, born in Paignton, Devon
1997 Kylie Jenner, American model, TV and social media personality (Keeping Up with the Kardashians), born in Los Angeles, California

On this day in British History

991 Battle of Maldon: English, led by Bryhtnoth, confront a band of inland-raiding Vikings near Maldon in Essex. The English are defeated and the story is immortalised in a well-known poem.
1512 Battle of Saint-Mathieu (also called the Battle of Brest): an English fleet of 25 ships commanded by Sir Edward Howard and a Franco-Breton fleet of 22 ships commanded by René de Clermont.
1585 English Queen Elizabeth I signs Treaty of Nonsuch: Aid for Netherlands
1653 The Battle of Scheveningen, English fleet beats Dutch
1675 King Charles II and John Flamsteed lay the foundation stone of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London
1776 American Revolutionary War: word of the United States Declaration of Independence reaches London.
1897 Automobile Club of Great Britain established (now: Royal Automobile Club)
1920 Turkish government renounces its claim to Israel, recognizes British mandate
1942 General Bernard Montgomery appointed commander British 8th Army in North Africa
1994 Last British troops leave Hong Kong (been there since Sept 1841)
2006 Scotland Yard disrupts major terrorist plot to destroy aircraft travelling from the United Kingdom to the United States. All toiletries are banned from commercial aircraft.

Northern Ireland

1970 British Home Secretary Reginald Maulding threatens to impose direct rule on Northern Ireland if the agreed reform measures are not carried out
1976 Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer shot dead by the British Army as he drove in Belfast; his car out of control and kills 3 children, sparking "peace rallies" throughout the month by the 'Peace People'
2014 PGA Championship Men's Golf, Valhalla GC: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland wins his second PGA C'ship by 1 shot from Phil Mickelson

Wedding of Interest

1912 British literary figure (author of "To the Lighthouse") Virginia Woolf [nee Stephen] (30) weds political theorist Leonard Woolf (31)

Deaths in History

1784 Allan Ramsay, Scottish painter, dies at 70
1839 John St Aubyn, British fossil collector, dies at 81
1842 Captain William Hobson, first British Governor of New Zealand and co-author of the Treaty of Waitangi, dies of a stroke at 49
1915 Henry Moseley, English physicist (b. 1887)
1934 John Kane, Scottish-American primitivist painter (Self-Portrait), dies at 73
1948 Andrew Brown, Scottish football coach (b. 1870)
1948 Montague Summers, English clergyman and writer (Malleus Maleficarum), dies at 68
1960 Frank Lloyd, Scottish actor & director (Mutiny on Bounty, Oliver Twist, Blood on the Sun) dies at 74
2000 Gilbert Parkhouse, Welsh cricketer (England batsman in 7 Tests 1950-59), dies at 74

Richard Frost
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On this day

Post by Richard Frost » Wed Aug 11 2021 11:10am

11th August 2021

World Calligraphy Day
Calligraphy is art in a written form. Today it is used in many design concepts for advertising and promoting, and it is easy to do because of the advanced technology we have today. However, calligraphy also has had a vast history that has impacted many cultures all over the world. World Calligraphy Day commemorates this history and hopes that people can take on calligraphy as a passion in their lives.

Son and Daughter Day
Whether sons and daughters are young or old, teenagers or toddlers, the bond between parent and child is like no other on earth and this annual celebration ensures the miracle of bringing new life into the world is never forgotten. Son and Daughter Day has been created so that you can let your children know how special they are, and vice versa. It is a great opportunity for families to spend special moments together. Life is lived at such a fast pace today, and so it can be easy to let moments pass us by. That’s why Son and Daughter Day is such a special day. You can learn about what inspires your children. Find out about their hopes and dreams. You can learn about each other and teach other different things. It’s all about spending quality time together. After all, the time that we share with our children can be fleeting. We often hear parents remark at the fact that their children have grown up within the blink of an eye. Plus, not only do kids grow up, but their needs and their interests change as well. This is why it is important to make time for some special moments with our children.

Play In The Sand Day
The whisper of wind over your skin as you dig into the fine sand brings back memories for many of us. Maybe it was just as a child playing in a sandbox at the park, or at the beach on a vacation. Either way, or in whatever way you remember your experiences with that lovely little grain that you moved by the billions, this day is all about Playing in the Sand! Originally it was about making artistic sandcastles, and soft sculptures out of sand and water, but now it encompasses anything you do in the sand. Many major beaches around the world hold contests for the best artistic works. Busts of famous figures, immense sand castles one can walk around and not see over, to intricately moulded and shaped designs that take your breath away. Many beaches have easy access to food, drink and fun near them, but it isn’t truly necessary. Bring some small shovels, a couple of pails, a few more people and enjoy the creativity as it spawns from you. Build a moat around your stuff, and fill it with water. Build sand beds so your comfort is perfected. Set up a small building, put the smallest child in and make them the ruler of the new sand kingdom!

International Youth Day
International Youth Day is a great time to celebrate and learn to appreciate the next generation–as well as the future of humankind–by getting on board to celebrate International Youth Day! Youth Day presents an opportunity for every country to assess their investment in and commitment to youth, as well as general education (both of and to youth). Endorsed by the United Nations in 1999 after a recommendation was made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, the first International Youth Day took place in the summer of 2000. Although its purpose was certainly meant to inspire and encourage leaders of countries to be aware of issues related to youth, its sentiment can be passed down far away from political leaders and into the culture of each land’s up and coming generations. That means that International Youth Day should not only be engaged at a global level and national level, but also at a local level. And this can be done by the people who know and love the youth of their communities. International Youth Day is meant to empower young people to participate in public life so that they are prepared and equipped to contribute to society’s development all around the world.

Ingersoll Day
Ingersoll Day is all about celebrating the life of Robert G Ingersoll, a political orator that helped revive the influence of Thomas Paine back into the political sphere, and helped think about their relationship with the world in a different light. Throughout the day, people remember Ingersoll by learning about his life and his beliefs, allowing people to discuss his beliefs and his influence in today’s world. Robert G Ingersoll may not sound like a familiar name, but Ingersoll is one of the biggest influences for the Golden Age of Reason which occurred during the mid-19th century period in the United States. Ingersoll, one of the most notable freethinkers and orators of his time, was a preacher, abolitionist, and lawyer in his early years. Once he decided to push his way into the political sphere, his skills as an orator began to shine and his speeches helped people think about reason and science in a better light, despite much of the criticisms he would receive for his philosophies. Originally, the ideology of the democrats and republicans were switched during this time, so due to his progressive ideas, he switched from Democrat to Republican during his first moments in office. When speaking of science and reason, Ingersoll was most famous for his beliefs in agnosticism, the view of the existence of God is unknowable and that humanity isn’t able to provide sufficient enough reason to prove the existence of God. However, due to these beliefs, his ascent into political office was stunted, as many religious preachers and politicians did not like his beliefs. However, he was friends with some preachers and is most famous for having a friendship with poet Walt Whitman and novel writer Mark Twain. Ingersoll Day celebrates the life of this 19th-century orator, as people celebrate it by learning about his life and exploring his philosophies.

A Selection of Birthdays

1467 Mary of York, English princess (d. 1482)
1635 Thomas Betterton, British actor and dramatist (Coriolanus), born in London (d. 1710)
1673 Richard Mead, FRS, FRCP, born London, was an English physician. His work, A Short Discourse concerning Pestilential Contagion, and the Method to be used to prevent it (1720), was of historic importance in the understanding of transmissible diseases. (d.1754)
1718 Sir Frederick Haldimand, Swiss-born British colonial governor (d. 1791)
1737 Joseph Nollekins,R.A. sculptor, born in London was a sculptor generally considered to be the finest British sculptor of the late 18th century. (d.1823)
1823 Charlotte Mary Yonge, born Otterbourne, Hampshire, writer (Heir of Redclyffe) was an English novelist who wrote to the service of the church. Her books helped to spread the influence of the Oxford Movement. Her books showed her keen interest in matters of public health and sanitation. Her abundant work is mostly out of print. (d.1901)
1870 Tom Richardson, England cricket fast bowler (88 Test wickets), born in Byfleet, Surrey (d. 1912)
1888 Owen Nares [Ramsay], Actor and manager, born in Maiden Erlegh, Berkshire (d. 1943)
1892 Hugh MacDiarmid (Christopher Murray Grieve), Langholm, Dumfriesshire, poet (d.1978)
1897 Enid Blyton, English children's writer, fifth most popular author in the world (Famous Five, Secret Seven, The Adventure), born in London (d. 1968)
1898 Arthur Leslie Noel Douglas Houghton, Baron Houghton of Sowerby, CH, PC politician/trade unionist, was a British Labour politician. He was the last British Cabinet minister born in the 19th century. After he retired in 1967, every Cabinet minister has been born since 1900. He was also the last veteran of World War I to serve in the Cabinet and both Houses of Parliament.
1903 Michael Whalley Wickham, artist Born Coventry (d.1995)
1913 Sir Angus Frank Johnstone-Wilson, CBE Born Bexhill, Sussex, was an English novelist and short story writer. He was one of England's first openly gay authors. He was awarded the 1958 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for The Middle Age of Mrs Eliot and later received a knighthood for his services to literature. (d.1991)
1921 Alex Haley, American writer (Autobiography of Malcolm X, Roots), born Ithaca, New York (d.1992)
1926 Bernard Ashley, English businessperson, fashion designer and co-founder of Laura Ashley, born in London (d. 2009)
1926 Professor John R S Fincham, geneticist was one of the UK's leading geneticists, with a remarkably broad knowledge of the subject across all the biological kingdoms. He became an international leader through being at the forefront of microbial genetics as some of the founding principles of the relationships between gene structure, activity and enzyme functions were being uncovered.(d.2005)
1926 Johnny Van Derrick, British jazz violinist (Pink Panther Theme), born Ealing, Middlesex (d.1995)
1927 Raymond Leppard, British-American harpsichordist, conductor (Indianapolis Symphony, 1987-2001; BBC Northern Symphony, 1973-80), and composer (Lord Of The Flies), born in London
1929 Alun Hoddinott, Welsh composer (Floriture), born in Bargoed, Glamorganshire (d. 2008)
1932 Angela Rumbold, British politician (C), born in Bristol (d. 2010)
1932 Eric Varley, British politician and cabinet minister, born in Poolsbrook, Derbyshire (d. 2008)
1932 Sam McCluskie, trade unionist
1933 Julian Oswald, British Admiral of the Fleet
1933 Justin Connolly, composer (d.2020)
1942 Mike Hugg, British rock drummer (Manfred Mann - "Mighty Quinn"), and film composer (Up The Junction), born in Gosport, Hampshire
1943 Denis Payton, English rock musician (Dave Clark Five - "Glad All Over"), born in London (d. 2006)
1944 Ian McDiarmid, Scottish stage director, and stage and screen actor (Star Wars -"Palpatine"), born in Carnoustie
1948 Don Boyd, Scottish director and producer (Goldeneye, 21, East of Elephant Rock), born in Nairn
1949 Ian Charleson, actor (Gandhi, Chariots of Fire), born in Edinburgh
1952 Ann Michelle, Chigwell, Essex, actress (Virgin Witch, Mistress Pamela)
1954 (David Ian) "Joe" Jackson, British singer-songwriter, and pianist ( "Is She Really Going Out with Him?"; "Steppin' Out"), born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire
1954 Sinan Savaskan, Turkish-British contemporary classical music composer and educator (The Age of Analysis; Octandre Ensemble), born in Istanbul, Turkey
1966 Nigel Martyn, English soccer goalkeeper (23 caps; Crystal Palace, Leeds, Everton), born in St Austell, Cornwall
1968 Alan Kelly, England-born Irish footballer
1969 Ashley Jensen, Scottish actress (Extras, After Life), born in Annan
1970 Andy Bell, English musician (Ride, Hurricane #1, Oasis)
1971 Tommy Mooney, English football player
1973 Nigel Harman, British actor (Eastenders), born in London
1977 Gemma Hayes, Irish born singer
1981 Sandi Thom, Scottish born singer
1982 Alan Halsall, British actor
1985 Grace Adams-Short, British reality television contestant

On this day in British History

1597 Germany throws out English sales people
1695 English & Dutch fleet capture Dunkirk
1786 Captain Francis Light establishes the British colony of Penang in Malaysia
1835 George B Airy begins 46-year reign as England's Astronomer Royal
1908 King Edward VII of Britain meets with Emperor Wilhelm of Friedrichshof, Germany; the main point of contention is the increasing size of Germany's navy
1940 38 German aircraft shot down over England
1940 German air raid on British ports Portland and Weymouth
1942 British aircraft carrier HMS Eagle hit by 4 German torpedoed and sinks in the Mediterranean Sea, 81 miles south of Mallorca
1942 Lt Gen Montgomery makes landing on Gibraltar
1944 British premier Winston Churchill arrives in Italy
1968 Fifteen Guinea Special - last main-line steam passenger train service in Britain. Selection of British Rail steam locomotives make a return 120-mile journey Liverpool to Carlisle, before having their fires dropped for the last time.
1987 France & Great-Britain send minesweepers to Persian Gulf
1989 Geoff Marsh & Mark Taylor complete 329 opening stand v England

Northern Ireland

1970 Two Royal Ulster Constabulary officers are killed by the Irish Republican Army when they set off a booby trap bomb planted in a car near Crossmaglen, County Armagh
1971 4 people are shot dead in separate incidents in Belfast; three of them by the British Army, as violence continues following the introduction of Internment and Operation Demetrius

Weddings in History
1925 Physicist James Chadwick (33) weds Aileen Stewart-Brown
1949 Molecular biologist Francis Crick (33) weds artist Odile Speed (29)

Deaths in History

1813 Henry James Pye, English poet, British Poet Laureate (1790-1813), dies at 68
1890 John Henry Newman, English cardinal, dies at 89
1919 Andrew Carnegie, Scottish-American industrialist, steel tycoon, philanthropist and one of the richest Americans ever, dies of bronchial pneumonia at 83
1935 William Watson, British poet (Purple East), dies at 77
2003 Diana Mitford, English biographer, famous beauty, wife of Oswald Mosley and one of the Mitford sisters, dies at 93
2010 Geoffrey Johnson Smith, Scottish Conservative politician (1959-2001), dies at 86
2018 V. S. Naipaul, Trinidadian-British writer (Middle Passage), dies at 85

macliam
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Re: On this day

Post by macliam » Wed Aug 11 2021 3:15pm

August 11th 1920 marks the arrest of Terence MacSwiney, Lord Mayor of Cork.

Elected to represent Mid-Cork in the 1918 General Election, MacSwiney became Lord Mayor after the previous incumbent, Tomás Mac Curtain, was assassinated in his home by Crown forces in March 1920.

He was arrested and tried by Military court for sedition and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. He immediately started a hunger strike in protest and, despite numerous serious protests at his treatment from around the world, he died in Brixton prison after 74 days.

This was far from the only example of elected representatives being targeted by Crown forces. On one day, 7 March 1921, both the Mayor of Limerick, George Clancy and his predecessor, Michael O'Callaghan, were shot dead in their homes by RIC Auxiliaries.
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On this day

Post by Richard Frost » Thu Aug 12 2021 11:57am

12th August 2021

International Youth Day
International Youth Day on August 12 focuses on the difficulties that some young people are experiencing throughout the world. Half the children between the age of six and 13 lack basic reading and math skills and childhood poverty is still a prevalent problem globally. International Youth Day was created by the UN to help draw awareness to these issues as we strive to find solutions. It’s a day for reflection but also a day for taking action so get involved. There’ll be many concerts, workshops and cultural events taking place so have a look at what is happening in your local area. It’s an initiative that honours the traits of young people and that acknowledges the challenges that today’s fledging youth face. International Youth Day began in 2000 and was organized by the UN to recognize the input that young people make in education, community development, environmental groups, volunteering for different social projects.

World Elephant Day
World Elephant Day was created in 2011 by two Canadian filmmaker Patricia Sims and Thailand’s Elephant Reintroduction Foundation and first celebrated on August 12, 2012. The initiative was greatly supported by film star and Star Trek legend William Shatner who narrated the documentary Return to the Forest, a fascinating 30-minute film about the reintroduction of captive Asian elephants to the wild.
The motivation for the first World Elephant Day was to draw attention to the plight of these majestic creatures to populations and cultures all over the world. Due to their pleasant and intelligent nature, the world’s largest land animals are loved worldwide. But, unfortunately, these magnificent creatures face multiple threats to their survival. One major issue is the ivory trade. Currently, the demand for ivory is the biggest in China, with the price of ivory often exceeding the price of gold, something that makes elephants bigger targets than ever. The economics here work firmly against the humble elephant. Extreme levels of poverty in Africa mean that people can often make a month’s wages or more from the ivory of a single animal, selling it on the international market. Furthermore, the parts of the world that demand ivory, such as China, are becoming increasingly wealthy, meaning that they can pay more for tusks. These dual factors are combining to make elephant poaching one of the most lucrative activities on the plant. Habitation loss is also a danger to the world’s elephant population as it deprives elephants of the hundreds of pounds of food they need every day, making it more difficult for them to breed and making it easier for poachers to track them down. Unfortunately, researchers believe that loss of habitat is the primary driver for the loss of elephants in the wild. A century ago, they numbered more than 12 million in the wild. Today, that figure may be as low as 400,000, with as many as 20,000 per year killed by poachers. Data suggests that the geographic range of elephants fell by around 30 percent between 2002 and 2011, with a similar loss of savannah for them to roam. The introduction of large parks throughout Africa has allowed habitat destruction to stabilize, but illegal poaching remains a dire threat. Circuses and tourism are also serious problems for the animals’ well-being. World Elephant Day is an opportunity for everyone to get together to find ways to reduce conflict between humans and elephants. The solution probably lies in a combination of strategies. These could include land development that minimizes habitat destruction, electric fences to keep elephants away from farms, and changes in local attitudes.

Vinyl Record Day
Vinyl Record Day celebrates the good old way of playing our favourite tracks! In recent years, vinyl has undergone a bit of a renaissance. As CD sales fall, more people are embracing the vintage vinyl, offering a unique playing experience and becoming a statement piece in any home. Whether you have a collection of vinyl or you’ve never heard music played on one before, Vinyl Record Day gives you the perfect excuse to enjoy music in a classic form. It’s a day that is about listening to all types of music on vinyl records. If you are lucky enough to have a vinyl record player and a collection of vinyl records, you should make sure you give them a little bit of extra TLC on this day! There are a number of things that you can do to protect your vinyl records and make sure they last as long as possible. This includes cleaning your records before you play them, cleaning the stylus, keeping the vinyl itself clean and storing your records correctly. A little bit of love and care can go a very long way when it comes to protecting valuable vintage classics like vinyl records.

Middle Childs Day
Let’s face it, being the middle child sucks, right? You have an older sibling, who you have to somehow live up to; you have a younger sibling, who gets all of the attention, and you are left with no clearly defined role. In fact, ‘Middle Child Syndrome’ is a recognized concept and birth order is believed to impact upon various personality traits. As the middle child, you’re not the leader, so you aren’t able to have things your own way. You’re also no longer the baby of the family, so you aren’t as protected. And you’re certainly not excused for bad behaviour. It might seem like nothing ever really goes your way.
Well, no longer. Middle Child’s Day provides a well-deserved day to celebrate those special children who were neither the first-born or the last-born. Finally, a day where you get some attention and love, at the expense of your other siblings.

A Selection of Birthdays

1686 John Balguy, English philosopher, Born in Sheffield (d. 1748)
1696 Maurice Greene, English composer, born in London (d. 1755)
1753 Thomas Bewick, Artist, Born, Mickley, Northumberland, (British Birds, Aesop's Fables) (d1828)
1762 George IV, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover (1820-30), born in St James's Palace, London (d. 1830)
1774 Robert Southey, English writer (The Story of the Three Bears), Poet Laureate (1813-43) and biographer (Nelson), born in Bristol (d. 1843)
1778 Francis Horner, politician, Born Edinburgh, Scottish Whig politician, journalist, lawyer and political economist. (d.1817)
1825 Sir Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley, 2nd Baronet, English composer, organist, musicologist and priest. (d.1889)
1832 Hely Hutchinson Almond, politician, doctor and early rugby umpire, born in Glasgow (d. 1903)
1838 Joseph Barnby, conductor/academic principal, a prominent English musician and composer in the second half of the nineteenth century. Although his output of published works was prolific, he is more highly regarded today for his influence on the Victorian musical scene. Born in York in 1838 (d.1896)
1854 Sir Alfred Gilbert RA was an English sculptor. Born London & studied sculpture under Joseph Boehm, Matthew Noble, Édouard Lantéri and Pierre-Jules Cavelier. His first work of importance was The Kiss of Victory, followed by the trilogy of Perseus Arming, Icarus and Comedy and Tragedy. (d.1934)
1868 Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford, 22nd Governor of New South Wales (1908-13) and Viceroy of British India (1916-21), born in London (d. 1933)
1880 Marguerite Antonia Radclyffe Hall, English poet and author, best known for the novel The Well of Loneliness, a ground breaking work in lesbian literature. In adulthood, Hall often went by the name John, rather than Marguerite. (d.1943)
1884 Frank Arthur Swinnerton, English novelist (Summer Storm, Sanctuary) (d.1982)
1911 Cantinflas [Mario Moreno], Mexican actor (Around World in 80 Days, Pepe), born in Mexico City, Distrito Federal (d. 1993)
1912 Margaret Scriven, English tennis player (French C'ships 1933-34), born in Leeds, (d. 2001)
1913 Kurt Kaszner [Serwicher], Austrian actor (Kiss Me Kate, Lili, Casino Royale), born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (d. 1979)
1918 Margaret Burbidge, British-American astronomer & educator, born Davenport, Cheshire (d.2020)
1918 Guy Gibson, British aviator who led the Dambusters (Victoria Cross), born in Simla, India (d. 1944)
1918 Sid Bernstein, music producer & concert promoter (Beatles; Rolling Stones), b. New York (d.2013)
1919 Peter Ambrose Cyprian Luke,M.C. was a British writer, editor, and producer. (d.1995)
1920 Peter Anthony West, BBC presenter & sports commentator best known for his work on cricket, tennis and rugby coverage as well as occasionally commentating on hockey (d.2003)
1922 Fulton Mackay, Scottish actor and playwright (Porridge), born in Paisley (d. 1987)
1924 Derek Shackleton, England cricket pace bowler (50's) (d.2007)
1925 Noriris Dewar McWhirter, English author (Co-founded Guinness Book of World Records), born in Winchmore Hill, N. London (d. 2004)
1925 Robin Nicholson, English metallurgist, born in Sutton Coldfield
1925 Ross McWhirter, English author (Co-founded Guinness Book of World Records), born in Winchmore Hill, N. London (d. 1975)
1930 Ronald James Herron, architect Born in London (d.1994)
1930 George Soros [György Schwartz], Hungarian-American investor and political activist (Open Society Foundation), born in Budapest, Hungary
1931 William Goldman, American screenwriter and author (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2018)
1936 Geoffrey Stephen Hamilton, Born E. London) was an English gardener, broadcaster and author, best known as presenter of BBC television's Gardeners' World in the 1980s and 1990s. (d.1996)
1941 Craig Douglas [Terence Perkins], British pop singer ("Only Sixteen"), born in Newport
1949 Mark Knopfler, British singer-songwriter, guitarist (Dire Straits - "Walk Of Life"; "Sultans Of Swing"), and film score composer (Local Hero; Princess Bride), born in Glasgow
1952 Charles Whiting, English Formula 1 Race Director (Safety Delegate, Starter, head F1 Technical Dep't), born in Sevenoaks, Kent (d. 2019)
1961 Roy Hay, British guitarist, Born Southend. (Culture Club - "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me")
1961 Lawrence Hayward, born in Birmingham. English musician (Felt, Denim, Go Kart Mozart)
1969 Tanita Tikaram, British pop-folk singer-songwriter ("Twist in My Sobriety"), born in Münster, West Germany
1970 Charles Mesure, British actor. Born in Somerset
Pete Sampras
1971 Pete Sampras, American tennis player (14 Grand Slam titles), born in Washington, D.C.
1972 Mark Kinsella, Irish footballer. Born Dublin. Irish football manager and former player, currently a coach at Drogheda United
1973 Richard Colvin Reid, British terrorist. Born Bromley, Kent. referred to as the "shoe bomber".
1976 Richard McCourt, English children's television presenter Born in Sheffield.
1981 Anthony Charles Capaldi is a footballer who made nearly 250 appearances in the Football League and is a former Northern Ireland international. Born in Porsgrunn, Norway, Capaldi won 22 caps for Northern Ireland at full international level, 21 of which were as a Plymouth Argyle player, a total that made him the club's most-capped international.
1988 Tyson Fury, British heavyweight professional boxer, born in Manchester
1992 Cara Delevingne, English fashion model, actress, and LGBT activist, born in London

On This day in British History

1336 English King Edward III ends wool export to Flanders
1549 French troops conquer Ambleteuse, in the Pas-de-Calais, and kill all the English prisoners.
1588 Commander of the English fleet Lord Howard of Effingham calls off chase of the Spanish Armada off coast of Scotland
1665 English fleet beat Dutch fleet
1813 Robert Southey is appointed British Poet Laureate by King George III
1923 Enrico Tiraboschi is 1st to swim English Channel westward
1940 Luftwaffe bombs British radar stations, loses 31 aircraft
1942 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrives in Moscow for a conference with Joseph Stalin and US representative W. Averrell Harriman
1942 Lt General Bernard Montgomery arrives in Cairo
1944 Winston Churchill and Tito meet in Naples
1965 Dame Elizabeth Lane becomes first female English High Court judge
1981 Jon Erikson (US) becomes 1st to triple cross English Channel (38:27)
2007 Bulk carrier M/V New Flame collides with oil tanker Torm Gertrud at the southernmost tip of Gibraltar, ending up partially submerged.

Northern Ireland

2012 PGA Championship Men's Golf, Kiawah Island Golf Resort: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland wins by 8 strokes from Englishman David Lynn

Scotland

1332 Battle of Dupplin Moor; Scottish dynastic battle

Wedding of Interest

1949-08-12 Multi-Tony award-winning actress Angela Lansbury (23) weds actor and producer Peter Shaw (31) at St. Columba's Presbyterian Church of Scotland in London

Deaths in History

1577 Thomas Smith, English diplomat and scholar (b. 1513)
1715 Nahum Tate, English poet/playwright/poet laureate, dies
1778 Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, British general and politician (b. 1714)
1822 Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry, commits suicide, dies
1827 William Blake, English poet and artist (Songs of Innocence & Experience), dies at 69
1848 George Stephenson, English engineer known as the "Father of Railways" (Locomotion No. 1, Standard Gauge), dies of pleurisy at 67
1877 James Drummond, Scottish historical painter, (b. 1816)
1948 Harry Brearley, English inventor (b. 1871)
1999 John Rigby Hale, British linguist and historian, dies at 75
2004 Sir Godfrey Hounsfield, English electrical engineer and inventor, Nobel laureate (b. 1919)

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On this day

Post by Richard Frost » Fri Aug 13 2021 10:05am

13th August 2021

13 August (Friday) - 15 August (Sunday) O-BON Japanese [in Tokyo - for rest of Japan see 13 July]
A Japanese festival when the spirits of the departed are welcomed back home with feasting and dancing. Fires are often lit to illuminate their arrival and departure.

Blame Someone Else Day
This momentous occasion for people to lie through their teeth and pretend they were struck with a sudden, 24-hour long spell of amnesia, takes place on the first Friday the 13th of every year. The blame can be pinned on anyone preferred, but remember that at the stroke of midnight, much like Cinderella, people will be turned back into their old selves again! But, no matter what happens, the brief madness of this particular day can be blamed on Anne Moeller in Michigan, who started the trend in 1982 as an excuse for not keeping her appointments on the fateful day of Friday the 13th. (To be honest, it was really the fault of her alarm clock that didn’t go off, which set off a chain of events that day that all turned into a large amount of bad luck!) From Ms. Moeller’s deep desire to make all of the bad luck of her day someone else’s fault spawned this light hearted, silly day that adds a little bit of interest to life. It’s time to celebrate Blame Someone Else Day!

International Lefthanders Day
From scissors to knives, from can openers to cork screws, Left Handers (also sometimes called Southpaws) can be the brunt of jokes all year long due to their unique hand dominance. But this is the day to ignore all of that and bring awareness to all of those right handed folks around the globe in celebration of Left Handers Day. After all, as the old saying goes– right handed people operate on the left side of the brain, which means that left handed people are functioning on the right side. Therefore, only left handed people are in their right mind! Celebrating its first year of existence in 1976, the Lefthanders International organization helped raise awareness to the myriad of difficulties that can be faced by people who are left handed. Being accused of witchcraft in the 1600s for just using one hand more than the other, was only the beginning! Since only 10 percent of the population is left handed, various items made especially for those who are left-handed are typically more expensive than their right handed counterparts. Objects such as scissors, knives and even school desks can see a mark up of almost 75 percent more for left handed individuals! Even sports fanatics will pay out the nose, as golf clubs sometimes see as much as a 200 percent increase depending on their brand. But even though it can be difficult and, admittedly, a bit more expensive, those left handers in the world are certainly unique and interesting people. And this is the perfect day to celebrate them!

Filet Mignon Day
There is a cut of meat that is the very definition of luxury and decadence, one that falls from the lips of the common people and the rich debutante royalty of Hollywood in equal measure. Filet Mignon is French for “dainty fillet” and first found its way into the world in the 1906 book ”The Four Million”. Filet Minion Day celebrates the history of this steak and the delicious role it has played in exquisite meals. Tenderloin. The very word implies a rich and succulent meal that absolutely melts on the tongue, but even in this most perfect cut of meat, there is a portion that is unquestionably the best. This portion is the fabled Filet Mignon. This delicious cut is served in 4 to 8oz portions and comes prepared in one of three varieties, seared in a pan, grilled over coals or the most famous, wrapped in bacon. The bacon is typically added to enrich the piece with fat, as Filet Mignon tends to leanness. Even though it comes from the tenderloin, there are still multiple cuts of Filet Mignon one can choose to indulge in. The prime cut is the most popular and is available from any form of cattle, the Angus Cut, however, comes specifically from vegetarian fed beef and is far and away one of the best forms of beef available. If you’re truly feeling decadent, you can purchase a 32oz whole Filet Mignon Roast. It may be expensive but it’ll be worth every succulent bite.

A Selection of Birthdays

1422 William Caxton, English printer and translator, 1st to print in the English language (Histories of Troy), born in Kent, (d. 1492) birth date disputed
1584 Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk, Politician, born Saffron Waldon, Essex (d.1640)
1662 Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, Politician, born Marlborough, Wiltshire (d.1748)
1666 William Wotton, English theologian and scholar, born in Wrentham, Suffolk (d. 1727)
1699 John Dyer, British poet & Priest born Llanfynydd, Carmarthenshire, (Baptism date) (d.1757)
1721 Francis Hutcheson, Irish composer, born in Dublin (d. 1784)
1792 Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, Queen consort of William IV of the United Kingdom, born in Meiningen, Germany (d. 1849)
1819 George Gabriel Stokes, Irish physicist and mathematician (spectroscope), born in Skreen, County Sligo, (d. 1903)
1820 George Grove, English biblical scholar and misicographer, born in Clapham, London (d. 1900)
1823 Goldwin Smith, English historian and journalist, born in Reading, Berkshire (d. 1910)
1826 William Thomas Best, English organist and composer, born in Carlisle, Cumberland (d. 1897)
1860 Annie Oakley [Phoebe Ann Moses], American sharp shooter (Buffalo Bill's Wild West), born in North Star, Ohio (d. 1926)
1867 William Alexander Craigie, Scottish lexicographer (Skotlands Rimur), born in Dundee (d. 1957)
1879 John Ireland, English composer and pianist (Mai-Dun), born in Bowdon, Cheshire (d. 1962)
1884 Harry Dean, English cricketer (England left-arm bowler in 3 Tests, 1912), born in Burnley, Lancashire (d. 1957)
1888 John Logie Baird, Scottish inventor & father of television, born Helensburgh (d. 1946)
1899 Alfred Hitchcock, British film director (Psycho; The Birds; Rear Window; Vertigo), born in Leytonstone, Essex (now part of London) (d. 1980)
1901 Ian Whyte, Scottish composer and conductor (BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra), born in Dunfermline (d. 1960)
1907 Basil Spence, British architect, born in Bombay, India (d. 1976)
1913 Albert Oram, Baron Oram, British Labour politician, born in Winchester (d. 1999)
1918 Frederick Sanger, British biochemist (Sanger sequencing, Nobel Prize 1958, 1980), born in Rendcomb, Gloucestershire (d. 2013)
1919 George Shearing, British-American blind jazz pianist (Lullaby of Birdland), born London (d. 2011)
1920 Charlie Alfred Galbraith, English jazz trombonist, born in London (d. 1997)
1926 Fidel Castro, Cuban revolutionary, Prime Minister (1959-76) and President (1976-2008), born in Birán, Holguin Province, Cuba (d. 2016)
1929 Michael Beavis, British deputy Commanding-in-Chief (Allied Forces Central Europe) (d. 2020)
1931 Bernard Manning, British comedian, born in Ancoats, Manchester (d. 2007)
1931 Roy Evans, British trade unionist and General Secretary (British Iron & Steel Trade Confederation), born in Pontarddulais, Wales (d. 2015)
1935 Rod Hull, British entertainer, born on Isle of Sheppey, Kent (d. 1999)
1942 Sheila Armstrong, English soprano, born in Ashington, Northumberland
1943 Susan Jameson, English actress (Secret World of Polly Flint), born in Barnt Green, Worcestershire
1944 Divina Galica, British athlete and racing driver, born in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire
1945 Robin Jackman, English cricket seam bowler (4 Tests, 14 wickets; 15 ODIs; Surrey), born in Simla, India (d. 2020)
1945 Howard Marks, British drug dealer and author (Mr Nice), born in Kenfig Hill, Bridgend (d. 2016)
1948 Cliff Fish, English bassist (Paper Lace - The Night Chicago Died), born in Ripley, Derbyshire
1955 Keith Ahlers, British racing driver, born in Cambridge
1955 Paul Greengrass, English film director (Bloody Sunday), born in Cheam, Surrey
1958 David Feherty, Irish golfer, broadcaster (5 European Tour titles, CBS, NBC), born in Bangor, Northern Ireland
1958 Feargal Sharkey, Irish rocker (The Undertones), born in Derry, Northern Ireland
1959 Bruce French, English cricketer (England wicketkeeper in 16 Tests 1986-88), born in Market Warsop, Nottinghamshire
1959 Mark Nevin, Rocker (Fairground Attraction-Find My Love), born in Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent
1960 Phil Taylor, English darts player (BDO World Champion 1990, 92; PDC World Champion 1995-2002, 04-06, 09-10, 13), born in Stoke-on-Trent
1961 Neil Mallender, English cricketer (England pace bowler in two Tests 1992), born in Kirk Sandall, Yorkshire
1961 Stuart Maconie, English music writer and broadcaster, born in Whiston, Lancashire
1970 Alan Shearer, English footballer (Newcastle United, the Premier Leagues' record goal scorer), born in Gosforth, Cumbria
1973 Kamila Shamsie, Pakistani British writer (Home Fire), born in Karachi, Pakistan
1975 Joe Perry, English snooker player, born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire

On This day in History

1415 King Henry V of England lands his army at the mouth of Seine River in France
1608 John Smith's story of Jamestown's first days submitted for publication
1704 Battle of Blenheim (Second Battle of Höchstädt): A combined British, German and Dutch army led by John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, decisively beats the French and Bavarians
1784 British parliament accepts East India Company Act 1784, bringing the East India Company's rule in India under the control of the British Government.
1799 British fleet under Lord Seymour overthrows Suriname
1886 John A. Macdonald, Prime Minister of Canada uses a silver hammer to pound a gold spike, officially completing the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway in British Columbia
1902 English cricket team beats Australia by one wicket in a famous victory at The Oval, in London
1908 King Edward VII of Great Britain meets with Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria at Ischl; the King tries to persuade the Emperor to advise Germany against aggressive (anti-British) policies
1913 Invention of stainless steel by Harry Brearley of Sheffield
1940 Battle of Britain: Hermann Goering's "Adlertag" (Eagle Day) offensive happens, intending to destroy the Royal Air Force; 47-48 German aircraft shot down, the RAF loses 25 planes
1944 British 8th Army occupies Florence
1944 Allied generals Bernard Montgomery, Miles Dempsey and Omar Bradley discuss a future breakthrough in the European theatre during World War II
1946 Britain diverts illegal immigrants bound for Palestine to Cyprus
1951 Great Britain & Iraq sign new oil contract

Northern Ireland

1975-08-13 Bayardo Bar attack: Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteers carry out a gun and bomb attack on a pub in Belfast frequented by Ulster Volunteer Force commanders; 4 Protestant civilians and 1 UVF member are killed

Scotland

1995 PGA Championship Men's Golf, Riviera CC: Steve Elkington of Australia wins his first major title in a playoff with Scotsman Colin Montgomerie

Deaths in History

1896 John Everett Millais, English painter (Order of Release), dies at 67
1910 Florence Nightingale, British pioneering nurse (Crimean War), dies at 90
1937 Arthur Plunkett, English civil engineer (designed Sydney Harbour Bridge) (b. 1890)
1946 H. G. Wells, English sci-fi author (The War of the Worlds, Time Machine), dies at 79
1964 Peter Anthony Allen is the last person executed (for murder) in England and the United Kingdom at Walton Prison, Liverpool
1977 Henry Williamson, English author (Tarka the Otter), dies at 81

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Re: On this day

Post by Richard Frost » Sat Aug 14 2021 11:09am

HERD BOY AND WEAVING MAID FESTIVAL/QIXIJIE/CH’I HOU CHIEH Chinese
This Double Seven festival perpetuates an ancient folk tale of two stars, one on either side of the Heavenly River (the Milky Way). They are held to have been a herd boy and a heavenly weaving maid who had married but were separated when she returned to heaven. The lovers are allowed a reunion on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month when a flock of magpies form a bridge across the Heavenly River.

Creamsicle Day
Is it really summer if you have not had a creamsicle yet? Creamsicle Day is designed to celebrate the delicious citrus and creamy dessert on a stick that most of us enjoy throughout the warmer months. After all, there is no better way to cool down when the sun is shining, is there? While “Creamsicle” is actually a brand name, a lot of people have come to use it to describe any sort of similar ice cream. The original Creamsicle, though, consists of vanilla ice cream that is on an ice lolly stick, with iced orange juice coating the outside. Orange was the original flavour, but there are now lots of other flavours for you to choose from. This includes everything from strawberry to blueberry and grape. Did you know that there have been many different variations of the Creamsicle made by the brand? For example, you can get the Fudgsicle, which is a chocolate flavoured pop that has a texture that is very much like ice cream? There is also a Dreamsicle, which contains ice milk rather than ice cream. The brand has also created sugar-free pops, low-fat pops, and 100-calorie bars, so if you are watching what you eat or you are on a certain type of diet, you do not need to miss out on a Creamsicle; you can still indulge and enjoy yourself! Which flavour will you be having?

Tattoo Removal Day
Ever immediately regretted a tattoo that you thought would be an excellent idea at the time? Or perhaps you got caught up in the hype and made a reckless decision on Tattoo Day. Whatever your woe, Tattoo Removal Day is here to say that mistakes need not be permanent. A day of pained winces and fresh starts, Tattoo Removal Day laments the inks of the past and celebrates a cleaner look.

Social Security Day
Wherever we are and whatever we do we’re a small part of a greater society and there’s no better indicator of our togetherness than a social security system, which is why we should celebrate Social Security Day. Anyone can fall on hard times, or have a period during which a little help doesn’t go amiss, which is why these support systems exist. A good way to celebrate Social Security Day is to think about the more unfortunate members of society and do something for them. Cooking a traybake or a big stew and taking it to a soup kitchen is one good idea. Another good idea is to volunteer for a shift in that same kitchen. Send the kids out to mow the lawn of an elderly or infirm neighbour, or have a yard sale and donate the proceeds to a homeless charity. Have fun, but be generous as well.

Garage Sale Day
It’s time to clean out some old junk – but one person’s junk may be another’s treasure! Garage Sale Day is an excuse to set up a table in your garage or on your lawn, put up some signs and rake in the eager crowds for a chance to walk away with a modestly priced, pre-loved treat!

A selection of Birthdays

1473 Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury, daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, born in Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Somerset, England (d. 1541)
1479 Princess Catherine of York, 9th child and sixth daughter of King Edward IV by his wife Elizabeth Woodville, born in Eltham Palace, Greenwich, England (d. 1527)
1575 Robert Hayman, English poet, born in Wolborough, Newton Abbot, Devon (d. 1629)
1599 Méric Casaubon, French-English classical scholar, born in Geneva (d. 1671)
1653 Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle, English statesman (d. 1688)
1737 Charles Hutton, English mathematician and surveyor, born in Newcastle upon Tyne (d. 1823)
1802 Letitia Elizabeth Landon, English poet (Heath's Book of Beauty), born in Chelsea (d. 1838)
1810 Samuel Sebastian Wesley, English organist and composer, born in London (d. 1876)
1835 Tom King, Boxer, rower & bookmaker (English heavyweight champion), born London, (d.1888)
1836 Walter Besant, Writer & philanthropist (Rebel Queen), born Portsmouth (d. 1901)
1842 Henry Duff Traill, British author and journalist (The Marquis of Salisbury), born in Blackheath, London (d. 1900)
1851 John "Doc" Holliday, American dentist, gambler, and gunfighter (Gunfight at the O.K. Corral), born in Griffin, Georgia (d. 1887)
1860 Ernest T. Seton, naturalist, painter &author (Buffalo Wind-1938), born South Shields (d. 1946)
1867 John Galsworthy, Author (Forsyte Saga-Nobel 1932), born Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, (d.1933)
1882 Gisela Richter, English art historian, born in London (d. 1972)
1892 Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji [Leon Dudley Sorabji], Parsi-British pianist and composer (Opus clavicembalisticum), born in Chingford, Essex (d. 1988)
1901 James Pitman, British educator and spelling reformer (Alphabets and Reading: The Initial Teaching Alphabet) (d. 1985)
1913 Fred Davis, Snooker player (World C'ship 1948-49, 51), born Chesterfield, (d. 1998)
1931 Frederic Raphael, American-British writer (After the War, California Time), born in Chicago, Illinois
1936 Trevor Bannister, British actor (Are You Being Served?), born in Durrington, Wiltshire (d. 2011)
1937 Brian Curvis, Welsh boxer & British welterweight champion (1960-1964), born Swansea (d. 2012)
1940 Judith Kazantzis, English poet and feminist, born in Oxford, (d. 2018)
1943 Barrie Leadbeater, English cricketer and umpire, born in Harehills, Leeds
1945 Tony Scannel, Irish actor (Bill, Blue Money), born in Kinsale, Co. Cork
1946 Antonio Fargas, American actor (Huggy Bear-Starsky & Hutch), born in The Bronx, New York
1947 Danielle Steel, American author (Rememberance, Zoya, Star, Daddy), born in New York
1947 Peter Christian, English actor, born in Liverpool
1947 Maddy Prior, English folk singer (Steeleye Span, Silly Sisters, Carnival Band), born in Blackpool,
1948 Joseph Marcell, British actor (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), born in Castries, Saint Lucia
1955 Gillian Taylforth, British actress (EastEnders, 1985-2000, 2015-present - "Kathy Beale"; Footballers' Wives (2002–2006), born in Islington, London
1960 Sarah Brightman, English actress and singer (Phantom of the Opera), born in Berkhamsted
1965 Paul Broadhurst, British golfer (British Senior Open 2016), born in Walsall
1968 Adrian Lester, English actor, born in Birmingham
1974 Martin Bulloch, Scottish musician (Mogwai), born in Blantyre, Lanarkshire
1981 Matthew Etherington, English footballer, born in Truro
1983 Elena Baltacha, Ukrainian-British tennis player, born in Kyiv, Ukraine (d. 2014)
1984 Nick Grimshaw, English DJ and television presenter, born in Oldham

On This day in British History

1585 Queen Elizabeth I of England refuses sovereignty of Netherlands
1762 English fleet occupies Havana
1765 Massachusetts colonists challenge British rule by an Elm (Liberty Tree)
1813 British warship Pelican attacks & captures US war brigantine Argus
1816 Great Britain annexes Tristan da Cunha
1882 Queen Victoria receives Zulu chief Cetewayo
1890 Cecil Rhodes' colonists reach Mashonaland (Fort Victoria)
1894 Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge demonstrates wireless telegraphy (radio) using Morse code at a meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science at Oxford University
1914 British field marshal John French & Gen Wilson land in France
1915 British transport Royal Edward sank by German U boat kills 1000
1941 US President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issue the joint declaration that later becomes known as the Atlantic Charter
1944 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrives at Corsica
1947 Pakistan gains independence from Great Britain
1967 Radio Scotland & Radio Swinging Holland go off the air
1971 Bahrain proclaims independence after 110 years of British rule
1984 West Indies complete 5-0 series annihilation of England

Northern Ireland

1969 In response to events in Derry, Irish nationalists hold protests throughout Northern Ireland, some of these became violent
1969 British Army deploys on the streets of Northern Ireland, marking the beginning of Operation Banner
1971 British begin internment without trial in Northern Ireland
1972 2 British soldiers are killed by an IRA booby trap bomb in Belfast
1972 A Catholic civilian is shot dead during an IRA attack on a British Army patrol in Belfast
1976 10,000 Northern Ireland women demonstrate for peace in Belfast

Scotland
1040 King Duncan I of Scotland killed in battle against his first cousin and rival Macbeth (not murdered in his sleep as in Shakespeare's play). The latter does succeed him as King.
1967 Radio Scotland & Radio Swinging Holland go off the air

Wales
1979 Rainbow seen in Northern Wales for a 3 hours duration

Weddings in History

1952 UK Prime Minister Anthony Eden (55) weds UK prime minister's niece Clarissa Spencer-Churchill (32) in a civil ceremony at Caxton Hall, London

Deaths in History

1040 King Duncan I of Scotland, killed in battle at ca. 39 years
1390 John FitzAlan, 2nd Baron Arundel, English soldier, dies at 26
1863 Colin Campbell, British officer (Cawnpore), dies at 70
1887 Richard Jefferies, English naturalist and essayist, dies of tuberculosis at 38
1905 Simeon Solomon, English Pre-Raphaelite painter, dies at 64
1937 H. C. McNeile (Sapper) British soldier, novelist (Bull-Dog Drummond), dies at 48
1969 Leonard Woolf, English author and husband of Virginia Woolf, dies at 88
1978 Nicolas Bentley, British writer and illustrator, dies at 71
1982 Patrick Magee [McGee], Northern Irish actor and director (A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon), dies from a heart attack at 60
1984 John Boynton Priestley, English, stagewriter (Magicians), dies at 89
1994 Elias Canetti, Bulgarian-British author (Life-Terms, Nobel 1981), dies at 89
1994 Patrick Meehan, Scottish petty criminal, wrongly convicted of murder, dies at 67
2004 Trevor Skeet, New Zealand-born British politician (b. 1918)

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On this day

Post by Richard Frost » Sun Aug 15 2021 10:41am

15th August 2021

ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Christian (Roman Catholic, Anglican)
This celebrates the ‘taking up’ of Mary, body and soul, to heaven. Many Catholic communities mark the festival of the Assumption with processions and fêtes.

15/ 28 August (Sunday/Saturday) THE DORMITION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD Christian (Eastern Orthodox) [second date follows Julian calendar]
On this day, Eastern Orthodox Christians commemorate the passing of Mary, Mother of Christ, in the presence of the Apostles. The apostles buried Mary at Gethsemane, where Jesus had also been buried; but on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, Mary appeared to them, saying "Rejoice". When the apostles went to the grave, her body was gone, leaving a sweet fragrance. This event conveys the idea of death as ‘falling asleep’ (this is what ‘dormition’ means), to be followed by eventual resurrection.

Check The Chip Day
When it comes to our pets, not many of us are willing to take any risk at all. Many pet owners go as far as putting in child safety plugs in order to keep nails and noses away from electrical sockets, baby gates to keep them out of dangerous rooms like kitchens and mudrooms, and as is notable for this day, microchips inside the animal’s body in order to find them via a GPS locator. So give your animals some loving, and keep them safe this year on Check the Chip Day. This was originally just an annual check up on the chip and how the animal is reacting to it. Many veterinarians and other animal health individuals use this day as a great reason to do a basic check up. But the important thing to take away from this reminder is that the chip is there, and can help you find your pet if lost. The chips that are the namesake of this pet important day have become more and more commonplace as social media, and more importantly, electronics in general, become more widespread. The ability to have a smartphone or computer that can check on your pet’s location at any given time is something that not many would have thought about back when Vanilla Ice was still singing “Ice, Ice, Baby” on stage. But the biggest component that people should look at isn’t the technology or the capabilities, but the safety and security it can bring you for your pet.

Relaxation Day
Have you been feeling stressed lately? This is a feeling that more and more of us are becoming familiar with. Life poses so many challenges nowadays, from looking after children to longer work hours, and it can often feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. This is why Relaxation Day is so important. It gives us the chance to unwind and focus on nothing but pure relaxation. Relaxation Day is a vital day for everyone. We all need to have a break from time-to-time. We can’t deny that life seems to be lived at a faster pace than ever before. We all have responsibilities. This could be work responsibilities, family responsibilities, financial responsibilities, or a combination of them all! We can put so much stress and pressure on our bodies and minds, and this is why we all need to take time to recuperate so that we do not burn out. Relaxation Day was founded back in 1985 by Sean Moeller. He was only a fourth-grader at the time. He suggested that on this date people should not do anything of real value. He highlighted that real work and cleaning are not parts of relaxation. Sounds like music to our ears, right? Sometimes, children have the best ideas! Although the date was created in 1985, Moeller himself is still very committed to the cause today. In fact, as of 2016, he has been recognizing one person every year on this date for having a significant proclivity for relaxation. You can spend some time looking at the different people he has chosen and the reasons why. A lot of charities, media organizations, and public institutions post on social media on this date. This includes the likes of the US Army, Sport England, The New Scientist, the Mental Health Foundation, and BBC Earth, so it is a pretty big deal!

Acadian Day
Acadia consisted of what is now Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, and included areas of Quebec and Maine. Acadia was a separate colony from that which eventually came to form Canada (until it got absorbed) and even developed their own dialect of French! In fact, there are remnants of 17th Century French that no longer exist anywhere but in books and the language of those who still speak the Acadian regional dialect! Most people know about Louisiana and the Cajun culture that comes from there, what most people don’t know is that the Cajun’s roots lie in Acadian refugees escaping the British when they conquered Acadia in 1710. The next 45 years were contentious and when the Acadians were found fighting the British alongside the French massive deportations began. Of the 11,500 Acadians who were deported, many of them found their way to Louisiana. The rest of them returned to France, and from there many of them came back to either Louisiana or to New Brunswick since they were not allowed to reclaim their lands in Nova Scotia. Through these trials and history the Acadian people persevered, and now Acadian Day celebrates their history, culture, and heritage.

Lemon Meringue Pie Day
Lemons just seem to be refreshing and delightful, no matter what kind of creative things are made with them–lemonade, lemon vinaigrette, lemon drizzle cake or lemon sorbet ice cream. It’s so easy to use lemons in all sorts of delicious culinary explorations to make life just a bit more interesting. But along those lines of naming things made with lemony goodness comes one of the favourites: Lemon Meringue Pie Day! Lemon meringue pie is probably one of the most famous of lemon desserts. And it’s really no wonder, considering that it has a deliciously crispy golden crust, a tangy custard centre and a fluffy meringue topping. Yum! In fact, lemon meringue pie is one of the most popular pies in Great Britain as well as America. It sits alongside other delicious classics such as apple, pumpkin and pecan pies. So for people who have never tasted or made a lemon meringue pie, or those who just feel like an excuse to enjoy its sweet tanginess, celebrate Lemon Meringue Pie with the world today!

A Selection of Birthdays

1717 Blind Jack [John Metcalf], English 1st professional roadbuilder, born Knaresborough (d.1810)
1741 Thomas Norris, English singer and composer, baptized in Mere, Wiltshire (d. 1790)
1769 Napoleon Bonaparte, French military leader and Emperor of the French (1804-14, 1815), born in Ajaccio, Corsica, France (d. 1821)
1771 Walter Scott, Scottish historical novelist and poet (The Lady of the Lake, Rob Roy), born in College Wynd, Edinburgh (d. 1832)
1785 Thomas De Quincey, Writer (Confessions of English Opium Eater), born Manchester (d.1859)
1845 Walter Crane, Painter, cartoonist & illustrator (The Lady of Shalott), born Liverpool (d.1915)
1856 J. Keir Hardie, Scottish politician and 1st Labour representative in British Parliament. A founder of the Labour Party, and served as its first parliamentary leader from 1906 to 1908. Hardie was born in Newhouse, Lanarkshire (d. 1915)
1858 Edith Nesbit, British children books author (The Story of the Treasure Seekers, Five Children and It), born in London (d. 1924)
1865 Louisa Aldrich-Blake, British pioneering surgeon, born in Chingford, Essex (d. 1925)
1872 Harold Fraser-Simson, English composer, born in London (d. 1944)
1875 Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, African-British composer (Hiawatha's Wedding Feast), b. London, (d.1912)
1912 Wendy Hiller, Actress (Major Barbara, David Copperfield), born in Bramhall, Cheshire, (d.2003)
1917 Jack Lynch, Irish politician & Taoiseach (1966-73 & 1977-79), born Shandon, Cork (d. 1999)
1919 Benedict Kiely, Irish author and broadcaster, born in Dromore, County Tyrone (d. 2007)
1924 Robert Oxton Bolt, Playwright (A Man for All Seasons, Doctor Zhivago), b. Sale, Cheshire (d.1995)
1927 Eddie Leadbeater, English cricketer (England leg-spinner with an avg of 109), born in Lockwood, West Yorkshire, (d. 2011)
1928 Nicolas Roeg, English cinematographer and director (Aria, Eureka), born in London (d. 2018)
1935 Jim Dale, English actor, director and singer (Barnum; My One & Only), born in Rothwell, Leeds
1942 Peter York, British rock drummer (Spencer Davis Group), born in Redcar, Yorkshire
1946 Tony Robinson, English actor, comedian and author, born in Homerton, London
1947 Brian Hulls, British TV news cameraman, born in London (d. 1996)
1948 George Ryton, British engineer, born in Singapore best known for his involvement in Formula One.
1949 Richard Deacon, Welsh sculptor, born in Bangor
1950 Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Windsor, second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, born in Clarence House, London
1951 John Childs, Cricketer (England left-arm spinner, two Tests v WI 1988), born in Lipson, Plymouth
1956 Peter-John Vettese, Scottish keyboardist (Jethro Tull, 1982-89), songwriter, arranger, and producer born in Scotland
1961 Matt Johnson, English singer-songwriter (The The), born in London
1963 Jack Russell, superb England cricket wicket-keeper (36 Tests 1988-94)
1964 Melinda Gates, American philanthropist and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, born in Dallas, Texas
1972 Ben Affleck, American Academy Award winning screenwriter (Good Will Huntng), actor (Armageddon; Pearl Harbor), and BAFTA Award winning director (Argo),born in Berkeley, California
1976 Robert Macfarlane, English nature writer, born in Halam, Nottinghamshire
1980 Nathalie Press, English actress. Born N. London
1984 Edward "Ted" Dwane, British folk-rock double bassist (Mumford & Sons), born in London

On This Day in British History

1620 Mayflower sets sail from Southampton, England, with 102 Pilgrims
1795 Joseph Haydn leaves England forever
1863 The Anglo-Satsuma War begins between the Satsuma Domain of Japan and the United Kingdom (Traditional Japanese date: July 2, 1863).
1892 4th & last British government of William Gladstone forms
1901 Great Britain issues a proclamation calling on the Boers to surrender by 15 September or face banishment and confiscation of their property
1906 King Edward VII of Great Britain visits German Emperor Wilhelm II to discuss the escalating rivalry between their nations' naval forces
1914 The first large public gathering of Boers in South Africa who do not want to support Britain in a war against Germany; British authorities will try to repress this movement, but discontent spreads
1940 Heavy dogfights above England: 75 German aircraft damaged
1952 9 inches of rain fall creates a 20 ft wave in Lynmouth, Devon, killing 34
1971 Bahrain gains independence from Britain

Ireland

1599 Nine Years War: Battle of Curlew Pass - Irish forces led by Hugh Roe O'Donnell successfully ambush English forces, led by Sir Conyers Clifford, sent to relieve Collooney Castle.
1971 The Social Democratic and Labour Party announce a campaign of civil disobedience in response to the introduction of Internment in Northern Ireland
1998 Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland, the worst terrorist incident of The Troubles, kills 29 people and injures about 220

Scotland

1548 Mary Queen of Scotland arrives in France, aged 6.
1971 Despite crashing out on lap 36, Scotsman Jackie Stewart clinches his second Formula 1 World Drivers Championship at the Austrian Grand Prix at Österreichring; French Tyrrell driver François Cevert wins the race

Deaths in History

1057 Macbeth, King of Scots, slain in battle by the son of King Duncan
1369 Philippa of Hainault, Queen consort of Edward III of England, dies at 56
1621 John Barclay, Scottish satirist writer and poet (Euphormio's Satyricon), dies at 39
1994 Shepherd Mead, London, dies of stroke at 80
1999 Sir Hugh Casson, British architect and artist (b. 1910)

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Post by Richard Frost » Mon Aug 16 2021 9:17am

16th August 2021

NAVROZE / NO RUZ Zoroastrian (Shenshai-Parsi)
New Year’s Day on the Shenshai Calendar. By the twentieth century the Parsis of India had become the largest group in the world practising Zoroastrianism, and in the twenty first century over 95% of Zoroastrians in the UK are Parsis. Like their Indian counterparts, they celebrate two new years – giving more time for making merry!

Rollercoaster Day
Rollercoaster Day is celebrated annually on the 16th August. The origins of the celebration are not completely clear, however, the most widely believed explanation for Rollercoaster Day is that the date was chosen to mark the 16th August, 1898. Which was when the very first patent for a rollercoaster ride was issued. The date has been marked by fairgrounds and fans of rollercoasters all over the world since the eighties.

Rum Day
Rum is a fantastic drink, one that has served as the stuff of legends for pirates of every walk of life. Rum also appears in everything from dinners to desserts, with rum balls being a particular favourite. Of course, as the great Lewis Grizzard said, it also is an amazing mixer, and one of the only ones capable of improving Coca-Cola. So we all know that pirates like rum and that rum is an alcoholic beverage but many of us are less than clear on what, exactly, makes rum RUM. Let’s start with the basics, shall we? Rum is a distilled alcohol, specifically distilled from by products of sugarcane. Some varieties are made from molasses, others from sugarcane juice but all rum, when its finished being distilled, is clear. The colour you see in rum is from additives or seasonings, and are not in any way a bad thing. Rum first was created in the Caribbean after it was discovered that molasses could be fermented into alcohol. Ironically, it was the slaves who made this discovery, but it was the Colonials who discovered how to distil it into true rum. So important did rum become in the years to follow that it played a major role in the political system of the colonies. How? By being offered as a bribe to those the candidates wished to curry favour with. The people thus coerced were no fools, however. They would attend multiple hustings to determine which of their patrons might provide them with the largest quantity of rum. Thus it can be fairly said that rum was of such note that it literally decided elections.

World Bratwurst Day
While it’s certain that we’ve all had our share of sausages in our day, particularly that low-born sheath of processed meat known as the frankfurter, not everyone has had the pleasure of enjoying a bratwurst. Bratwurst is typically made from pork, but can, in fact, be made from any meat, and World Bratwurst Day celebrates every variety you can conceive of. Bratwurst is a sausage that is heavily spiced, and it tends to be enjoyed either on its own with a side of sauerkraut or in a roll with mustard. The word ‘bratwurst’ comes from two German words. The word sausage is ‘wurst’ and then ‘braten’ means to fry. Pretty self-explanatory, right? Bratwursts have been around since the 14th century, and we will tell you a bit more about this. These sausages are typically made from beef, veal, or pork. These sausages are so popular that there have even been festivals created in their honour, and most people like to wash bratwursts down with a cold beer. You may assume that a bratwurst and a sausage are both the same things, but that is not the case. A Bratwurst is a specific kind of fresh link sausage, which is made with veal or pork. However, sausage simply refers to ground meat being prepared in a certain way. Some people also assume that bratwursts and hot dogs are the same. Hot dog casing is a lot thinner than the casings that are utilized for bratwurst and other types of fresh link sausages. Very traditional recipes for bratwurst call on the use of both eggs and cream in their preparation. However, it is important to note that different regions in Germany have different recipes.

Surveillance Day
These days there are more and more people who think that the whole surveillance issue has gone a bit too far. It doesn’t matter where we are or what we’re doing, if we’re outdoors, especially in a city, there is a very high probability that we’re being recorded. Of course, surveillance cameras have helped to make countless cities safer by catching various crimes on video—from theft to vandalism to assault—thus allowing the police to apprehend the criminals committing them faster and easier. Still, many can’t help but feel uncomfortable with the fact that almost all of their actions are being monitored, especially those who would not think of committing crimes. Some have even gone as far as to call surveillance cameras an Orwellian invasion of the privacy everyone should be entitled to.

Airborne Day (American)
Airborne Day is a chance to pay tribute to the courage and dedication of airborne members of the Armed Forces. The special day has been marked every year since 1997, when it was created by American President George W Bush. The date chosen for the occasion was the anniversary of the first official US Army parachute jump in 1940. Forty-eight volunteers, who were all members of the Parachute Test Platoon, carried out a successful jump in Georgia – showing the way forward to hundreds of thousands of paratroopers who later followed in their footsteps. Each year on Airborne Day, a ceremony is held at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which is the home of the 82nd Airborne Division. There are also services in other parts of the US and paratroopers have marked the occasion in Afghanistan. If there isn’t a service in your area, you can still mark the day by holding a minute’s silence.

A Selection of Birthdays

1355 Philippa, 5th Countess of Ulster, born in Eltham Palace, Kent (d. 1382)
1816 Joseph Robinson, Irish singer, organist and composer, born in Dublin (d. 1898)
1831 Ebenezer Cobb Morley, Sportsman (drafted first FA rules), born Kingston upon Hull, (d. 1924)
1836 John Farmer, English composer, born in Nottingham (d. 1901)
1860 Lord Hawke [Martin Bladen Hawke], English cricketer (England batsman 1890's), born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire (d. 1938)
1864 Ferdinand C. S. Schiller, German-British philosopher (Riddles of the Sphinx), born in Altona, Holstein, German Confederation (d. 1937)
1885 Charles Carson, British actor (Cry the Beloved Country), born in London (d. 1977)
1888 T. E. Lawrence [Lawrence of Arabia], British author, soldier and diplomat famous for his liaison role in Arabia during WWI, born in Tremadog, Caernarfonshire, (d. 1935)
1902 Georgette Heyer, English novelist (Friday's Child), born in Wimbledon, London (d. 1975)
1912 Ted Drake [Edward Joseph Drake], English footballer, born in Southampton, (d. 1995)
1927 Dennis Moss, British jazz tenor saxophonist, born in Redhill, Surrey, (d. 2008)
1934 John Standing, British actor (Edward-Lime Street), born in London, England
1934 Angela Buxton, English tennis player (French C'ships, Wimbledon women's doubles 1956 [with Althea Gibson]), born in Liverpool (d. 2020)
1939 Sir Trevor Mcdonald, Trinidadian-born British television newsreader
1945 Gordon "Snowy" Fleet, British rock drummer (Easybeats - "Friday On My Mind"), born in Liverpool
1945 Kevin Ayers, Progressive rocker (Soft Machine; Joy of a Toy), born Herne Bay, Kent (d. 2013)
1954 James Cameron, Canadian film director and writer (Titanic, Avatar), born in Kapuskasing, Ontario
1958 Madonna [Ciccone], American singer and actress (Like a Virgin), born in Bay City, Michigan
1960 Flood [Marc Ellis], British record producer and audio engineer, born in London
1964 Nigel Redman, English rugby union lock (20 caps; Bath), born in Cardiff
1972 Frankie Boyle, Scottish comedian, born in Pollokshaws, Glasgow
1980 Robert "Bob" Hardy, English musician (Franz Ferdinand), born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
1982 Joleon Lescott, English footballer, born in Birmingham,
1983 Colin Griffiths, English TV presenter and DJ, born in Kent
1991 Evanna Lynch, Irish actress, born in Termonfeckin, County Louth

On This Day in British History

1513 Battle of the Spurs at Guinegate (now Eguinegatte): Henry VIII of England and Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I beat France
1777 American militiamen defeat British forces at the Battle of Bennington near Vermont, during the American Revolutionary War
1780 British decisively defeat Americans in Battle of Camden, South Carolina
1812 General Hull surrenders Detroit and Michigan territory to British forces under the command of Major General Sir Isaac Brock, who capture Fort Detroit with the help of Indigenous warriors led by Tecumseh
1819 Peterloo Massacre, Manchester, England: cavalry charges demonstrators, 15 people killed and 400–700 injured
1858 Britain's Queen Victoria telegraphs US President James Buchanan for 1st time by transatlantic telegraph cable, he replies ""it is a triumph more glorious, because far more useful to mankind, than was ever won by conqueror on the field of battle."
1882 British under General Wolseley land in Alexandria
1940 45 German aircraft shot down over England
1941 HMS Mercury, Royal Navy Signals School and Combined Signals School opens at Leydene, near Petersfield, Hampshire
1942 British Premier Winston Churchill travels back to Cairo from Moscow
1950 West Indies complete historic 3-1 series win against England
1960 Britain grants independence to crown colony of Cyprus

Northern Ireland

1971 Over 8,000 workers go on strike in Derry, Northern Ireland, in protest at the introduction of Internment (allowing suspected terrorists to be indefinitely detained without trial)

Deaths in History

1445 Margaret of Scotland (Dauphine of France), wife of the future King Louis XI (b. 1424)
1661 Thomas Fuller, British scholar, preacher and historian (History of the Worthies of Britain), dies of typhus fever at 53
1678 Andrew Marvell, English poet (Definition of Love), overdoses at 57
1733 Matthew Tindal, English deist (b. 1657)
1738 Joe Miller, English comic, dies
1855 Henry Colburn, British publisher (Pepys's Diary) (b. 1784)
1907 James Hector, Scottish geologist (b. 1834)
1920 Sir Norman Lockyer, English physicist, co-founder of helium gas, founder and editor of "Nature" magazine dies at 84
2005 William Corlett, English children's writer(b. 1938)

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Post by Richard Frost » Tue Aug 17 2021 10:34am

17th August 2021

Thrift Shop Day
A snow globe of London, a set of four tennis rackets with slightly frayed strings, clothing galore, and enough housewares to make a few houses full and have some spares just in case. This is just some of the kinds of things you will be seeing on this, the celebration of Thrift Shop Day. A thrift store goes by many different names! This includes charity shop, second-hand store, resale shop, consignment store, and hospice shop. No matter what you call this type of store, it is essentially a retail establishment that sells used items. While these items have been used, there are still in good condition. These stores are run by charitable organizations. It is not uncommon for thrift stores to sometimes use some of the items that have been donated to help people get back on their feet during times of need or after a disaster in the area. Most of the items are donated by the public while the stores are staffed by volunteers. If you consider yourself a bit of a bargain hunter, you are going to love Thrift Shop Day! This day has been designed to encourage everyone to purchase second-hand items and to visit the thrift stores in their local area. See what treasures you can find! After all, there is something super satisfying about purchasing something for half the price, isn’t there? You can also use Thrift Shop Day to revamp your shopping habits and ensure you shop savvy in the future, whether this means using coupon codes or using cashback websites. There are a lot of benefits that are associated with shopping in thrift stores. Ultimately, though, you are going to be able to get more for your money, and this is something to celebrate! From clothing to books; you can find a whole host of treasures. You know what they say: “your trash is someone else’s treasure.” Plus, you can find all sorts of cool stuff that people have decided to donate, so you never know what you are going to come across!

Vanilla Custard Day
There is nothing quite so delicious as Vanilla custard, the rich creamy texture, the light and delicious vanilla flavour, it’s just the perfect ending to any day. Custards are one of the most amazing desserts and have been eaten on their own, used to fill pies, and even injected into donuts. Vanilla Custard Day celebrates this delicious treat. The custard traces its ancestry back to the days of Ancient Rome, and Custard Tarts were incredibly popular in the Middle Ages. While vanilla custard is a delicious treat, custards weren’t just made as a dessert! You could find fruit custards, fish and meat custards, just about anything you could think of! Custards were truly a diverse type of food well loved throughout the ages. There’s a lot of different ways to enjoy your vanilla custard, and it can be just amazing with toppings. Whether it’s a simple scoop of whipped cream or a sprinkling of raspberries, the subtle flavour of vanilla compliments many different food types. What can you come up with for a dessert? A strawberry vanilla custard pie? Ice cream with vanilla custard? Vanilla Custard Day is your chance to get creative!

Black Cat Appreciation Day
Nothing is quite as elegant as a black cat—like a miniature Amazonian jaguar, they doze atop the highest point in the area, waking for several hours daily to prowl around hunting for a tasty morsel. But black cats and kittens are often overlooked when animal shelters are looking for new homes, and can be at the shelter much longer than they should be. So why is this? Interestingly, cats in ancient Egypt were revered highly, partly due to their ability to combat vermin such as mice, rats. Cats of royalty were known to be dressed in golden jewellery and were allowed to eat right off their owners’ plates. The goddess of warfare was a woman with the head of a cat named Bastet. These days, however, black cats are often are seen as unlucky or mischievous, but not everyone knows why that is. In Celtic mythology, it was believed that fairies could take the form of black cats, and therefore their arrival to a home or village was seen as sign of good luck. Unfortunately, the Pilgrims that came after them were devoutly religious and fearful of anything remotely related to the pagan beliefs of their ancestors, and it was because of that fear that black cats went from being seen as the vessels of fairies to the vessels of witches and demons. At that time it became common practice to severely punish those who kept black cats as pets, and even kill the animals themselves. Although these days nobody really believes black cats are witches or demons in disguise anymore, they are still often seen as signs of bad luck by many people in the West.

A Selection of Birthdays

1473 Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, son of King Edward IV, one of the princes in the tower who disappeared (d. 1483?)
1786 Davy Crockett, American frontiersman, adventurer and politician, born in Greene County, Tennessee (d. 1836)
1786 Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, mother of Queen Victoria, born in Coburg, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1861)
1840 Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, poet and writer. Born in Petworth, Sussex (Irish Land League) (d.1922)
1851 Henry Drummond, Scottish evangelist, biologist, writer and lecturer. Born in Stirling (d.1897)
1856 Violet Paget [Vernon Lee], British author. Born in Boulougne, France (Satan the master) (d.1935)
1866 Julia Marlowe [Sarah Frances Frost], English-American Shakespearean actress, born in Caldbeck, Cumberland (d. 1950)
1876 Eric Drummond, British politician and diplomat, 1st Secretary-General of League of Nations (1919-33), born in Fulford, Staffordshire (d. 1951)
1893 Mae West, American actress and singer (She Done him Wrong), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1980)
1920 Maureen O'Hara [FitzSimons], Irish actress and singer (Miracle on 34th St, The Quiet Man), Ranelagh, County Dublin (d. 2015)
1921 Geoffery Elton, German born British historiographer, born in Tübingen, Germany (d. 1994)
1922 Roy Tattersall, English cricketer (brilliant England off-spinner early 50's), born in Bolton (d. 2011)
1924 Helen Wallis, English cartographer and librarian (British Museum), born Barnet, London (d.1995)
1924 Laurence Deniz, Welsh jazz guitarist, born in Cardiff, Wales
1925 John Howard Purnell, Chemist (Royal Society of Chemistry), born Rhondda, S. Wales (d.1996)
1926 George Melly, English jazz and blues singer, born in Liverpool (d. 2007)
1930 Ted Hughes, English Poet and translator (British Poet Laureate 1984-98), born in Mytholmroyd, Yorkshire (d. 1998)
1932 V.S. Naipaul, British novelist (Middle Passage), born in Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago (d. 2018)
1939 Anthony Valentine, British actor (Colditz), born in Blackburn, Lancashire (d. 2015)
1942 John Tyrrell, British musicologist (Leoš Janáček; The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians), born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) (d. 2018)
1943 Edward Cowie, English composer, born in Birmingham
1943 Robert De Niro, American actor (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull), born in NYC, New York
1951 Alan Minter, English boxer (world middleweight champion 1980), born Crawley, Sussex (d. 2020)
1953 Kevin Rowlands, British rock vocalist (Dexy's Midnight Runners-Come on Eileen), born in Wednesfield, West Midlands
1955 Colin Moulding, English pop guitarist (XTC), born in Swindon, Wiltshire
1957 Robin Cousins, British figure skater (Olympic gold 1980), born in Bristol
1960 Sean Penn, American Actor and Political Activist (Mystic River, Milk), born in Santa Monica, California
1965 Glen Goldsmith, English singer-songwriter (What You See is What You Get), High Wycombe, Hertfordshire
1968 Helen McCrory, English actress (The Queen, Peaky Blinders), born in London (d. 2021)
1970 Rupert Degas, English actor and voice artist, born in London
1979 Marcus Patric, British actor (Hollyoaks), born in Gosport, Hampshire
1982 Phil Jagielka, English footballer (Sheffield United), born in Sale, Cheshire
1990 Colin Bates, British-American actor, dancer, and singer (Billy Elliot - The Musical)
1990 Rachel Hurd-Wood, British actress (Clique), born in London

On This Day in British History

1544 Imperial/English armies occupy Saint-Dizier France
1579 Francois of Anjou visits English Queen Elizabeth I
1590 Governor of Roanoke Island colony, John White, returns from England to find no trace of the colonists he had left there 3 years earlier [or Aug 18, 1591]
1648 -20] Battle at Preston, Lancashire: Henry Ireton beats Scottish
1796 British beat Batavian navy in Saldanha Bay, South Africa
1834 Charles Darwin reaches the top of Campana in Chile during his voyage on the Beagle
1836 British parliament accepts registration of births, marriages and deaths
1836 Charles Darwin leaves South America for the last time on HMS Beagle
1901 The Royal Titles Act adds the words 'and the British Dominions beyond the Seas' to the monarch's style
1918 British troops attack Baku, Azerbaijan
1940 Adolf Hitler orders a total blockade of Great Britain
1943 498 British bombers attack Peenemunde (development base for the V weapons)
1946 George Orwell publishes "Animal Farm" in the United Kingdom

Scotland

1648-08-17 -20] Battle at Preston, Lancashire: Henry Ireton beats Scottish

Wedding in History

2015 Boyzone lead singer Ronan Keating (38) weds model Storm Uechtritz in East Lothian, Scotland

Deaths in History

1153 Eustace IV of Boulogne, son of Stephen of England (b. 1130)
1510 Edmund Dudley, English treasurer, beheaded for treason on orders of King Henry VIII
1510 Richard Empson, English treasurer, beheaded on orders of Henry VIII at 59 or 60
1723 Joseph Bingham, English scholar (b. 1668)
1888 James Jameson, Scottish heir to Jameson Whisky and explorer who paid for a 10 yr old girl to be eaten in the Congo, dies of a fever at 32
1914 James Grierson, British general, dies of an aneurism at 55
1996 Eric Evans, English dean of St Paul's, dies at 68
2007 Bill Deedes, British journalist and politician (b. 1913)
2010 Edwin Morgan, Scottish poet (At Eighty), dies at 90

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Post by Richard Frost » Wed Aug 18 2021 10:41am

18th August 2021

Bad Poetry Day
Let’s face it – not everybody can be the best writer, lyricist or poet. But don’t let that put a stop to doing it anyway! Bad Poetry Day is the perfect opportunity to read, write and create any type of poetry desired, even if it’s really bad. Whether using sonnets, limericks, free verse or haiku, poetry certainly has the potential to be beautiful and powerful–but it can also be very, very awful. Of course it’s true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, which probably also means that the judgment of what types of poetry are bad or good are relative based on personal preference. However, in some cases, poetry can just be so bad that everyone agrees that no good can come of it!

I should be glad
Bad poetry is just a fad
But nonetheless would like to say
I wish that it would go away.

Bad Poetry Day was created to feature poetry that is so very bad it simply needs to be paid attention to! Twitter is one platform that many people use to get their bad poetry out into the world so that everyone can enjoy hating it. It’s time to celebrate Bad Poetry Day!

Never Give Up Day
Never Give Up Day is all about cultivating a mindset of determination, which helps us to get through all of the difficult challenges that life throws our way. It is about motivating and inspiring ourselves and others, as well as remembering people that have never given up on those. We should use this day not only to applaud people for reaching their goals but also to support those who are still trying to achieve their goals and have not quite got there yet.

Pinot Noir Day
Pinot is a fantastic wine, but a temperamental grape. With its rich colour and complex flavours, it is largely considered one of the most hedonistic wines ever made. Elegant and berry-lie, its velvet flavour is the perfect addition to any affair. Pinot Noir Day celebrates this wine and the regions of the world in which it’s cultivated.

Serendipity Day
Serendipity is the term for a “happy accident” or a “pleasant surprise.” Thus, Serendipity Day encourages people to look for and notice those unexpected good things that are always out there, if people would just have the eyes to see them. In fact, the creators of this lovely day believe that serendipity is no accident at all, but an attitude or a lifestyle in which people are always reaching for those unexpected things and expecting happy surprises to occur. Come along to learn something new and fascinating about Serendipity Day!

Mail Order Catalogue Day
Although Benjamin Franklin has a good claim to be the world’s first mail order entrepreneur, it is the anniversary of the first Montogomery Ward catalogue of 1872 that has provided the date for Mail Order Catalogue Day. Over the intervening years, it grew from a single page of products to a monster capable of striking fear into the stoutest of postal workers! Alas, the Montgomery Ward behemoth is no longer with us, having faded away in 1985, but stalwarts such as Sears still carry the torch, whilst the catalogue with the longest run to date, the Hammacher Schlemmer, still plies tools and building materials (no doubt including torches, should Sears ever drop theirs). Celebrate the day in style by signing up for a few mail order catalogues and ordering some goodies. Running shoes are a great place to start, especially if your postman is not of a forgiving nature.

A selection of Birthdays

1587 1st English child born in New World (Virginia Dare)
1605 Henry Hammond, English churchman, born in Chertsey, Surrey, supported the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. (d. 1660)
1685 Brook Taylor, Mathematician, discoverer of Taylor's Theorem, born Edmonton, Middlesex (d.1731)
1720 Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers, English murderer (d. 1760)
1792 John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, British Prime Minister (Whig: 1846-52 and 1865-66), born in Mayfair, London (d. 1878)
1841 William Halford, American naval officer and Medal of Honor recipient who survived 31 days at sea in a small boat to seek help for the shipwrecked USS Saginaw, born in Gloucestershire, England (d. 1919)
1855 Alfred Wallis, English artist and mariner, born in Devonport, Devon (d. 1942)
1870 Hugh Bromley-Davenport, England cricketer, born in Chelford, Cheshire (d. 1954)
1896 Alan Mowbray, British actor (Dante, Colonel Flack), born in London (d. 1969)
1906 Andre Van Gyseghem, English actor (Search for the Nile), born in Eltham, Kent (d. 1979)
1916 Moura Lympany, Saltash, Cornwall, pianist (OBE-1979) (d.2005)
1920 Godfrey Evans, English cricket wicket-keeper (91 Tests; 219 dismissals; Kent), born in Finchley, N. London (d. 1999)
1925 Brian Aldiss, British sci-fi author (Super-Toys Last All Summer Long, Helliconia trilogy), born in East Dereham, Norfolk (d. 2017)
1931 Dick White, English footballer, born in Scunthorpe, (d. 2002)
1932 Luc Montagnier, French virologist (Nobel Prize 2008, discovered HIV), born in Chabris, France
1933 Roman Polanski, Polish-French film director (Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown, Pirates), born in Paris, France
1934 Ronnie Carroll, British singer (Walk Hand in Hand), born in Belfast, Northern Ireland (d. 2015)
1936 Robert Redford, American actor (Sting, Candidate, Natural, Great Gatsby), born in Santa Monica, California
1937 William George Rushton, English actor, author and cartoonist (TW3), born in London (d. 1996)
1942 Tommy Carroll, Irish soccer defender (17 caps, Republic of Ireland; Ipswich Town), born in Dublin, (d. 2020)
1944 Carl Wayne, English singer and actor (The Move), born in Birmingham (d. 2004)
1949 Nigel Griggs, English musician (Split Enz), born in Hatfield
1949 John O'Leary, Irish golfer (Irish Open 1982; Ryder Cup 1975; director European Tour 1985-2019), born in Dublin (d. 2020)
1950 Dennis Elliott, English rock drummer (Foreigner), born in London
1971 Richard D. James, Irish-born musician (Aphex Twin), born in Limerick
1983 Kris Boyd, Scottish footballer, born in Irvine

On this day in British History

1612 Pendle Witch trial begins - 10 people accused of witchcraft in Lancaster, key witness 9 year-old boy
1700 Swedish, English & Dutch army lands on Seeland, Denmark
1759 -19] 2nd sea battle of Lagos: England vs France
1917 The Queen's Hospital opens to provide pioneering plastic surgery for WWI soldiers, led by Harold Gillies in Sidcup, England
1932 Englishman James Mollisson is 1st to fly east to west over Atlantic
1940 Battle of Britain: The air battle known as "The Hardest Day" occurs; Luftwaffe lose approximately 69 aircraft and the RAF lose 68 in one of the largest ever air battles
1958 United Kingdom issues regional stamps (N Ireland, Scotland & Wales)
1983 Samantha Druce, age 12y 119d becomes the youngest woman to swim English Channel
1987 Philip Rush of NZ, set record for triple crossing English Channel his time 28:21, 10 hours faster than 1st man to do it

Weddings in History

1782 Romantic Age poet and artist William Blake (24) marries Catherine Boucher (19) in St. Mary's Church, Battersea, London

Deaths in History

1430 Thomas de Ros, 8th Baron de Ros, English soldier and politician, drowned at 23
1707 William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire, Statesman & Whig politician (1661-84), dies at 67
1712 Richard Savage, 4th Earl Rivers, English soldier, dies at 58
1803 James Beattie, Scottish poet and philosopher (Essay on Truth), dies at 67
1809 Matthew Boulton, English manufacturer and engineer (b. 1728)
1907 John Kerr, Scottish physicist and pioneer in the field of electro-optics (electro-visually Kerr-effect), dies at 82
1916 Edward D Pain, English journalist (NY World), dies in battle at 36
1988 Frederick Ashton, British choreographer (Cinderella), dies at 83
2001 David Peakall, British scientist (b. 1931)

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