Good judgment comes from experience… Experience comes from poor judgment. unknown
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It’s grey and it’s miserable. I can’t see the Mediterranean and the mountains are shrouded in mist. It is raining and I think the weather sums up my feelings regarding 2010. I think I’ll be glad to see the back of this difficult year. Don’t get me wrong. This is not just about me. My football team is a shadow of its former self and even whilst the players are not performing they are adding to their undeserved millions. This has got no better this year with Rooney bringing the word scandalous to mind when I think of his excessive demands on Manchester United. Elsewhere, the retirement age for all goes up because the bankers have mismanaged our money and yet still y themselves fast bonuses.It’s a scandal. Let’s get the weather forecast for the province of Alicante…..
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday |
 13° C | 6° C
|
16° C | 6° C
|
 15° C | 4° C
|
13° C | 3° C
|
12° C | 3° C
|
Word of the Day
el rumbo rroom’-boh (noun)
EXAMPLES
Cambió el rumbo de su vida. – It changed the course of her life.
Vamos rumbo al lago para pasar el día nadando y tomando el sol. – We’re headed to the lake to spend the day swimming and sun-bathing.
IDIOMS
Perder el rumbo – To lose track (of one’s way, of one’s train of thought)
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Events
1687 – The first Huguenots set sail from France for the Cape of Good Hope, where they would later create the South African wine industry with the vines they took with them on the voyage. Bon Salud a tous
1695 – The window tax was imposed in Britain, which resulted in many windows being bricked up.I think Spain has a similar tax in place today
1775 – The British repulsed an attack by Continental Army generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold at Quebec. Montgomery was killed in the battle.
1841 – The State of Alabama enacted the first dental legislation in the U.S. This was something for the lawyers to get their teeth into
1857 – Britain’s Queen Victoria decided to make Ottawa the capital of Canada.
1879 – Thomas Edison gave his first public demonstration of incandescent lighting to an audience in Menlo Park, NJ. It’s hard to envisage this
1891 – New York’s new Immigration Depot was opened at Ellis Island, to provide improved facilities for the massive numbers of arrivals. The picture reels of the day show how necessary this facility had become
1897 – Brooklyn, NY, spent its last day as a separate entity before becoming part of New York City. Here’s looking at you, baby
1923 – In London, the BBC first broadcast the chimes of Big Ben. Nice sound
1929 – Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played “Auld Lang Syne” as a New Year’s Eve song for the first time. Fair enough
1946 – U.S. President Truman officially proclaimed the end of hostilities in World War II. Thank God
1955 – General Motors became the first U.S. corporation to earn more than one billion dollars in a single year. Hail to the 1950s
1960 – The farthing coin, which had been in use in Great Britain since the 13th century, ceased to be legal tender. It was useless
1974 – Private U.S. citizens were allowed to buy and own gold for the first time in more than 40 years. Big deal
1978 – Taiwanese diplomats struck their colors for the final time from the embassy flagpole in Washington, DC. The event marked the end of diplomatic relations with the U.S.
1979 – At year end oil prices were 88% higher than at the start of 1979. Yes. Didn’t the Western economies pay for it big time?
1990 – Titleholder Gary Kasparov of the U.S.S.R. won the world chess championship match against his countryman Anatoly Karpov. I thought he was his Czech mate!
1997 – Michael Kennedy, 39-year-old son of the late U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, was killed in a skiing accident on Aspen Mountain in Colorado. This family had dreadful luck
1999 – Russian President Boris Yeltsin resigned. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was designated acting president. We weren’t really too sure about this
1999 – Sarah Knauss died at the age of 119 years. She was the world’s oldest person. She was born September 24, 1880. What on earth would dhe have made of the differences that had occurred during her lifetime
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Music Stuff December 31st
1955, Based on sales from stores, radio and jukebox plays Billboard named ‘Unchained Melody’ by Les Baxter the number 1 US song of 1955.OK. It is a bit special
1961, The Four Freshmen made their live debut using their new name; The Beach Boys at the Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California.This group might catch on especially if they wear baseball shirts
1966, The Monkees No.1 on the US singles charts with the Neil Diamond song ‘I’m A
1967, American songwriter and producer Bert Berns died of heart failure aged 38. He wrote many classic songs including ‘Twist And Shout’, ‘Hang On Sloopy’, ‘Here Comes the Night’, ‘I Want Candy’ and ‘Brown Eyed Girl’.This is another of my unsung heroes
1968, Joe Cocker, Amen Corner, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Small Faces, Free and Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band all appeared at Alexandra Palace, London. Tickets 25 shillings. Good value for money
1970, Paul McCartney filed a suit against the rest of The Beatles to dissolve their partnership.Sad day
1979, Blondie’s gig at The Apollo Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland was broadcast live on BBC 2′s ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’. I loved the signature tune to this programme
1979, David Bowie performed an acoustic version of ‘Space Oddity’ on the UK TV ‘Kenny Everett New Year’s Show’. I still use this in my set
1984, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen, crashed his Corvette Stingray, on the A57 outside Sheffield, Allen lost his left arm in the accident. Allen was on his way to a New Year’s Eve party at his family’s home when a Jaguar passed him. The driver had been egging Allen on and would not allow him to pass. In his rage to pass this driver, he did not see a turn up ahead and lost control of his car. He was thrown from the car, with his left arm severed due to the seatbelt not being properly fastened.What an horrific accident
1985, Ricky Nelson was killed along with six others, when his charted light aircraft crashed in Texas….. another sad event
1996, Paul McCartney became a Sir after he was listed in the Queens New Year’s Honours List. I still don’t like honours and sirs
1999, The Manic Street Preachers performed to 57,000 fans at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. The Guinness Book of Records confirmed that the concert set a new record as the biggest indoor show ever staged in Europe, tickets £30. I love their music
2003, Ringtones.co.uk announced that Beyonce’s number 1 hit ‘Crazy In Love’ was the best selling mobile ringtone of the year. ‘Fly On The Wings Of Love’ by XTM was the second biggest ringtone and R. Kelly’s ‘Ignition’ was third. It’s business but not as we knew it, Jim
2003, Kevin MacMichael, guitarist with Cutting Crew died of lung cancer aged 51. (1987 US No.1 & 1986 UK No.4 single ‘I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight’). Another sad event
. 2004, Pete Waterman was awarded an OBE for his services to music. Once part of the Stock, Aitken & Waterman team he also booked the first ever tour for The Bay City Rollers, signed Musical Youth and Nik Kershaw during the 70’s and was promotion consultant for John Travolta. Waterman had written and produced more than 200 hit singles in 25 years for acts from Kylie Minogue to Steps.Sorry, but I can’t see where this deserves honours
2005, according to official figures singer-songwriter James Blunt’s ‘Back To Bedlam’ was the biggest selling UK album of 2005.
2005, The John Lennon song Imagine was voted the nations favourite song a quarter of a century after his death. A UK radio station conducted the poll of 7,000 listeners. The Beatles were voted into second and third place with ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘Let It Be.’ Quality lasts
2006, George Michael was paid a reported £1.5m for an hour’s concert at a Russian billionaire’s New Year party. The unnamed businessman paid for Michael to entertain his 300 guests on his private estate 20 miles outside Moscow. More money than sense
2009, Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi from Status Quo were both appointed OBEs for services to music and charity
Birthday Boys and Girls December 31st
1942, Andy Summers, guitarist, Police
1943, Henry John Deutschendorf, (John Denver), singer, songwriter. 1974 UK & US No.1 single ‘Annie’s Song’. Killed in a plane crash on 12th October 1997.
1943, Pete Quaife, bass, The Kinks, (1964 UK No.1 & US No.7 ‘You Really Got Me’, 1967 UK No.2 single ‘Waterloo Sunset’ plus 19 other UK Top 40 singles).
Music Source 1 music source 2 music source 3
