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Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us. Thomas Paine
When I said ‘death’ before ‘dishonor’, I meant alphabetically. Unknown
“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.”
- Oprah Winfrey
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Isn’t it strange how many times things go wrong at the weekend? The telephone line has become really bad. When did this start? Yes. As you’d expect. late on Friday evening. So we now have a bad line and the service is dreadful. The line is owned by Moviestar but they do not want to accept any responsibilty whatsoever for the quality of their line. I changed from their company because of their bad attitude and now it has resurfaced. I will now get on to Jazztel and see how they can better my situation. Am I really annoyed? Not really. The weather is beautiful and the state of my life is far better than so many others in the world. I am still sad after the events in the Batman movie in Colorado. I had sat in the Batmobile myself earlier in the year and had been pleased to do this. Now the fun seems to have gone for everyone. I hope the people who suffered great losses can be comforted.
In a notion that has been discussed for some time, the President of the Generalitat, Alberto Fabra, has taken the bold step and announced that the public holidays of the 9th of October, the day of the Valencia and that of the 19th of March, the day San José typically known for the celebration of the “fallas”, will now me moveable dates and will become fixed as a holiday on the Monday nearest to the fiesta, thus making the event a long weekend and avoiding the typical extension through so called “bridging” days.
Although the move may be unpopular with some, those who value the extra time off work, the benefit to business has been measured to be valued at 786 million euro.
In a statement this week, Fabra said that the decision was to encourage business activity and improve productivity.
He went on to say, “we have initiated a thorough reorganization and restructuring of the entire public sector to be more frugal while still meeting the needs of citizens because for us the first thing is the people and a guarantee of basic services.”
Meanwhile, the education department is also looking at holiday reductions, looking at reducing the summer holiday period to just two months, July and August, with the hope of improving performance, which would see students undergoing around three weeks more education each year.
However, the ministry is currently in discussions with teachers, as the impact would also mean that they would have to work longer periods in class, which is not likely to be seen with immediate favour, despite their commitment to the educational needs of the pupils.
A number of private schools already work to this schedule. In the public educational establishments, the next course of primary classes will begin on the 8th of September this year, ending on the 22nd of June, whereas secondary pupils will begin on the 14th of September, finishing on the 22nd June, 2013.
With these proposals, next year would see the timetable extended to start on the 2nd of September, 2013, as the 1st is a Sunday, and finishing on 30th of June, 2014.
SpanishVida: http://www.theleader.info/article/35242/
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I’m told this is true
AN ACTUAL PERSONAL AD
To the Guy Who Tried to Mug Me In Downtown Savannah night before last.
Date: 2010-05-27, 1:43 a.m. E.S.T.
I was the guy wearing the black Bur berry jacket that you demanded that I hand over, shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend, threatening our lives. You also asked for my girlfriend’s purse and earrings. I can only hope that you somehow come across this rather important message.
First, I’d like to apologize for your embarrassment; I didn’t expect you to actually crap in your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket. The evening was not that cold, and I was wearing the jacket for a reason. My girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber Model 1911 …45 ACP pistol for my birthday, and we had picked up a shoulder holster for it that very evening. Obviously you agree that it is a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head … isn’t it?!
I know it probably wasn’t fun walking back to wherever you’d come from with that brown sludge in your pants. I’m sure it was even worse walking bare-footed since I made you leave your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me. [That prevented you from calling or running to your buddies to come help mug us again].
After I called your mother or “Momma” as you had her listed in your cell, I explained the entire episode of what you’d done. Then I went and filled up my gas tank as well as those of four other people in the gas station, — on your credit card. The guy with the big motor home took 150 gallons and was extremely grateful!
I gave your shoes to a homeless guy outside Vinnie Van Go Go’s, along with all the cash in your wallet. [That made his day!]
I then threw your wallet into the big pink “pimp mobile” that was parked at the curb … after I broke the windshield and side window and keyed the entire driver’s side of the car.
Later, I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell phone. Ma Bell just now shut down the line, although I only used the phone for a little over a day now, so what ‘s going on with that? Earlier, I managed to get in two threatening phone calls to the DA’s office and one to the FBI, while mentioning President Obama as my possible target.
The FBI guy seemed really intense and we had a nice long chat (I guess while he traced your number etc.).
In a way, perhaps I should apologize for not killing you, but I feel this type of retribution is a far more appropriate punishment for your threatened crime. I wish you well as you try to sort through some of these rather immediate pressing issues, and can only hope that you have the opportunity to reflect upon, and perhaps reconsider, the career path you’ve chosen to pursue in life. Remember, next time you might not be so lucky. Have a good day!
Thoughtfully yours,
Alex
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1831 – Belgium became independent as Leopold I was proclaimed King of the Belgians. It’s not really that long ago.
1861 – The first major battle of the U.S. Civil War began. It was the Battle of Bull Run at Manassas Junction, VA. The Confederates won the battle. A long haul ahead
1873 – Jesse James and his gang pulled off the first train robbery in the U.S. They took $3,000 from the Rock Island Express at Adair, IA. They were a bad lot but became folk heroes
1925 – The “Monkey Trial” ended in Dayton, TN. John T. Scopes was convicted of violating the state law for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution. The conviction was later overturned. How narrow-minded people have been over the years
1931 – CBS aired the first regularly scheduled program to be simulcast on radio and television. The show featured singer Kate Smith, composer George Gershwin and New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker. It’s taken a long time for others to catch up
1940 – Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia were annexed by the Soviet Union. We’ll have a bit of that…
1954 – The Geneva Conference partitioned Vietnam into North Vietnam and South Vietnam. Not always a good solution
1957 – Althea Gibson became the first black woman to win a major U.S. tennis title when she won the Women’s National clay-court singles competition. Well done Althea
1959 – A U.S. District Court judge in New York City ruled that “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” was not a dirty book. My teachers at school thought it was
1961 – Capt. Virgil “Gus” Grissom became the second American to rocket into a sub-orbital pattern around the Earth. He was flying on the Liberty Bell 7. Very brave
1968 – Arnold Palmer became the first golfer to make a million dollars in career earnings after he tied for second place at the PGA Championship. A legend
1980 – Draft registration began in the United States for 19 and 20-year-old men. In some ways this helps the economy
1997 – The U.S.S. Constitution, which defended the United States during the War of 1812, set sail under its own power for the first time in 116 years. Fabulous
1998 – Chinese gymnast Sang Lan, 17, was paralyzed after a fall while practicing for the women’s vault competition at the Goodwill Games in New York. Spinal surgery 4 days later failed to restore sensation below her upper chest. This is a tragedy
1999 – The missing plane of John F. Kennedy Jr. was found off of the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, MA. The bodies of Kennedy, his wife Carolyn Bessette and her sister Lauren Bessette were found on board. The plane had crashed on July 16, 1999. The family suffered tremendous tragedies
2002 – WorldCom Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. At the time it was the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history. This should have offered us some indicators as to how to handle debt and its problems
2004 – White House officials were briefed on the September 11 commission’s final report. The 575-page report concluded that hijackers exploited “deep institutional failings within our government.” The report was released to the public the next day. To be fair who could have predicted how evil evil could be?
2007 – The seventh and last book of the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” was released. I’m not the biggest Harry Potter fan but the films have been fantastic
The Day’s Music Events 21st July
1961, The Everly Brothers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Temptation.’ The American duo’s fourth and last UK No.1. I always thought it was somebody else and I need to check this song
1965, Sonny & Cher appeared at The Power House, San Diego, California.Would Cher have made it without Sonny? Probably but they worked well as a duo at this time
1966, Georgie Fame was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Get Away’. The song started life as a TV jingle for a petrol advert.I am a big Georgie Fame fan but prefered him with the Blue Flames
1969, The Beatles started work on the John Lennon song ‘Come Together’ at Abbey Road studios in London. This song drags a bit for me
1973, Jim Croce started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Bad, Bad Leroy Brown’. Croce was killed in a plane crash three months later.I never really got to know his music
1973, Canned Heat, Chuck Berry, Nazareth, Edgar Broughton Band, Groundhogs, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Medicine Head, Brewers Droop, Roy Wood and Wizzard all appeared at this years Buxton Festival in Derbyshire, England. Great billing
1977, Despite protests, The Sex Pistols made their first appearance on the UK music show Top Of The Pops, where they lip-synched to their third single, ‘Pretty Vacant’. The performance helped push the song up the charts to No.7. I hated their music with a capital H
1982, Queen played the first night on their 32-date ‘Hot Space’ North American tour at Montreal Forum, Montreal, Canada.I lived in Truro in Cornwall where Roger Taylor was a hallowed name with musicians
1990, Glen Medeiros featuring Bobby Brown started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘She Ain’t Worth It’, a No.12 hit in the UK.Not the best for me
1990, Roger Waters ‘The Wall’ took place at the Berlin Wall in Potzdamer Platz, Berlin. Over 350,000 people attended and the event was broadcast live throughout the world, Van Morrison, Bryan Adams, Joni Mitchell, The Scorpions, Cyndi Lauper, Sinead O’Connor and others took part.A great event
1994, Oasis played their first ever American show as part of the New Music Seminar at Wetlands in New York City. They were in a better frame of mind for playing in those days
1995, A judge in Los Angeles threw out a lawsuit against Michael Jackson by five of his former security guards. The guards had claimed they were fired for knowing too much about night-time visits by young boys to Jackson’s estate. The singer denied any improprieties.I am a fan of his music and I think Michael was a troubled soul but not evil
1996, Alanis Morissette started a second run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Jagged Little Pill’, which stayed at the top for eight weeks. I must listen to her music…
2001, Madonna kicked off the North American leg of her 47-date Drowned World Tour at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the singers first world tour in eight years, following The Girlie Show in 1993. Over 730,000 people attended the shows throughout North America and Europe, the tour grossed over $75 million. You could accuse her of being popular
2002, Producer Gus Dudgeon, who worked with artists including Elton John, David Bowie, The Beach Boys, Kiki Dee, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, The Strawbs, XTC, and Joan Armatrading, was killed aged 59 in a car accident near Reading, together with his wife Sheila. They had been driving along the M4 motorway on their way home from a party when Gus fell asleep at the wheel of the Jaguar XK8 convertible, crashing down an embankment at speed and ending up in a ditch. This is another of pop’s tragic stories. I didn’t know his name but I liked his artistes
2003, Coldplay singer Chris Martin was charged with malicious damage in Australia after he allegedly attacked a photographer’s car after he had taken pictures of him surfing at Seven Mile Beach. Martin admitted he had lost his temper due to the constant harassment by that journalist, and consequently smashed his windscreen and let the air out of his tyres. I have to say some of these journalists do ask for what they ultimately get. I am not a Coldplay fan but I understand how he must have felt
2004, Composer Jerry Goldsmith died after a long battle with cancer aged 75. Created the music for scores of classic movies and television shows ‘Star Trek’, ‘Planet of the Apes’, ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’ and ‘Dr. Kildare.’Great tracks from another great writer and composer of great music
2005, UK singer Long John Baldry died of a chest infection. He was one of the founding fathers of British Rock ‘n’ Roll in the 1960s performing with Blues Incorporated and Cyril Davies’ R&B All Stars. He later fronted the Hoochie Coochie Men, with Rod Stewart and then Steam Packet with Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll. Also a member of Bluesology with Elton John. He also narrated on Winnie The Pooh recordings for Disney and was the voice for Robotnik on the Sonic The Hedgehog computer game.His song Let the Heartaches Begin is one of the best loved tracks that came from the sixties and he was a major influence
2007, Sharon Osbourne’s music mogul father Don Arden died in a Los Angeles nursing home at the age of 81. Dubbed the Al Capone of Pop for his uncompromising business practices, he steered The Small Faces, Black Sabbath and ELO to stardom.He certainly got the business done and would always have had his critics
2008, Amy Winehouse’s husband was jailed for 27 months for attacking a pub landlord and perverting the course of justice. Blake Fielder-Civil, 26, of Camden, north London, admitted assaulting James King, 36, at the Macbeths pub in Hoxton, east London, in June 2006. He also admitted at Snaresbrook Crown Court trying to make Mr King withdraw his complaint using a £200,000 bribe. Maybe this is why Amy acts so badly at times? She is undoubtedly a great singer and obviously has other problems in her life
2008, The Police played the first of two nights at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado during the final leg of their 152-date world Reunion tour. The tour became the third highest grossing tour of all time, with revenues reaching over $340 million. Hello, hello, hello. What have we ‘ere?
Born on this day
1942, Kim Fowley, US singer, producer, worked with The Murmaids, PJ Proby, The Beach Boys, The Runaways, Frank Zappa, Slade, Family. Produced the 1962, B Bumble And The Stingers UK No.1 ‘Nut Rocker.’
1945, Mike Wilson, The Four Pennies, (1964 UK No.1 single ‘Juliet’). 1946, Barry Whitwam, drums, Herman’s Hermits, (1964 UK No.1 single ‘I’m Into Something Good’, 1965 US No.1 single ‘Mrs Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter’).
1947, Cat Stevens, singer, songwriter, (1967 UK No.2 single ‘Matthew And Son’, 1972 UK No.9 & US No.6 single, ‘Morning Has Broken’). Wrote ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’ Covered by PP Arnold, Rod Stewart and Sheryl Crow. Converted to the Muslim religion in 1977 changing his name to Yusef Islam.
1955, Howie Epstein, bass, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, (1977 single ‘American Girl’, 1989 UK No.28 single ‘I Won’t Back Down’, 1991 UK No.3 album ‘Into The Great Wide Open’). Died of a suspected drug overdose in New Mexico on 23rd February 2003.
1958, Henry Priestman, vocals, keyboards, The Christians, (1988 UK No.8 single ‘Harvest For The World’). Also a member of The Yachts and It’s Immaterial.
