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1. Law of Mechanical Repair – After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you’ll have to pee.

2. Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

3. Law of Probability – The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

4. Law of Random Numbers – If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.

6. Variation Law – If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).

7. Law of the Bath – When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

8. Law of Close Encounters – The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don’t want to be seen with.

9. Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won’t work, it will.

10. Law of Biomechanics – The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

14. Law of Physical Surfaces – The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.

15. Law of Logical Argument – Anything is possible if you don’t know what you are talking about.

16. Brown’s Law of Physical Appearance – If the clothes fit, they’re ugly.

17. Oliver’s Law of Public Speaking – A closed mouth gathers no feet.

18. Wilson’s Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy – As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

19. Doctors’ Law – If you don’t feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you’ll feel better.. But don’t make an appointment, and you’ll stay sick.

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I’m listening to one of my old podcast and really enjoying my chat with Bruce Belland of the Four Preps. I’ll have to start putting some of my interviews on the airwaves again as I am putting out a show with Big FM on 100.9 for the moment. The antennas are pointed to Calpe and Moraira at the moment and will expand the range over time.

I’ll bet I’m not the only one who spends so much time logging in and trying to remember which password goes with which site then waiting for the egg timer to sort itself out. I am just beginning to think it’s time for a dramatic change from my current routine of wading through useless e-mails and various other solicitations which come into my mailbox. I agree I don’t spend much time at the real mailbox in fact neither does our postman. Our cartero is almost a mythical figure here in Spain and it must be said that if the postal service were to be the measure of Spain’s curent economic malaise then I would certainly consider revamping the postal service. We have a very nice young man who rides a yellow motor scooter and every now and then stops to deliver a letter through our door. When we are expecting letters they often don’t show up til a week later. But…..his redeeming feature is his charming smile and in this age of instananeousness his way is so laid back he almost falls over. It has a certain charm….

BBC News carried a report from the Costa del Sol where they interviewed a few people who claimed to be trapped because they can’t sell their homes. Would it not be the same if they could not sell their homes in Liverpool, Birmingham or Manchester. Maybe the selected contributors would have spotted the usual BBC bias and the attempt to discredit Spain. It would also be nice if the presenters could pronounce the words properly whilst they are trying to show how clever they are!

Why we love children…
NUDITY
I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when
a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark
naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from
the back seat, ‘Mom, that lady isn’t wearing a seat belt!’

OPINIONS
On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note
from his mother. The note read, ‘The opinions expressed by this child
are not necessarily those of his parents ..’

KETCHUP
A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar.. During her
struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer
the phone.. ‘Mommy can’t come to the phone to talk to you right now
She’s hitting the bottle.

MORE NUDITY
A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women’s
locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with
ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in
amazement and then asked, ‘What’s the matter, haven’t you ever seen a
little boy before?’

POLICE # 1
While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was
interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at
my uniform, she asked, ‘Are you a cop? Yes,’ I answered and continued
writing the report. My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask
the police. Is that right?’ ‘Yes, that’s right,’ I told her. ‘Well,
then,’ she said as she extended her foot toward me, ‘would you please
tie my shoe?’

POLICE #2
It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the
station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking,
and I saw a little boy staring in at me. ‘Is that a dog you got back
there?’ he asked.
‘It sure is,’ I replied.
Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van.
Finally he said, ‘What’d he do?

ELDERLY
While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly
shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds.
She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age,
particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her
staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself
for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and
whispered, ‘The tooth fairy will never believe this!’

DRESS-UP
A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw
her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, ‘Daddy, you shouldn’t wear that
suit.’
‘And why not, darling?’
‘You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning.’

DEATH
While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister
heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt.
Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin.
Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small
box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal
of the deceased.
The minister’s son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with
sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father
always said: ‘Glory be unto the Father, and unto the Son, and into the
hole he goes.’ (I want this line used at my funeral!)

SCHOOL
A little girl had just finished her first week of school. ‘I’m just
wasting my time,’ she said to her mother. ‘I can’t read, I can’t write,
and they won’t let me talk!’

BIBLE
A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he
fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the
Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old
leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.
‘Mama, look what I found,’ the boy called out.
‘What have you got there, dear?’
With astonishment in the young boy’s voice, he answered, ‘I think it’s
Adam’s underwear!’

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Jewel in Costa Blanca Crown

Events 9th May

The Day’s Music Events 9th May

1429 – Joan of Arc defeated the besieging English at Orleans. She was a legend

1502 – Christopher Columbus left Spain for his final trip to the Western Hemisphere. He doesn’t sound Spanish

1671 – Thomas “Captain” Blood stole the crown jewels from the Tower of London. I hope he got away with it

1901 – In Australia, the Duke of Cornwall and York declared the First Commonwealth Parliament open. They certainly got around

1915 – German and French forces fought the Battle of Artois…..Stella?

1926 – Americans Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett became the first men to fly an airplane over the North Pole. Are we sure?

1936 – The first sheet of postage stamps of more than one variety went on sale in New York City. I hate the taste of the glue

1941 – The German submarine U-110 was captured at sea by Britain’s Royal navy. Well done you chaps

1946 – King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy abdicated and was replaced by Umberto. It’s hard to remember Italy with a royal family

1962 – A laser beam was successfully bounced off Moon for the first time. This is mind blowing

1980 – A Liberian freighter hit the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay in Florida. 35 motorists were killed and a 1,400-foot section of the bridge collapsed.

1994 – Nelson Mandela was chosen to be South Africa’s first black president.A wonderful moment

2002 – In Kaspiisk, Russia, 39 people were killed and at least 130 were injured when a remote-controlled bomb exploded during a holiday parade.Horrible

2002 – In Bahrain, people were allowed to vote for representatives for the first time in nearly 30 years. Women were allowed to vote for the first time in the country’s history.Not a very enlightened country

 

May 9th: On this day

1959, UK music paper Melody Maker introduced a Juke Box Top 20 Chart compiled from 200 Juke Boxes around the UK. Not very convincing

1964, Gene Vincent and the Shouts appeared at The Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Gate, England. The poster advertised that the first 50 girls would be admitted free; tickets cost six shillings and sixpence……Great

1964, Chuck Berry began his first ever UK tour at The Astoria Theatre, London, supported by The Animals, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Karl Denver and the Nashville Teens. What a great bill
1964, Louis Armstrong went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Hello Dolly’ making him the oldest artist to hit No.1 one at the age of 62.Fantastic

1965, During a UK tour Bob Dylan played the first of two sold out nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall. All four members of The Beatles were in the audience. I’ll bet they paid great attention to the words of his songs
1967, Sandie Shaw was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Puppet On A String’. It is a song that has stood the test of time
1969, Beatles guitarist George Harrison’s experimental album Electronic Sounds was released on Zapple records.They kept this quiet
1970, Guess Who started a three-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘American Woman’, it was the group’s sixth Top 30 hit and only chart topper. The song was born by accident when guitarist Randy Bachman was playing a heavy riff on stage after he had broken a string, the other members joined in on the jam. A fan in the audience who had recorded the gig on tape presented it to the group after the show and they developed it into a full song.What a great piece of pop history!

1973, Mick Jagger added $150,000 of his own money to the $350,000 by The Rolling Stones January benefit concert for victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake.This was a wonderful gesture

1974, Bonnie Raitt played two shows at Harvard Square Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts; opening act was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Rolling Stone critic John Landau saw Springsteen and wrote ‘I have seen rock & roll’s future and his name is Bruce Springsteen’…..and he was right

1980, ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ by The Boomtown Rats won the best pop song and outstanding British lyric categories at the 25th Ivor Novello Awards. And Supertramp’s ‘The Logical Song’ won Best Song Musically and Lyrically. Good choices
1981, Adam and the Ants were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Stand And Deliver.’ The song enjoyed a five-week run at No.1.Dreadful song

1987, Curiosity Killed The Cat started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Keep Your Distance’.Nice music

1987, Starship started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with a song co-written by Albert Hammond and Diane Warren, ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.’ At 48, it made lead singer Grace Slick the oldest female to reach No.1 on the UK chart, (later broken by Cher’s ‘Believe’ in 1999).Well done ladies

1999, The Backstreet Boys scored their first UK No.1 single with ‘I Want It That Way’ their 8th UK Top 10 hit and a hit in over 25 countries. Not my music
2000, former All Saints manager John Benson was given a £1 million out-of court settlement after the band sacked him in February 1999. Not a bad deal

Music Source 1 music source 2

Birthday Boys and Girls

1914, Hank Snow, Canadian Country singer, ‘The Singing Ranger’ who released over 100 albums. Died on 20th December 1999.

1935,  Nokie Edwards, (real name: Noel Floyd Edwards), bass guitar, The Ventures, (1960 UK No.4 single ‘Perfidia’, 1960 US No.2 single ‘Walk Don’t Run’).

1937,  Dave Prater, US soul singer, (Sam & Dave), 1967 US No.2 and UK No 24 & 1967 US No.2 single ‘Soul Man’. Killed 9th April 1988 when his car left the road and hit a tree in Syracuse, Georgia.

1937, Sonny Curtis, The Crickets, (1957 US No.1 single ‘That’ll Be The Day’, 1959 UK No.1 single ‘It Doesn’t Matter Anymore’ plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles).

1941, Danny Rapp, Danny and the Juniors, (1958 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘At The Hop’). Rapp shot himself dead in a hotel in Arizona on 5th April 1983.

1941,  Pete Birrell, Freddie & The Dreamers, (1963 UK No.3 single ‘You Were Made For Me’, 1965 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘I’m Telling You Now).

1942, Mike Millward, The Fourmost, (1964 UK No.6 single ‘A Little Loving’). He died on 7th April 1998.

1943,  Tommy Roe, singer, (1969 UK & US No.1 single ‘Dizzy’ plus 10 other US Top 40 hits).

1944,  Don Dannemann, Cyrkle, (1966 US No.2 single ‘Red Rubber Ball’), signed by Brian Epstein and supported The Beatles on their 1966 US tour.

1949, Billy Joel, singer songwriter, (1980 US No.1 single ‘It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me’, 1983 UK No.1 single ‘Uptown Girl’, plus over 20 other US & UK Top 40 singles).
1950,  Tom Petersson, bass, vocals, Cheap Trick, (1979 UK No.29 & US No.17 single ‘I Want You To Want Me’, 1988 US No.1 single ‘The Flame’).

1953,  John Edwards, bass, Status Quo, (1977 UK No.3 single ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’ plus 50 other UK Top 75 singles since 1968).

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The weather was beautiful yesterday and I had a number of things I had to do before going into Big FM and putting together a two hour show. Before that……….the Internet has been a pain in the backside over the past few days and I’m at a loss to know whether it’s a general malaise or whether it’s just where we live. We are near a mountain and I am told that creates problems from time to time. However, I shouldn’t get too cross as I’ve just got back from a lovely walk along the shoreline of the Mediterranean. It was beautiful and there were lots of walkers around in all shapes and sizes. Most were quite fit. Some were super fit and others were obviously breathing very heavily. However, they were at least out and about and getting both fresh air in their lungs and exercise.

I was watching the BBC news from the Midlands last night and a 92 year old lady has been attacked and assaulted badly in her own home. I am at a loss to understand how anyone would want to defend the scumbags who have done this. It’s about time they brought back the stocks for this kind of offence and let the perpetrators see how disgusted practically 100% of the population are when they read such news. These are not human beings and they have decided to live outside the rules of society. Make a show of them when they are caught. In the papers today a prisoner at Pentonville is complaining there are cockroaches in his cell. Cockroaches in the room should be compulsory!

Just in passing I’ll mention that I often listen to an old podcast as I am writing the blog and today is no exception. I am listening to a really interesting chat I had with Tommy James who had released a really nice Christmas album. Here’s the link

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Unemployment is making the headlines once again, but this time, it´s the opposite to the norm, with figures on the decrease for a change, but only just beating the figures recorded in 2008 and 2009. The figures for April from the Public Employment Services show a decline in recorded unemployment of 6,632, which is a reduction of 0.14% on the previous month. The number of unemployed people in April last year fell by 64,309. The total number of registered unemployed people in Spain currently stands at 4,744,235. It is thought that Easter may have had something to do with the figures, as service staff gain work during holiday periods.

The Valencia government sold 500 million euro of six-month bonds, but had to pay yields of 7%, which experts have noted is higher than the cost of debt for the three euro-zone countries that have come to symbolize the financial crisis, namely Greece, which pays 4.947%, Portugal, at 2.226% and Ireland at 0.988%. The move enabled them to refinance a debt that was due to be repaid, and will be followed by another two repayments of 500 million euro on May 9, and 473 million on May 27, all which are part of the 5 billion euro debt which needs to be paid for during 2012.

Meanwhile, whilst town halls and governments are looking at ways of reducing costs whilst increasing revenue, the Valencia town of Font d’en Carròs has come under fire for its latest money making scheme, by charging people a euro to enter public parks. The good news is that it will still be free on weekdays, as the move would only be implemented during times which are worthwhile, namely weekends and fiestas between March and September.

A 23 year old British girl died at the weekend, having fallen from a third floor hotel balcony in the Mallorca town of Magaluf. The incident happened at around 4:30 on Sunday morning, the circumstances of which are now being investigated by the Guardia Civil. Charlotte Faris was staying in the Teix Hotel with a friend, who was also in the hotel room at the time. Sticking with tragic news, a total of 8 people died on Spanish roads this weekend, two of them motorcyclists, in eight accidents across the country. Three people were also seriously injured and another 2 suffered minor injuries.

The town of Berga, in Catalunia, has made a brave, but democratic move, declaring the King of Spain as a ”persona non grata”, following his recent elephant hunting trip in Africa. Although largely a symbolic gesture, the notion was presented by the Popular Unity Candidature, which was subsequently approved by the council representing the 17,000 inhabitants of the town.    SpanishVida: http://www.theleader.info/article/34161/

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A lady goes to her priest one day and tells him, ‘Father, I have a problem.  I have two female parrots,  But they only know to say one thing’

‘What do they say?’ the priest asked.

They say, ‘Hi, we’re hookers! Do you want to have some fun?’

‘That’s obscene!’ the priest exclaimed,

Then he thought for a moment…..   ‘You know,’ he said, ‘I may have a solution to your problem  I have two male talking parrots, which I have taught to pray and read the Bible…

Bring your two parrots over to my house, and we’ll put them in the cage with Francis and Peter.  My parrots can teach your parrots to pray and worship,
And your parrots are sure to stop saying..  That phrase…  In no time..’

‘Thank you,’ the woman responded, ‘this may very well be the solution..’

The next day, She brought her female parrots to the priest’s house…. As he ushered her in,
She saw that his two male parrots  were inside their cage holding rosary beads and praying…  Impressed, She walked over and placed her parrots in with them…

After a few minutes, The female parrots cried out in unison:
Hi, we’re hookers! Do you want to have some fun?’

There was stunned silence….

One male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and says,

‘Put the beads away, Frank, Our prayers have been answered!

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Jewel in Costa Blanca Crown

Events 8th May

1433 – Sigismund was crowned emperor of Rome.  Is the Sigismund Fraud?

1859 – In London, Big Ben went into operation. The name Big Ben initially referred to the bell inside the tower but later came to the refer to the tower.I thought it was the name of the designer!

1870 – E.J. DeSemdt patented asphalt. Not Irish?

1879 – New York’s Madison Square Garden opened.  Seconds out!

1884 – Dr. John Harvey Kellogg patented “flaked cereal.”  Was it a bit each week?

1889 – In Johnstown, PA, more than 2,200 people died after the South Fork Dam collapsed. Dreadful

1900 – U.S. troops arrived in Peking to help put down the Boxer Rebellion.  The seconds needed more mone for new towels

1902 – The Boer War ended between the Boers of South Africa and Great Britain with the Treaty of Vereeniging.  Good

1907 – The first taxis arrived in New York City. They were the first in the United States. Were they yellow?

1915 – A German zeppelin made an air raid on London.  Bad news

1927 – Ford Motor Company produced the last “Tin Lizzie” in order to begin production of the Model A.  The first on the production lines?

1929 – In Beverly, MA, the first U.S. born reindeer were born.  You’ll be telling us next Father Christmas doesn’t live at the North Pole

1947 – Communists seized control of Hungary. We were all on the side of the Magyars

1955 – The U.S. Supreme Court ordered that all states must end racial segregation “with all deliberate speed.”  Good

1961 – South Africa became an independent republic.  Good

1962 – Adolf Eichmann was hanged in Israel. Eichmann was a Gestapo official and was executed for his actions in the Nazi Holocaust. He had to go

1970 – An earthquake in Peru killed tens of thousands of people.

1974 – Israel and Syria signed an agreement on the Golan Heights.  Good

1977 – The trans-Alaska oil pipeline was finished after 3 years of construction.  Now let’s have a few pipelines for water

1979 – Zimbabwe proclaimed its independence.  Good

1994 – The U.S. announced it was no longer aiming long-range nuclear missiles at targets in the former Soviet Union. Phew!

2003 – In North Carolina, Eric Robert Rudolph was captured. He had been on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list for five years for several bombings including the 1996 Olympic bombing.  Lock him away and throw away the key

The Day’s Music Events 8th May

1954, BBC radio in the UK banned the Johnny Ray song ‘Such a Night’ after listeners complain about its ‘suggestiveness’. Ray was famous for his emotional stage act, which included beating up his piano, and writhing on the floor.
1955, Tony Bennett was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Stranger In Paradise’. Based on a theme from Borodin’s 1888 opera – ‘Prince Igor’. The song was a hit in the 1953 Broadway show ‘Kismet’.
1964, The Beatles had held the No.1 position on the US singles chart for fourteen weeks with three No.1′s in succession. ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ for seven weeks, ‘She Loves You’ for two weeks and ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, for five weeks.

1965, The filming of the promotional film for Bob Dylan’s ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ took place at the side of the Savoy Hotel in London. Actors in the background were Allen Ginsberg and Bob Neuwirth. This became one of the first ‘modern’ promotional film clips, the forerunner of the music video. The original clip was actually the opening segment of D. A. Pennebaker’s film, Don’t Look Back, a documentary on Bob Dylan’s 1965 tour of England. In the film, Dylan, who came up with the idea, holds up cue cards for the camera with selected words and phrases from the lyrics. The cue cards were written by Donovan, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Neuwirth and Dylan himself. While staring at the camera, he flipped the cards as the song played.
1967, Gerry And The Pacemakers announced they were splitting up, recognising they could no longer keep pace with the rapidly changing UK rock scene.
1969, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr signed a business management contract with Allen Klein and his company ABKCO, but Paul McCartney refused to sign, continuing to let the Eastmans represent his interests.
1970, The Beatles twelfth and final album, ‘Let It Be’ was released, (it was recorded before ‘Abbey Road’ and originally to be called ‘Get Back’). The album came in a deluxe-boxed edition with a ‘Get Back’ book.

1974, UK keyboard player Graham Bond committed suicide after throwing himself under a London tube train at Finsbury Park station, aged 36. It took police two days to identify his body which was crushed beyond all recognition. Briefly a member of Blues Incorporated, a group led by Alexis Korner, before forming the Graham Bond Quartet, with a lineup of Bond on vocals and organ, Ginger Baker on drums and Jack Bruce on bass.
1976, Abba scored their third UK No.1 single with ‘Fernando’, the song went on to become ABBA’s biggest selling single, with sales over 10 million. And also on day Abba started a nine-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with their ‘Greatest Hits’ album.

1976, BBC Radio 1 DJ Johnny Walker announced he was quitting the station after being told he must pretend to like The Bay City Rollers.

1976, Former lead singer of the Lovin Spoonful John Sebastian went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Welcome Back’, taken from the US TV show ‘Welcome Back Kotter’.
1982, Neil Bogart died of cancer at the age of 39. Bogart was the founder of Casablanca Records, with Peter Guber, home of Donna Summer, The Village People, Kiss, T.Rex and Joan Jett.
1982, Paul McCartney scored his fifth UK No.1 album with ‘Tug Of War’. The album featured the duet with Stevie Wonder ‘Ebony & Ivory’, which was inspired by McCartney hearing comedian Spike Milligan say “black notes, white notes, and you need to play the two to make harmony, folks!”, (the ebony (black) and ivory (white) keys on a piano).

1982, Vangelis went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Chariots Of Fire’, his only US No.1. Vangelis was accused of plagiarising ‘Chariots of Fire’ from a song by fellow Greek composer Stavros Logaridis called ‘City of Violets’. Vangelis won in court by convincing the judge to allow him to bring his keyboard setup into the court to demonstrate his method of composing by improvising new music.
1984, Roger Waters released his first solo album The Pros And Cons Of Hitch Hiking. The concept album, as originally envisioned by Waters in 1977, rotated around a man’s thoughts during a midlife crisis, and featured guest musicians Eric Clapton on guitar, David Sanborn on saxophone and Michael Kamen on piano.
1993, Aerosmith entered the US album chart at No.1 with ‘Get A Grip’, a No.2 hit in the UK. The album went on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide as well as winning the band two Grammy awards.

1993, Mark Knopfler received an honorary music doctorate from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
1996, A Los Angeles judge ruled against Tommy Lee and wife Pamela Anderson in their bid to keep Penthouse magazine from publishing still photos from an X-rated home movie that was stolen from their home.
1999, Ricky Martin went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’. The song spent 5 weeks at No.1.
2005, Bruce Springsteen was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Devils and Dust’ his 13th No.1 studio album.
2006, The Rolling Stones called off their forthcoming European tour after guitarist Keith Richards underwent emergency brain surgery. The 62 year-old guitarist
2008, American Country artist Eddy Arnold died of natural causes, one week before his 90th birthday. He sold more than 85 million records and had 147 songs on the US charts, including 28 number one hits on Billboard’s Country Singles chart. He was once managed by Colonel Tom Parker (who later managed Elvis Presley). Arnold had the 1965 US No.4 hit, ‘Make The World Go Away’.

Music Source 1 music source 2

Birthday Boys and Girls

1911, Robert Johnson, blues singer, guitarist. Influenced Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Eric Clapton, (Cream covered ‘Crossroads) The Rolling Stones, (‘Love In Vain’). Johnson died on 16th August 1938.
1940, Paul Gadd, (Gary Glitter), 1973 UK No.1 single ‘I’m The leader Of The Gang’ & 17 other UK Top 40 singles including three No.1′s. Glitter was sentenced to four months in a Bristol prison in 1999 after being found guilty of downloading child pornography from the Internet.
1940,  Ricky Nelson, US singer, (1958 US No.1 ‘Poor Little Fool’, 1961 UK No.2 single ‘Hello Mary Lou’ plus over 30 US Top 40 hit singles). Played himself on his parent’s US TV The Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet.’ Nelson died on 31st December 1985.
1941, John Fred Gourrier, from John Fred and His Playboy Band, (1968 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘Judy In Disguise’). Died on 15th April 2005 after a long battle with kidney disease aged 63.

1943, Toni Tennille, The Captain and Tennille, (1980 US No.1 & UK No.7 single ‘Do That To Me One More Time’).
1943,  Danny Whitten, guitarist, singer, songwriter. Member of Neil Young’s Crazy Horse and writer of ‘I Don’t Wanna Talk About It’, covered by Rod Stewart, Rita Coolidge and Everything But The Girl. The Neil Young song ‘The Needle and the Damage Done’ was written about Whitten’s heroin use (before he died of an overdose on Nov 18th 1972).
1944,  Bill Legend, T Rex, (1971 UK No.1 single ‘Hot Love’. Plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles).
1947,  Rick Derringer, producer, guitar, vocals, The McCoys, (1965 US No.1 & UK No.5 single ‘Hang On Sloopy’), Edgar Winter Group, (1973 US No.1 & UK No.18 single ‘Frankenstein’).
1951, Chris Frantz, drummer, Talking Heads, (1983 US No.9 single ‘Burning Down The House’, 1985 UK No.6 single ‘Road To Nowhere’).
1951,, Philip Bailey, vocals, Earth Wind and Fire, (1975 US No.1 single ‘Shining Star’, 1981 UK No.3 single ‘Let’s Groove’) & solo, (1985 UK No.1 single ‘Easy Lover’ duet with Phil Collins).
1955, , Alex Van Halen, Van Halen, drums, (1984 US No.1 & UK No.7 single ‘Jump’).
1964, Dave Rowntree, drummer, Blur, (1994 UK No.1 album ‘Parklife’ spent over 2 years on the UK chart, 1995 UK No.1 single ‘Country House’, plus over 12 other UK Top 40 singles).
[more]
1972,  Darren Hayes, singer, songwriter, Savage Garden, (1998 US No.1 & UK Top 5 single ‘Truly Madly Deeply.’ Solo 2002 UK No.8 single ‘Insatiable’).
1975, , Enrique Iglesias, singer, (2000 US No.1 single ‘Be With You’, 2002 UK No.1 & US No.3 single ‘Hero’).
1976,  H, (Ian Watkins), vocals, Steps, (1998 UK No.1 single ‘Heartbeat / Tragedy’, 1999 UK No.1 album ‘Steptacular’ spent over a year on the UK chart).

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It was Mother’s Day yesterday and Anne had a lovely day with Andrew coming over from Birmingham and John coming down from Valencia. We had a nice morning together before I had to return home to some serious podcasting and then we went for the first swim of the year which was very enjoyable. Finally, we had an excellent meal at Michael’s in Benidorm old town.

I was reading with interest about Madonna’s attempts to keep people off her property. I remembered reading about the Battle of Kinder Scout in Derbyshire where the Ramblers had to fight hard to keep the rights to roam on the countryside using the country paths. It does seem a little less than fair that a foreign singer can buy up land in any country and keep ordinary people from ordinary pleasures. Madonna is obviously part of the top percentiles where money is concerned.

I have to set up an interview with Marie Holliday about the EFT scenario here in Spain. This is Emotional Freedom Therapy and is a very interesting topic. I shall try and do this in a day or so.  Finally, I was chatting with Cathy Humphreys about the Edvard Much painting that sold for 27 million pounds. Thank goodness we both felt the same. It is a sill price for such an ordinary painting but I’m sure painter Tom Brown would have a different take on this…

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Jewel in Costa Blanca Crown

Events 7th May

1429 – The English siege of Orleans was broken by Joan of Arc. Legendary

1525 – The German peasants’ revolt was crushed by the ruling class and church.Typical

1663 – The first Theatre Royal was opened in London.

1763 – Indian chief Pontiac began all out war on the British in New York.I can’t say I blame him

1912 – The first airplane equipped with a machine gun flew over College Park, MD. Bad news for those down below

1915 – The Lusitania, a civilian ship, was sunk by a German submarine. 1,198 people were killed. Terrible

1926 – A U.S. report showed that one-third of the nation’s exports were motors. Ford no doubt?

1937 – The German Condor Legion arrived in Spain to assist Franco’s forces. The Germans were his allies

1940 – Winston Churchill became British Prime Minister. Thank God

1942 – In the Battle of the Coral Sea, Japanese and American navies attacked each other with carrier planes. It was the first time in the history of naval warfare where two enemy fleets fought without seeing each other. Must have been surreal!

1945 – Germany signed unconditional surrender ending World War II. It would take effect the next day.Thank God

1946 – Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corp. was founded. The company was later renamed Sony.Cunning!

1951 – Russia was admitted to participate in the 1952 Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee. Good

1954 – The United States and the United Kingdom rejected the Soviet Union’s bid to join NATO. Why?

1958 – Howard Johnson set an aircraft altitude record in F-104.Did his nose bleed?

1960 – Leonid Brezhnev became president of the Soviet Union.

1975 – U.S. President Ford declared an end to the Vietnam War.Good

1997 – A report released by the U.S. government said that Switzerland provided Nazi Germany with equipment and credit during World War II. Germany exchanged for gold what had been plundered or stolen. Switzerland did not comply with postwar agreements to return the gold. Crafty swines!

1998 – Residents of London voted to elect their own mayor for the first time in history. The vote would take place in May 2000. Dick Whittingham returns

2003 – Roger Moore collapsed during a matinee performance of the Broadway comedy “The Play What I Wrote.” He finished the show after a 10-minute break. He was fitted with a pacemaker the following day. I like Sir Roger

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The Day’s Music Events 7th May

1964, The Searchers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Don’t Throw Your Love Away’. The group’s third and last No.1.Frank Allen has appeared on my show

1966, Johnny Cash appeared live at the Empire, Liverpool, England.I can’t believe I missed this

1966, The Mamas and the Papas started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Monday Monday’, it made No.3 in the UK. The group was reported, as saying they all hated the song except for its writer John Phillips. I loved the song

1967, Jimi Hendrix played two shows at London’s Saville Theatre. Ringo Starr, Brian Jones and members of The Beach Boys and The Moody Blues were in the audience. I’ll bet that was a good night
1972, Reginald Dwight changed his name by Deed poll to Elton Hercules John. What happened to Hercules?

1972, The Rolling Stones released the second album on their own label, ‘Exile on Main Street’ featuring two hit singles, ‘Tumbling Dice’ and ‘Happy’.Good album
1977, Former backing singer with Stevie Wonder, Deniece Williams was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Free’, her only UK No.1 hit.Good song

1977, The Eagles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Hotel California’, the group’s fourth US No.1, a No.8 hit in the UK.Was this really only no 8?

1978, 90,000 tickets were sold in eight hours for Bob Dylan’s forthcoming London dates at Earls Court. 10.000 per hour-not bad, eh?

1988, Terence Trent D’arby went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Wishing Well’, a No.4 hit in the UK. Good song

1989, Ron Wilson, drummer with US Surf group The Surfaris died of a brain anueryism. (1963 US No.2 & UK No.3 single ‘Wipe Out’).Sad

1991, Wilson Pickett was arrested after running into an 86 year old man and yelling death threats whilst driving his car over the mayor’s front lawn in Englewood, New Jersey. Pickett was charged with driving with open bottles of alcohol in his car. He should have known better
1992, A leather Jacket worn by John Lennon during 1960-1963, was sold at Christies, London, England for £24,200.Wow
1994, British house music performer Tony Di Bart scored his only UK No.1 single with ‘The Real Thing’. I like this

1998, Eddie Rabbitt, US singer, songwriter died of lung cancer aged 56. During his career, he scored over 20 No.1′s on Billboard’s country singles chart including 1981 ‘I Love A Rainy Night’. Elvis Presley, Dr Hook, Tom Jones, Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle and Lynn Anderson all recorded his songs.Very underrated

2000, Britney Spears went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Oops!… I Did It Again’. Written and produced by hit-makers Max Martin and Rami Yacoub, who had previously collaborated with Spears on ‘…Baby One More Time’.Quite good
2004, A planning inquiry hearing Madonna’s appeal to ban ramblers from parts of her £9m country estate heard details of the land’s make-up. The pop star claimed 100 acres of land at the 1,200-acre Ashcombe House estate had been inaccurately classified as open country. Madonna was appealing against the classification in a hearing. Under the act, people would have the right to access any land registered on the final map as open country-mountain, moor, heath or down. She had a cheek to come to the UK and ban ramblers….


Music Source 1 music source 2

Birthday Boys and Girls

1939,  Jimmy Ruffin, (1974 UK No.4 single ‘What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted’).

1942,Derek Taylor press officer for The Beatles also worked with Beach Boys and The Byrds. Taylor died on 10th September 1997.
1943,  Rick Westwood, guitarist, Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, (1967 UK No.1 & US No.11 single ‘Silence Is Golden’). 1943, Born on this day, Thelma Houston, US soul singer, (1977 US No.1 & UK No.13 single ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’).

1945,  Christy Moore, Irish singer, songwriter, Planxty, solo, 1946, Born on this day, Bill Kreutzmann, drums, The Grateful Dead, (1970 UK No.69 and US No.127 album, ‘Workingman’s Dead’).

1948,  Pete Wingfield, singer, Pianist and producer, (1975 UK No.7 and US No.15 single ‘Eighteen With A Bullet’)

1949, Keith, (James Keefer), US singer, (1967 US No.7 and UK No.24 single ’98.6′).

1960, Anne Dudley, Art Of Noise, (1988 UK No.5 single with Tom Jones ‘Kiss’).

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I am busy multi-tasking as I am editing podcasts and syncronising various Firefox files as I am writing this blog. Actually, I’ve just come back from Benidorm and it is heaving with people enjoying their walk up the promenade. The Firefox page is telling me off so I’ll have to write this quickly. I was a bit disappointed with the cup final. Not because Liverpool lost but both teams didn’t get going for ages and it was hardly a great advert for the game. If Chelsea win the Champions League their interim manager will be installed as the new manager and my other prediction is that Kenny Dalgish will not be Liverpool manager come September.!

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A group of primary school infants, accompanied by two female teachers, went on a field trip to Cheltenham races to see and learn about thoroughbred horses.

When it was time to take the children to the toilet, it was decided that the girls would go with one teacher and the boys would go with the other.

The teacher assigned to the boys was waiting outside the men’s toilet when one of the boys came out and told her that none of them could reach the urinal.

Having no choice, she went inside, helped the boys with their underpants, and began hoisting the children up, one by one, holding their willies to direct the flow away from their clothes.

As she lifted one, she couldn’t help but notice that he was unusually well endowed. Trying not to show that she was staring, the teacher said, ‘You must be in Year Four.’

“No, love,” he replied. “I’m riding Silver Arrow in the 2.15″

List of Top Puns for the Thinking Person

1. The fattest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Cumference.
He acquired his size from too much pi.

2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an
optical Aleutian .

3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a
weapon of math disruption.

5. No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationery.

6. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

7. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blown apart.

8. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

9. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.

10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

11. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

12. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other:
“You stay here; I’ll go on a head.’

13. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

14. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: ‘Keep off the Grass.’

15. The midget fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

16. The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

17. A backward poet writes inverse.

18. In a democracy it’s your vote that counts. In feudalism it’s your count that votes.

19. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

20. If you jumped off the bridge in Paris, you’d be in Seine .

21. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks
at him and says, ‘I’m sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.’

22. Two fish swim into a concrete wall.   One turns to the other and says, ‘Dam!’

23. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly
it sank, proving once again that you can’t have your kayak and heat it too.

24. Two hydrogen atoms meet.   One says, ‘I’ve lost my electron.’ The other says,
‘Are you sure?’ The first replies, ‘Yes, I’m positive.’

25. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal:
transcend dental medication.

26. There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one
of the puns would make them laugh.   No pun in ten did

This was sent to me yesterday……….

New way of Stealing. Be sure to read Scene 3. Quite interesting.
This is a new one. People sure stay busy trying to cheat us, don’t they?

SCENE 1.
A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in  the locker. After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and thought to himself, ‘Funny, I thought I locked the locker..

Hmm, ‘He dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in order.
Everything looked okay – all cards were in place…

A few weeks later his credit card bill came – a whooping bill of £14,000!
He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying that he did not  make
the transa_ctions.

Customer care personnel verified that
there was no Mistake in the system and asked
if his card had been stolen..

‘No,’ he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the credit card, and yep -
you guessed it – a switch had been made. An expired similar credit card from
the same bank was in the wallet. The thief broke into his locker at the gym
and switched cards.
Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the card missing earlier,
he would  have to pay the amount owed to them.  How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy?

£9,000! Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped?
Small amounts rarely trigger a ‘warning bell’  with some credit card companies.
It just so happens that all the small amounts added up to big one!
============================

SCENE 2.
A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card.
The bill for the meal came, he signed it and the waitress folded the receipt and passed the credit card along.

Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket. Funny enough, though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and behold, it was the expired card of another person. He called the waitress and she looked perplexed.
She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of the man. All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong expired card to the counter cashier, and the counter cashier immediately
looked down and took out the real card. No exchange of words — nothing! She took it and came back to the man with an apology..
Verdict:
Make sure the credit cards in your wallet are yours.
Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and/or the card is taken away for even a short period of time. Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at it, ‘assuming’ that it has to be theirs.
FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!
==========================

SCENE 3:
Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had called in.
I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of  course, is linked directly to my checking account.
The young man behind the counter took my  card, swiped it, then laid it on the counter as he waited for the approval, which is pretty standard procedure..
While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialling.

I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. ? Then I heard a click that sounded like my phone sounds when I take a picture. He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he was still pressing buttons.   Meanwhile, I’m thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of, oblivious to what was really going on.   It then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now I’m paying close attention to what he is doing..  He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open.  About five seconds later, I heard the chime  that tells you that the picture has been saved.

Now I’m standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a picture of my credit card.  Yes, he played it off well, because had we not  had the same kind of phone, I probably would  never have known what happened.  Needless to say, I immediately cancelled  that card as I was walking out of the pizza  parlor..
All I am saying is, be aware of your  surroundings at all times.

Whenever you are using your credit card take caution and don’t be careless.
Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing when you use your card.
Be aware of phones, because many have a camera phone these days.

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Jewel in Costa Blanca Crown

Events 6th May

1527 – German troops began sacking Rome, bringing about the end of the Renaissance.Sad

1682 – King Louis XIV moved his court to Versailles, France. Nice building

1840 – The first adhesive postage stamps went on sale in Great Britain. Save a space on the envelope

1851 – Linus Yale patented the clock-type lock. They’ve been around for a while

1889 – The Universal Exposition opened in Paris, France, marking the dedication of the Eiffel Tower. Also at the exposition was the first automobile in Paris, the Mercedes-Benz. Two great points of reference

1910 – Kind Edward VII of England died. He was succeeded by his second son, George V. Keep it in the family

1937 – The German airship Hindenburg crashed and burned in Lakehurst, NJ. Thirty-six people (of the 97 on board) were killed. Sad

1941 – Joseph Stalin assumed the Soviet premiership.

1954 – British runner Roger Banister broke the four minute mile. He was the first in the world to do this and aided and abetted by Chris Brasher. He is a doctor

1959 – The Pablo Picasso painting of a Dutch girl was sold for $154,000 in London. It was the highest price paid (at the time) for a painting by a living artist.Mucho dinero

1960 – Britain’s Princess Margaret married Anthony Armstrong Jones. They were divorced in 1978. 18 years was giving it a ‘g0′

1960 – U.S. President Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1960. It was needed

1962 – The first nuclear warhead was fired from the Polaris submarine.Ugh!

1994 – The Chunnel officially opened. The tunnel under the English Channel links England and France.Exciting times and a major reason for Brits to travel to Europe

1994 – Former Arkansas state worker Paula Jones filed suit against U.S. President Clinton. The case alleged that he had sexually harassed her in 1991.Come on, Bill, spill the beans

1997 – Four health-care companies agreed to a settlement of $600 million to hemophiliacs who had contracted AIDS from tainted blood between 1978-1985.Terribly worrying times for those concerned

1999 – Britain’s Labour Party won the largest number of seats in the first elections for Scotland’s new Parliament and Wales’ new Assembly.So there!

2002 – “Spider-Man” became the first movie to make more than $100 million in its first weekend.Mucho dinero

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The Day’s Music Events 6th May

1965, Marianne Faithfull married artist John Dunbar at Cambridge register office in England.She was a girlfriend of Mick Jagger

1965, In their Clearwater, Florida hotel room, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards worked out the opening guitar riff of ‘Satisfaction’, following Richard’s purchase of a Gibson fuzz-box earlier that day. Great pop story

1967, Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers, Engelbert Humperdink and Cat Stevens all appeared at the Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire, England.Great show
1972, The Tyrannosaurus Rex double album ‘Prophets, Seers And Sages And The Angels Of The Ages / My People Were Fair And Had Sky In Their Hair But Now Their Content To Wear Stars On Their Brows’ went to No.1 in the UK. The longest title of an album ever at the time! Who thought that one up!

1973, Paul Simon set out on his first tour without partner Art Garfunkel, using The Jesse Dixon Singers as a back- up group on stage. Simon’s tour of America and Europe was recorded and released as ‘Live Rhymin’. He is a great act
1978, The soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever started an 18 week run at No.1 on the UK album chart, also No.1 in the US. The album, which features seven Bee Gee songs, went on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide. This show really was the BeeGees
1982, Former manager of The Bay City Rollers Tam Paton, was convicted on a charge of gross indecency with boys and was sentenced to three years in jail.Horrible
1989, Former Frankie goes To Hollywood singer Holly Johnson went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his debut solo album ‘Blast’. I didn’t hear any songs from this album

1995, Oasis scored their first UK No.1 single when ‘Some Might Say’ went to the top of the UK charts. It was the first single to be released from the Manchester bands second album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? And the last Oasis track to feature original drummer Tony McCarroll. Happy Days for the band

2001, Geri Halliwell scored her fourth UK No.1 single with her version of the Weather Girls 1984 hit ‘It’s Raining Men.’Quite a good version

2002, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen was voted the UK’s favourite single of all time in a poll by the Guinness Hit Singles book. ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon was voted in at No.2 and ‘Hey Jude’, The Beatles No.3, ‘Dancing Queen’ by Abba was fourth and Madonna ‘Like A Prayer’ was in fifth place. I thoroughly agree with all the first four but not Madonna.

2002, American songwriter and producer Otis Blackwell died from a heart attack. He wrote the classic songs ‘All Shook Up’, ‘Return To Sender’, ‘Don’t Be Cruel’, ‘Great Balls Of Fire’ and ‘Fever.’ Over the years, Blackwell’s songs have sold more than 185 million copies.What a fantastic pedigree

2004, A sale at Christie’s in London, England became the most successful pop auction in the company’s history after Beatles memorabilia sold for a record £788,643. The auction included a leather collar worn by John Lennon which sold for £117,250. A signed copy of a management deal with The Beatles and manager Brian Epstein sold for £122,850. A Vox Kensington guitar used by Lennon and Harrison went for £100,000. Also sold – a coloured felt-pen drawing by Lennon (£10,000), a letter with his signature (£5,500), and a pen-and-ink drawing called Happy Fish (£9,500).I wonder how much of the sale was foreign money? The Beatles are still an enormous draw with punters around the world

2005, US coffee shop chain Starbucks banned the sale of Bruce Springsteen’s latest album Devils and Dust over concerns about its adult content. The retailer – which stocked CDs at its branches in the US – said it would be promoting other albums instead. I think it’s good to see a semblance of social conscience
2006, During a UK tour, Morrissey played at The Apollo Manchester on the first of three nights at three different venues in his home city of Manchester. The singer then appeared at Manchester Opera House the following night and then at Manchester Bridgewater Hall on the 8th May.I think he liked Manchester

2008, Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty was released from Wormwood Scrubs prison in west London after serving 29 days of a 14-week sentence for breaching the terms of his probation. The singer told reporters that he was glad to be out and was looking forward to having a drink and spending some time with his pet cats.He helps me understand the meaning of the word twit!

2008, Cher played the first of 78 shows at the Las Vegas Coliseum, Las Vegas, Nevada. The singer had signed-up for 200 shows over a three year period.Well done Cher

2009, A former publicist for Michael Jackson was suing the singer for $44m (£29m) for his alleged failure to pay her for her services. Raymone Bain said Mr Jackson had agreed to give her 10% of any business deals arranged with her assistance. Ms Bain acted as Mr Jackson’s publicist during his 2005 trial for child abuse.Stick the boot in…..



Music Source 1 music source 2

Birthday Boys and Girls

1927, Ronnie Hilton, UK singer, (1956 UK No.1 single ‘No Other Love’ plus 21 other Top 40 hits). He died on 20th February 2001.

1942,  Colin Earl, Mungo Jerry, (1970 UK No.1 & US No.3 single ‘In The Summertime’).

1945,Bob Seger, US singer, songwriter, (1987 US No.1 single ‘Shakedown’, from the film ‘Beverly Hills Cop II’, 1995 UK No.22 single ‘We’ve Got Tonight’).
1948, Mary MacGregor, (1977 US No.1 and UK No.4 single ‘Torn Between Two Lovers’).

1950,  Robbie McIntosh, Average White Band, (1975 US No.1 & UK No.6 single ‘Pick Up The Pieces). He died on 23rd August 1974.

1960,  Larry Steinbachek, Bronski Beat, (1984 UK No.3 single ‘Smalltown Boy’).

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It is FA Cup Final day and yet another day which has been changed at the behest of others. The tradition was always for the fans to sit and watch the match after the event had been set up by the TV bringing the atmosphere of the event into the living room. It was always a great event with great traditions and the memory of Nat Lofthouse bundling Bert Trautman into the back of his net and then Trautman playing on with a broken neck lingers on after all these years. Stanley Mathews had his wonderful match in the 4-3 defeat of Bolton Wanderers when playing for Blackpool. I think he was my favourite player and was known as the Wizard of the Dribble.

Tomorrow we have Chelsea who have been playing like the Champions of old with Fernando Torres possibly set to haunt his old club on the world stage. Liverpool playing more like a Championship team and with the worst number 9 I have ever seen playing for Liverpool. Will the underdogs enjoy this unusual position in which they find themselves? I think the manager is bound to change no matter what the outcome and this season has been a nightmare for the Liverpool fans. I really can’t wait for this season to end and I can admit to hating the last few games! Having said this I will be watching the match with my sons and this will be its own rewards.

A new ordinance proposed by the city of Madrid, which could well spread to other major cities if proved successful, will see car drivers fined 100 euro if they fail to turn off the engine of the vehicle if stopped for more than a brief moment. The fine wouldn´t apply to vehicles which have this feature built in automatically, nor would it apply to certain electric and hybrid vehicles, but the move is in an attempt to cut down on CO2 emissions in some of the most concentrated areas such as city centres. IF approved, or more likely when approved, any money gained through fines will be invested in creating a network of 1,500 short-term hire bicycles and 3,000 parking anchors, as well as creating more vehicle parking in areas that can encourage more economical driving, thus attempting to change the attitudes of many a city dweller to a greener and cleaner lifestyle. Og course, the Madrid train and bus network may no longer be an option either, given the price hike implemented this week following the withdrawal of 50 million euro subsidy by the government. With most ticket prices going up by 11% and the airport ticket doubling in price, the cost of public transport will add more of a burden on the average expenditure of Madrid residents.

A new ‘big brother’ has been adopted in Europe, called GMES, or Global Monitoring for Environment and Security to give it its full name, which is designed to monitor environmental matters at the same time as watching for potential security threats, to keep us all safe against the harshest of Mother Nature´s attacks. In their promotional material, it is said that GMES services are dedicated to the monitoring and forecasting of the Earth’s subsystems. They contribute directly to the monitoring of climate change and also address emergency response (e.g. in case of natural disaster, technological accidents or humanitarian crises) and security-related issues (e.g. maritime surveillance, border control).

Breaking wind has never been so popular in Spain, at least when it comes to wind power, and so long as the ‘breaking’ part refers to records. April this year saw the current record for energy generated by wind power broken, with more than 5,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity being generated in the month, with wind generating a total of 25.5% of the energy requirement. If you keep a sharp eye on the weather yourself, you might remember that 01:37am on the 19th April as a particularly windy time, as this is the point in the month where the most electricity was generated by wind at any single time. If you want to know why this is so significant, according to the Asociación Empresarial Eólica (wind energy association), in April, using wind power prevented the emission of 1.98 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, the equivalent to burning 4.5 million barrels of oil and is like planting 39.6 million trees.

In the UK, the Co-Operative are trying to encourage the replenishment of some of the earth´s natural defences by offering free seeds to help the growth of wild flowers. Plan Bee, which is of course aimed at trying to support the depleting population of bees, says that wildflowers are an important source of nutrition for pollinators, yet 97% of the UK’s wildflower meadows have been lost since the 1930s. That’s why Plan Bee has given away 1.2 million packets of wildflower seeds since 2009! You can visit the website to request your free seeds, but only whilst stocks last and a maximum of 3 packs per person, because even environmental replenishment needs control. Oh, and they will only send them to the UK, but more likely for financial and logistical reasons than xenophobic ones.

I was sent the following..…..Once I was cooking some corn and stuck my fork in the boiling  water to see if the corn was ready.   I missed and my hand went  into the boiling water….

A friend of mine, who was a Vietnam vet, came into the house, just as I was screaming, and asked me if I had some plain old flour…I pulled out a bag and he stuck my hand in it.  He said to keep my hand in the flour for 10 minutes, which I did.  He said that in Vietnam , this guy was on fire and in their panic, they threw a bag of flour all over him to put the fire out…well, it not only put the flour out, but he never even
had a blister!!!!

SOOOO, long story short, I put my hand in the bag of flour for 10 minutes
pulled it out and had not even a red mark or a blister and absolutely NO
PAIN.  Now, I keep a bag of flour in the fridge and every time I burn myself, I use the flour and never ONCE have I ever had a red spot, a burn or a blister! *cold flour feels even better than room temperature flour.

Miracle, if you ask me.  Keep a bag of white flour in your fridge and you will be happy you did.  I even burnt my tongue and put the flour on it for about 10 minutes, and the pain was gone and no burn. Try it!  BTW, don’t run your burn area under Cold water first, just put it right into the flour for 10 minutes and experience a miracle.

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Jewel in Costa Blanca Crown

Events 5th May

1494 – Christopher Columbus sighted Jamaica on his second trip to the Western Hemisphere. He named the island Santa Gloria. I wonder jf he heard any reggae music?

1809 – Mary Kies was awarded the first patent to go to a woman. It was for technique for weaving straw with silk and thread. Muy bien

1814 – The British attacked the American forces at Ft. Ontario, Oswego, NY. Troublemakers

1821 – Napoleon Bonaparte died on the island of St. Helena, where he had been in exile.Certainly not tonight, Josephine

1834 – The first mainland railway line opened in Belgium.My neighbours are Belgian. I bet they didn’t know this fact

1862 – The Battle of Puebla took place. It is celebrated as Cinco de Mayo Day.Es mañana

1901 – The first Catholic mass for night workers was held at the Church of St. Andrew in New York City.Nice

1912 – Soviet Communist Party newspaper Pravda began publishing.

1917 – Eugene Jacques Bullard becomes the first African-American aviator when he earned his flying certificate with the French Air Service.Well done

1925 – John T. Scopes, a biology teacher in Dayton, TN, was arrested for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution. Disgraceful treatment of an academic

1936 – Edward Ravenscroft received a patent for the screw-on bottle cap with a pour lip……then along came Newcastle Brown

1945 – The Netherlands and Denmark were liberated from Nazi control.Good

1956 – Jim Bailey became the first runner to break the four-minute mile in the U.S. He was clocked at 3:58.5. Bannister beat him to the barrier

1961 – Alan Shepard became the first American in space when he made a 15 minute suborbital flight.Does one naturally follow the other?

1981 – Irish Republican Army hunger-striker Bobby Sands died at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland. It was his 66th day without food. Anyone who is prepared to fast this long for any cause has my admiration

1994 – Michael Fay was caned in Singapore for vandalism. He received four lashes.Maybe we all need rules like these?

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The Day’s Music Events 5th May

1956, Elvis Presley scored his first US No.1 single and album when ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ went to the top of the charts. His debut album also went to No.1.Start as you mean to go on!

1962, The Shirelles started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Soldier Boy’, it made No.23 in the UK.Not as good as Will you still love me tomorrow

1962, The soundtrack to West Side Story went to No.1 on the US album chart. It went on to spend a total of 54 weeks at the No.1 position.Owed much to the popularity of the film

1963, On a recommendation by George Harrison, Dick Rowe Head of A&R at Decca records, (and the man who turned down The Beatles), went to see The Rolling Stones play at Crawdaddy Club, London. The band were signed to the label within a week.That’s a nice fact with Beatle George showing respect for the Stones’ music
1966, Manfred Mann were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Pretty Flamingo‘.I liked this band

1968, Buffalo Springfield split up. Richie Fury formed Poco and Stephen Stills teamed up with David Crosby and Graham Nash in Crosby Stills & Nash.Good band

1969, The Beatles single ‘Get Back’ was released in the US.Good rif
1972, Blind blues guitarist Reverend Gary Davis died of a heart attack aged 76. His unique finger-picking style influenced many other artists.I’d never heard of him before

1972, The first day of the three day Bickershaw Festival, Wigan, England, with The Grateful Dead, Dr John, Donovan, The Kinks, Captain Beefheart, Hawkwind, America, Family, Country Joe MacDonald, Wishbone Ash, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Brinsley Schwarz and the Flamin Groovies.What a great line-up

1973, David Bowie scored his first UK No.1 album when ‘Aladdin Sane’ started a five-week run at the top, featuring the single ‘Drive In Saturday’. He’s a very inventive artiste
1973, Elvis Presley went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite’.Yes ma’am

. 1979, Peaches and Herb started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Reunited’, it made No.4 in the UK.Good song

1983, The Stranglers ‘Golden Brown’ was named most performed work of 1982 at the 28th Ivor Novello Awards. The single had become a UK hit after the comparatively conservative BBC Radio Two made it ‘single of the week’, a surprising step considering the band were almost as notorious as Sex Pistols only a few short years before.I love this track

. 1984, Duran Duran were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘The Reflex’, the group’s second and last No.1Good single

1987, Over 130 girls fainted during a gig by Curiosity Killed The Cat in Liverpool, England.My cat wants to know why this happened

1990, The John Lennon tribute concert was held at the Pier Head Arena in Merseyside, featuring Lenny Kravitz, Al Green, Joe Cocker, The Christians, Kylie Minogue, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Deacon Blue, Lou Reed, Joe Walsh and Wet Wet Wet.What a show. What a tribute

1996, Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan received both a public apology and a donation of £7,500 ($12,750) to the Warchild charity from The Sport newspaper after they ran a story claiming she had performed a gig in Hamburg without wearing any underwear.Why do these newspapers bother?

2000, Rod Stewart had a one-hour throat operation at Cedar Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles to remove a growth on his thyroid. The growth turns out to be benign.Good. I like Rod

2002, Australian actress & singer Holly Valance went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Kiss Kiss.’ The third “Neighbours” TV star to score a UK No 1.Probably the best of the lot

’ 2002, Two disc jockeys from Denver’s KRFX-FM, Rick Lewis and Michael Floorwax, stopped a live radio interview with Detroit rocker Ted Nugent after he used derogatory racial terms for Asians and Blacks. The station received dozens of complaints. I’m glad they had the sense to stop the interview

2003, UK Holiday camp operator Butlins introduced a new system of rhyming slang at bingo halls in an attempt to bring the game up-to-date. Pop stars Jennifer Lopez and Gareth Gates became new catchphrases for the callers, ‘Gareth Gates’ (8) and ‘J-Lo’s bum’ (71). Other additions include ‘stroppy teen’ (15) and ‘feng shui’ (53).Words fail me



Music Source 1 music source 2

Birthday Boys and Girls

1942,  Tammy Wynette, US Country singer, 1968 US No.19 and 1975 UK No.1 single ‘Stand By Your Man’. Known as the first lady of country music. Had the 1991 hit with The KLF ‘Justified and Ancient’ which became a No. 1 hit in eighteen countries. She died from cardiac arrhythmiaon aged 55 on 6th April 1998.

1948, , Bill Ward, drums, Black Sabbath, (1970 UK No.4 single ‘Paranoid’). The bands self-titled album was voted as the best British rock albums ever by Kerrang! in 2005.

1950, Eddy Amoo, The Real Thing, (1976 UK No.1 single ‘You To Me Are Everything’).

1957, Thereza Bazar, singer, Dollar, (1981 UK No.4 single ‘Mirror Mirror’).

1959,  Ian McCulloch, Echo And The Bunnymen, (1983 UK No.8 single ‘The Cutter’)

1981, Craig David, UK singer, (2000 UK No.1 single, ‘Fill Me In’, 2000 UK No.1 album ‘Born To Do It’ spent 50 weeks on the chart.

 

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Vince Tracy | Create your badge

I have put an extremely interesting podcast onto the site and it all came about from a meeting with a pianist at a jam session in Palm Springs. He was a drummer with Ronnie Lane and Slim Chance but there is a whole lot more to the story. His father was a really famous film producer. His name is Jimmy Frank and his father was Melvin Frank. ………..Mr. Frank, who had more than 35 movies to his credit, was born in Chicago and was graduated from the University of Chicago. There he met Norman Panama, who was to become his writing and producing collaborator for close to a quarter of a century.  The two moved to Hollywood in 1938, where they became writers for the Bob Hope radio show,  leading to their first screenwriting venture with Mr. Hope, ”My Favorite Blonde,” in 1942.

Subsequently they wrote ”The Return of October,” ”The Reformer and the Redhead” and their first ”road” picture for Mr. Hope and Bing Crosby, ”Road to Utopia.”   In 1947, Mr. Frank and Mr. Panama wrote and produced ”Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House,”
which starred Cary Grant, Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas. Bosley Crowther praised the film in The ew York Times, writing that it offered ”as much casual fun as can be looked for on our sparsely provided screen. Here’s the link to the podcast.

I’m trying out some new technology and, although, the Internet is amazing we always seem to have very slow connection speeds around early afternoon. This is not just my computers as I have checked around. This general malaise is strange and I wonder what the reason might be. Someone told me it’s the Americans coming online. Others have told me it is people home from work and school flooding the system. Does anyone have the true answer to this problem? Whatever the reason might be this is a nuisance and it would be great to find a solution..

Spotlight on the ladies

I love getting my shower in the morning. I love getting shaved and feeling clean and ready to face the world. I say this because I’ve just just been looking at a picture of a tramp and it helps me realise how much we take for granted. Even the little things like soap and water on tap! That’s a terrible pun. However, the serious point is the differences around the globe between the haves and have nots. We tend to moan a little if it rains too much but there are those who pray for a few drops of rain. Why can’t we use this period of recession to think differently and see water as a resource that should be saved and used properly. Let’s find a way of moving surplus to shortage and apply new principles around the globe. Let’s put in the pipelines and desalination plants and spend the money on infrastructure instead of just handing out state benefits. There are enough riches in the world. We just aren’t prepared to share our riches more evenly.

I am adding the following that is circulating around the Internet. I am not necessarily supporting what is said but it is interesting to see and understand the content….

Australian Prime Minister does it again!!
This woman should be appointed Queen of the World….Truer words have never been spoken.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard- Australia
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks…..

Separately, Gillard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying she supported spy agencies monitoring the nation’s mosques. Quote:

‘IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT.. Take It Or Leave It.
I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.’

‘This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom’

‘We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society … Learn the language!’

‘Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political  push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.’

‘We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.’

‘This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, ‘THE RIGHT TO LEAVE’.’
‘If you aren’t happy here then LEAVE. We didn’t force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.’

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A man was walking down the street when he was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless man who asked him for a couple of dollars for dinner.

The man took out his wallet, extracted ten dollars and asked, “If I give you this money, will you buy some beer with it instead of dinner?”

“No, I had to stop drinking years ago,” the homeless man replied.

“Will you use it to go fishing instead of buying food?” the man asked.

“No, I don’t waste time fishing,” the homeless man said. “I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive.”

“Will you spend this on greens’ fees at a golf course instead of food?” the man asked.

“Are you NUTS!” replied the homeless man. “I haven’t played golf in 20 years!”

“Will you spend the money on a woman in the red light district instead of food?” the man asked.

“What disease would I get for ten lousy bucks?” exclaimed the homeless man.

“Well,” said the man, “I’m not going to give you the money. Instead, I’m going to take you home for a terrific dinner cooked by my wife.”

The homeless man was astounded. “Won’t your wife be furious with you for doing that? I know I’m dirty and I probably smell pretty disgusting.”

The man replied, “That’s okay. It’s important for her to see what a man looks like after he has given up beer, fishing, golf and sex.”

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Jewel in Costa Blanca Crown

Events 4th May

1471 – In England, the Yorkists defeated the Lancastrians at the battle of Tewkesbury in the War of the Roses. Elements of this still exist

1493 – Alexander VI divided non-Christian world between Spain and Portugal. Gracias

1626 – Dutch explorer Peter Minuit landed on Manhattan Island. Native Americans later sold the island (20,000 acres) for $24 in cloth and buttons.I confess I didn’t know his name

1715 – A French manufacturer debuted the first folding umbrella. I used one of these today. Merci monsieur

1776 – Rhode Island declared its freedom from England two months before the Declaration of Independence was adopted.Fair enough

1814 – Napoleon Bonaparte disembarked at Portoferraio on the island of Elba in the Mediterranean.  I think he liked the place

1886 – Chichester Bell and Charles S. Tainter patented the gramophone. It was the first practical phonograph. All he needed was a few records

1905 – Belmont Park opened in suburban Long Island. It opened as the largest race track in the world. I didn’t know that

1916 – Germany agreed to limit its submarine warfare after a demand from U.S. President Wilson. But would they keep their word?

1930 – Mahatma Gandhi was arrested by the British. He was a great man

1942 – The Battle of the Coral Sea commenced as American and Japanese carriers launched their attacks at each other. A lesser known part of the war for us

1942 – The United States began food rationing.

1979 – Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first woman prime minister. The Iron Lady had arrived- At the time she was the best person for the job in Britain after Labour had seen 30% inflation and the Prime Minister couldn’t see we had a problem. He was nickneamed Sunny Jim-James Callaghan

1987 – Live models were used for the first time in Playtex bra ads. Wow

1989 – Oliver North, a former White House aide was convicted of shredding documents and two other crimes. He was acquitted of nine other charges stemming from the Iran-Contra affair. The three convictions were later overturned on appeal. Big news at the time

1994 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat signed a historic accord on Palestinian autonomy that granted self-rule in the Gaza Strip and Jericho.

1999 – Several severe tornadoes hit the Midwest U.S. overnight. At least 45 people were killed.These events have always happened

2000 – Londoners elected their mayor for the first time. Dick Whittingham might think differently

2010 – Pablo Picasso’s “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” sold for $106.5 million. Somebody had a few bob

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The Day’s Music Events 4th May

1956, Lonnie Donegan quit Chris Barber’s Jazz Band to form his own skiffle group. It was quite a risk but he was dynamic and inspired many to take up the guitar1961, The Marcels were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the Rodgers & Hart song from the 1930s ‘Blue Moon’, their only UK No.1.It was a fabulous song

1961, The Beatles performed at the Top Ten Club, Reeperbahn, Hamburg, West Germany. Folklore now

1963, Andy Williams started a 16-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Days Of Wine And Roses’.Great singer who started at an early age

1967, The Young Rascals started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Groovin.’ This song epitomises summertime

1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared on UK TV’s Top Of The Pops’. Classic
1968, Mary Hopkin won her heat on the ITV talent show ‘Opportunity Knocks’. She later signed with The Beatles-owned Apple Records, Paul McCartney produced her UK No.1 single ‘Those Were The Days’, which also made No. 2 in the US. Hopkin later married record producer Tony Visconti. This TV show was very important in the UK at that time
1973, Led Zeppelin opened their 1973 North American tour, which was billed as the ‘biggest and most profitable rock & roll tour in the history of the United States’. The group would gross over $4 million from the dates, flying between gigs in ‘The Starship’ a Boeing 720 passenger jet, complete with bar, shower room, TV and video in a 30′ lounge and a white fur bedroom. Rock n Roll, eh?
1974, Abba were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Waterloo’, the group’s first of nine UK No.1 singles was the 1974 Eurovision song contest winner for Sweden. The song was first called ‘Honey Pie’. Sounded better as Waterloo. I doubt if Honey Pie would have done the job
1974, Grand Funk Railroad started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with their version of the Little Eva hit ‘The Loco-Motion.’ It was only the second time that a cover version had been a No.1 as well as the original.I loved the original

1974, The film soundtrack to ‘The Sting’ by Marvin Hamlisch started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart.Good tune

1975, Mud were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of the Buddy Holly hit from 1958 ‘Oh Boy’. Their third and final No.1 single.Just a great song but Mud were good

1978, ‘Night Fever’ by The Bee Gees was at No.1 on the UK singles chart. The group’s third No.1 and the theme from the film ‘Saturday Night Fever.’ The song was a US No.1 for over two months. This was a pivotal song that re-branded the Bee Gees
1985, Phyllis Nelson was at No.1 on the UK singles with ‘Move Closer’, her only UK hit making the American singer a One-hit Wonder. Great single

1987, American blues vocalist, harmonica player Paul Butterfield, who fronted The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, died at his home in North Hollywood, California, of drug-related heart failure, he was 44. Gained international recognition as one of the early acts performing during the Summer of Love, at The Monterey festival and Woodstock festival. I didn’t know this guy’s music

1989, Stevie Ray Vaughan set out on what would be his last ever tour at the Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, British Columbia. The guitarist was killed in a helicopter crash on 27th Aug 1999 after a concert at Alpine Valley Music Theater in Wisconsin, after playing 107 of the 110 dates.Very sad

1991, Cher scored her first solo UK No.1 single with ‘The Shoop Shoop Song’ from the film ‘Mermaids’. The song had been a hit for Betty Everett on 1964, and gave Cher her first No.1 in the UK since 1965′s ‘I Got You Babe’.It was a great single with some good sound effects on her voice

1991, MC Hammer played the first of three nights at London’s Wembley Arena.  We loved the pants!
1996, George Michael scored his seventh UK No.1 single as a solo artist when ‘Fastlove’ started a three-week run at the top of the chart. The second of six singles to be taken from George’s comeback album Older.Not a favourite of mine

2000, Metallica were demanding online music service Napster cut off 335,000 users who they claimed had been illegally trading their songs.

2003, Madonna was at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘American Life’, the singers fifth US No.1.Good music
2004, Clement Seymour Dodd died aged 72. Producer and major force in the development of ska and reggae, made the first recordings of Bob Marley. A name to remember
2008, Madonna’s latest album Hard Candy went straight to No.1 in the UK, giving the singer a chart double, with her song 4 Minutes, featuring Justin Timberlake, on top of the singles chart for a third week. Hard Candy was Madonna’s 10th number one album.You have to applaud this

2008, Thieves broke into the childhood home of Motown star Martha Reeves and stole about $1 million worth of uninsured recording equipment, including speakers, microphones and karaoke machines. A suspect was arrested at his home later in the day after he tried to sell the goods to a pawnshop for $400.I hate thieves




Music Source 1 music source 2

Birthday Boys and Girls

1942,  Ronnie Bond, drummer, The Troggs, (1966 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Wild Thing’). Bond died on 13th November 1992.

1945, George Wadenius, Blood Sweat & Tears, (1969 US No.12 & UK No.35 single ‘You’ve Made Me So Very Happy’).
1949, Born on this day,
1951,  Bruce Day, Santana, (1970 US No.4 single ‘Black Magic Woman’, 1977 UK No.11 single ‘She’s Not There’), Pablo Cruise.

1951,Jackie Jackson, The Jackson Five, (1970 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘I Want You Back’,) The Jacksons, (1977 UK No.1 single ‘Show You The Way To Go’).

1959,  Randy Travis, Country singer, 1989 US No.3 album ‘No Holdin Back’.

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Vince Tracy | Create your badge

Do the soaps reflect society or do they promote problems? I think we’ve all heard these questions before but one thing is for certain. I was not in the mood for the Soap Awards last night. Without doubt the actors and actresses work hard and they are pretty good. However, I would take issue with many of the storylines which now strive to outdo the rival productions each night of the week. Personally, if, as I do, a person doesn’t like the content no matter how well it is acted, then I certainly am not going to enjoy the year’s highlights of shocking details riddled throughout the soaps. Society needs to revisit the need for such daily content. I would argue that a few years ago these soaps were given free reign to try and shock us more than when the origins of Coronation St, the Woolpack and The Queen Vic first affected our lives. I don’t, for a minute, think they should be stopped but I think the writers could adjust their plots.

I made a nice new podcast with comedy impressionist, Paul Melba, yesterday. We looked at Paul’s memories of Tommy Cooper and Ken Dodd from the world of comedy and from

the world of singers we looked at his memories of Frankie Vaughan and Michael Holliday. Three of the four greats came from Liverpool. Here’s the link.

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Orihuela Ayuntamiento was criticised for closing many of its public buildings on May Day, a public holiday, when many thousands of visitors flocked into the city to explore it’s heritage.

The closing of museums and churches left hundreds of tourists wandering the old town disappointed, as a result of which they had to make alternative arrangements to change their plans. In the vast majority of cases there was no prior information that the buildings would be closed as city employees all took the day off.

It would appear that none of the four departments responsible, Tourism, Culture, Heritage and Commerce, took any any action or initiative to cater for the hundreds of visitors who arrived in the town. The fact that the buildings were closed presented a deplorable image to visitors, indeed there was even an absence of posters on many buildings indicating they were closed because of the holiday.

It would appear that there were even a good number of bars and other trading establishments that closed their doors when the four day holiday should have presented them with a time to cash in.

Two coach loads of Visitors who had arrived for a day trip from Valencia were particularly annoyed as many of them have even bought advance tickets on line for buildings that were closed. One said that there was no indication that any of these museums and churches would be closed and after looking forward to the trip for some time their day out had been completely ruined.

Meanwhile in adjoining towns with a little more foresight, Elche and Torrevieja were celebrating days of tapas, Granja de Rocamora had a town fiesta and Pilar de la Horadada was holding a Fair.

SpanishVida: http://www.theleader.info/article/34093/

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Jewel in Costa Blanca Crown

Events 3rd May

1568 – French forces in Florida slaughtered hundreds of Spanish. Why?

1859 – France declared war on Austria. The Europeans didn’t get on did they?

1916 – Irish nationalist Padraic Pearse and two others were executed by the British for their roles in the Easter Rising. The English shouldn’t have been there

1926 – In Britain, trade unions began a general strike. It didn’t last long…I think it was just 9 days

1944 – Wartime rationing of most grades of meats ended in the U.S. Rationing in Britain didn’t end until 1954

1948 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that covenants prohibiting the sale of real estate to blacks and other minorities were legally unenforceable.Good

1952 – The first airplane landed at the geographic North Pole. Interesting

1988 – The White House acknowledged that first lady Nancy Reagan had used astrological advice to help schedule her husband’s activities. This opened the doors to criticism

1992 – Five days of rioting and looting ended in Los Angeles, CA. The riots, that killed 53 people, began after the acquittal of police officers in the beating of Rodney King. If justice had prevailled none of this would have happened

2000 – The trial of two Libyans accused of killing 270 people in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 (over Lockerbie) opened. Troubled times

2006 – In Alexandria, VA, Al-Quaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui was given a sentence of life in prison for his role in the terrorist attack on the U.S. on September 11, 2001

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The Day’s Music Events 3rd May

1965, The Beatles spent the day filming for their forthcoming film ‘Help!’ on Salisbury Plain with the British Army’s Third Tank Division.Hardly a classic

1967, The Walker Brothers announced they were splitting up. Gary has a podcast with me

1968, The Beach Boys opened their US tour on which the co-headliner was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.Did he sing?

. 1975, Chicago started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Chicago VIII’, the group’s third US No.1.Underrated in the UK

1975, The Bay City Rollers started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK chart with their second album ‘Once Upon A Star.’ Oh Dear
1976, David Bowie played the first of six sold out nights at Wembley, his first UK gig in three years.He was ready to gig

1976, Paul McCartney made his first concert appearance in America in almost ten years when Wings kicked off their 31-date ‘Wings Over America’ tour at the Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, Texas. I’ll bet he was chuffed
1978, The first date of a 12-date UK tour by The Climax Blues Band supported by Dire Straits.Dire Straits would soon be topping the bill

1980, Dexy’s Midnight Runners were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Geno’, a song written about US soul singer Geno Washington.I always liked this song

1986, Robert Palmer went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Addicted To Love’, it made No.5 in the UK. Palmer originally recorded the song as a duet with Chaka Khan but due to contractual problems her voice was removed.There is a great video to this

1997, Katrina And The Waves won the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin with the song ‘Love Shine A Light’, making them the first UK winners since Bucks Fizz in 1981.Walking on Sunshine is still a better song

1997, Michael Jackson went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Blood On The Dance Floor’. The singers 7th UK No.1 peaked at No.42 on the US charts.Not his best

2003, London based bank Coutts And Co. turned down applications from members of Oasis to open accounts on the grounds of the bands bad behaviour. Why is this band so yobbish?
2004, The US Supreme Court rejected an appeal by two musicians who claimed they were owed royalties from Ozzy Osbourne. Bassist Robert Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake had fought a long-running battle since 1997 with the Osbourne family claiming they were entitled to money from the albums ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ and ‘Diary of a Madman.’ Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s wife and manager, said that the pair had “harassed” her family and had had their contributions removed from the albums because of their “abusive and unjust behaviour”.I’d love to know the real story behind this

2006, The first Bob Dylan radio program was aired on XM Satellite Radio. Tracks played on his show included Blur, Prince, Billy Bragg, Wilco, Mary Gauthier, L.L. Cool J and The Streets.Interesting choice
2009, Bob Dylan went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Together Through Life’ his seventh UK No.1 album. It was the singer, songwriter’s 33rd studio album, he last topped the UK chart with ‘New Morning’ in 1970. His first No.1 in 1964, was ‘The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’. Dylan now held the record, (previously held by Tom Jones), for the longest gap between solo number one albums.This is quite a record




Music Source 1 music source 2

Birthday Boys and Girls

1919, Pete Seeger, US folk singer, wrote ‘Turn Turn Turn’, for The Byrds. ‘If I Had A Hammer’, hit for Peter Paul and Mary.

1933, James Brown, ‘Soul Brother No.1′, (1966 US No.8 and UK No.13 single ‘It’s A Man’s World’, 1986 UK No.5 single ‘Living In America’, 1963 album ‘Live At The Apollo’). Brown died on 25th Dec 2006 at the age of 73 after being diagnosed with severe pneumonia.
1937, Frankie Valli, singer, The Four Seasons, (1976 UK & US No.1 single ‘December, 1963, Oh What A Night’, solo 1978 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘Grease’)

1944, Pete Staples, The Troggs, (1966 US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Wild Thing’).

1948,  John Richardson, The Rubettes, (1974 UK No.1 single ‘Sugar Baby Love’). 1950, Born on this day, Mary Hopkin, (1968 UK No.1 and US No.2 single ‘Those Were The Days’, released on The Beatles Apple label and produced by Paul McCartney, winner of TV Talent show ‘Opportunity Knocks.

1951,  Christopher Cross, singer, songwriter, (1981 US No.1 single ‘Arthur’s Theme’, a No.7 UK hit in 1982).

1959, David Ball, Soft Cell, (1981 UK No.1 single ‘Tainted Love’).

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Vince Tracy | Create your badge

We had a lovely walk along the seafront from Albir to Altea yesterday. You might remember we have both said that we missed being by the sea when we were in California but sometimes it is easy to overlook how nice the Costa Blanca really is. The weather has begun to warm up although around Spain there are vast differences. We had the sun whilst the north has had snow in some areas and flooding in other areas. Here come the photos….

Liverpool lost again at home last night. This time it was Fulham. This was on the day that former manager Roy Hodgson was appointed the England manager. I wish him well. I also understand that Kenny Dalglish is a former player and kop hero. However, in terms of the Premier League he certainly did a better job than Dalglish. In fact I think Liverpool treated Hodgson unfairly. If Chelsea beat Liverpool in the Cup Final, and I think they will, then I cannot see King Kenny not losing his crown.

I also watched this blessed programme where the police spend thousands of pounds chasing and catching miscreants who are then given community service as a punishment for driving dangerously and having no insurance. The whole thing is ridiculous. The punishments are far too light and the culprits must think it’s well worth the effort to drive recklessly and then get next to nothing as a punishment. Build offshore prisons and bang them up there for a minimum of five years whether or not they behave in prison.. The alternative is money spent during a recession to catch these hoodlums continuing to escalate and dangerous situations every day of the week. It’s a joke. Most of us law-abiding citizens can’t even get away with a speeding fine!

According to the latest data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), the number of people in work fell by 374,300 in the first quarter of 2012 to a total of 17,433,200. The number of unemployed rose by 365,900 to a total 5,639,500.

The unemployment rates for each autonomous region range from 13.55% in the Basque Country to 33.17% in Andalusia.

The active population in Spain shrank by 8,400 in the first quarter of 2012. The Spanish labour force currently consists of 23,072,800 people. In year-on-year terms, the active population has increased by 10,900. The labour force participation rate remains stable at 59.94%; unchanged from the previous quarter. This rate among women rose by 0.43% to 53.35%, while among men it fell by 0.44% to 66.86%.

The labour force participation rate in Spain is more than 18% lower than those in other countries, mainly due to the different age group structure between one and another.

People in work

The number of people in work fell by 374,300 in the first quarter of 2012 to a total of 17,433,200.

This decrease in employment was felt more acutely among the male population (278,300 fewer men in work) than among women (96,000 fewer women). The number of foreign citizens in work in Spain fell by 87,300 while the number of Spanish citizens in work in Spain fell by 287,000.

The number of people in work, regardless of gender, fell in all age groups. When looking at these figures in terms of gender, women aged 45 to 49 recorded the highest increase in employment (12,400 more). On the other hand, the number of men aged 25 to 29 in work fell by 70,200 and the number of women aged 25 to 29 in work fell by 41,100.

Employment fell in all sectors this quarter. Services recorded 184,800 fewer employed workers, Construction 90,200 fewer, Industry 67,000 fewer and Agriculture 32,300 fewer. The number of self-employed workers increased by 46,300, mainly due to an increase in the number of business owners without employees.

The number of employees fell by 418,000. The number of those with a permanent employment contract fell by 138,400 while the number of those with temporary employment contracts fell by 279,600. The temporary employment rate fell by more than 1.2% to 23.76%. Part-time work increased this quarter by 47,500 workers while the number of people in work on full-time contracts fell by 421,800. The percentage of people working part time rose by 0.6% to 14.37%.

The year-on-year rate of change to the number of employed workers stands at -3.96%, 0.7% less than the rate recorded in the preceding quarter. Employment has fallen by 718,500 people in one year, of which 709,700 were employees and 9,900 were self-employed workers. The year-on-year decline in employment among men (531,700 fewer) is far superior to the decline in employment among women (186,800).

Jewel in Costa Blanca Crown

Events 2nd May

1519 – Leonardo da Vinci died. Brilliant mind

1670 – The Hudson Bay Company was founded by England’s King Charles II. Good idea

1776 – France and Spain agreed to donate arms to American rebels fighting the British.Typical-ganging up on the poor Brits!

1797 – A mutiny in the British navy spread from Spithead to the rest of the fleet.Troublemakers

1808 – The citizens of Madrid rose up against Napoleon. I should think so too

1919 – The first U.S. air passenger service started. This was earlier than I had thought

1933 – Hitler banned trade unions in Germany. First of many devious plans

1941 – Hostilities broke out between British forces in Iraq and that country’s pro-German faction. Always a troubled area

1946 – Prisoners revolted at California‘s Alcatraz prison.We could make a film about this

1965 – The “Early Bird” satellite was used to transmit television pictures across the Atlantic. Clever stuff

1974 – The filming of “Jaws” began in Martha’s Vineyard, MA. This put a lot of people off swimming in the sea

1982 – The British submarine HMS Conqueror sank Argentina’s only cruiser, the General Belgrano during the Falkland Islands War. More than 350 people died.What a horrible way to die

1994 – Nelson Mandela claimed victory after South Africa’s first democratic elections.Great man

Click Map for Benidorm Weather

The Day’s Music Events  2nd May

1957, Elvis Presley recorded the Leiber and Stoller song ‘Jailhouse Rock’ as featured in his third motion picture of the same name.There is a good video that was added to the song

1963, The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘From Me To You’, the group’s first No.1 and the first of eleven consecutive No.1′s. The title of the song was inspired from a letters column called From You To Us that ran in the British music newspaper, The New Musical Express. They were great days
1964, The Rolling Stones self-titled debut album started a 12-week run at No.1 on the UK charts. The album spent a total of 51 weeks on the UK chart. Also on his day The Stones made their first appearance on the US singles chart when ‘Not Fade Away’ entered the chart at No.98. Great song and great album
1967, The Beach Boys, Helen Shapiro, Simon Dupree And The Big Sound and Terry Reid with Peter Jay’s Jaywalkers all appeared at The Adelphi Theatre, Dublin. Great craic
1969, The Who gave a press preview of their new rock opera ‘Tommy’ at Ronnie Scott’s in London, England. I bought the album and played it to death
1969, The Beatles recorded a re-make of the new George Harrison song ‘Something’ at Abbey Road Studios in London. They recorded 36 takes of the song, which included Billy Preston on piano.I thought Billy Preston was only there after Get Back

1970, One hit wonder Norman Greenbaum was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Spirit In The Sky.’ Also a No.1 hit for Doctor and the Medics in 1986 and Gareth Gates in 2003.A pop classic

1972, Bruce Springsteen auditioned for CBS Records A&R man John Hammond in New York. Springsteen played a short set for him in his office; Hammond was so impressed that he arranged a real audition that night at the Gaslight Club in New York for other Columbia executives. Bruce passed the audition.Obviously, they were good judges

1978, Kate Bush was on the UK charts with her debut album ‘The Kick Inside’. The album which featured the singers No.1 hit ‘Wuthering Heights’ peaked at No.3 spent a total of 70 weeks on the UK chart.Extraordinary singer

1981, Scottish singer Sheena Easton started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Morning Train (9 to 5)’. The title of the song was changed to avoid any confusion with the Dolly Parton hit ’9 to 5′, in the same year. I wonder why they chose a song title with such similarity?

1981, The Beat kicked off a 17-date UK tour at Cardiff Sophia Gardens. Tickets £3.50 reduced to £2.50 on production of a unemployment dole card.Fair enough

1983, Spandau Ballet were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘True’, the group’s only No.1. The song spent four weeks at the top of the UK chart and was a hit in 20 other countries. Parts of the original version have been sampled and used in a number of songsIt really is another pop classic
1987, Cutting Crew started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘(I Just), Died In Your Arms’, a No.4 hit in the UK. A great track

1989, A security guard alerted the police after a man wearing a wig, fake moustache and false teeth walked into Zales Jewellers, California. Three squad cars arrived and police detained the man, who turned out to be Michael Jackson in disguise.He was only doing his job

1991, The video for the R.E.M. song ‘Losing My Religion’, was banned in Ireland because its religious imagery was seen as unfit for broadcast.Good song
1992, The Cure scored their first UK No.1 album with ‘Wish’, their 15th album release, featuring the top 10 single ‘Friday I’m In Love’.Student music

1998, Boyzone went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘All That I Need’

1998, Japanese rock star Hideto Matsumoto was found hanged in the bathroom at his Tokyo apartment and died in hospital a short time later at the age of 33. His funeral, held on May 7th, was attended by over 70,000 people and required 100 police officers, 170 security guards, police boats and helicopters. 21 people were hospitalised for injuries caused by the massive crowd at his funeral.He made a great impact in Japan

1999, Sinead O’Connor made her first performance since her ordination as Mother Bernadette when she appeared on Irish television’s ‘Late Late Show’.Part-time nun?

2005, Eric Clapton joined former Cream members drummer Ginger Baker and bass player Jack Bruce for the first of four nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall 36 years after they had split up. Tickets were changing hands for more than £500 on eBay and fans had flown over from the USA to witness the reunion, which Clapton aged 60, is said to have agreed to because of the failing health of the other former members of the band. It was another pivotal moment in pop history
2006, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was released from hospital in New Zealand after the 62 year-old suffered “mild concussion” when he fell out of a coconut tree while on holiday in Fiji. He was airlifted to Auckland’s Ascot Hospital for observation, where he underwent a brain scan. This started a s a light-hearted story that turned into something quite serious
2007, Almost 2,000 musicians gathered in the Polish city of Wroclaw to play a rock anthem by Jimi Hendrix. The guitarists were aiming to set a new Guinness World Record by gathering 1,876 guitarist’s in the city’s market square to play ‘Hey Joe’. Organisers say it was the biggest guitar ensemble in recorded history.Make a note of that!

2009, A rare Motown seven-inch single sold for £25,742, ($38,378), setting a new world record. Kenny Burrell, from Fife in Scotland, put the unreleased 1965 single ‘Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)’ by Frank Wilson up for auction; the single was one of only two in the world. Motown boss Berry Gordy had all other copies destroyed after Wilson moved into songwriting and producing. British Record dealer John Manship, who organised the sale, said the buyer wished to remain anonymous. Wilson went on to write hits for The Supremes and The Four Tops. What a great piece of pop history

2009, Bob Dylan mingled unnoticed with other Beatles tourists during a minibus tour to John Lennon’s childhood home. He was one of 14 tourists to examine photos and documents in the National Trust-owned home, where Lennon grew up with his aunt Mimi and uncle George. Dylan who was on a day off on a European tour paid £16 for the public trip to the 1940s house in Woolton, Liverpool.Obviously a man of the people

2009, Hannah Montana: The Movie Soundtrack went to No.1 on the US album chart. The album featured songs by Miley Cyrus (as both Hannah Montana and herself), Billy Ray Cyrus, Taylor Swift, and Rascal Flatts.Well established artistes

Music Source 1 music source 2

Birthday Boys and Girls

1904,  Bing Crosby, US singer who recorded an estimated 2,600 songs in his lifetime including ‘White Christmas’, which was written by Irving Berlin. Crosby had 317 other hits in the USA. Died of a heart attack on a golf course in Madrid, Spain, on October 14, 1977.
1936,Engelbert Humperdinck, (1967 UK No.1 and US No. 4 single ‘Release Me’, plus 12 other UK Top 40 hits). 1945, Born on this day, Goldy McJohn, Steppenwolf, (1968 US No.2 and 1969 UK No.30 single ‘Born To Be Wild’).

1945, Randy Cain, The Delfonics, (1968 US No.4 & 1971 UK No.19 single ‘La- La Means I Love You’). Died on 9th April 2009 at the age of 63.

1946,  Bob Henrit, drums, Argent, 1972 UK No.5 single ‘Hold Your Head Up’), also a member of The Kinks.
1946,  Lesley Gore, singer, (1963 US No.1 & UK No.9 single ‘It’s My Party’).

1950, Lou Gramm, vocals, Foreigner, (1985 UK & US No.1 single ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’).

1951, Jo Callis, Synthesizer, keyboards, guitar, Human League, (1981 UK No.1 & 1982 US No.1 single ‘Don’t You Want Me’ plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles). Callis had been a member of the Rezillos and wrote their 1978 hit ‘Top of the Pops’.

1954, Prescott Niles, The Knack, (1979 US No.1 & UK No.6 single ‘My Sharona’).