Post
by Richard Frost » Fri Aug 13 2021 10:05am
13th August 2021
13 August (Friday) - 15 August (Sunday) O-BON Japanese [in Tokyo - for rest of Japan see 13 July]
A Japanese festival when the spirits of the departed are welcomed back home with feasting and dancing. Fires are often lit to illuminate their arrival and departure.
Blame Someone Else Day
This momentous occasion for people to lie through their teeth and pretend they were struck with a sudden, 24-hour long spell of amnesia, takes place on the first Friday the 13th of every year. The blame can be pinned on anyone preferred, but remember that at the stroke of midnight, much like Cinderella, people will be turned back into their old selves again! But, no matter what happens, the brief madness of this particular day can be blamed on Anne Moeller in Michigan, who started the trend in 1982 as an excuse for not keeping her appointments on the fateful day of Friday the 13th. (To be honest, it was really the fault of her alarm clock that didn’t go off, which set off a chain of events that day that all turned into a large amount of bad luck!) From Ms. Moeller’s deep desire to make all of the bad luck of her day someone else’s fault spawned this light hearted, silly day that adds a little bit of interest to life. It’s time to celebrate Blame Someone Else Day!
International Lefthanders Day
From scissors to knives, from can openers to cork screws, Left Handers (also sometimes called Southpaws) can be the brunt of jokes all year long due to their unique hand dominance. But this is the day to ignore all of that and bring awareness to all of those right handed folks around the globe in celebration of Left Handers Day. After all, as the old saying goes– right handed people operate on the left side of the brain, which means that left handed people are functioning on the right side. Therefore, only left handed people are in their right mind! Celebrating its first year of existence in 1976, the Lefthanders International organization helped raise awareness to the myriad of difficulties that can be faced by people who are left handed. Being accused of witchcraft in the 1600s for just using one hand more than the other, was only the beginning! Since only 10 percent of the population is left handed, various items made especially for those who are left-handed are typically more expensive than their right handed counterparts. Objects such as scissors, knives and even school desks can see a mark up of almost 75 percent more for left handed individuals! Even sports fanatics will pay out the nose, as golf clubs sometimes see as much as a 200 percent increase depending on their brand. But even though it can be difficult and, admittedly, a bit more expensive, those left handers in the world are certainly unique and interesting people. And this is the perfect day to celebrate them!
Filet Mignon Day
There is a cut of meat that is the very definition of luxury and decadence, one that falls from the lips of the common people and the rich debutante royalty of Hollywood in equal measure. Filet Mignon is French for “dainty fillet” and first found its way into the world in the 1906 book ”The Four Million”. Filet Minion Day celebrates the history of this steak and the delicious role it has played in exquisite meals. Tenderloin. The very word implies a rich and succulent meal that absolutely melts on the tongue, but even in this most perfect cut of meat, there is a portion that is unquestionably the best. This portion is the fabled Filet Mignon. This delicious cut is served in 4 to 8oz portions and comes prepared in one of three varieties, seared in a pan, grilled over coals or the most famous, wrapped in bacon. The bacon is typically added to enrich the piece with fat, as Filet Mignon tends to leanness. Even though it comes from the tenderloin, there are still multiple cuts of Filet Mignon one can choose to indulge in. The prime cut is the most popular and is available from any form of cattle, the Angus Cut, however, comes specifically from vegetarian fed beef and is far and away one of the best forms of beef available. If you’re truly feeling decadent, you can purchase a 32oz whole Filet Mignon Roast. It may be expensive but it’ll be worth every succulent bite.
A Selection of Birthdays
1422 William Caxton, English printer and translator, 1st to print in the English language (Histories of Troy), born in Kent, (d. 1492) birth date disputed
1584 Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk, Politician, born Saffron Waldon, Essex (d.1640)
1662 Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, Politician, born Marlborough, Wiltshire (d.1748)
1666 William Wotton, English theologian and scholar, born in Wrentham, Suffolk (d. 1727)
1699 John Dyer, British poet & Priest born Llanfynydd, Carmarthenshire, (Baptism date) (d.1757)
1721 Francis Hutcheson, Irish composer, born in Dublin (d. 1784)
1792 Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, Queen consort of William IV of the United Kingdom, born in Meiningen, Germany (d. 1849)
1819 George Gabriel Stokes, Irish physicist and mathematician (spectroscope), born in Skreen, County Sligo, (d. 1903)
1820 George Grove, English biblical scholar and misicographer, born in Clapham, London (d. 1900)
1823 Goldwin Smith, English historian and journalist, born in Reading, Berkshire (d. 1910)
1826 William Thomas Best, English organist and composer, born in Carlisle, Cumberland (d. 1897)
1860 Annie Oakley [Phoebe Ann Moses], American sharp shooter (Buffalo Bill's Wild West), born in North Star, Ohio (d. 1926)
1867 William Alexander Craigie, Scottish lexicographer (Skotlands Rimur), born in Dundee (d. 1957)
1879 John Ireland, English composer and pianist (Mai-Dun), born in Bowdon, Cheshire (d. 1962)
1884 Harry Dean, English cricketer (England left-arm bowler in 3 Tests, 1912), born in Burnley, Lancashire (d. 1957)
1888 John Logie Baird, Scottish inventor & father of television, born Helensburgh (d. 1946)
1899 Alfred Hitchcock, British film director (Psycho; The Birds; Rear Window; Vertigo), born in Leytonstone, Essex (now part of London) (d. 1980)
1901 Ian Whyte, Scottish composer and conductor (BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra), born in Dunfermline (d. 1960)
1907 Basil Spence, British architect, born in Bombay, India (d. 1976)
1913 Albert Oram, Baron Oram, British Labour politician, born in Winchester (d. 1999)
1918 Frederick Sanger, British biochemist (Sanger sequencing, Nobel Prize 1958, 1980), born in Rendcomb, Gloucestershire (d. 2013)
1919 George Shearing, British-American blind jazz pianist (Lullaby of Birdland), born London (d. 2011)
1920 Charlie Alfred Galbraith, English jazz trombonist, born in London (d. 1997)
1926 Fidel Castro, Cuban revolutionary, Prime Minister (1959-76) and President (1976-2008), born in Birán, Holguin Province, Cuba (d. 2016)
1929 Michael Beavis, British deputy Commanding-in-Chief (Allied Forces Central Europe) (d. 2020)
1931 Bernard Manning, British comedian, born in Ancoats, Manchester (d. 2007)
1931 Roy Evans, British trade unionist and General Secretary (British Iron & Steel Trade Confederation), born in Pontarddulais, Wales (d. 2015)
1935 Rod Hull, British entertainer, born on Isle of Sheppey, Kent (d. 1999)
1942 Sheila Armstrong, English soprano, born in Ashington, Northumberland
1943 Susan Jameson, English actress (Secret World of Polly Flint), born in Barnt Green, Worcestershire
1944 Divina Galica, British athlete and racing driver, born in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire
1945 Robin Jackman, English cricket seam bowler (4 Tests, 14 wickets; 15 ODIs; Surrey), born in Simla, India (d. 2020)
1945 Howard Marks, British drug dealer and author (Mr Nice), born in Kenfig Hill, Bridgend (d. 2016)
1948 Cliff Fish, English bassist (Paper Lace - The Night Chicago Died), born in Ripley, Derbyshire
1955 Keith Ahlers, British racing driver, born in Cambridge
1955 Paul Greengrass, English film director (Bloody Sunday), born in Cheam, Surrey
1958 David Feherty, Irish golfer, broadcaster (5 European Tour titles, CBS, NBC), born in Bangor, Northern Ireland
1958 Feargal Sharkey, Irish rocker (The Undertones), born in Derry, Northern Ireland
1959 Bruce French, English cricketer (England wicketkeeper in 16 Tests 1986-88), born in Market Warsop, Nottinghamshire
1959 Mark Nevin, Rocker (Fairground Attraction-Find My Love), born in Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent
1960 Phil Taylor, English darts player (BDO World Champion 1990, 92; PDC World Champion 1995-2002, 04-06, 09-10, 13), born in Stoke-on-Trent
1961 Neil Mallender, English cricketer (England pace bowler in two Tests 1992), born in Kirk Sandall, Yorkshire
1961 Stuart Maconie, English music writer and broadcaster, born in Whiston, Lancashire
1970 Alan Shearer, English footballer (Newcastle United, the Premier Leagues' record goal scorer), born in Gosforth, Cumbria
1973 Kamila Shamsie, Pakistani British writer (Home Fire), born in Karachi, Pakistan
1975 Joe Perry, English snooker player, born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
On This day in History
1415 King Henry V of England lands his army at the mouth of Seine River in France
1608 John Smith's story of Jamestown's first days submitted for publication
1704 Battle of Blenheim (Second Battle of Höchstädt): A combined British, German and Dutch army led by John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, decisively beats the French and Bavarians
1784 British parliament accepts East India Company Act 1784, bringing the East India Company's rule in India under the control of the British Government.
1799 British fleet under Lord Seymour overthrows Suriname
1886 John A. Macdonald, Prime Minister of Canada uses a silver hammer to pound a gold spike, officially completing the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway in British Columbia
1902 English cricket team beats Australia by one wicket in a famous victory at The Oval, in London
1908 King Edward VII of Great Britain meets with Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria at Ischl; the King tries to persuade the Emperor to advise Germany against aggressive (anti-British) policies
1913 Invention of stainless steel by Harry Brearley of Sheffield
1940 Battle of Britain: Hermann Goering's "Adlertag" (Eagle Day) offensive happens, intending to destroy the Royal Air Force; 47-48 German aircraft shot down, the RAF loses 25 planes
1944 British 8th Army occupies Florence
1944 Allied generals Bernard Montgomery, Miles Dempsey and Omar Bradley discuss a future breakthrough in the European theatre during World War II
1946 Britain diverts illegal immigrants bound for Palestine to Cyprus
1951 Great Britain & Iraq sign new oil contract
Northern Ireland
1975-08-13 Bayardo Bar attack: Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteers carry out a gun and bomb attack on a pub in Belfast frequented by Ulster Volunteer Force commanders; 4 Protestant civilians and 1 UVF member are killed
Scotland
1995 PGA Championship Men's Golf, Riviera CC: Steve Elkington of Australia wins his first major title in a playoff with Scotsman Colin Montgomerie
Deaths in History
1896 John Everett Millais, English painter (Order of Release), dies at 67
1910 Florence Nightingale, British pioneering nurse (Crimean War), dies at 90
1937 Arthur Plunkett, English civil engineer (designed Sydney Harbour Bridge) (b. 1890)
1946 H. G. Wells, English sci-fi author (The War of the Worlds, Time Machine), dies at 79
1964 Peter Anthony Allen is the last person executed (for murder) in England and the United Kingdom at Walton Prison, Liverpool
1977 Henry Williamson, English author (Tarka the Otter), dies at 81