In 1959, Castro's rebel army overthrew President Batista in Cuba;
in 1964 the first edition of ToTP was broadcast;
in 1973 the UK joined the EEC and in 2002 the Euro replaced 12 European currencies;
and in various years there was a bit of a new year baby-boom, happy birthday to:
andrewrichardson, Artemis the rider, BARRYTHEGERBIL, Batmanspeed, BBBoon, Be Em double U, beemoto, Biker_chic, bikerboy01, bikerhornet002, bikerjones50, Bikerman1983, Bikers123, Blakey00, blueboy1959, Bobrider, bootz76, boredbikerchick, brrm, caederus, CB1000, cheekycharli2015, Cheshirebiker, choppergrrrl, cln09, covmcd, damian manx, darkrider_london, David998, Dellis, Dodger9, ed123, eddstone, F1rebl4de, facking kwuck, flyingman, FlyingRope, freemann, gixer-si, Gixxermattie, GSXRTink, Guinnesman, hellonow, HOGZBOLUX, hotrod1959, HZ, iamfrommars, Indian1, isabel.rs, jacksparrowjack, James_from_CVT, Jay-bow, jimbob451, jimmyz, jonboy189, Jue182, kitana_abc, knucks, lionfish, Lovemybmw, Mach1, Mahone, Mark-1969, markt, mcrblokeuk, mediastarz, Michael.charles1, mick59, Mike_zx, mikebike-, mikey1, MORETHAN, motorcyclebikers, Mr. Orange, mrmintflava, nickr77, nottmbusa, numbnuts, paddockstand8, paul3spirit, peter piper, R0ll 0n, randompan, RednBlack, Rider5, River, rosa2007, RSV4Fun, sam9933, sapientia, Scottish Racer, Shropshire-lady, Simon Edser, simon0809, SirRoyston, skyrider, Solent, speeds, speedway, speedytriple, spikedabike, Sprinter13, steve62, STEVEO2012, striderduke, suzukibiker09, TBIRD R, Terrytt, thehairyone, tow-truck, trickster77, Tripitaka, ukstanley2002, Vandepor, wait4me, wilf2512, wilfreddy, Wolfie 1970, wreckincrew, X999, yamazaki, Yamma1, Yuga, zandra1978, Zoomtastic.
In 1960, JFK announced his candidacy for the US Presidency; in 1979, Sid Vicious' trial for the murder of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen began; in 1980, steel workers went on strike for the first time in over 50 years and throughout the years a load of bikers, trikers and pillions were delivered in to the world. Happy Birthday to you all:
In 1924 King Tut's sarcophagus was uncovered in Egypt; in 1977, Apple Computers was incorporated (unfortunately I wasn't able to buy-in at the time); in 1996, Motorola released the first flip phone (how many early adopters felt like saying "Beam me up, Scotty."!); and in 2000 we sadly saw the last of the Peanuts comic strips.
Throughout the years we began to celebrate the birthdays of our friends, and we haven't stopped yet!
Today marks the anniversary; in 1967 of the death of Donald Campbell while attempting to break his own water speed record, in 1986 of Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott losing his battle after a drink/drug binge, in 2004 of the NASA rover 'Spirit' landing successfully on Mars. Perhaps not very uplifting anniversaries but if you believe in reincarnation then maybe a little rocking 'spirit' was reborn in some new bikers? as the following all drew their first breath on this day too:
<wordtidy> 1531, Pope Clemens VII forbade English King Henry VIII to re-marry (he decided to do his own thing anyway).
1971, one-day cricket was born when 46,000 turned up to watch England play Australia at Melbourne. The test match had been rained off for several days previously. (Australia won by 5 wickets with 42 balls remaining for the cricket aficionados - but you'd know that anyway!)
</wordtidy>
and a bunch of our friends were safely delivered in to the world, making it a much better place (says me as doesn't recognise any of these names - so a bit of perving is called for!):
<wordtidy> In 1977, music publisher EMI ended its contract with the Sex Pistols after reports of abusive behaviour at Heathrow Airport.
in 1983, Captain Kirk got arrested: the Royal Navy arrested Danish fisherman Captain Kent Kirk for trespassing in British fishing territory.
in 1992, the US Government recommended doctors suspend the use of silicone breast implants as fears grow they could leak and affect the health of those using them. I wasn't working in the industry then, but I am now
And the following all arrived in the world: Adventurer75, bellethomas, capitanbangtidy, couch50, DrPhil, easyrider67, faversham flyer, Garfy22, Glaggs, iamjim84, Jackswood, Maid in Cornwall, Merlin675cc, mylittleshed, Nick_Intruder, Openerup, puck67, recardo25, richtee, shazcatt63, sphynx13, tailendcharlie, worldchild, yamahadaz, yorkshire1111
in 1789, America's first presidential election was held. Voters cast ballots to choose state electors; only white men who owned property were allowed to vote; <wordtidy>
in 1990 They closed the Leaning Tower of Pisa for the first time in its history on safety fears;
In 2006, Pink married her motocross-racer boyfriend Carey Hart on a beach in Costa Rica. Pink proposed to him during one of his races by holding up a sign that read "Will you marry me?" Hart pulled out of the race to say yes –dipstick!
</wordtidy>
And we celebrate the birthdays of: Alloitious, apriliamad, bad Marky, banditboy12, brokendriver, captainale, charliedee, disturbed01, Druboy, Frank W, genaleah, genuine guy, gixxer72, goldfrappe, gsx 1400, hardtail7170, hdnt, Heinz57, hellrider2012, hilto66, hondanickcbr, jo1971, Kawasakikaren1, Lake, metalmelter, mousee51, pantera2075, poppy 11, smi1er, stancey, steviensa, stewartuk63, Timax53, Timax54, tri675, TriplePaul, triumphwonder
In 1840 the Penny Post was introduced with mail being paid for at a standard rate by the sender rather than the recipient. On the first day 112k letters were posted in the London area alone.
in 1985 Sir Clive Sinclair demonstrated the C5 electric car. It only cost £399 but top speed was only 15mph (driving licence not required) and by October of the same year the company was in receivership
Big birthday greeting today to ma pals kaycat and Steve_H, indeed happy birthday to all those celebrating today:
in 1569 they had the first state lottery in England with tickets being sold at St Paul's Cathedral. National lotteries continued until 1826 when it was felt that the inducement to gambling was a "great moral evil, helping to impoverish many"
and in 2016, we woke to the news of a great loss to the world of music and entertainment in David Bowie.
On the brighter side, we still celebrate birthdays; today those of:
in 1950 a British submarine collided with a Swedish oil tanker in the Thames and sank
in 1970 the Boeing 747 completed its maiden Transatlantic flight. The 'Jumbo Jet' held the passenger capacity of 660 for 37 years until the Airbus A380 came along with a capacity of 850. It takes hoors tae get on and off those things!
and most important, we have birthdays to celebrate with: angel09, baby4, callis, Chew, chrisl333, daifedd65, davies2002, Digsylo, fb, fib265, Geo2009, gsr600 bev, gushud, gwill64, Heather gg, horseybabe, Katy-tart, Kazz, Keithj, kes49, MartinTheBiker, mickkrose, Nightentity, NZ Hellcat, old red, Passionista, pgbigmac, repsolroy, Sassy Big Boy, slaptom994, stuartd, Tineka, vn800, Westy67, willis, yoll, zypp33
in 1961 Capital Records grudgingly released the first Beatles single 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' in the USA as they said "see how it goes". It only became their faster ever selling single! Not bad for a bit of a punt.
Wonder how many of these boys and girls have had it played at their birthday parties: 1000cc, Ade61, andy1961, bigsteve13, Cage, Cariad13, chocolate, Exjak, gazatates, havehard, Hawkeye, jan65boy, joeslow, Kawasakiz751, liddlelady, littledog, lolly1333, motowest, nks13, odd.bod13, paddy36, refund, rex1450, sicboy, sprintex98, Touchrtm
in 2016 I went out for a two hour lunch with colleagues and then a two hour dinner with BM friends - a good day.
However, only a few years back, in 2013, HMV went in to Administration - who buys anything in the high street these days? Even if you wanted to, there's only banks, pound shops, charity shop, Greggs, Subway and tattoo/nail parlours left!
On the brighter side, a few people will have candles to blow out today, hope you all have your wish come true: 6bikerkev9, Andyink72, anguna, Big billy, Biker4Neurosupport, bikething, Bladeboyrr6, bmwk12rs, Dave028, DaveN, deansharman, Ducati bob, Elsinore 76, exsoldiersamyork, FenderJon, Fuzzygoth, herisson, jjhge2006, kartmenasz, LisaD, lonelywolf, Manwithbike, McFlufferson, Mike 75, motoguz1, n00blar, north65, petewick, philmiles, Reefcliff, Rocketrob, rodneyukblake, Sparkup, Spelly, sps guy, sweetdebula, Talldarkhandsome, toonarmy, Tunefull, velvet7, woodman
in 1797 London haberdasher John Hetherington wore the first top hat and was fined £50 (even these days that's enough to be missed) for 'causing a disturbance'. Oh, to be on the cutting edge of fashion!
I'm sure these folk strike a glamorous pose in their leathers:
3triumph, 49er, ace1551, ashgsxr, Brownhole, brummie, Buellster, Busa77, Carrie.j, cheryl-dd, chirpy1, Clivey752, fairies1, fireblade61, Hornet lass, Hover, jimmbo, Midway_phil, pan1100man, Phantom1539, pixidogg, rallynewbie, Red, seabass, simon yeo, skippy112, steve.colman, stevo1347, The lost one, Tony Richardson, Tonyni, topcat64