August 30th: The Day of the Disappeared

International Day of the Disappeared is an annual commemorative event that aims to raise awareness and support for those who are secretly imprisoned and to stress the shocking facts behind forced disappearances around the world. August 30th is an opportunity to think of the ill-fated unfortunate people who have lost their family or friends to unknown circumstances like secret imprisonment, and the actual prisoners themselves who are lost to their loved ones.

Honouring the lost:
International Day of the Disappeared

   The idea rooted from the Latin America Federation of Associations for Relatives of Detained-Disappeared. This is a supportive organisation for the families and those affected by secret imprisonment in Latin American countries, with the aim of working against such horrific occurrences. Various human rights activists such as Amnesty International and International Committee of the Red Cross strive towards preventing such cases of disappearance and human cruelty. August 30th is also a day dedicated to campaigning, donating and supporting these organisations who work hard to stop secret imprisonment around the world.
   An example of August 30th events back in 2007 involved relatives of the Disappeared and supporters of the organisation in the Philippines protesting against the government for the incidents of (mainly) activists being missing after abduction or murder by Philippine security forces. It is so shocking to learn the situation of human rights in some countries. I, for one, do not realise how lucky I am to live in a country (England) that practices human rights in law and order. What do you think?

August 29th: The Day of the Birth and Death of Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman

With birthday and death-day on August 29th, today's date is extraordinary if you are Ingrid Bergman. A Swedish born actress, Ingrid was born in 1915 and her most notable achievements in the film industry are the  1942 war-time classic Casablanca, and Hitchcock's thriller Notorious. After her acting career spiraling into success with Hollywood culture, the St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture claimed she soon became 'the ideal of American womanhood'. With a title such as this, there is no wonder why her 67 years of life are so memorable and significant still today.
    Named after Princess Ingrid of Sweden, Bergman's heart was set on an acting career...and there was no-one more worthy! She made fantastic connections with directors she worked with, and they recognised her natural talent. Her ability to act in 5 languages sets her apart from most, making her one of the most international superstars of the acting world! 
   Unfortunately, after a long battle with breast cancer, Ingrid died on her 67th birthday. She was married three times, and from her marriages bore 4 children. Two of her children were from her marriage to Roberto Rossellini, and are now famous in their own right as Isobella Rossellini and Isotta Ingrid Rossellini, who both celebrated their 60th birthday this year. Bergman's legacy lives on, setting a prime example for actresses today, dedicating so much of her life to the industry and giving audiences so many classic movie moments. Happy birthday Ingrid!

August 28th: The Day Shops could Open on a Sunday

On August 28th 1994, the Sunday trading laws changed for England and Wales. It was a Sunday, and it was the first day that stores were legally allowed to open and trade in all goods. Previously, the law stated that you could not open for business on the Sabbath day, but on this day in 1994, this all changed.
   Marks & Spencers, House of Fraser and the Waitrose supermarket were the only three major chains who opened their branches on August 28th, despite being against the idea initially. The rules of the Sunday Trading Act state that a small business i.e. 280 square metres or less, can be open all day; whereas larger businesses are limited to only 6 hours of trading between the hours of 10.00 and 18.00. 

Open or closed?

   The amendments to the Sunday Trading Act caused uproar for some, as it affected the working hours of employees. A campaign was developed called 'Keep Sunday Special', which remained strongly opposed to the new trading act, and one spokesman said it would lead to an "erosion of family life". However the Act provides protection from dismissal for those who do not wish to work on Sundays, and of course, there are exceptions for Sundays like Christmas Day and Easter. 
    The following year in 1995, the laws were relaxed once more as they entitled pubs and places serving alcohol to stay open for longer on a Sunday. What do you think? Should Sunday be kept special? Or with the ever-growing demand for convenience and trade, have Sunday trading hours become an essential part of modern society?

August 27th: The Day the Queen's Cousin was Killed

Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Queen's cousin and a Governor General of India, was assassinated by an IRA bombing of his private yacht on August 27th 1979. At 79 years of age, the Earl of Burma had a lengthy and reputable career in the naval forces, and his death was a tragic loss for the Royal Family and his country. Every year, his family would take a summer holiday to the seaside village of Mullaghmore, very close to the border of the Republic of Ireland. Lord Mountbatten's yacht, the Shadow V, had been unguarded prior to August 27th, and had no security measures to prevent such an attack.

Lord Mountbatten

    The IRA planted the bomb in Mountbatten's boat, and it detonated at approximately 11.30am. The IRA organisation admitted straight away to the bombing, along with this statement: "This operation is one of the discriminate ways we can bring to the attention of the English people the continuing occupation of our country." The bombing resulted in the deaths of Lord Mountbatten himself, his grandson Nicholas (14 years), the boat boy Paul Maxwell (15 years), and the Dowager Lady Brabourne (82 years). One witness said the bomb blew the boat "to smithereens", and once Lord Mountbatten was rescued, his legs were extremely injured and he died soon after. It was a terribly dramatic and violently quick way to die, and especially since he has lived through so much war and killing as a naval officer.
   This raises the question of whether the Royal Family are in fact safe. Should they have more protection, or should they be given the same security as the general public?

August 26th: The Day of Women's Equality

August 26th is nationally recognised in the United States of America as Women's Equality Day, and refers to the 19th Amendment which granted women the right to vote on the same equal basis as men throughout the country. An extremely shocking fact is that the right for women to vote was first proposed in 1848, but did not become the law until 1920, an entire 72 years later.
    This commemorative day was first introduced in 1971 when Bella Abzug suggested legislation in Congress, thus from then on, every US President has proclaimed the day each year since. In the Joint Resolution of Congress which enables August 26th to be recognised as Women's Equality Day every year, it states that prior to the 19th Amendment, women were treated as second-class citizens and weren't allowed the full rights and privileges that men have. August 26th stands today as a symbol of women's continued struggle for equality in the United States.
   Would you believe:

• that the percentage of women managers has only risen 3% in the last 20 years, making it 38%.
• that as of 2009, men outnumber women 73% vs. 27%  in all sectors employment for science and engineering.
• that women earn a weekly median wage that is only 81% of a man's.
• that the USA only ranked number 19 in the world for gender equality, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report of 2010.
• that the USA still, in 2012, have not had a female President.

Do you think the USA is succeeding in achieving gender equality? Or is it an impossible dream?

August 25th: The Day a Human Cannonball Didn't Work Out So Swimmingly

August 25th 1974 marks the date of a human cannonball failure. As an attempt to break the world record, a woman from Bristol fired herself out a cannonball, with the aim of clearing the River Avon and landing in a safety net on the other side. Mary Connors, a 21 year old secretary, had failed once before at this attempt earlier in the week, but this incident turned out to be more unsuccessful than the last.

And....Fire!

   Confident in pulling off her stunt, Ms Connors said beforehand: "We've been working flat out on the cannon ever since Wednesday, and I think we've ironed out all the faults." Famous last words, indeed. Seconds after being fired out of the cannon, Connors slowly started to feel the effect of gravity taking its toll, and SPLASH! into the River Avon. 

    Things just got worse and worse (but extremely comical) when two rescue men arrived at the scene to assist Ms Connors, but then capsized themselves! Consequently, a secondary rescue boat had to then help the 3 soggy people out of the river to safety. So ultimately, August 25th 1974 didn't achieve any new world records, however it did result in creating a fine example of 'don't try this at home' type behaviour.

August 24th: The Day Mount Vesuvius Erupted

Pompeii remains

On August 24th 79 AD, one of the most famous and catastrophic eruptions occurred from the great Mount Vesuvius, destroying the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum with pyroclastic flows. Approximately 16,000 people died from this eruption, and the blast was said to have released 100,000 times more thermal energy than the Hiroshima bombing of 1945.
   Seventeen years prior to the eruption, a large earthquake caused colossal damage to the Bay of Naples and especially the town of Pompeii. This led the area to grow accustomed to minor tremors in the earth, which according to Pliny the Younger (the witness of the 79 AD Vesuvius eruption), grew more and more frequent, and small earthquakes repeatedly occurred in the 4 days before the eruption on August 24th.
   By 2003, 1,044 casts of the victims killed by the eruption were recovered, and the impressions of their bodies in the ash deposits have been found in and around Pompeii. Tourists can visit the town of Pompeii and view the remains of victims frozen in the position they were in during the last few seconds of life. Have you visited Mount Vesuvius or Pompeii?

August 23rd: The Day the Baltic States Sang for their Freedom

Known as the 'Singing Revolution', the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all campaigned together from 1987 to 1991 for their independence from the Soviet Union. After World War 2, the USSR had taken the Baltic States completely into their regime, restricting their political freedom and reducing their national identities. Many years later, the Revolution began. Thousands of Estonians congregated in their masses to sing national songs that were otherwise forbidden by the Soviet Union, aiming for freedom and independence.

The Baltic Way: 600 km of singing and unity

    In 1988, national feeling and patriotism spread around Estonia, as five national songs were performed at the Tartu Pop Music Festival. This inspired everyone to hold hands together and sing along, an act which began the tradition of the Singing Revolution. From then on, traditional songs of the Baltic States were sang as one huge community, raising the spirits of the people but also sending a powerful message to the USSR. 
    On August 23rd 1989, the three Baltic countries came together and performed the ultimate protest, significantly symbolic as a demonstration of the people's demand for independence from the Soviet Union. A singing human chain was assembled from Tallinn to Vilnius via Riga, stretching a total of 600 km (373 miles) along the 'Baltic Way'. This displayed the unity of the three countries and their resistance to the Soviets, strengthening their national identities, and it is recognised as the peak of the Singing Revolution. 
    The Baltic states were granted independence from the USSR on the evening of August 20th 1991. Do you remember this happening? What is your opinion on the subject?

August 22nd: The Day the Loch Ness Monster was Spotted

Spotted? Nessie

In 565 AD, Saint Columba reported a sighting of a monster in Loch Ness, Scotland. As a Gaelic Irish missionary monk, and one of the 12 Apostles of Ireland, Columba travelled Scotland and Ireland spreading the word. The main recordings of his life are in the Vita Columbae, a trilogy of books written by Adomnan, which feature Columba's Miracles, the source of this posting.
   So the story goes that Columba walked past a group of Picts (a confederation of Celtic tribes living in ancient eastern and northern Scotland) who were burying a man who had supposedly been killed by a monster in Loch Ness. The affectionately named monster "Nessie" has often been reportedly seen in the Loch throughout history, however it remains a legend as there is no solid proof of its existence. Columba's sighting is the first ever reference to the monster, and due to 565 AD's limited supplies of digital cameras and recording devices, it is extremely questionable.
    Furthermore, Adomnan writes that Columba then saved a man who was swimming from the monster, by making the sign of the Cross and declaring: 'Thou shalt go no further, nor touch the man; go back with all speed.' Apparently it worked, which conveniently indicates that only the power of God could stop this monster. However, Adomnan's account of the ordeal states that the events happened in the River Ness, rather than the Loch itself. So this perhaps reinforces the "Loch Ness Monster" as legendary myth. What do you think? Is there a monster in the Loch, or just a mistaken explanation for some waves or rocks in the water?

August 21st: The Day the Mona Lisa was Stolen!

The average tourist usually has one main thing on their mind when visiting the Louvre in Paris: the Mona Lisa. Millions gather around the minuscule portrait by Leonardo da Vinci, in its glass case which makes taking a decent photo of the masterpiece extremely inconvenient. Today the high level of public interest and security means the proposition of stealing this work of art would be extremely foolish. With the whole world watching, it is beyond me why anyone would attempt to steal the Mona Lisa; but it happened.

The Mona Lisa: gone!

   August 21st 1911. Before then, the painting was not as popular as today, so in fact it was the theft of da Vinci's work that increased its fame! The disappearance of the portrait was discovered when a painter, Louis Berard, walked through the Salon Carre in the Louvre and noticed 4 iron pegs in the place of da Vinci's piece. Alarms were raised, but the museum claimed the painting was being photographed for marketing purposes. This was not the case, however, and once discovered that, after 5 years of being on show at the museum, the Mona Lisa had been stolen, sheer panic set in.

    The Louvre closed its doors to the public for an entire week whilst investigations took place. There were many suspects, but it took two years to discover the true thief! It turned out that a Louvre employee, Vincenzo Peruggia, had removed the painting from the wall during the day, concealing it in a broom cupboard. Of course these were the days before CCTV, but Peruggia claimed to have smuggled the painting home under his coat at the end of the day...must have been a pretty huge coat! His motives are debatable: some say he was an Italian patriot who believed da Vinci's work should be returned to Italy for displaying; yet others say he was encouraged by a friend who would copy the original painting and successfully make lots of money whilst the Mona Lisa was missing for those two years. After keeping it in his apartment for 2 years, Peruggia tried to sell it in Florence but was caught (no surprises) and served 6 months imprisonment for his crime. He was commended for his patriotism in Italy, but the Mona Lisa was safely returned to the Louvre in 1913.

   Several attempts have been made since to destroy the painting too: these include splashing acid and throwing a rock at it in 1956; then after the bullet-proof glass was installed for its protection, a woman sprayed red paint over it in protest in 1974; and most recently, in 2009, a Russian woman threw a terracotta mug souvenir from the Louvre at the painting, which shattered. Although all these attempts have left the painting undamaged, people have used the Mona Lisa to attract attention for their beliefs and motives. What do you think? Is it acceptable to attempt to destroy one the most famous and valued pieces of art in history, for whatever reason?

August 20th: The Day So Much was Owed by So Many to So Few

Churchill's wise words

August 20th 1940 was the day that the Prime Minister Winston Churchill made the infamous speech containing the words 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.' This insightful thought referred to the Battle of Britain, where Britain were actually anticipating a German invasion as the outcome. 
    However, the Royal Air Force (RAF) pulled through and saved Britain from such a fateful occurrence, and Churchill's meaning behind his words was intended to commemorate the great effort and service of the RAF pilots throughout the war. As a result of Churchill's iconic speech, a RAF Bomber campaign was launched with a poster featuring his words 'Never was so much owed by so many to so few'. From August 20th 1940 onward, the RAF fighter pilots became known as 'The Few' and now it is still a recognizable nickname for their profession. As a country it is true that we owe an excessive amount to our forces, and more so at such a terrible time as World War 2. Do you think that we acknowledge and thank our forces enough today?

August 19th: The Day the Samlesbury Witches were Trialled

Samlesbury witches:
Hubble and bubble?

Today's date marks one of the most notable witch-hunts in English history. Accused by 14 year old Grace Sowerbutts, three women from the Lancashire village of Samlesbury were suspected of practicing witchcraft, and were trialled on August 19th 1612. The trial was held at Lancaster Assizes in England over a two day period, and investigated the charges of child murder and cannibalism.What was remarkable about the Samlesbury Witch case, was that the principal and only accuser, Grace Sowerbutts, turned out to be the instrument of a Catholic priest.
   Witch-hunts were a common weapon of choice employed by both the Catholic and the Protestant churches, as a way of disposing of those who did not conform to their religions. The Samlesbury trial of 1612 was perhaps an demonstration of this religious rivalry, and an exposure of the corruption of Lancashire with witchcraft and plotting Catholic priests. Indeed, towards the end of the sixteenth century authorities began to give Lancashire a bad name, branding it a lawless region "fabled for its theft, violence and sexual laxity" (Rachel A.C. Hasted The Pendle Witch Trial 1612). Needless to say, this obviously did not help the case of the Samlesbury witches.
    Grace Sowerbutts claimed that the three women had been seen committing impure and evil deeds, most notably digging up a dead child's body from the grave and proceeding to eat some of it and use the remainder to make a potion of some sort. This was apparently nonsense, as once the 14 year old prosecutor was exposed as the tool of a Catholic priest, so the three "witches" were acquitted from the accusation. What do you think about this? Should witch-hunts have occurred in history? What does it say about the position of women in past societies?

August 18th: The Day Patrick Swayze was Born

Patrick Swayze would have celebrated his 60th birthday today. Born August 18th 1952, Swayze grew up in Houston, Texas, with a dancer, choreographer and dance-teacher for a mother. So that's where he got those moves from in Dirty Dancing! Swayze was most famous for his putting the 'man' in romantic, in roles for movies such as Ghost and the aforementioned Dirty Dancing. It was characters like these that won him the title of 'Sexiest Man Alive' by People Magazine in 1991. Sadly Patrick died in September 2009 after being diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
   Swayze's early professional career involved being a dancer for Disney on Parade and an understudy for the part of Danny Zuko in the Broadway production of Grease. Not too far away from working in a summer camp as a dance teacher...his role Dirty Dancing may have had some personal significance to Swayze himself after all (maybe)! His marriage to Lisa Neimi lasted from when he was 18 years old until he died, and Patrick has said Lisa was the inspiration for his one-hit-wonder 'She's Like The Wind'. Both Swayze's professional and personal lives had their ups and downs, as with the average human being, but his premature death aged 57 devastated his fan-base, as well as his friends and family.

August 17th: The Day Michael Phelps Becomes Olympic Champion...8 times!

Michael Phelps: Best Olympic athlete ever!

On August 17th 2008 in the Beijing Summer Olympic Games, Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal for swimming in the competition. The American became the first athlete ever to win that many medals in a single Olympiad, knocking fellow American Mark Spitz off the Champion's podium, and boasting one more medal than Spitz. This achievement meant Phelps owned a total of 16 Olympic medals (14 of those were gold), and crowned him the most successful athlete of the Games.
   The event that won Phelps the eighth gold medal of Beijing was the 4x100m medley relay, in which he and his teammates (Hansen, Peirsol and Lezak) made a new world record with a time of 3 minutes and 29.34 seconds. Phelps has won numerous awards for his sports achievements, called the sportsman of the year, world's best swimmer etc. The awards commemorate what a phenomenal man Michael Phelps is, and what great talent he holds. After his 22nd Olympic medal in his incredible collection was placed around his neck at this year's London Games, Phelps announced this was his final Olympic Games. But what a career! After his amazing 8 medals in one Olympiad streak in Beijing, Michael decided to set up the Michael Phelps Foundation, aiming to promote swimming and encourage the next generation to live healthier lifestyles.

August 16th: The Day Madonna was Born

August 16^th 1958 is the birthday of singer, song-writer, actress, dancer and businesswoman, Madonna. Fun Fact: Madonna’s actual name is Madonna. All this time I assumed it was a stage name, a starting point for her image of female power and independence. But no, she was christened Madonna Louise Ciccone, born in Michagan, and moved to New York City to discover herself as a modern dancer. Releasing her debut album in 1983, Madonna was the face of 80s pop culture, epitomising the fashion-fever of the moment. Today she has told over 300 million records worldwide, and according to ‘Guinness World Records’ Madonna is the ‘world’s top-selling female recording artist of all-time’.

Madonna sporting her leotard

   A lot of Madonna’s success and popularity is down to her individual, trend-setting image. Who would have thought thick, dark eyebrows with bleach blonde hair could look good until Madonna did it? She seems to live her life as a fashion statement, and performed in a way that made every girl want to be her, and every guy...want her. However, with her major hits stuck in the 80s and 90s, it does make me wonder if she still has it in 2012. Turning 54 years old on this day is quite surprising since she still dresses and acts like a twenty-something star. Although her music is still hot and never fails to keep up with the ever-changing chart for what’s ‘hot’, Madonna herself is arguably lagging a little. I know it seems harsh, but there should be an age limit on wearing tight, revealing leotards with nothing underneath...[see ‘Hung Up’ music video for more details]. What do you think? Is it time for Madonna to hang up the see-through shirts and cone-bras?

    Obviously this should not detract from the incredible impression this woman has made on the music industry of the last four decades, and still going! This year she was named the ‘Greatest Woman in Music’, proving to the world she’s still a rock-star, regardless of age. And why should age stop her from continuing her success, anyway? Madonna remains a role-model to other women, whether in the music industry, or life in general, as she is a mother as well (to a lot of kids!). Are you a fan of Madonna?

August 15th: The Day Macbeth Fell From Grace

Shakespeare's taken on Macbeth killing King Duncan

August 15^th is a very significant date on considering the history of Macbeth, King of the Scots. Not only is it the date that in 1040 he killed King Duncan at Pitgaveny, thus becoming King of the Scots; but also it is the date of his own death in 1057. Surprisingly, Shakespeare recorded the personality and historical facts of Macbeth’s life very accurately in his tragic play Macbeth. The idea that he transpired from being a brave, good-hearted knight to becoming overwhelmed by power and greed, is pretty correct.

   According to the rules of tragedy, Shakespeare would have loved the fact that Macbeth’s act of killing King Duncan, also known as his fatal flaw (the act that led to his downfall in the play), was also on the same day as his own death. Tragic rules and regulations, which can be found in Aristotle’s ‘Poetics’, advise that once the tragic hero, i.e. Macbeth, has killed his alter ego, i.e. King Duncan, he is now destined to die. So literary speaking, Macbeth’s deeds and death is spot on! Classic Aristotle.

   After killing King Duncan in battle, Macbeth appeared to be unchallenged in his early actions, but later things started to get messy. Malcolm III, the son of Duncan I, seemed to have been put in power by the English, and in the final years of Macbeth’s reign/life, several invasions occurred from the English border to Scotland. On August 15^th 1057, true to the plot of Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth was killed by Malcolm III, however the Three Witches’ prophecy was not necessarily historical truth. Nevertheless August 15^th signified multiple changes to the monarchy of Scotland, including the deaths of King Duncan, Macbeth and the reigning of Malcolm III.

August 14th: The Day the Youth Olympic Games Began

August 14^th 2010 was the day the Youth Olympic Games began for the first time ever, offering the next generation the chance to compete at a variety of summer and winter sports against other children aged 14 to 18. 

   The Games of 2010 took place at Singapore, and was developed from the idea of the Austrian Johann Rosenzopf in 1998. Rosenzopf’s notion was sparked from the increasing amount of childhood obesity across the world, and the lack of motivation and promotion of sport and healthy lifestyles. The hope is that, like the regular Olympic Games, especially most recently London 2012, the high level of excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the event will spur young people on to develop a sport and maintain this healthy image. Rosenzopf’s idea was finally approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in July 2007, which then began planning for the 2010 multi-sport competition.

   The 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games lasted 12 days, inviting a maximum of 3,530 athletes and 451 IOC officials to attend. The 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games lasted 10 days, with 970 athletes and 580 officials participating in the event. If you’re experiencing Post-Olympic blues after 2012’s hype, the next Summer Youth Olympic Games is only 2 years away and will take place in Nanjing, and the next Winter Youth Games will be Lillehammer 2016. Another excellent function of the Youth Games is the opportunity for young aspiring athletes, such as Great Britain’s Thomas Daley, to practise competing in a similar environment, with all the intense pressure and seriousness of the Olympic Games. Did you know about the Youth Olympic Games? Do you think they will succeed in promoting sport to the youth of today as effectively as the actual Olympics?

August 13th: The Day of Left-handers

August 13th is internationally known as Left-handers Day. Beginning in 1976, the day aims to highlight problems that left-handed people face day-to-day living in, what is termed, a 'predominantly right-handed world'.
   Left handed people make up 7-10% of the world’s population, and some would say they are forced to live their lives according to the ease of the right-handed. I must say that when I discovered the existence of such a commemorative day for lefties, I did not at first think this was serious. 

'Left Handers Have Their Day'

   But it cannot be denied that life for the majority of the world has been made easier for the right-handed, as this takes up the majority. Left-handed scissors, left-handed pens and other leftie-friendly items have been designed to help those living life on the left. But do you think it should stop there? Should the word ‘equality’ stretch to hands, alongside gender, race, age, etc? Or do you think this is going too far, and it is unnecessary to make special allowances?

August 12th: The Day William Blake Died

Aged 69, William Blake died on August 12th 1827. At his bedside his wife Catherine sobbed, and Blake supposedly cried: "Stay Kate! Keep just as you are - I will draw your portrait - for you have ever been an angel to me." He did complete this portrait, however due to our carelessness the drawing has gone walkabout, which I think is for the best, as it keeps the couple's final moments together private and a mystery to the public. Instead we remember Blake for his poetry, painting and printmaking, however he is another of England's literary icons who is only credited and properly appreciated posthumously. 

The Blake's headstone

   Blake is, for some, the epitome of literature in the Romantic Age, creating works such as Songs of Innocence and of Experience, a collection of poems regarding concepts such as the contrast between childhood and the knowledge gained in adulthood. Other works, namely The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, contain elements of religion, which reflect Blake's own beliefs and his opposition to the Church of England. This text is also heavily influenced by the political aspects of the French Revolution.
   The artwork and printmaking is another significant feature of Blake's work, offering aesthetically pleasing illustrative sides to texts. For example, Songs of Innocence and  of Experience includes multiple illustrations decorating the poems, contributing to the meaning and essence of the words.
   Blake's tombstone can be found in Bunhill Fields in London, where his life and work can be commemorated and acknowledged to the great level it deserves.

August 11th: The Day the Last Passenger Steam Train Choo-Choos

On August 11th 1968, the last British Railways main-line passenger steam-hauled train made it's final journey. Named the IT57 Fifteen Guinea Special after it's highly priced tickets due to the huge demand to ride on the last steam train before the steam ban beginning on August 12th 1968. The train ran a return journey from Liverpool via Manchester to Carlisle, and it took four different steam locomotives to pull the load throughout the distance. The end of steam-hauled trains in British Railways had a huge significance for railway travel in the country, and marked the end of an era of steam, and the beginning of diesel and electric powered trains. 

The 'Fifteen Guinea Special' on it's
 return journey to Liverpool

   The National Railway Museum in York contains several old steam train models, including The Flying Scotsman, which is arguably the most famous locomotive in the world (perhaps second to the Hogwarts Express). The Flying Scotsman is the only locomotive that the steam ban did not apply to, as it was listed in her contract made by British Rail in 1963...so the Fifteen Guinea Special isn't officially the last steam-powered train, but then again, The Flying Scotsman is principally showcased rather than in use.
   Although August 11th 1968 was meant to be the last steam-hauled passenger train journey, some lines continue to operate steam trains, most as historic and commercial experiences, and the IT57 was in fact re-run 40 years after it's last journey to commemorate such a momentous turning point in British Railways history. Do you think steam-trains should still operate with passengers, whether it be for old times sake or in general?

August 10th: The Day The World's First Long Distance Phonecall was Made

Canadian inventor Alexander Graham Bell became the person to make the world's first long-distance phone-call on August 10th 1876. The call was made from Brantford to Paris, Ontario in Canana, approximately 6 miles away from each other. Although a 6 mile distance is today classed as a normal phone call, short distance if you will, this was a groundbreaking achievement for the people of 1876. 

Bell demonstrates speaking into the telephone

   Bell established his invention of the telephone from his home, four miles south of Brantford, and developed the abilities of his device to a larger scale. After sending a warning telegram to say he was ready to test the phone connection, he began his experiment, calling his colleagues 6 miles away in Ontario, Canada. Reports state they were able to hear laughing and singing from the Brantford phone-line, which proved that telephones could work on a long distance scale. 
    From August 10th 1876 onward, Bell's telephone company expanded and progressed as a communication method, and he even demonstrated his invention to Queen Victoria at her Isle of Wight home (at her request!). Bell's work in this industry has given other inventors the knowledge and support to develop other more complex systems, beginning with an even longer distance phone connection (from continent to continent) to recent programs like Skype.

August 9th: The Day Jesse Owens Won the Gold for America...4 Times!

During the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, Jesse Owens won his 4th Gold medal, making him the first American to win four medals of any colour in one single Olympiad. Specializing in sprints and long jumping, Owens exceeded expectations of American, and more significantly, African American success. What makes Owens' achievement that bit tiny bit more incredible, is that the 1936 Summer Olympics were intended by Adolf Hitler to be a showcase for Aryan ideals and the talents of white people. So when Jesse Owens won his four medals in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and the 4x100m relay, you can imagine that must have really shaken the moustache off him.
    A few days prior to his 4th gold, Owens beat German competitor Luz Long at the long jump: another annoyance for Hitler. He was asked to fill in for a Jewish-American relay team member for the 4x100m (as requested by the Berlin 1936 organizers), where he won his 4th gold - talk about a plan back-firing for the Germans! 
   Although Owens did not consider himself discriminated or snubbed by Hitler himself, the Nazi leader voiced his disgust at the American sportsman later. According to Albert Speer in his book Inside the Third Reich, Hitler was 'highly annoyed by the series of triumphs by the marvellous coloured American runner, Jesse Owens' and believed black people had stronger physiques than 'those of civilized whites and hence should be excluded from future games'. Safe to say he'd be spinning in his grave if he saw the line-up of track and field star athletes today. Nevertheless, Jesse Owens' sporting career initiated an explosion of success and the enthusiasm to win, and even managed to prove Hitler's Aryan "supreme" race wrong!

August 8th: The Day the World #1 Tennis Player was Born

On this day in 1981, Switzerland's finest tennis player, and the current world number one, Roger Federer was born. Considered by many critics, sports players and fans to be the greatest tennis player of all time, Federer has performed consistently and exceptionally throughout his sporting career, raking in prize after prize, trophy after trophy, and a couple of Olympic medals too! His repertoire of awards and achievements is hugely impressive, whether it be representing his home country Switzerland at the Olympic Games, or individually at competitions like the French, Australian and US Opens, Grand Slam and, most notably, Wimbledon.

Federer: World #1

   Roger's success isn't limited to the tennis court either. After meeting his tennis-playing wife Mirka Vavrinec at the Olympic Games of Sydney 2000, they married in 2009 and now have identical twin daughters. So whilst being World Number 1 Dad, Mr Federer still employs much of his time, money and effort into establishing, contributing and helping charities. For example, The Roger Federer Foundation began in 2003 and aims to help disadvantaged people and promote sports and active lifestyles. What a guy. Coming up against his rivals Nadal, Djokovic and Scotsman (when losing)/Briton (when winning) Andy Murray, Federer has provided some of the most tense yet enjoyable tennis in history. All this, and he's only 31 this year!

August 7th: The Day Lynching was Last Reported in the US

August 7th 1930 was the date of the last confirmed lynching of two African American men in the Northern United States. The police originally accused three men, Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith and James Cameron (...different James Cameron), of shooting and murdering a white factory worker, Claude Deeter, and raping his white girlfriend, Mary Ball. However, Cameron was later let off the hook, quite literally, as an anonymous person confirmed he took no part in the killing, and in actual fact, Mary Ball had never been raped. 

Justice?: Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith

   Marion, Indiana, the location the lynching happened, was a dangerous and discriminating place to be in 1930. Lynching was a popular method of collectively killing off people who either were not of the majority or norm; and those who disagreed with the majority's actions or beliefs. In this case, the African Americans were principally targeted purely for their racial differences from other white Americans. Between 1882 and 1968, nearly 3,500 African Americans were murdered by lynch mobs; and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacy associations initiated and encouraged even more discrimination against their race. The evil of the lynching mobs and organisations such as the KKK leaves me cold and haunts me to this day, especially on discovering the extent of their behaviour. On being hung by a rope from an elm tree, Abram Smith tried to prevent his neck from being strangled; at which point the mob proceeded to break both his arms so he was unable to attempt to save himself again. How can the KKK, and other white supremacy groups justify that kind of conduct and behaviour towards other human beings??
   Although Shipp and Smith were convicted of murdering Deeter, it does make you question the accuracy behind these accusations. The amount of hatred between black people and white people at the time was so astoundingly high, that this must have affected the law and order, and since it was the white people who had power, they had the upper hand. Sadly, this means a lot of innocent people could have died simply due to extreme racism. One shocking example involves a white editor of the Alton Observer, Elijah Parish Lovejoy, who wrote an article protesting against the act of lynching, and favouring the abolition of slavery; and was lynched himself for holding these "controversial" beliefs. 
    The horrifying image taken by Lawrence Beitler of Shipp and Smith continues to haunt its audience today and offers just a small insight into the fateful history of African Americans and the consequences they had to face for their existence in America. 

August 6th: The Day the Electric Chair First Buzzed

"We live in a higher civilization from this day on."  

  - Dr. Albert Southwick, the man who first suggested the Electric Chair

The Electric Chair: Prisoner prepared for electrocution
 in 1900 at Sing-Sing, in the famous chair 'Old Sparky'

New York's Auburn Prison was the first place to use electrocution for execution on August 6th 1890. The prisoner primarily testing out the electric chair's abilities was William Kemmler, a man convicted of killing his lover, Matilda Ziegler, with an axe. The form of execution prior to this date in 1890 was death by hanging, where the criminal could take up to 30 minutes to die. In 1881, Dr. Albert Southwick suggested electrocution to quicken the pace of executing prisoners, based on his witnessing of a man killed by the terminals of an electric generator in Buffalo.

    The electric chair device was created by Auburn Prison's electrician Edwin R. Davis, whose model looks surprisingly similar to the modern equipment. Southwick's suggestion was put into practice 9 years later on August 6th, when they attached electrodes to Kemmler's head and back.  700 volts were sent through Kemmler's body for 17 seconds, which resulted in burnt clothes, burnt skin, but no death. The second installment was determined to finish the murderer off, with 1030 volts applied for nearly two minutes! The smoke spiraling from Kemmler's head was a clear sign that the second blast was successful, and when the guards removed the body from the chair, they discovered the electrode had burnt right through to the spine...

    The death penalty of electrocution in America has recently declined in popularity, since it is believed by some to be a cruel and unusual punishment. One report from 1997 involved flames bursting from convict Pedro Medina's head in a Florida prison! However, it is reserved as an option for prisoners who are sentenced to death, and the most recent convict to be electrocuted was Paul Warner Powell in Virginia, on March 18th 2010. 

    People's Republic of China, India, the U.S.A. and Indonesia continue to apply Capital Punishment today. Do you agree or disagree with it? Is the Electric Chair an appropriate means of execution?

August 5th: The Day Marilyn Monroe was Discovered Dead

August 5th 1962 was a tragic day for all fans and friends of movie star and Hollywood sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. Fifty years ago today, the actress was found dead in her home in Los Angeles, lying face down naked in bed with a telephone in her hand. The premature death of Monroe at just 36 years old is one of the world's biggest conspiracy theories to date.

Monroe: a true star

   Born under the name Norma-Jeane Mortenson, Monroe suffered an unhappy and unstable childhood, with her absent mother sending her to orphanages and foster homes for several years. The movie actress and model had also been in several failed marriages, most famously to baseball player Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller, and experienced miscarriages too. Two months prior to her death, Marilyn was fired by Fox Productions for repeatedly failing to attend work for Something has Got to Give. The star suffered from insomnia and depression: these anxieties most likely arose from the constant pressure on her to be heart-breakingly beautiful all the time.
   These are just some of the possible reasons doctors and police have used to suggest Monroe committed suicide on August 5th. However others believe the actress' death was induced merely by an accidental drug overdose, which would explain the open bottle of sleeping pills found near her bedside. Others have insinuated a much more sinister circumstance, that someone intended to kill Monroe, but no murder charges have been filed thus far, and no suspects have been identified.
What do you think? Did Marilyn Monroe commit suicide, accidently overdose, or was she the victim of murder?

August 4th: The Day The Queen Mother Turned 100

Happy Birthday Queen Mother!

Back in the year 2000, the Queen Mum, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, celebrated her centenary on August 4th. The 100th birthday of the Queen Mother attracted 40,000 people to gather in the Mall to wish her well, and even more watched the celebrations at home. As the first member of the Royal Family to turn 100, she modestly said she was "very pleased indeed".
   Clarence House, the Queen Mother's London home, was filled with presents and cards from the public as well as friends and family. What do you buy someone for their 100th birthday though? Especially for a member of the Royal family?! Celebrating alongside the Queen Mum were 11 other centenarians in England, all sharing their birthdays on August 4th 1900.
   Sadly, only a year or so later, the Queen Mother died on March 30th 2002 at Windsor Lodge aged 101. After her burial on April 9th that year, she left her whole estate, worth approximately £70 million, to her daughter Queen Elizabeth II, and she didn't even have to pay any inheritance tax!

August 3rd: The Day Music went Macarena Mad!

Many a school disco was never complete - and still probably wouldn't be today - without 1996 pop hit The Macarena by Los Del Rio. The infectiously catchy song released on August 3rd is one that will stay in your head, whether you like it or not. In most cases the average human being wants to throw a small boulder at the stereo after 2 minutes of 'HEEEEYYY Macarena', but it appears that even the dance routine has remained imprinted in the 1990s school kids brains. 

   No surprises how everyone knows The Macarena so well, when it spent a total of fourteen weeks at Number 1 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, and 60 weeks in total playing over and over and over and over. With the majority of the song being in Spanish, I for one, was rather flummoxed as to what I should sing during the chorus, apart from 'HEEEEYYY Macarena, AhhhAy!'. So although I resorted to making up words that phonetically (partially) resembled the Spanish, there was quite a lot of meaning behind the lyrics. The song features a male Spanish vocal that originally said: 'Dale a tu cuerpo alegria Ma'delena'; meaning 'Give joy to your body, Magdelena', referring to Mary Magdelene, a religious image of seduction. After Miami producers made a few changes to make it more suitable for pop and disco, Magdelena was swapped for Macarena and a few verses were translated into the English language, sung by a female vocalist. 

   So there you have it, ranked Number 1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder of All Time by VH1 in 2002, Los Del Rio's The Macarena first began it's endless climb in the charts, and the beginning of an iconic dance routine too! Do you remember this song? Are you a fan?

August 2nd: The Day the United States Declaration of Independence was Signed

Although the Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, it is true that the actual Declaration did not get signed until August 2nd 1776. The Declaration of Independence resisted the proposal that the United States were under control of the British Empire, and achieved this freedom for the thirteen colonies that were then at war with Great Britain. July 4th saw Congress approve the wording of the Declaration (handwritten by Thomas Jefferson), but August 2nd saw the official signing of the document.

John Trumbull's painting:
Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

   The reason the manuscript was not signed on July 4th was because some delegates could not be present on this day. Fifty-six men signed the Declaration in total, with the President of Congress John Hancock signing first. Hancock's signature has become a widely recognisable and iconic part of the Declaration, and an element that is treasured on a national scale. Since 1776, the United States Declaration of Independence has become a symbol of human rights, patriotism and equality, especially with this famous statement featured in the document:
   "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

August 1st: World Scout Day

In the August of 1907, Lieutenant-General Robert Baden-Powell organised a camping trip for 22 young boys at Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour. It was this single recreational camping adventure that led to the hugely successful scouting movement, a popular past-time for young people worldwide. 

Chief Scout Leader: Robert Baden-Powell

   August 1st is the annual World Scout Day which celebrates the organisation, praising it's educational and character-building activities and life-lessons. From tying knots to sports, the Scout movement allowed the youth to develop in social and in practical skills...and preached the Scout motto, to always be prepared!
   Baden-Powell transferred his skills of survival onto the young boys, with his experience gained throughout his time with the British army in Asia and Africa. This was positively received by many, and young boys were generally encouraged to join the Scouting tradition by parents. The Girl Guide or Girl Scout movement was founded in 1910 by Baden-Powell's younger sister, Agnes, who developed the parallel opportunity for young girls to learn similar skills. The Scouting movement still helps to expand the next generation's knowledge and practical skills for life, and their individual roles they will later undertake. 
   Do you agree that it is a necessary and valuable experience for young people? Or do you think it is outdated today?