The History and Birth Day Things.... I Think That's All Today.

Yesterday was a nice day. The ladies had a nice drive around the area. Then we went for lunch downtown Courtenay. Unfortunately, we forgot that Atlas is closed on Mondays. But we had an excellent lunch at Michaels off Main. Not sure what's going on today, maybe just a nice walk downtown on Fifth Street. Time will tell. I do know that Jo has the fixings for a nice chicken curry for tonight. We're looking forward to that.

Oh, I performed my civic duty this morning. Was one of the first people over at the voting center for the British Columbia election. Nice being one of the first there, it was a quick operation. :0) It will be interest to see how it all turns out. The press is saying it is supposed to be one of the closest elections in BC in a long while.

Great Historical Events

Moving on to 1742 with today's excerpts.

"1742. Faneuil Hall, built by Peter Faneuil. (Ed. Note. Peter Faneuil was a wealthy American colonial merchant who lived from 1700 - 1743. The building opened less than six months before his death.)
1746. England and France determined to wage a war of extermination upon each other in their American colonies. (Ed. Note. It didn't quite end up that way as they lived side by side in Canada. But that might spoilers.. Wait for it!)
1751. Sugar cane first cultivated in the United States by the Jesuits, on the banks of the Mississippi River, above New Orleans. The plants were brought from San Domingo."

I'm going to stop there because the heading of the next section is entitled "Washington's Perilous Mission". You'll have to wait for my next entry.

Business Laws Briefly Stated (So what does the book have for you today?)

"An indorsement of a bill or note may be written on the face or back.
An indorser may prevent his own liability to be sued by writing without recourse, or similar words.
An indorsee has a right of action against all whose names were on the bill when he received it.
A note indorsed in blank (the name of the indorser only written) is transferable by delivery, the same as if made payable to bearer.
If a note or bill is transferred as security, or even as payment of a pre-existing debt, the debt revives if the note or bill be dishonored."

Heavy stuff, eh??? Wait until the next.

The Birth Day Stuff 10 November 1974

US Billboard #1 Song 10 November 1974

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet by Bachman Turner Overdrive. One of my favourite driving rocking songs. Randy Bachman, ex of Canadian rock band The Guess Who, formed Bachman Turner Overdrive with his brother, Robbie, Jim Turner and Blair Thornton. They were first active between 1973 - 79. You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet was their first number 1 hit in Canada and the US. It was from their second album, imaginatively titled Bachman Turner Overdrive II. It was preceded by Let It Ride and Taking Care of Business, both # 3 in Canada. I remember buying this album my first year of university. I loved that song. It is one of those great songs that always sounds better when you are in your car.

UK #1 Single 10 November 1974

Everything I Own by Ken Boothe. Ken Boothe is a Jamaican vocalist who was successful as both a reggae artist and a crossover artist. Everything I Own was his only #1 hit.

New York Times #1 Fiction Best Seller 10 November 1974

Centennial by James Michener. This is the 3rd book by James Michener that was #1 one on the NY Times Best Seller list since I started this BLog.

Centennial tells the stories of the plains of northeast Colorado from pre-history to the early 1970s. I've always wanted to try one of Michener's tomes. I think I've been intimidated by the size of the books. Maybe some day.







Pulitzer Prize Winner, 1974

There was no winner announced in 1974. Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon was nominated but the panel found it 'unreadable', 'overwritten' and in parts 'obscene'. I've never read so I can't comment.

Nobel Prize Laureate, 1974

The award was shared by two Swedish writers.

Eyvind Johnson (1900 - 1974). Johnson was awarded the Nobel Prize 'for a narrative art, farseeing in lands and ages, in the service of freedom'.

Harry Martinson (1904 - 1978). Martinson was awarded the Nobel Prize 'for writings that catch the dewdrop and reflect the cosmos'.

Hugo Award Winner, 1974

Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke. I have never read this book unless it was many, many years ago. It tells the story of a huge alien spaceship that enters the Earth's Solar System. The story is told from the perspective of the humans who intercept the ship and attempt to unlock its mysteries. It does sound interesting though and now that I'm getting back into Science Fiction, I may look it up.

Arthur Charles Clark was an English writer who was born in 1917 and lived until 2008. He was a prolific writer who wrote novels, short stories and non-fiction. Childhood's End was turned into a recent TV mini-series, 2001, A Space Odyssey and 2010 were turned into successful movies.




Edgar Award Winner, 1974

Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman. This is the second book in the Joe Leaphorn mystery series. I started it in 2015 and immediately liked it. I've now read the first three books and look forward to reading the next this year. My review of the book is below.

"I'm so very glad that I was introduced to the Joe Leaphorn series. Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman is book 2 and is a joy to read. It's a bit like the Longmire series, but instead told from the perspective of the Native police inspector, rather than the local police chief. I like how the story was paced and I like Joe Leaphorn very much; he's calm, quiet and thoughtful. I really enjoy the information about the various Native cultures, in this book, the Zuni and Leaphorn's Navajo. I hope as I get more into this series that more information is provided. This story involves the murder of a Zuni boy and the follow-on murder of a Navajo man. It involves the Zuni festival, to welcome the Shalako season and the desire of a Navajo boy to be introduced to the Zuni tribe and rites. There is so much to like about this mystery; it's difficult to put the book down once you've begun. I'm so looking forward to trying the next book, Listening Woman."

Man Booker Prize Winner, 1974

There were joint winners in 1974.

The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer. Nadine Gordimer was a South African writer who lived from 1923 - 2014. Her work deals with subjects such as Apartheid and other moral and racial issues.

Holiday by Stanley Middleton. The novel revolves around Edwin Fisher, a lecturer who takes a holiday at a seaside resort. The work takes place entirely within the mind of Fisher, with much of the book's development dealing with the painful realities of Fisher's mind and life.

Stanley Middleton was an English writer who lived from 1919 - 2009. He was a prolific writer who wrote 45 books during his life.






So there you go. Always nice to spend time here. I hope you get a few ideas for possible book choices. I'll be moving along to 1975 (my 20th birthday) next. Take care!