Ufology

Whether you believe it or not, there is ample evidence that the Earth has been visited by extraterrestrials for ages. Of course, many of us have also witnessed that, but since the mainstream media doesn’t yet deal widely with the subject, it is not “public knowledge”, but rather something that many people find something to ridicule.

Language Day #8

Welcome again to Language Day! If you haven’t read the introduction yet, please do it here. This time we’ll go through that simple but oh so useful and such an appreciated word: Thank You!

Stand by Me

Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Jerry O’Connell and Corey Feldman in Stand by Me (1986)

Many of us remember with fondness the movie with the same title as that fantastic piece of music, Stand by Me (released in April, 1961). The film premiered in 1986, and kind of gave that song to a whole new generation of music lovers!

The movie is a coming of age story for four teenage boys, played by Wil Wheaton (as Gordie),

Jennifer Who?

This time in First Names First” let’s got through women with the name Jennifer/Jenny. Your “task” – should you accept it – is to pick one of the names below, then follow the Wikipedia link to read about that person, and to see what if anything he or she could contribute your life with. Lives lived have all something to tell us – let them!

Jenny Lind* opera singer – Stockholm, Sweden (1820-1887)
Jenny Twitchell Kempton* opera singer – Dublin, NH USA (1835-1921)

Data for 1507

Martin Waldseemüller publishes his world map, naming the new continent America in honor of Amerigo Vespucci (Apr), the Portuguese occupy Mozambique, King James IV grants a patent for the first printing press in Scotland, Leonardo da Vinci completes the Mona Lisa – and all these fine people were born:

1507-0125 Johannes Oporinus* humanist printer – Basel, Swiss Confederation (1568/61)

1507-0414 Konrad Hubert* theologian/hymn writer/ reformer – Bergzabern, Germany (1577/70)

Streets of Puerto de la Cruz

Today in Streets & Squares we visit the city of Puerto de la Cruz in the Spanish island of Tenerife off the coast of Africa. Lots of eponymous streets here and a lot of history! As always, clicking on the address links leads you to Google Maps, and clinking on the names to the person’s Wikipedia page.

Data for the 1440s

Eton College Entrance

The Prussian Confederation is formed (Feb 21), Christopher of Bavaria is elected King of Denmark (Apr 9), the French serial killer Gilles de Rais – once a companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc – is hanged in Nantes (Oct 26), Eton College is founded –

Little House on the Prairie

Michael Landon in 1974

Little House on the Prairie. Who hasn’t seen this American western drama television series or at least heard about it? About The Ingalls Family living in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, based on the best-selling series of Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Who Said That! #20

This time in our series Who Said That! let’s go down the rabbit hole! Or literally explore where that phrase:

Going down the rabbit hole

Striking Up a Conversation

Whether you are the gregarious type or more prone to privacy, there are moments in life when you may want to strike up a conversation with a total stranger.

Be it at a bus stop, a bar or a street corner, the consequences of unexpected openers can be far-reaching for both  parties – or a pleasant break from your usual routine.

Jeff Who?

This time in “First Names First” it is all about Jeff and Jeffrey! Take your pick in the list, and find some inspiring stories behind these names. Give this a couple of minutes for lives lived have all something worthwhile to tell us. Let them!

Jeffrey DeMunn* actor – Buffalo, NY USA (1947)
Jeff Bridges* actor/singer/producer – Los Angeles, CA USA (1949)

Walking, walking

 

We learn to walk around the age of one – and what a delight that is for both the parents and child! And from then on – unless something unforeseen happens – we walk our whole lives.

The steps we take are uncountable. But let’s say that we take an average 3000 steps a day during 10 years. That would make close to 11 million steps. So in 80 years one might take around 88 million steps.

Did You Know That….

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, decided this winter to introduce -as a trial basis – a new, gender equal approach to clearing roads and sidewalks from snow.

The snowplows are to work the sidewalks and bicycle lanes first

Data for 1713

Fort Neoheroka historical marker near Snow Hill, NC

Swedish troops are defeated by the Ottoman Empire in Moldova (Feb 1), Fort Neoheroka falls to the Carolina militia, ending the Tuscarora nation’s military strength (Mar 23), Spain cedes Gibraltar and Menorca to Britain (Mar 27),

Data for 2012

After 246 years since its first publication, the Encyclopedia Britannica discontinues its print edition (Mar 13), Edvard Munch’s The Scream sets a new world record for an auctioned work of art (May 22), the Summer Olympics begin in London, England (Jul 27), the Mars rover Curiosity successfully lands on Mars (Aug 6), Felix Baumgartner skydives from 24 miles (39 km) over Roswell, New Mexico (Oct 14) – and all these fine people were born:

Who Said That! #19

It is April Fool’s Day folks! And even if the word fool connotes today something else – and hopefully brings a smile to your face – it is still a good day for this phrase:

 

“The fool looks at a finger

that points at the sky”