This is one in the series of articles titled First Names First and it is all for pure entertainment! We present a chronological list of persons with their first name here, and your task is to pick one. Then follow the Wikipedia link to read about that person, and to see what if anything he or she could contribute your life with. Inspiration, passion, enlightenment, encouragement, empathy, etc. Spend a couple of minutes of your life with this. Continue reading

In the year 1705, Isaac Newton is knighted in Cambridge (Apr 16), the Dublin Gazette of Ireland publishes its first edition (Nov 5), construction of the Capitol Building in Williamsburg (capital of the Colony of Virginia) is completed (Nov), Edmond Halley predicts in Synopsis Astronomia Cometicae that comets sighted in 1456, 1531, 1607 and 1682 was one and the same and would return in 1758 (to be known as Halley’s Comet) - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

Welcome once again to take a dive in languages - a big part in our journeys of life. Whether we actually make any journeys geographically or merely in our minds - digitally or otherwise. This time it will be about the third person singular - he and she. To the exclusion of all other aspects of gender specification. So without entering in the discussion when and why the two genders get grammatically separated, or what is the role of feminism in all of this, let’s just say that I myself found out only a couple of weeks ago that gender neutrality is not that uncommon after all. Continue reading

The Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa begins (Feb), Belgium becomes the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia (Feb 13), Russia formally annexes Crimea (Mar 21), a Malaysia Airlines plane is shot down over Ukraine (Jul 17), majority of Scotland votes to remain part of the United Kingdom, (Sep 18), IPCC warns that the world faces severe and irreversible damage from global emissions of CO2 (Nov 2), One World Trade Center in New York opens (Nov 3) – and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

Lately the posting here has been scarce due to summer vacation, computer problems and also the forthcoming transfer to a new domain. The site will remain more or less the same, and will be back to its regular schedule with its regularly appearing posts along with the more individual posting of articles and year files, some time during the summer. Until then, we wish all our readers a wonderful summer!

This time in First Names First it is all about Linda! Like with other names, this too is updated every now and then. Pick one, then follow the Wikipedia link to read about the person, and to see what if anything she could contribute your life with. Why not give a couple of minutes of your life to this for lives lived have something worthwhile to tell us – let them! Continue reading

In the year 1756, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in New York City for the first time (Mar 17), the Catherine Palace in Russia is completed (Jul 30), the Seven Year’s war - a global conflict involving every European great power of the time - begins, lasting until 1763, peasants in Prussia are forced to grow the unpopular and obscure potato, the first chocolate-candy factory begins operations in Germany - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

In the year 1608, Quebec City is founded by Samuel de Champlain (Jul 3), the first official English representative to India, Captain William Hawkins, lands at Surat, India (Aug 24), the University of Oviedo in Spain opens its doors to students (Sep 21), the first telescope (which Galileo later improves upon) is demonstrated by a Dutch spectacle maker in the Netherlands (Oct 2), the first cheques are used in the Netherlands (1608) – and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

This time is First Names First we have Leonard/ Leonardo/ Leonhart! Pick one name, then follow the Wikipedia link to read about the person, and to see what if anything he could contribute your life with. Why not give a couple of minutes of your life to this for lives lived have something worthwhile to tell us – let them! Leonardo da Vinci* polymath/inventor/painter - Vinci, Republic of Florence (1452) Leonhart Fuchs* physician/botanist- Wemding, Bavaria (1501) Leonhard Euler* mathematician/astronomer/engineer – Basel, Switzerland (1707) Leonard Gyllenhaal* military officer/ entomologist – Ribbingsberg, Västergötland, Sweden (1752) Leonard Mudie* actor – Cheetham Hill, Lancashire, England (1883) Leonard Warren* (b Warenoff) opera singer - The Bronx, NY USA (1911) Leonard Bernstein* composer/conductor/ pianist – Lawrence, MA USA (1918) Leonard Nimoy* actor/director/ singer – Boston, MA USA (1931) Leonard A. Continue reading