Cosmographiae Introductio by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller, with accompanying wall map. The German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller publishes his world map, naming the new continent America in honor of his friend Amerigo Vespucci (Apr), the Portuguese occupy Mozambique, King James IV grants a patent for the first printing press in Scotland , the Timurid Dynasty ends, the Aztec New Fire ceremony is held for the last time - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

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. AV. FAMILIA DE BETANCOURT Y MOLINA - Agustin de Betancourt y Molina (1758-1824) was an engineer, urban planner and construction manager born in Puerto de la Cruz. Continue reading

[caption id=“attachment_9839” align=“alignleft” width=“379”]Eton College Entrance[/caption] 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 - and all these fine people were born: 1440-xxxx Sten Sture the Elder* statesman/regent of Sweden - Sweden (1503/c. 63) 1440-0122 Ivan III of Russia* known as “Ivan the Great” and the “gatherer of the Russian lands” - Moscow, GD of Moscow (1505/65) 1440-0213 Hartmann Schedel* physician/historian/one of the first cartographers to use the printing press invented in 1447 - Nuremberg, Germany (1514/74) 1441 Individual post 1442-0428 King Edward IV of England*- Rouen, Normandy (1483/40) 1442-0703 Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado* 後土御門天皇 - Japan (1500/58) 1443-0629 Anthony Browne* knight - Parish, Surrey, England (1506/63) 1443-0909 Muhammad Jaunpuri* - Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India (1505/61) 1443-1205 Pope Julius II* (b Giuliano della Rovere) chose his papal name in emulation of Julius Caesar - Albisola, Republic of Genoa (1513/69) 1444-xxxx Donato Bramante* Italian architect (St. Continue reading

[caption id=“attachment_9268” align=“alignright” width=“266”]Michael Landon in 1974[/caption] 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. Anyway, true to the idea with Journeys of Life, celebrating people in the entertainment industry and anywhere else, here is the cast for the series, in chronological order like always: Continue reading

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 originates in. The meaning of it is obvious to most of us. We see something, but want or need to know more about it and are willing to go to great measures and depths in order to find out, once and for all. So like the rabbit that disappears in its hole under ground to escape a danger, we dive into a hole - not to avoid danger, but possibly face it in letting ourselves get in circumstances unknown to us in order to find out what lies beneath the surface, what actually is there to know if you take that step. Continue reading

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. Loneliness is such a common thing among the older population (and yes, even the younger) that striking a conversation with a senior citizen at a bus stop is often a most welcome thing. Continue reading

This time in First Names Firstis 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) Jeff Goldblum* actor – West Homestead, PA USA (1952) Jeff Fahey* actor – Olean, NY USA (1952) Jeff Koons* artist - York, PA USA (1955) Jeff Daniels* actor – Athens, GA USA (1955) Jeff Foxworthy* actor/ comedian/writer – Atlanta, GA USA (1958) Jeffrey Dahmer* serial killer – Milwaukee, WI USA (1960) Jeff Probst* Survivor host/producer – Wichita, KS USA (1961) Jeff Beal* composer - Hayward, CA USA (1963) Jeffrey Dean Morgan* actor - Seattle, WA USA (1966) Jeffrey Wright* actor – Washington D. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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 (and roads second) in order to favor women who use them much more frequently than men do. Men who tend to take (what is often the only) family car to work. This winter especially that decision has been met with great satisfaction as the sidewalks have often been so icy. Continue reading

[caption id=“attachment_9482” align=“alignleft” width=“356”]Fort Neoheroka historical marker near Snow Hill, NC[/caption] In the year 1713, 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), French residents of Acadia in eastern North America are given one year to declare allegiance to Great Britain, or leave Nova Scotia (Jun 23), the Tuscarora War between the settlers and the Tuscarora tribe goes on in North Carolina - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

In the year 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: Continue reading

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” That phrase appeared in the 2001 French romantic comedy film Amélie, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. And it’s not hard at all to understand what is meant by that. Continue reading

Life is a pretty humdrum existence most of the time. With some ups and downs, along with long stretches when nothing extraordinary or interesting seems to be happening. But in most everybody’s life there are also special moments, some of which are almost magical. Can you recollect any magical moments in your own life? It doesn’t have to be anything seemingly special. But rather something that feels special. Like this one instant when a teenager is waiting at a bus stop on her way home from school. Continue reading

This time in Language Day, let’s talk a little about countries. Anyone who watches international sports events such as the Olympic Games is well aware of that many national teams like to display the name of their country in their own language. Which can be very different from how it is said in English. So the list below shows what it might say on the shirt of an athlete (these days of course you often see the name of the athlete instead). Continue reading

When you think about the ins and outs of things, don’t you think there should be something out there, in the universe, living more or less like we live here on Earth, circumstances withstanding? Let’s take this from start. Logically thinking, if you’re inside a box, and knowing what you know about the world (which is very limited for all of us), you would think that there is something outside the box as well. Continue reading

IPCC - the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - had it’s latest conference a couple of months ago in Katowice, Poland. Widely reported throughout the world, IPCC got a lot of attention. One of the speakers at the conference was Sir Richard Attenborough, whom most of us know from his splendid nature documentaries. He had an urgent message to give to the rest of the world. The organization is becoming increasingly familiar to most of us. Continue reading

This time in First Names First a Finnish name - Maija! The name Maija is half of the double connotation of “Matti ja Maija Meikäläinen” which roughly translated means Mr and Mrs Smith. And since we a fortnight ago already had Matti, the counterpart this month will be Maija. Some of them from other countries, and double names accepted here as well. And also the international Maya of course! Tyyne-Maija Salminen**(b Kivi) author – Tuusula, GD of Finland (1903) Maya Angelou* poet/writer/activist – St. Continue reading

[caption id=“attachment_9371” align=“alignleft” width=“299”]Display at West Point, NY consisting of thirteen links of The Great Chain[/caption] A long chain is stretched across the Hudson river to prevent the British fleet from advancing there (Apr 30), France declares war on the Kingdom of Great Britain (Jul 10), the Continental Congress passes the first budget of the United States (Sep 19), James Cook becomes the first European to land on Maui (Nov 26), the American Revolutionary War goes on - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

Streets & Squares takes you this time to Sydney, the state capital of New South Wales on the east coast of Australia. As always, clicking on an address will take you to Google Maps, and clicking on a name to the person’s Wikipedia page. See who lies behind the name of these streets and squares. Alfred Street - Prince Alfred (1844-1900) Duke of Edinburgh, and the second son of Queen Victoria. Continue reading

Let’s have some fun - and points to ponder! Let’s explore the self from within on a “governmental platform”. Let’s assume that we are all governments onto ourselves - as we indeed are - and see what sort of roles we could be building within ourselves in order to make the most of our lives here on earth. So, let’s say that we have built-in ministers or agents for each purpose and opportunity in life. Continue reading