[caption id=“attachment_7121” align=“alignleft” width=“177”]Paul, Peter & Mary[/caption] Peter, Paul and Mary was a popular American folk group active between 1961 and 2009. For many of us pretty unknown or just a distant reminder of the past. But as you watch them perform - albeit seemingly old-fashioned in style and tempo - the emotions you sense there are really no different from any age we live in. If you are feeling stressed and in need to slow down a bit, watching these three singing will do the trick. Continue reading

This time in Who Said That! another quote to ponder upon. And if you want to try to guess or remember who said that, just remember to s c r o l l down very slowly so you won’t reveal it ahead of time! “WHEN ONE DOOR OF HAPPINESS CLOSES, ANOTHER OPENS_;_ BUT OFTEN WE LOOK SO LONG AT THE CLOSED DOOR THAT WE DO NOT SEE THE ONE WHICH HAS BEEN OPENED FOR US” Continue reading

In the year 1600, Giordano Bruno is burned at the stake for heresy in Rome (Feb 17), Tycho Brahe observes a solar eclipse (Jul 10), and colleague Longomontanus works with him with Moon’s orbital theory (Jul), Tokugawa Ieyasu defeats Ishida Mitsunari and sets the stage for the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate. This begins the Edo period (Oct 21), sumo wrestling becomes a professional sport in Japan - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

Time for some Latin. This one is something that some of us dream of, but very few can realize. To be able to have so little that you can carry it all with you, anywhere you go. To have that freedom. It is about minimalism, the strive to have so little that material things do not present an obstacle to one’s living and moving around. Perhaps we can stretch this in our modern world to having everything you own fit in your camper. Continue reading

[caption id=“attachment_5123” align=“alignright” width=“375”]Yalu River between China and Korea[/caption] Here’s the second piece in our series 1000 Years Ago Today, published every now and then. When you think about it, not much of essence differentiates us from the people who lived a thousand years ago. Their surroundings and circumstances sure were different, but when it comes to basic human needs, desires, capabilities, ambitions etc, most of it is more or less the same for us and them. Continue reading

On this Women’s Day, let’s have something specially for women. Some of you might ask what makes a woman want to fight professionally? And the minute you do, you already know the answer. Fighting is not just for men. We all have the need to assert ourselves, defend ourselves and even attack when need be. And some of us want to watch people fight, professionally that is. There is big business built around all that. Continue reading

Let’s make a closer acquaintance with the Hawaiian islands, the chain of volcanic islands in the North Pacific Ocean. And then see who was born there throughout the years. First there was the Kingdom of Hawaii (1795-1898), then the Territory of Hawaii of the United States (1898-1959), and as of the 21st of August 1959, the State of Hawaii, the 50th and the most recent state of the United States. Continue reading

[caption id=“attachment_9012” align=“alignleft” width=“272”]A Three-Star restaurant according to the Michelin Guide[/caption] the world famous Michelin Guide is not just about restaurants, but actually a series of guide books, published by the French tire company Michelin for more than a century. The one giving those stars for restaurants and hotels around the world is called Michelin Red Guide, but in addition to that, Michelin also publishes a series of general guides to cities, regions, and countries, called the Michelin Green Guides. Continue reading

In the year 2011, a tsunami kills thousands in eastern Japan (Mar 11), U.S. President Barack Obama announces the death of Osama bin Laden (May 2), the planet Neptune completes its first orbit since its discovery in 1846 (Jul 12), domestic terror attacks take place in Norway (Jul 22), NASA announces that liquid water may be found on Mars (Aug 5), Occupy Wall Street protests begin in New York City (Sep 17), ETA declares an end to its 43-year long violent political campaign, and Muammar Gaddafi is killed in Libya (Oct 20), the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity is launched towards Mars (Nov 26) – and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

Once again, First Names First! A chronological list of persons with their first name here. Pick one, then follow the Wikipedia link to read about the person, and see what if anything he or she could contribute your life with. Inspiration, passion, encouragement, empathy, etc. Give a couple of minutes of your life to this. Lives lived have all something worthwhile to tell us - let them! This time around it will be a Finnish name - Matti! Continue reading

This time in Language Day a very useful expression if you are traveling abroad. The one question that you need to ask when looking for a place, any place. You already know where you want to get to, and you only need to attach two simple words to it: where is? Of course you can always try English anywhere you go, but the fact is that not everyone knows English, so here goes: where is in several other languages. Continue reading

Time for another Latin phrase in our Monthly Latin series. This time about something that will become increasingly important in our modern world as we move towards times that will most probably challenge the ways we handle global adversity collectively. Sapiens qui prospicit  meaning “Wise is he who looks ahead” - or “Wise is he who foresees”. On a personal level it signifies naturally the wisdom in looking ahead in one’s life - making plans and foreseeing possible problems and obstacles in one’s attainment of goals. Continue reading

Yet another one in our series First Names First! 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! Melissa Leo* actress – Brooklyn, NY USA (1960) Melissa Newman* artist/singer/daughter of Paul Newman – Hollywood, CA USA (1961) Melissa Sue Anderson* actress – Berkeley, CA USA (1962) Melissa Gilbert* actress/television director – Los Angeles, CA USA (1964) Melissa McBride* actress – Lexington, KY USA (1965) Melissa McCarthy* actress/producer/fashion designer - Plainfield, IL USA (1970) Melissa Francis* child actress/TV commentator – Los Angeles, CA USA (1972) Melissa O’Neil* singer/actress – Calgary, AB Canada (1988) Melissa Benoist* actress/singer/dancer – Houston, TX USA (1988) Updated 3. Continue reading

[caption id=“attachment_8860” align=“alignleft” width=“381”]Astley’s Amphitheatre in 1773[/caption] In the year 1768, the first modern circus is staged in London (Jan 9), a peace agreement is made between Britain and several native American leaders of both the northern and southern American lands (Mar 17), the New York Chamber of Commerce is founded (Apr 5), the island of Corsica is ceded to France (May 15), James Cook departs from Plymouth, England on his first voyage of discovery (Aug 8), the Russo-Turkish war begins (Oct 4), New Smyrna in Florida is founded as the largest attempt at colonization by the British in the New World – and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

This time Streets & Squares will visit Gdansk on the Baltic coast in northern Poland, and - more precisely - by the Gulf of Danzig. Danzig is the former German name of Gdansk. There is an interesting list of German streets names correlating with their Polish version in Your Pocket. The Polish language is known for its rich consonants and a lack of vowels, so be prepared to tackle some pretty difficult words and names in this article. Continue reading

As we grow older, we all change in some major ways. Physically, naturally, comes to mind first. But there comes a whole package of psychological things as well. One of them being the eradication of some of the prejudices concerning old age. Here is one of them. Don’t we usually think that old people like to think of and talk about old times a lot? Well, many do and nothing wrong with that. Continue reading

In the year 1709, the Great Frost of 1709 in Western Europe begins, killing thousands (Jan 6), the production of hard-paste porcelain in Europe starts (Mar 28), Peter the Great defeats the Swedish forces at Poltava, and thus ends Sweden’s role as a major power in Europe (Jun 27), the city of Chihuahua in Mexico is founded (Oct 12), ten ships leave London for the New York Colony (Dec 25) - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

**Mohegan leader Samoset greets the English settlers in Plymouth Colony **(Mar 16), first treaty between the Native Americans and the settlers is signed (Apr 1), the Dutch East India Company is founded (Jun 3), the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony and Wampanoags celebrate a harvest feast, later regarded as the First Thanksgiving (Oct), Gothenburg in Sweden is founded, the Dutch forces massacre thousands in Java for_ nutmeg _- and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

If you hadn’t figured it out yet, this site is basically offering to be a platform for genealogy. The groundwork is gradually being done to become just that, so that people like yourself could attach some of their own data in these pages. The data or information is never anything that could harm you or the members of your family, whether living or dead, for all that is needed here is what you see being repeated in every single year file: name, place and date of birth, main occupation or what the person in question was mainly known for, and also the possible date of death. Continue reading

Once again First Names First where 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. Perhaps some inspiration. Give a couple of minutes of your life to this. Lives lived have all something worthwhile to tell us - let them! Continue reading