So Survivor season 44 is behind us, and we have a new sole Survivor! Which we will not reveal here, of course, but he or she as well as all the other Sole Survivors are all listed in our Survivor Winners article that is being updated as each season has come to its end. So go and have a look at the winners - where they are from, who are the two 2-time winners, and which birth month has the most winners. Continue reading

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

Coat of Arms of the University of Paris After touring an army through Aquitaine in the Kingdom of France, to assert his right to it, King John of England marries 12-year-old Isabella of Angoulême at Bordeaux, probably in order to strengthen his hold of that part of France (Aug 24), the Iroquois tribe invade modern-day Ohio from the north, the University of Paris receives its charter, the Mongols defeat Northern China - and all these fine people were born (adding a few as we go along): Continue reading

Steven King House in Bangor, Maine It is time again in Streets & Squares for a U.S. city (January, May and September ). This time a slighly smaller one, namely Bangor in Penobscot County, Maine, situated by the Penobscot River. Founded as Kendeskeag Plantation in 1791 and incorporated as a town in 1834. Bowdoin Street - James Bowdoin II (1726-1790) was a politician and American Revolutionary leader, shaper of the public opinion in the colonies. Continue reading

The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge between Staten Island and Brooklyn, opened for traffic in 1964, was named in honor of the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazano In the year 1524, the Florentine explorer Giovanni da Verrazano’s expedition makes landfall in Cape Fear (March) and sights later as the first Europeans the island of Manhattan (April), the Swiss physician Paracelsus visits Salzburg (summer), Protestant theologians Martin Luther and Andreas Karlstadt dispute at Jena (Aug), the Spanish conquistador Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba founds the city of Granada, Nicaragua, the oldest Hispanic city in the mainland of the Western Hemisphere (Dec 8) - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

The name this time around in our series First Names First will be Carlos! The Spanish form of Carl. Why not pick one of the names below, follow the Wikipedia link to read about that person, and to see what if anything he could contribute your life with. Inspiration, passion, enlightenment, encouragement, empathy, etc. Give a couple of minutes to this for lives lived have all something worthwhile to tell us. Continue reading

The picture here shows you the audio book version of the novel Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. But you will guaranteed get more out of that great novel by watching the dramatized miniseries of it on Netflix, with the same title. The story takes place over the course of decades, and follows two lifelong best friends—Tallulah, or “Tully,” and Kate—beginning with their childhood on Firefly Lane. Down below we have gathered for you the cast of Firefly Lane, the actors and actresses appear here in cronological order. Continue reading

Two weeks ago we had here in First Names First the male name Francis, so today’s female name is - you guessed right! - Frances! It can be a [male](http://1998-0120 Frances Tiafoe* tennis player – Hyattsville, MD USA) name too, but here we only consider the female ones. So, take your pick, and find some inspiring stories behind the names. Give this a couple of minutes – for lives lived have all something worthwhile to tell us. Continue reading

The Songyue Pagoda in Henan province in China, completed in 523 These years are so far back in time that they do not necessarily give much to you as genealogists. But it is a chance to have a quick look at this century, and to see who was born between 501 and 600. This will later on be divided into decades, with links appearing then here below. Exact dates of birth are hardly ever known (that xxxx after a year indicate a possible month and birth) here, and “aby” stands for approximate birth year. Continue reading

This is part in the article series Streets and Squares that provide some background information on street signs around the world. It is a fun way to learn about the history and culture of the cities you visit or even live in! This time we target Quito, the capital city of Equador, South America. There are quite a few eponymous streets – and squares in Quito. The word eponymous means – in case you didn’t know it already – (of a thing) “named after a particular person or group” or (of a person) “giving their name to something”. Continue reading

As you start researching into your family history, you quite soon come to realize the vastness of the task. The numbers keep doubling up as we move backwards in time. Starting with two parents, we would end up literally with thousands of forefathers and -mothers. But luckily we never need to deal with all of that data as most of us know only of a few generations backwards. Nevertheless, let’s look at some of these figures. Continue reading

Arabs leaving a mosque in Tunis (image credit to the Detroit Publishing Company) The 7th century is a time of great turmoil. The rise of Islamic power drastically changes much of the Western Hemisphere, with the Byzantine Empire unable to prevent the new enemy from taking much of their land.The spread of Islam and the Muslim conquests begin with the unification of Arabia by Muhammad starting in 622. In the Iberian Peninsula, the 7th century was known as the Siglo de Concilios (century of councils), and in England, Northumbria established dominance in the British Isles from Mercia. Continue reading

The name this time around in our series First Names First will be Francis! There is a separate article here for people mainly known as Frank, the short form of Francis. This name has always been a very popular name, but do you know which Francis we have in the picture? Pick one of the names below, then follow the Wikipedia link to read about that person, and to see what if anything he could contribute your life with. Continue reading

Here is one more unusual occupation for you: prompter ! The exclamation mark there is a bit of a contradiction because a prompter is someone who is not supposed to make much noise at all, but remain in the background. Or, in this case, usually, in the foreground, as their job is to prompt or cue actors and actresses when they forget their lines. Or when they neglect to move on the stage to where they are supposed to be situated. Continue reading

World Globe by Gerardus Mercator. Made in 1541 in Leuven, Belgium. Picture credit [Paul Hermans](http://Paul Hermans) In the year 1541, Santiago del Nuevo Extremo, the future capital of Chile, is founded (Feb 12), after three years of exile, John Calvin returns to Geneva to reform the church under a body of doctrine that comes to be known as Calvinism (Sep 13), Iceland adopts the Lutheran faith, the Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator makes his first globe - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading

Time for another great quote! This one is precise and to the point: “Get busy living or get busy dying." There is no time to waste for life is short, right? No matter how many lives we live. The choice - for all free people - is always there to make: whether to live, really live, the life that we were bestowed, and make the best out of it - minus the eventual lapses and mistakes that we all inevitably make. Continue reading

Let’s have something really fun this time around in Language Day! Winter turning into spring (in the Northern hemisphere), and while there is still snow - and even ice - on the ground in some northern countries, we are seeing more and more of the so pleasantly warming sun, and welcoming the spring once again. But we can still muster a few snowballs, and maybe try to with one of them hit an oak tree that in a few weeks will be getting leaves, and acorns for squirrels to pick up and eat, and store. Continue reading

In the year 1333, forces loyal to Emperor Go-Daigo enter and destroy the city of Kamakura - thus ends the Kamakura period, and the Kenmu Restoration begins (May 18), King Edward III of England seizes the Isle of Man from Scottish control (Jun 8), Alhambra is converted into a royal palace by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada - and all these fine people were born: 1333-xxxx Jacques de Hemricourt* mayor of Liège/chronicler of the nobility of Hesbaye - Liege (1403/c. Continue reading

Edith is the name this time around in our series First Names First! A pretty common name in the latter part of the 19th century, seems like. Why not pick one of the Ediths that you see below, then follow the Wikipedia link to read about that person, and to see what if anything she could contribute your life with. Inspiration, passion, enlightenment, encouragement, empathy, etc. Give a couple of minutes to this for lives lived have all something worthwhile to tell us. Continue reading

In the year 1544, the estates of Sweden swear loyalty to King Gustav Vasa and to his heirs, ending the traditional electoral monarchy in Sweden (Jan 13), French forces defeat forces of the Holy Roman Empire near Turin (Apr 11), Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, again invades eastern France (May), Mongols burn the suburbs of Peking, Portuguese explorers encounter the island of Taiwan, and call it Ilha Formosa (“Beautiful Island”), rats make their first appearance in North America - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading