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

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

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

two among the most popular and likable individuals in the entertainment business in the last century - Marilyn Monroe and **Andy Griffith - **were born on the very same day, on June 1st, 1926? She in Los Angeles, California, he in Mount Airy, North Carolina. We all know of her tragic death - however that took place - in Los Angeles in 1962. She had turned 36 that summer. Griffith died 50 summers later at the age of 86, in Manteo, North Carolina. Continue reading

[caption id=“attachment_8365” align=“alignright” width=“301”]Vase with Pink Roses, 1890. Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington[/caption] This time in Who Said That! a quote from someone who knew how to live an eventful life. He wouldn’t settle for anything mediocre or devoid of authentic feeling, saying that “I WOULD RATHER DIE OF PASSION THAN OF BOREDOM_"_ And who was that? You might think it was someone who dove into passionate relationships with vengeance, not caring about the consequences of a potentially socially totally (or, at the very least, less) acceptable liaison or behavior. Continue reading

The feeling when you are at the beginning of the runway. The plane has left the gates what may seem like a long time ago, now waiting for the permission for takeoff. The buzz of conversation between the passengers are louder than the engines, for a while. But there is in the air the anticipation of what is to come, and for that some of the passengers get really quiet. Continue reading

Once again, First Names First! Pick one of the names below, then follow the Wikipedia link to read about that person, and see what if anything she could contribute your life with. Inspiration, enlightenment, encouragement, empathy, etc. Spend a couple of minutes of your life with this. Lives lived have all something to tell us – let them! This time it is about Courtney/Courteney! Courteney Cox* actress – Birmingham, Alabama USA (1964) Courtney Love* singer/actress/visual artist - San Francisco, CA USA (1964) Courtney Thorne-Smith* actress - San Francisco, CA USA (1967) Updated 3. Continue reading

Streets and Squares goes this time to Boston, the capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and known to most of us for its Irish heritage. But its history goes way beyond that. As always, we leave out most people - even if they are well-known - who don’t have direct relation to the city. And along with the eponymous streets, there may be parks, bridges and other noteworthy public places. The address links lead to Google Maps, and the links of people to their Wikipedia pages, if such exist. Continue reading

This time in Who Said That! a quote from a Jewish writer who shared a harsh past with his people, but emigrated to America before things got really bad in Europe. Remember to s c r o l l down very slowly so you won’t reveal who said that ahead of time! I did not become vegetarian for my health, I did it for the health of the chickens. And who was it again that said that? Continue reading

Here’s yet another Latin phrase in our Monthly Latin series. This could easily have an exclamation mark attached to it, and physically speaking both hands on one’s cheeks for extra effect, for it carries a lot of feeling. Have you heard of: O Sancta Simplicitas meaning Oh, Holy Simplicity! The legend is that these were the last words spoken by the Czech theologian Jan Hus as he was being burned at stake during the general council of the Roman Catholic Church in Constance in the year 1415. Continue reading

Another one in First Names First! A chronological list of persons with their first name here. Pick one, then follow the Wikipedia link to read about that person, and see what if anything he or she could contribute your life with. Spend a couple of minutes of your life with this. Lives lived have all something to tell us – let them! This time it is all about Connor/Conor! Conor Oberst* singer/songwriter - Omaha, Nebraska USA (1980) Conor McGregor* mixed martial artist – Dublin, Ireland (1988) Conor Sheary* hockey player - Winchester, MA USA (1992) Conor Maynard* singer/songwriter/actor - Brighton, England (1992) Connor Wickham* football player - Hereford, England (1993) Connor Hellebuyck* hockey goalie – Commerce, Michigan USA (1993) Connor McDavid* hockey player – Richmond Hill, Ontario CAN (1997) Updated 10. Continue reading

we won’t be detecting - not even with the most powerful telescopes - the new Chinese space probe Chang’e 4 that just landed on the moon? The reason being of course that it landed on the other side of the Moon. The side we never see. And did you know that the video taken with the help of the most powerful telescope does get us surprisingly near this side of the Moon? Continue reading

This time in Who Said That! some Roman wisdom! Remember to s c r o l l down very slowly so you won’t reveal who said that ahead of time! A hint though: this person lived a very long time ago (naturally - Roman wisdom), but most of us may actually remember him from history classes at school. Especially if your history teacher - or you yourself - happened to be particularly interested in Roman history. Continue reading

If you are planning to welcome the year 2019 abroad, you might want to wish Happy New Year in the local language! Never mind the pronunciation, just trying to say it may get you some new friends! Cin cin! Here’s how it is said - or rather, written - in the following countries and regions:  Albania: Vitin e ri të lumtur! Armenia: Shnorhavor Nor Tari! Շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի Basque Country (Spain): Urte berri on! Continue reading

It is Wednesday, the 8th of April, 1668. Maria Elisabeth Lämmerhirt, daughter of a furrier and coachman in the German city of Erfurt, is about to marry Johann whom she has known since childhood. The wedding will take place in the old church, Kaufmannkirche, in Erfurt. Little does she know what impact that decision is going to have on the world. She is 24, he 23 years of age. Her future husband is a musician, and the home they will be sharing will one day be full of music! 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! This time it’s all about Eva/Eeva/Eve/Evelyn Eva Tanguay* singer/entertainer/“The Queen of Vaudeville” - Marbleton, QC Canada (1878) Eva Dickson* (b Lindström) rally driver/aviator/travel writer - Steninge Slott, Sigtuna, Sweden (1905) Eve Arden* (b Eunice Mary Quedens) actress/comedian - Mill Valley, CA USA (1908) Evelyn Bryan Johnson* (b Stone) “Mama Bird”, the female pilot with the most number of flying hours in the world - Corbin, KY USA (1909) Eva Braun* Hitler’s wife – Munich, Bavaria, Germany (1912) Eva Gabor* actress /singer – Budapest, Hungarian Republic (1919) Eva Perón* First Lady/political activist – Los Toldos, Argentina (1919) Eeva Joenpelto* novelist – Sammatti, Finland (1921) Eva-Marie Saint* actress – Newark, NJ USA (1924) Eeva Kilpi* writer/feminist – Hiitola, Finland (1928) Eeva Ahtisaari* teacher/First Lady – Varkaus, Finland (1936) Eeva Tikka* writer – Ristiina, Finland (1939) Eeva-Riitta Siitonen* politician – Helsinki, Finland (1940) Eeva Litmanen* actress – Lappeenranta, Finland (1944) Efva Attling* silversmith/entrepreneur - Stockholm, Sweden (1952) Evelyn Ashford* athlete/ sprinter/OG – Shreveport, LA USA (1957) Eva Dahlgren* singer (Roxette) - Umeå, Sweden (1960) pic Eva Mendes* actress – Miami, FL USA (1974) Eva Longoria* actress/ producer/ activist – Corpus Christi, TX USA (1975) NB. Continue reading

This time in Streets & Squares we go to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Lots of eponymous streets here! You might also see the name Reval in lots of places - that’s the old name for Tallinn. A short vocabulary to assist you in orienting in this lovely Hanseatic city: maantee (road), park (park), plats (square), torn (tower), tänav (street). Most street names in Tallinn lack the word street though, and are solely identified by the short form or the bearer of the street in question. Continue reading

Who hasn’t heard the axiom A smile a day lengthens life. A smile can go a long way to brighten a day. It feels good to smile, but it may feel even better to bring a smile on someone else’s face. Smiling can trick your brain into happiness. The mere act of smiling can lift your mood, boost your immune system and possibly even prolong your life. WE SHALL NEVER KNOW ALL THE GOOD Continue reading

Here’s another one in our Monthly Latin series. The phrase you see below is just as eternal as any other Latin phrase, and probably known by at least some of you. But do you know where it originates from? Read on and you will.  Disce ut semper victurus, vive ut cras moriturus  Learn as if always going to live; live as if tomorrow going to die. What a superb sentence that is! Continue reading

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 the person, and to see what if anything he could contribute your life with. Lives lived have all something to tell us – let them! This time it’s all about Adam! Adam Smith* economist/philosopher – Kirkcaldy, Scotland (1723) Adam Afzelius* botanist – Larv, Västergötland, Sweden (1750) Adam Opel* industrialist – Rüsselsheim, Hesse, Prussia (1837) Adam West* actor (Batman) – Walla Walla, WA USA (1928) Adam Arkin* actor – Brooklyn, NY USA (1956) Adam Baldwin* actor – Chicago, IL USA (1962) Adam Shankman* actor/director/ producer – Los Angeles, CA USA (1964) Adam Sandler* actor – Brooklyn, NY USA (1966) Adam Savage* special effects designer/Myth Buster – New York, NY USA (1967) Adam Alsing* television and radio presenter - Karlstad, Sweden (1967) Adam Goldberg* actor – Santa Monica, CA USA (1970) Adam Scott* actor/producer/ podcaster – Santa Cruz, CA USA (1973) Adam Rodriguez* actor/ screenwriter/director – New York, NY USA (1975) Adam Nelson* athlete/shotput – Atlanta, GA USA (1975) Adam Rayner* actor – Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (1977) Adam Malysz* ski jumper – Wisla, Poland (1977) Adam Lambert* singer/ songwriter – Indianapolis, IN USA (1982) Adam Driver* actor – San Diego, CA USA (1983) picture Adam Buckingham* acrobatic gymnast (Spelbound) – England (1988) Adam McAssey* acrobatic gymnast (Spelbound) – England (1989) Adam Klein* homeless shelter manager/Survivor S33 – Burlingame, CA USA (1991) Adam Lowry* hockey player – St. Continue reading