is it gonna end? It’s The Question millions of people ask these days. When can we live and go about our lives in a normal manner again? Finally cast away all this protective gear, and breathe normally? Like we used to not that long ago. There are definite signs in the air and everywhere that - no, not of it being over - but that we, so many of us, are getting so so fed up with having to gear up and be extra cautious. Continue reading

Another piece in our series Who Said That! We present a quotation, a few ideas around it, and finally the person behind it. There are so many good quotes by people throughout history that reflect the complexities of life that do not change a whole lot, no matter which era you live in. So, who do you think said the following: _**“You don’t have anything to give that you don’t have. Continue reading

There are a whole lot of loan words in English. Many more than you might think. Perhaps as much as 80% of words in the English language have a non-English origin. Most are of course from far back in time, but some are quite new. So new that you might recognize them right away if the source was your own mother tongue. Below there is an alphabetical list of some of these words. Continue reading

This time in First Names First we have** Ada!** Pick one name below, and then follow the Wikipedia link to see what if anything the person 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! Ada Lovelace* (b Byron) mathematician/writer/ often regarded as one of the first computer programmers – London, England (1815) Continue reading

As you may know, our article series Streets and Squares was created to provide interesting 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 visit Montreal, the most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie (City of Mary), it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-peaked hill in the heart of the city. Continue reading

This time in First Names First we haveAdolf. And Adolph, Adolphe and Adolphus - all male names. Unfortunately Adolf was the name for that one dictator, but also the first (or in this case, the second) name for many good and brilliant men. No man owns a name, but nevertheless, after the Second World War, Adolf has for obvious reasons rarely been a name one would choose for their son. Continue reading

So, Who Said That! Try to guess first who said that, and if you don’t know, you’ll see who it was at the very end of the article. Remember to scroll very s l o w l y. Sometimes it is so obvious. That someone is very different from “the rest of us normal people”. And even if you add “more” before “normal”, it doesn’t much change the fact that there is no normal , and being “different” is an illusion. Continue reading

The Watchtower’s Samoan edition Did you know that The Watchtower, started in 1879 by Charles Taze Russell and published monthly by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, is the most widely read magazine in the world? It has appeared with slightly different names, and has different editions even now, but you would have to live pretty isolated if you never had seen this magazine anywhere. The success of this theologically very conservative magazine is based on several factors. Continue reading

This time in First Names First! it is all about Gemma! So pick one of the Gemmas 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. Gemma Donati* wife of Dante Alighieri - Florence, Republic of Florence (1267) Continue reading

Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic coast As you may know, our article series Streets and Squares was created to provide some interesting 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 will visit Casablanca, the largest city of Morocco. Not the capital though for that is Rabat. Continue reading

Another piece in our series First Names First! Pick one of the names that you see below. Then 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. This time it is all about Gene - as the male name! Continue reading

“The last attack of the Swedes” by Magnus Adlercreutz, illustrating the heroic Swedish attack in the Battle of Oravais, which ultimately led to their defeat. one of the nicknames that the Finns have for their dear Western neighbors, the Swedes - namely Hurrit - may have a more dramatic background than usually considered? The Battle of Oravais was one of the decisive battles in the Finnish War (1808-1809) between Sweden and the Russian Empire, fought on September 14th, 1808 by the Gulf of Bothnia in western Finland. Continue reading

Here’s yet another piece in Who Said That! Depicting what we people have uttered in a moment of elation, insight, inspiration, wisdom, despair – or any other emotion. Try to guess/remember first who said that, and if you don’t know, you’ll see who it was at the very end of the article. Remember to scroll very s l o w l y. GET RID OF THE SHITTY SOUND. LIFE IS TOO SHORT. Continue reading

This time in Language Day we take a slightly different approach. Namely looking at an expression in the English language that has a foreign background. There will be other such articles later on. We start with Dutch treat. Most English speaking people know exactly what that means, but others perhaps not. A treat yes, but Dutch? Anything to do with the Netherlands? Everybody knows though what my treat means. I pay for everything - for me, you and perhaps even for the rest of the bunch. Continue reading

This time in “First Names First” it is all about Charlotte! Follow one of those Wikipedia links to read about the person, and then see what if anything she could contribute your life with. Inspiration, passion, enlightenment, encouragement, empathy, etc. Or just thoughts for the day. Charlotte of Savoy* queen of France as the second spouse of Louis XI – Savoy, France (1441) Charlotte, Queen of Cyprus* – Nicosia, Cyprus (1444) Continue reading

This time we head for Sigtuna in our article series Streets & Squares. A small town northwest of Stockholm which became the capital of the Swedes during the 970s. King Eric the Victorious, the founder of Sigtuna, lived there as did many kings after him, so Sigtuna remained an important town. It did that for almost 300 years until Stockholm took over as the number one city in Sweden. These days it is a nice place to visit for both domestic and foreign tourists with its long history and idyllic sites. Continue reading

I, years ago, visited Paris for the first time during one of my Interrail trips - the kind of traveling by train done by many young Europeans in the 1970s and 1980s, and which is still popular - I tried to get to see one of the most famous sights in the city, the Arc de Triomphe at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle. And like an arch I walked around that big square, trying to find an entrance. Continue reading

This time in “First Names First” one of the most popular male names ever - Charles. Also the nickname derived from it, Charlie. Below you can see the list of these particular first names. Pick at least one of them, then follow the Wikipedia link to read about that person, and see what if anything he could contribute your life with. Inspiration, passion, enlightenment, encouragement, empathy, etc. Or just thoughts for the day. Continue reading

Fontaine Molière on Rue Molière in Paris during the fourth performance of Molière’s comédie-ballet The Imaginary Invalid ( Le malade imaginaire) on February 17th, 1673, something unexpected happens to the playwright Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (better known by his stage name Molière) who also plays the title role of the severe hypochondriac Argan? Molière collapses on the stage in a fit of coughing and haemorrhaging. He insists though on completing his performance. Continue reading

Time for another Who Said That! Try to guess or remember who is behind the quotation below, and if you don’t know, you’ll see who at the very end of the article. Remember to scroll slowly. So, who said: Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. That’s something we know instinctively. That we are unique. But sometimes we may forget that the other person is that too. Continue reading