JANUARY AND ALL ITS 31 DAYS by Niels Jorgen Thogersen

NIELS JØRGEN THØGERSEN

JUNE And all its 30 days Niels Jørgen Thøgersen The month of June has its name from the Roman goddess JUNO. She was the daughter of Saturn and married to Jupiter. Together they had the children Juventas, Mars and Vulcan. Juno was the goddess for happiness in marriages. That is why people earlier believed that the month of June was particularly good to get married in. Juno was also called the Queen of Heaven and of the Earth. And she was the goddess and protector of Rome and the Roman Empire. There are no special old weather warnings covering the whole of this month. People said, though, often in the old days: In June both heat and rain is what the farmer likes the most See more about the names of the 12 months: http://www.pantheon.org/miscellaneous/origin_months.html

JUNE 1 TODAY’s NAME: Today’s name is NICOMEDES’ DAY. He was a Roman soldier, who buried the martyr Felicula’s body. In doing so he revealed that was himself a Christian. Therefore, he was whipped to death with lead bullets. At the end his body was thrown into a river.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1958: Charles de Gaulle becomes president of France.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Taste blood – where does that expression come from? And what does it mean? This expression comes originally from the world of wild animals. It is well know that when a lion, a tiger or a panther bites another animal to eat it it gets even more wild and energetic from the moment it can taste blood. This is more or less an automatic reaction. A cat reacts perhaps the same way when it can taste the blood of a mouse. When you say that a person tastes blood you mean that she or he is getting extra energy – getting really focused on finishing a job or a task.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Casanova – where does that word come from? And it means?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: If a film costs 5 mio. dollars and it looks as if it has cost 10 mio., then it is good. If it looks as if it has cost 4 mio, it is bad. It has been said by the American film man and politician Clint Eastwood. 2. Today’s quote: War is the continuation of politics with violent means. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1780: 1804: 1922: 1935:

Carl von Clausewitz ( died 1831 ) Mikhail Glinka ( díed 1857 ) Povel Ramel ( died 2007 ) Norman Foster

4. Famous people died on this day: 1943: Leslie Howard ( 50 years ) 1954: Martin Andersen Nexø ( 85 years )

1962: Adolf Eichmann ( 56 years )

JUNE 2 TODAY’s NAME: This day’s name is MARCELLINUS’ DAY. The Christian Roman citizen Marcellinus Exorsista was because of his faith beheaded in year 304 AC during the reign of emperor Diocletian. The legend says that when his remains later were moved to Müllenheim blind and deaf people and people with other physical handicaps were cured on that spot.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1992: In a referendum the Danes voted NO to the EU Maastricht Treaty. 50,7 % voted no, and 49, 3 % voted yes.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Casanova – where does that word come from? And it means? Giacomo Casanova (1725-98) was an Italian from Venice. He described in details life in Europe in the 18th century. And he is in particular known for being a very active “womanizer”. That is why his name today is used to describe exactly that – men who are very successful with women.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Black sheep – where does that expression come from? And what does it mean? _____________________________________________ TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: War is the continuation of politics with violent means. This was said by the Prussian officer and military writer Carl von Clausewitz. 2. Today’s quote: In order to understand a good poem you have to be able to write a bad one yourself. Who among today’s persons has said that?

3. Famous people born on this day: 1740: 1857: 1904: 1940: 1946:

Marquis de Sade ( died 1814 ) Edward Elgar ( died 1934 ) Johnny Weissmuller ( died 1984 ) Ex-king Constantine II Inga Nielsen ( died 2008 )

4. Famous people died on this day: 1882: Giuseppe Garibaldi ( 75 years ) 1974: Tom Kristensen ( 81 years ) 1990: Rex Harrison ( 82 years )

JUNE 3 TODAY’s NAME: This day is called ERASMUS’ DAY. He was a bishop in the Greek city of Antiochia in the Middle East during the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian. Due to the emperor’s terrible persecutions of the Christians Erasmus took refuge in the mountains in Lebanon and lived here as an eremit. Later he went back to his city and continued to convert people to his faith and also to cure the sick persons. He died a natural death around year 300 AC. In the Middle Ages a legend about Erasmus became very popular. It told that he had been terribly tortured at least three times. Once he had all his intestines taken out. At another occasion he was put into a pot with boiling tar and sulphur. But in all cases he came out unhurt due to his faith. Due to this legend people believed that Erasmus in particular would help persons with stomach deceases. And he is also often presented next to a pot on pictures from that time.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1965: The US astronaut Edward White is the first man to make a space walk.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Black sheep – where does that expression come from? And what does it mean? In the old days a legend said that it would bring bad luck to have one or more black sheep in the flock. The reason was that you were paid less for black wool than for white wool.

Today you talk about the family’s black sheep, when you think of a member of the family, who differs from the rest of the family in a negative way. It might be in behavior or in intelligence. In other words: it isn’t meant positively, when somebody is described as a black sheep.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Like a cat round hot milk – where does that come from? And it means?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: In order to understand a good poem you have to be able to write a bad one yourself. This was once said by the Danish poet Tom Kristensen.

2. Today’s quote: I think we have to read books, which hurt and perforate us… A book has to be the axe to the frozen lake inside us. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1808: Jefferson Davis ( died 1889 ) 1906: Josephine Baker ( died 1975 ) 1925: Tony Curtis ( died 2010 ) 4. Famous people died on this day: 1764: Hans Adolph Brorson ( 70 years ) 1875: Georges Bizet ( 37 years ) 1924: Franz Kafka ( 41 years ) 2001: Anthony Quinn ( 86 years )

JUNE 4 TODAY’s NAME: Today’s name is OPTATUS’ DAY. He was a bishop in Numidia in North Africa ( nowadays Algeria ) around year 400 AC. He was a very skilled theologian, who was fighting against false doctrines in the church. This day is also called the Day of Sacraments. And it is the United Nations’ international day for children, who have been victims of aggression and abuse.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1783: The brothers Montgolfier presented for the first time publicly their hot air balloon ( now called a montgolfiere ).

TODAY’s QUESTION: Like a cat round hot milk – where does that come from? And it means? This is an expression, which goes several hundred years back. In English literature it appears for the first time in 1855, and it becomes very much used very quickly. The original meaning was, of course, that a hungry cat is very hesitant to put its tongue or paw into very hot milk. It does not want to burn it. On the other hand it does not leave, because it continues to be very tempted. It walks several times around it and hopes for “cooler times”. The sentence also got the present day indirect meaning that people are hesitant to do things they perhaps are afraid of or do not know much about. They postpone doing it for as long as possible. They hurry up slowly. But they normally do it at the end. The saying Danish is not about milk, but about porridge – hot porridge.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Endomondo – what is that? And what can it be used for?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: I think we have to read books, which hurt and perforate us… A book has to be the axe to the frozen lake inside us.

This was said by the Czech author Franz Kafka. 2. Today’s quote: I think I could get away with exhibiting a pencil box and call it art. People do not know a colour is red before they are told so. Whom among today’s persons can have said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1867: 1912: 1924: 1971:

Carl Gustaf Mannerheim ( died 1951 ) Robert Jacobsen ( died 1993 ) Dennis Weaver ( died 2006 ) Joseph Kabila

4. Famous people died on this day: 1798: Giacomo Casanova ( 73 years ) 1809: N.A. Abildgaard ( 66 years ) 1941: Emperor Wilhelm II ( 82 years ) 1942: Reinhard Heydrich ( 38 years )

JUNE 5 TODAY’s NAME: The name of this day is BONIFACIUS’ DAY. He was an English monk, who together with 50 priests tried to make the invading Friseans Christians. But he failed, and at the end they killed him in year 755 AC. In Denmark this day is also DAD’s DAY. It was a tradition started by Louise Smart ( married Dodd ) in Spokane in the state of Washington in the US in 1910. She wanted to celebrate her own father. During World War I this American tradition was also taken up in Europe. And in Denmark it was permanently introduced from 1935. It has over the years been placed on different dates during the year. But now it is always on June 5. In the other Scandinavian countries it is celebrated on the second Sunday in November. In the US it is on the third Sunday in June, and it’s an official holiday. Some people have said that Dad’s Day was actually invented by the producers of cigars and whiskey. But this is not true  Today is also the United Nations international Environment Day.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1967: The Six Day War between Israel and the Arab countries started.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Endomondo – what is that? And what can it be used for? NAME:

ENDOMONDO - free GPS tracking of your sports activities

MAIN FACTS: Short description 1. ENDOMONDO is a free service, which can track your physical activities like walking, running, cycling, etc. 2. The name ENDOMONDO comes from Endo = endorphins ( the stuff released in your brain during sports activities ) and Mondo = world. The world of Endorphins 3. ENDOMONDO was invented and started by 3 Danes ( ex-McKinsey people ) 4. The web site: www.endomondo.com 5. The vision of ENDOMONDO is to make it more fun being active and thereby motivate more people to do sports and other physical activities. 6. ENDOMONDO is free. And it is very easy to use. 7. You need a smartphone ( Android or iPhone ) with GPS service included 8. You download the ENDOMONDO app from the App market ( free ) 9. When the app is installed and you have opened it you are ready to start ! 10. If you are walking, running or cycling you start ENDOMONDO at the beginning of your tour – and afterwards you have a real-time GPS tracking of:    

The distance you have made Your average speed, also per km ( also with indications if you were slow or fast on each lap of 1 km ) The calories you have burnt The exact route you have done shown on a map

In other words: You get a complete training log.

11. Your ENDOMONDO keeps your daily activities under HISTORY, where you at any time can go back and see, what you did when. And it can also show you your daily, weekly and monthly results 12. If you subscribe to ENDOMONDO’s free web site ( creating your own login and password ) you will be able to see your results – past and present – on this site. And on the site you can also see in real time, if some of your ENDOMONDO friends right now are out there doing some exercise 13. You can also via your Facebook, Gmail, Yahoo and other services, you might use, find out which friends are also using ENDOMONDO. You can invite them also to become your ENDOMONDO friend. In this way they can follow you in real time – and you can follow them. And you can compete with each other – wherever you are in the world. 14. All collected information is strictly confidential – unless you decide yourself to show your results on your Facebook or Twitter account. This can be done very easily. Now, just one point more: GET STARTED ! It’s fun 

QUESTION FOR NEXT ISSUE: Place where the pepper grows – where does that expression come from? And what does it mean?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 5. Yesterday’s quote: I think I could get away with exhibiting a pencil box and call it art. People do not know a colour is red before they are told so. This was said by the Danish sculptor and painter Robert Jacobsen. 6. Today’s quote: It is said that politics is the second oldest profession in the world. I have learned that it has a lot in common with the oldest one. Who among today’s personalities has said that? 7. Famous people born on this day: 1723: Adam Smith ( died 1790 ) 1883: John Maynard Keynes ( died 1946 ) 1949: Ken Follett

8. Famous people died on this day: 1826: Carl Maria von Weber ( 40 years ) 1963: Henrik Kaufmann ( 75 years ) 2004: Ronald Reagan ( 93 years )

JUNE 6 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called NOBERTUS’ DAY. He was the son of rich German parents, and like them he enjoyed a free and pleasant life during his youth. When he was 35 years of age he was one day hit by a lightening, when he was riding his horse. Because of that he decided to change his life completely. He joined a monastery as a monk, and later on he became archbishop of Magdeburg. He died in 1134. This day is also one of the 32 so-called Tycho Brahe’s days. It was days which the Danish-Czech astronomer Tycho Brahe in the 17th century because of his calculations considered to be unfortunate ( what old nonsense  ) And today is also one of the old so-called Tamperdays. They were four yearly days celebrated by the Catholic church in the old days. On those days the Tamper Court was in session. It was the court for all matters concerning marriages. It existed in the period 1542 -1797.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1944: The allied countries started the invasion of German occupied Normandy in France ( code names: D-Day and Operation Overlord ).

TODAY’s QUESTION: Place where the pepper grows – where does that expression come from? And what does it mean? To be sent to the place where the pepper is growing is a very old expression, which originally comes from France. They had – and still have – an area in the north of South America called Guyane. It has always had a very tough and unpleasant tropical climate, where nobody wanted to go. At the same time a lot of pepper is growing in the area. The name Cheyenne pepper is very well known. During and after the French revolution from 1789 prisoners were sent to Guyane to terrible conditions. So the threat to be sent to the place where the pepper grows comes from that habit.

Today the expression is used in an indirect sense. If anybody tells you that he or she wants to send you there it is probably not one of your best friends. Or at least not any longer!

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: What is the Law of Jante ?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: It is said that politics is the second oldest profession in the world. I have learned that it has a lot in common with the oldest one. This was said by the American president Ronald Reagan. 2. Today’s quote: The emancipation of the laymen – that is democracy? Who has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1799: Alexandr Pushkin ( died 1837 ) 1869: Siegfried Wagner ( died 1930 ) 1875: Thomas Mann ( died 1955 ) 4. Famous people died on this day: 1948: Louis Lumière ( 84 years ) 1968: Robert Kennedy ( 43 years ) 1991: Stan Getz ( 64 years ) JUNE 7 TODAY’s NAME: Today’s name is JEREMIAS’ DAY. He was one of the four great profets in the Old Testament. We know a lot about his activities from the Book of Jeremias in this Testament. Among many other things he predicted the destruction of Jerusalem. Jeremias lived and worked for 40 years from the year 626 BC.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1979: The first direct elections to the European Parliament take place.

TODAY’s QUESTION: What is the Law of Jante ? This “law” is part of a novel by the Danish-Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose from 1933. It is called: A refugee crosses his footpath. The “law” has 10 commandments. They express a traditional Nordic-Danish prudence, modesty and moderation. Here they are: 1. You're not to think you are anything special. 2. You're not to think you are as good as we are. 3. You're not to think you are smarter than we are. 4. You're not to convince yourself that you are better than we are. 5. You're not to think you know more than we do. 6. You're not to think you are more important than we are. 7. You're not to think you are good at anything. 8. You're not to laugh at us. 9. You're not to think anyone cares about you. 10. You're not to think you can teach us anything.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: What could a modernized Law of Jante be today ?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 9. Yesterday’s quote: The emancipation of the laymen – that is democracy? This is said by the German author Thomas Mann. 10. Today’s quote: 11. A man who loves a woman does not pay attention to her dress, but to the woman. The moment he starts to comment her clothes his love is already fading. Who among today’s persons has said that? 12. Famous people born on this day:

1848: Paul Gauguin ( died 1903 ) 1879: Knud Rasmussen ( died 1933 ) 1896: Imre Nagy ( died 1958 ) 1917: Dean Martin ( Dino Paul Crocetti) ( died 1995 ) 1940: Tom Jones 13. Famous people died on this day: 1965: Judy Holliday ( 44 years ) 1970: E.M. Forster ( 91 years ) 1980: Henry Miller ( 89 years ) JUNE 8 TODAY’s NAME: Today’s name is MEDARDUS’ DAY. He was a bishop in St. Quentin ( today in France ) and in Tournai ( today in Belgium ). When he died in the year 545 he gave away all his property. Medardus is the patron for French vineyards and for the brewers. Old Danish weather warning for this day: As the weather is today it will continue to be for the coming eight weeks !

TODAY’s EVENT: 1783: 20 % of Iceland’s population is killed by a volcanic eruption.

TODAY’s QUESTION: What could a modernized Law of Jante be today ? 

Law of Jante – modern edition

Today’s LAW OF JANTE Or The Law-on-who-do-you-think-you-are The Danish-Norwegian poet Aksel Sandemose wrote in 1933 the so-called Law of Jante. These are ten rules on how Danes and other Scandinavians think about others. They are all sort of negative rules, which many would recognize in their daily life. You can read more about them on Wikipedia here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante In the meantime 80 years have passed. Many things have changed – or have they? And not necessarily changed for the better, on the contrary. To make a point and to attract attention you often have to exaggerate a bit. I have tried to do that with this new version of the Law of Jante – of today: 1. You have to be scared. People are getting at you all the time. It is dangerous for you. Life, society, food, hospitals, traffic, people from other countries – all is dangerous 2. You have to be envious. Others have a better life than you. And probably they haven’t deserved it. It is likely they have been cheating 3. You have to be convinced that other people are odd. Especially those from other countries than your own 4. You must know that the Danes are the best in all repects. World champions in everything. And if anybody is in the slightest doubt about it you have the right to be very insulted 5. You always must buy things with a huge discount. And when you realize that you haven’t bought the best you are outraged – and make a complaint 6. You have to be stubborn and have a “I know better” attitude. Nobody is going to teach you anything 7. You should never say Thank You, when somebody opens the door for you or lets you pass by in a queue. 8. You should never say Good Morning or Hello to anybody you don’t know personally. And if somebody says it to you, of course, you have the right to look very astonished saying: Don’t disturb me. I haven’t done anything wrong! 9. You must expect that everybody agrees about everything. Consensus is the law in this country. And if anybody does not agree he or she is just no longer of the good company 10. You should never be interested in other people and what they are doing. And especially not if they come from other places than you or are doing different things than you do. ( author: Niels Jørgen Thøgersen )

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:

Law of Jante – for the modern cyber folks – what are the 10 commandments?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 14. Yesterday’s quote: A man who loves a woman does not pay attention to her dress, but to the woman. The moment he starts to comment her clothes his love is already fading. This was said by the American author Henry Miller. 15. Today’s quote: As none of today’s persons has left great quotes you get one more by Henry Miller: The biggest annoyance among the feminists is the man’s beard. Why? Because that they cannot copy! 16. Famous people born on this day: 1671: 1877: 1930: 1940:

Tomaso Albinoni ( died 1751 ) Thorvald Aagaard ( died 1937 ) Bo Widerberg ( died 1997 ) Nancy Sinatra

17. Famous people died on this day: 632: 1845: 1906: 2006:

Muhammed ( 62 years ) Andrew Jackson ( 78 years ) C.F.E. Hornemann ( 66 years ) Bjørn Wiinblad ( 88 years ) JUNE 9

TODAY’s NAME: Today’s name is PRIMUS’ DAY. He was together with his brother Felicianus a Christian Roman, who tried to convert other Romans to Christianity. At the same time he refused to make sacrifices for the emperor – also when liquid lead was poured into his mouth. He was then thrown before lions and bears, but they refused to touch him. At the end the emperor’s soldiers had to behead him in order to kill him. It all happened during emperor Diocletian’s persecutions of the Christians around 300 AC.

TODAY’s EVENT:

1934: Donald Duck is presented for the first time. It happens in the film “The Wise Little Hen”.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Law of Jante - for today's cyber folks - what are the 10 commandments?

My good friend, Torben Riise in Arizona in the US, like me Goodwill Ambassador for Copenhagen, has made this very new LAW OF JANTE - for today's cyber people: 1. Do not believe that your smartphone is better than mine 2. Do not believe that you have as many friends on Facebook as I have 3. Do not believe that you send more text messages than I do 4. Do not fool yourself to believe that you have more broadband than I have 5. Do not believe that you have more apps than I have 6. Do not think that your blogs are interesting 7. Do not think that your web camera has more pixels than mine 8. Do not believe that we think your web pics are good 9. Do not believe that anybody wants to "Like" you on Facebook 10. Do not believe that you can teach me anything about Netiquette.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Verdun 1916 – what is the story ?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: The biggest annoyance among the feminists is the man’s beard. Why? Because that they cannot copy! This was said by the American author Henry Miller. 2. Today’s quote: There are books where the back and the cover are the most interesting parts.

Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1672: 1849: 1865: 1893: 1934:

Peter the Great ( died 1725 ) Michael Ancher ( died 1923 ) Carl Nielsen ( died 1931 ) Cole Porter ( died 1964 ) Donald Duck 

4. Famous people died on this day: 68: Nero ( 31 years ) 1870: Charles Dickens ( 58 years ) 1964: Max Beaverbrook ( 85 years ) JUNE 10 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called ONUPHRIUS’ DAY. It has its name from an Egyptian prince, who became Christian, and who decided to renounce on his inheritance. Instead he lived for about 60 years as a hermit in the desert. During the first period he lived from water and bread. But during the last 20 years an angel brought him food every day. He died around 400 AC.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1947: The first SAAB car is produced.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Verdun 1916 – what is the story ? This was one of the biggest and most bloody battles of World War I. Following the defeat to Germany in the war on 1870-71 France constructed a number of strong fortresses on its Eastern border to try to be protected against new attacks. One of the biggest fortresses was build in Verdun, a town at the river Meuse, in the north-east of France. In February 1916 the Germans decided to start a very forceful offensive against the French positions in and around Verdun. The purpose was to give the French a clear defeat, to make it bleed to death. This was not going to happen. The French under the leadership of marshal Pétain put up a very strong opposition. And by July 2016 the British forces started another huge offensive against the German positions in the Somme area. One of the purposes was to weaken the German positions in Verdun. The battle near and in Verdun ended after 10 months in November 1916 – with 400.000 dead and wounded soldiers on the German side and equally 400.000 dead and wounded

on the French side. The Germans did not reach their objectives. And the battles in Verdun and in the Somme were the bloodiest events during the whole war. In May 2016 a big French-German memorial event was arranged in Verdun – with the participation of president Hollande and federal chancellor Merkel. And a new, modernized museum in available on the battleground for everybody to see how these terrible events happened and ended.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Emperor Wilhelm II – what is the short important story about him?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: There are books where the back and the cover are the most interesting parts. This was once said by the English author Charles Dickens. 2. Today’s quote: In love you should not tell everything, because an emotional relationship needs something untold, around which the conversation can take place. Who among today’s personalities has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1819: 1921: 1922: 1923:

Gustave Courbet ( died 1877 ) Prince Philip Judy Garland ( died 1969 ) Robert Maxwell ( died 1991 )

4. Famous people died on this day: 323 BC: Alexander the Great ( 33 years ) 1190: Frederick Barbarossa ( 68 years ) 1949: Sigrid Undset ( 67 years ) 1967: Spencer Tracy ( 67 years )

JUNE 11 TODAY’s NAME: Today’s name is BARNABAS’s DAY. He was one of the disciples of Jesus. He was closely related to the apostle Paul and took part in several of his trips. During a stay in Salamis

in Cyprus Barnabas was caught by Jews and dragged through the streets with a rope around his neck. At the end he was thrown into a fire, where he died. It happened in year 61 AC. In Denmark this day was until recently also called ”The Birthday of the Devil”. Why? Because today ( and December 11 ) was the last day to pay your regular down-payment and interest on your property loans. TODAY’s EVENT: 1972: Piet Hein receives the degree as honourable doctor at the Yale University in the US. TODAY’s QUESTION: Emperor Wilhelm II – what is the short important story about him? Wilhelm II was the last German emperor. He lived in the years 1859-1941 and was on his father’s side out of the Hohenzollern family from the South-West of Germany. Through his mother he was the oldest grandchild of Queen Victoria. At his great embarrassment she kept calling him (until she died in 1901) “My dear little boy!”. Wilhelm became emperor in 1888 following his father Wilhelm I. And one of his first acts was to dismiss Otto von Bismarck, the strong German chancellor, who had worked very closely to his father. Wilhelm wanted to govern his country himself. And following many visits to his grandmother in England he was very impressed by the huge British navy. “So ein Ding müssen wir auch haben”, he said to himself. And that’s what happened. You can see from the enclosed picture that the emperor probably did not have any inferiority complexes. Or perhaps he did?!

It was these two huge navies, which run decisively into each other in the “Battle of Jutland” in 1916, about 145 km west of the Danish coast. Both sides suffered huge losses, especially the British, because many of their ships were badly constructed.

By the way, Wilhelm was almost all his life bitter against the British, primarily because he claimed that it was the fault of British doctors that he during his birth got an almost paralysed left arm. As is well known the Germans was only no. two in the 1st world war. Wilhelm excaped during the last days of the war to neutral Holland, where he bought the castle Doorn near Utrecht. He lived here until his death in 1941 and was served by a handful of his old generals. The allied countries requested that the Netherlands handed the emperor over to them, but the Dutch refused. And he expected all the rest of his life that he would be called back to Germany to govern his country. But this was not an idea which Adolf Hitler was keen about.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Verdun 1916 - what is the story behind? __________________________________________________________________________ TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: In love you should not tell everything, because an emotional relationship needs something untold, around which the conversation can take place. This was once said by the Danish-Norwegian author Sigrid Undset. 2. Today’s quote: Today many men look like girls, who look like men. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1864: 1910: 1934: 1935:

Richard Strauss ( died 1949 ) Jacques Cousteau ( died 1997 ) Prince Henrik of Denmark Gene Wilder

4. Famous people died on this day: 1859: Fyrst Metternich ( 86 years ) 1970: Alexander Kerenskij ( 89 years ) 1979: John Wayne ( 72 years ) JUNE 12 TODAY’s NAME:

Today’s name is BASILIUS’ DAY. He was a Christian monk from Cappadocia in Turkey, and he was killed because of his faith around year 300 AC. It happened during the persecutions of all Christians during the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian. He was the father of Basilius the Younger, who was a very well known Father of the Church. This day is also the United Nations’ international day against child labour.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1987: President Ronald Reagan says these famous words in his speech at the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate: Mr. Gorbatjov, tear that wall down!

TODAY’s QUESTION: Verdun 1916 - what is the story behind? This was one of the biggest and most bloody battles of World War I. Following the defeat to Germany in the war on 1870-71 France constructed a number of strong fortresses on its Eastern border to try to be protected against new attacks. One of the biggest fortresses was build in Verdun, a town at the river Meuse, in the north-east of France. In February 1916 the Germans decided to start a very forceful offensive against the French positions in and around Verdun. The purpose was to give the French a clear defeat, to make it bleed to death. This was not going to happen. The French under the leadership of marshal Pétain put up a very strong opposition. And by July 2016 the British forces started another huge offensive against the German positions in the Somme area. One of the purposes was to weaken the German positions in Verdun. The battle near and in Verdun ended after 10 months in November 1916 – with 400.000 dead and wounded soldiers on the German side and equally 400.000 dead and wounded on the French side. The Germans did not reach their objectives. And the battles in Verdun and in the Somme were the bloodiest events during the whole war. In May 2016 a big French-German memorial event was arranged in Verdun – with the participation of president Hollande and federal chancellor Merkel. And a new, modernized museum in available on the battleground for everybody to see how these terrible events happened and ended.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Place where the pepper grows – where does that expression come from? And what does it mean?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Today many men look like girls, who look like men. This was once said by the American actor John Wayne. 2. Today’s quote: If you have the ability, you also have the duty. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1897: Anthony Eden ( died 1977 ) 1924: George Bush 1929: Anne Frank ( died 1945 ) 4. Famous people died on this day: 1965: A.P. Møller ( 89 years ) 2003: Gregory Peck ( 87 years ) 2007: Guy de Rothschild ( 98 years )

JUNE 13 TODAY’s NAME: This day’s name is CYRILLUS’ DAY. He was a bishop in Alexandria in present day Egypt. At the same time he was very active in trying to make the Slave people Christians, and he has even given name to their alphabet, the Cyrillic a. He was also a very important Father of the Church.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1990: The formal removal of the Berlin Wall starts.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Place where the pepper grows – where does that expression come from? And what does it mean?

To be sent to the place where the pepper is growing is a very old expression, which originally comes from France. They had – and still have – an area in the north of South

America called Guyana. It has always had a very tough and unpleasant tropical climate, where nobody wanted to go. At the same time a lot of pepper is growing in the area. The name Cayenne pepper is very well known. During and after the French revolution from 1789 prisoners were sent to Guyana to terrible conditions. So the threat to be sent to the place where the pepper grows comes from that habit. Today the expression is used in an indirect sense. If anybody tells you that he or she wants to send you there it is probably not one of your best friends. Or at least not any longer!

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Pour oil on stormy waters – where does that come from? And it means?

Jules Bordet ( died 1961 ) Dorothy Sayers ( died 1957 ) Tage Erlander ( died 1985 ) Ban ki-moon

4. Famous people died on this day: 1986: Benny Goodman ( 75 years ) 1992: Erik Paaske ( 59 years )

JUNE 14 TODAY’s NAME:

This day’s name is RUFINUS’ DAY. He was a Christian officer in the Roman army under emperor Diocletian. But as the emperor persecuted all Christians, Rufinus was together with his colleague Valerius killed around year 300 AC. Today is also the international blood donor day. It has been placed at the birthday of the Austrian professor Karl Landsteiner. He got the Nobel Prize for his works on blood types.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1907: The women in Norway get the right to vote.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Pour oil on stormy waters – where does that come from? And it means? This expression comes from the monk and priest Beda. This was what he suggested a young priest to do, when a storm was about to start. Today the meaning is that you try to calm down a situation of anger and excitement. Beda was a monk and priest, who worked in England around 700 AC. He was born in 672 in Northumbria. Already at the age of 7 he started at a monestary. Later he was also an author and a poet of psalms. And it was him who suggested that our calendar should start with the birth of Jesus. It was also Beda, who wrote a lot about religion in England before Christianity. Beda died in 735 – 53 years of age.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Dutch treat – where does that expression come from? And what does it mean?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: When do you have time to reflect ? This was said by the Swedish prime minister Tage Erlander once he saw the diary of the Danish prime minister Jens Otto Krag. 2. Today’s quote: Humour is the salt of any story-telling. The means making any report – even the most cruel one – readable, relevant, unforgettable.

Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1868: 1871: 1917: 1928: 1962:

Karl Landsteiner ( died 1943 ) Jacob Ellehammer ( died 1946 ) Lise Nørgaard Che Guevara ( died 1967 ) Stig Rossen

4. Famous people died on this day: 1976: Knud, hereditary prince of Denmark ( 76 years ) 1994: Henry Mancini ( 70 years )

JUNE 15 TODAY’s NAME: This day is called VITUS DAY. He was a Roman boy, who was made a Christian by his teacher. He was known for curing sick people. When he refused to serve non-Christian gods, he was as 12 year old tortured together with his mother, while his non-Christian father was watching. When his pains were at their maximum the legend tells that he and his mother was taken away by an angel. Vitus was in the Middle Ages one of the 14 emergency helpers – with epilepsy and cramps as his special fields. Today is also Waldemar’s Day. It was on this day in 1219 that the Danish flag Dannebrog according to the legend fell from heaven during the Danish king Waldemar’s battle near Lyndanes outside Tallinn in Estonia. That’s why Waldemar won the battle  A Scottish bar in the centre of Tallinn has today put up a sign saying that the flag actually fell where the bar is. It takes a lot of good whisky to believe that !

TODAY’s EVENT: 1920: This is called the Re-Unification Day, because on this day Southern Jutland was reunited with Denmark after 56 years under German rule.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Dutch treat – where does that expression come from? And what does it mean? This expression comes originally from the rivalry between the English and the Dutch in the 17th century. The two nations and their people did not always talk nicely about each other. The English was of the opinion that the Dutch were always trying to avoid paying their share. They wanted to save their money.

This is perhaps not totally surprising. The Calvinist religion – to which many Dutch belonged and still belong – encourages people to save as much money as possible. The more money you have when you die, the greater your chance is to get to heaven. So why take the risk and use the money during one’s lifetime ?! Nowadays the expression a Dutch treat often means, that everyone pays for himself, when you go together to a restaurant or a bar. You can also say: going Dutch. This has the same meaning. In some cases Dutch people get offended, when they hear the expression. In other cases they use it themselves to make a bit of fun.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Blue blood – where does that expression come from? And what does it mean?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Humour is the salt of any story-telling. The means making any report – even the most cruel one – readable, relevant, unforgettable. This has been said by the Danish author Lise Nørgaard. 2. Today’s quote: Moral is to fight for what you think is right and against what you think is wrong. Politics is about the same. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1843: 1914: 1943: 1943: 1964:

Edvard Grieg ( died 1907 ) Jurij Andropov ( died 1984 ) Poul Nyrup Rasmussen Johnny Hallyday Michael Laudrup

4. Famous people died on this day: 1996: Ella Fitzgerald ( 78 years ) 1997: Frode Jakobsen ( 91 years )

June 16 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called TYCHO’s DAY. He was a bishop on Cyprus around 400 AC, and he was in particular known for fighting against the local non-Christian Afrodite cult. He also got the name the Healer, as a lot of miracles happened later at his grave.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1976: Bloodbath in Soweto in South Africa, where the policy opens fire against a student demonstration and kills 556 people.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Blue blood – where does that expression come from? And what does it mean? This saying has its origin from Castillia in Spain. The local Castillians had a more light skin than the immigrants, who were were mostly moors and jews. Due to their light skin you could more easily see the veins through the skin. The expression locally was and is: sangre azul, which means blue blood. Many Castillians at the time – at least the more known ones – were from the nobility. That is why the expression blue blood later has got the meaning it has today: people of royal or noble families.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Cravat – where does that word come from? And what does it mean?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Moral is to fight for what you think is right and against what you think is wrong. Politics is about the same. This was once said by the Danish freedom fighter and later politician Frode Jakobsen. 2. Today’s quote: Of anything which happens it is only the utter distress which knows no envy. Who among today’s persons has said that?

3. Famous people born on this day: 1313: 1851: 1879: 1890: 1912:

Giovanni Boccaccio ( died 1375 ) P.A. Alberti ( died 1932 ) Sigurd Swane ( died 1973 ) Stan Laurel ( died 1965 ) Enoch Powell ( died 1998 )

4. Famous people died on this day: 1958: Imre Nagy ( 62 years ) 1977: Wernher von Braun ( 65 years ) 1986: Erlendur Patursson ( 72 years )

JUNE 17 TODAY’s NAME: This day’s name is BUDOLF’s DAY. It comes from the Benedictine monk Bothulf, who in the year 654 AC founded a monastery in Lincolnshire in England. The town nearby got its name from him – Bothulf’s Town. This name has today developed into the name Boston. Bothulf died in year 680 AC. An old Danish saying claims that “if it is raining on Budolf’s day the harvest will be better than the king’s gold!” Today is also the United Nation’s international World Day against drought.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1789: The French revolution starts.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Cravat – where does that word come from? And what does it mean? This was a special article of clothing for the neck in the 17th century in Croatia (before the necktie). It was in particular used in the military. The Croatian soldiers used it – also when they served in foreign armies like the French under Louis XIII (1601-43) and Napoleon. In this was this special clothing from Croatia got the name Cravatte in French. Today this is simply the normal word for tie. The same word with the same background is used in German (Krawatte).

The English word Cravat has, of course, the same origin. But it continues to refer to the special clothing used in the old days: A wide fabric band worn as a necktie by men, having long ends hanging in front.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Tycho Brahe days – what is that? And what is the history? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Of anything which happens it is only the utter distress which knows no envy. This was said by the Medieval Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio. 2. Today’s quote: In music as well as in love the desire is a waste product of the creation. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1808: 1882: 1888: 1938: 1945: 1945:

Henrik Wergeland ( died 1845 ) Igor Stravinskij ( died 1971 ) Heinz Guderian ( died 1954 ) Grethe Ingmann ( died 1996 ) Ken Livingstone Eddy Merckx

4. Famous people died on this day: 1957: Olaf Rude ( 71 years ) 1996: Thomas Kuhn ( 74 years )

JUNE 18 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called LEONTIUS’ DAY. The tribune of the Roman emperor Vespesian, Hypatius, had been sent out to the provinces to punish the Christians. But when the monk Leontius from Phoenicia had cured him from a serious illness he became a Christian himself.

TODAY’s EVENT:

1815: Napoleon is defeated in Waterloo.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Tycho Brahe days – what is that? And what is the history? These are 32 special days throughout the year selected by the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe in the 17th century. He selected them on the basis of his calculations and considered them to be particularly unfortunate. ( Good old nonsense  )

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Carte blanche - where does that expression come from? And it means?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: In music as well as in love the desire is a waste product of the creation. This was said by the Russian composer Igor Stravinski

2. Today’s quote: Following many conversations with people you have a strong need to pat your dog, smile to a monkey and to take your hat off for an elephant! Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1929: 1942: 1942: 1949:

Jürgen Habermas Paul McCartney Thabo Mbeki Lech Kaczynski (died 2010)

4. Famous people died on this day: 1928: Roald Amundsen ( 56 years ) 1936: Maxim Gorkij ( 68 years ) 1982: Curd Jürgens ( 67 years )

JUNE 19 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called GERVASIUS’ DAY. The legend tells that he and his twin brother Protasius were sons of Saint Vitalis. When their parents had died they handed out everything they owned to the poor and lived praying and fasting for the rest of their lives. As Christians they were both killed in Milan around year 300 AC by the Roman general Astasius.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1991: The last Soviet soldier leaves Hungary – after more than 45 years presence in the country.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Carte blanche - where does that expression come from? And it means?

This term comes from French and means white card or white paper. In was used in the old days in connection with negotiations – political, economic or military negotiations. The person who was given the mandate to negotiate and to make the final agreement received a piece of white paper ( a carte blanche) only with the signature of the top boss (the king, the prime minister, the general). Then he or she could fill out the rest with the agreement made – and it was all done. Today the expression carte blanche is still used meaning full power of attorney. In the EU Commission the president receives a carte blanche letter from each member of the Commission only with their signature on. Then he alone can decide when they have to step down.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Hocus-pocus – what is the origin of that expression? And what does it mean?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Following many conversations with people you have a strong need to pat your dog, smile to a monkey and to take your hat off for an elephant! This was once said by the Russian author Maxim Gorki.

2. Today’s quote: Upbringing are restraints, which have been forced upon us. Hurrah for many of these restraints! Who has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1861: 1941: 1945: 1945: 1947: 1957:

Douglas Haig ( died 1928 ) Vaclav Klaus Radovan Karadzic Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Salman Rushdie Anna Lindh ( died 2003 )

4. Famous people died on this day: 1937: J.M. Barrie ( author of Peter Pan ) ( 77 years ) 1953: Julius og Ethel Rosenberg ( 35 and 38 years )

JUNE 20 TODAY’s NAME: Today’s name is SYLVERIUS’ DAY. He was a pope in Rome around 536 AC. But when emperor Justinian and his empress wanted to nominate a non-Christian as bishop in Constantinople the pope was naturally against. He was then sent to the isolated and non-inhabited island of Palmarola in the sea between Rome and Naples. Here he was mistreated so terribly that he died. Later he was appointed a saint by the church. Today is also the United Nation’s international Refugee Day.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1989: The Danish footballer, 25-year old Michael Laudrup, makes a contract with FC Barcelona for the amount of between 3,3 and 4 million €.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Hocus-pocus – what is the origin of that expression? And what does it mean?

This expression has its origin in the bible: it is a distortion of the words from the communion: hoc est corpus - Latin for: this is my body.

It was many years ago in particular used as a swear-word. Later it changed to be used in relation to magics. The first time this was seen was in an English handbook on magics from 1634. It carried the title: Hocus pocus junior. Today the expression hocus pocus is used when you do or show something almost like a magician. You make things happen almost out of nothing! Like many people think about the origins of the expression in Latin.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Bruxelles – Brussel – Brussels – what is the origin of the name of the Belgian capital?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Upbringing are restraints, which have been forced upon us. Hurrah for many of these restraints! This was once said by the Danish leader in female gymnastics Helle Gotved. 2. Today’s quote: To study the sources is constantly the most important element in any writing and interpretation of history. Who has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1717: 1819: 1909: 1928: 1949:

J.F.J. Saly ( died 1742 ) Jacques Offenbach ( died 1880 ) Errol Flynn ( died 1959 ) Jean-Marie le Pen Lars von Trier

4. Famous people died on this day: 1597: Willem Barents ( 47 years ) 1787: Karl Friedrich Abel ( 64 years ) 1930: Kristian Erslev ( 78 years )

JUNE 21 TODAY’s NAME:

This day carries the name ALBANUS’ DAY. It got it from Albanus, who was a Christian and originally came from the north of Italy. He was by the church sent to many parts of Europe to promote Christianity. A large part of his mission work took place in England. Later he became bishop in the German city of Mainz. Here he met a priest, who was persecuted by the Roman emperor Diocletian. Albanus decided to help him. He dressed himself like the priest to confuse his pursuers. Instead he was himself caught by the invading Vandals and beheaded in front of the altar in his own church. It took place around year 300 AC. Albanus’ remains were later brought to England. Here they were stolen in the late 11th century by the Danish king Canute the Holy and brought to Odense in Denmark. Today they are still there in the city’s catholic church, which is called Saint Albani. In Odense the local brewery also reminds people of Albanus. It was founded in 1859 and carries the name Albani. And in Copenhagen the English church has the name Saint Albans. Today is also Summer Solstice. And it is the longest day of the year at the northern Hemisphere. And the shortest day of the year at the southern hemisphere.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1964: The first test drillings for oil and gas in the North Sea start. Huge success.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Bruxelles – Brussel – Brussels – what is the origin of the name of the Belgian capital? A very long time ago the city was a very small village in the middle of moors. Un Hameau dans un Marais – as is the title of a new book about Brussels. The 103 km long river Zenne ran – and still runs - through the area. So a bridge was built to get to the small island. A Brug, as it was called in the local language at the time. Brugzenne – a bridge over the river Zenne. This name has then later developed into Bruxelles (French), Brussel (Flemish), Brussels (English) and Brüssel (German.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Fata morgana – what is the origin of this expression? And what does it mean?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: To study the sources is constantly the most important element in any writing and interpretation of history.

This was said by the Danish historian Kristian Erslev – the father of the science the importance of study of historical sources. 2. Today’s quote: Great modesty always allies itself with outstanding characters. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1905: 1935: 1953: 1955:

Jean-Paul Sartre ( died 1980 ) Francoise Sagan ( died 2004 ) Benazir Bhutto ( died 2007 ) Michel Platini

4. Famous people died on this day: 1527: Niccolo Macchiavelli ( 58 years ) 1797: A.P. Bernstorff ( 62 years ) 1908: Nikolaj Rimskij-Korsakov ( 64 years ) 1970: Sukarno ( 69 years ) 1980: Bernt Kaempfert ( 57 years )

JUNE 22 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called the TEN THOUSAND MARTYRS’ DAY. It has its name from this day in year 303 AC, when the Roman emperor Dioclecian crucified one of his generals, Achatius, and his 10.000 soldiers naked on mountain Ararat in the far east of present day Turkey. Why ? Because they all – according to the legend after they had heard a voice from heaven – had become Christians. They were terribly tortured, but they did not change their new faith. That’s why they all were crucified on this day 1705 years ago.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1812: Napoleon starts his attack on Russia with his Grande Armee.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Fata morgana – what is the origin of this expression? And what does it mean?

This is an Italian expression. In its original form it was: feen morgana, and it referred to a preternatural creature, which was believed to create mirages. She was also the sister of King Arthur of the Round table. The meaning of the expression today is still mirage or optical illusions.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Waterloo 1815 – what is the history around that?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Great modesty always allies itself with outstanding characters. This was said by the Italian political philosopher Niccolo Macchiavelli. 2. Today’s quote: Many of today’s film directors make films for people, who see them three times instead of making films seen by millions of people once. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1767: 1898: 1906: 1949: 1964:

Wilhelm von Humboldt ( died 1835 ) Erich Maria Remarque ( died 1970 ) Billy Wilder ( died 2002 ) Meryl Streep Dan Brown

4. Famous people died on this day: 1969: 1978: 1987: 1990:

Judy Garland ( 47 years ) Jens Otto Krag ( 64 years ) Fred Astaire ( 88 years ) Steen Eiler Rasmussen ( 92 years )

JUNE 23 TODAY’s NAME:

This day's name is PAULINUS DAY. He was born into a wealthy family in southern France and was Governor of the Roman province of Campania in central Italy. He and his Spanish wife decided to stop their secular life in 390 AC and went to Spain to live there. Later he was appointed bishop in the town of Nola, which lies east of Naples. In addition to building a great basilica in the city, he is the author of various religious writings. But in year 409 AC he was suffering the martyr death because of his faith. His body lies in the cathedral in Nola. Today is also the UN international day for public services. But the day is of course best known for the Midsummer Eve celebration in the evening. Where does it come from? Like Christmas Midsummer Eve a relic of the prehistoric northern European pagan traditions, where the year's longest day, Summer Solstice, was celebrated. Christian missionaries and priests gradually took over the old customs, so they could be used to serve the spread of Christianity. Today this is called SPIN. Midsummer is the Danish name for saint John the Baptist, who was born on 24. June. (Midsummer Day). The Nordic tradition is to celebrate festivals the night before. The day / evening is celebrated today in many countries where the characteristic bright Nordic night, gives the conditions for an excellent evening experience.. It is celebrated in countries such as England, Ireland, Russia and northern France. However, most parties with bonfires take place in the Nordic and Baltic countries. And what about the witches, who are believed to fly to Brocken in Germany on a broom tonight in the Summer Eve? Witches were also, of course, a left-over from the "old days". People believed that some persons were witches and were in direct contact with dark powers, and therefore often the cause of natural disasters and other accidents. Therefore, around 10 million alleged witches (almost all women) over the centuries been burned at the bonfires around Europe. The first known Danish witch burning took place in 1540 The test of whether a woman really was a witch, could take many forms. One of them was that the woman tied up with rope and thrown into the water. If she went to the bottom and drowned, she was innocent. If she were floating on the water, she was guilty and was burned People also believed that witches went off on their brooms either Maundy Thursday, Valborg’s Eve (April 30), or Midsummer Eve ( June 23 ). They went to Brocken in Germany or Hekkenfeld ( Hekla) in Iceland. Here they met the devil and paid tribute to him by kissing his ass. They were entertained and enjoyed themselves with special “whore-devils”. So do think about all this tonight, when you see the witch go off on her broom.. And also if you are yourself one of those who leave for Brocken. An old Danish weather warning says that Midsummer evening rain is good for the priest and teacher! That is, it will be a good harvest.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1894: The International Olympic Committee IOC is created at a meeting at the Sorbonne University in Paris. The founder was Pierre de Coubertin.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Waterloo 1815 – what is the history behind that? It was near the small town of Waterloo 20 km south of Brussels that Napoleon in 1815 saw his final defeat. His 200.000 man Grande Armée et the allied armies under the Duke of Wellington and was just about to win the battle, when the Prussian general Blücher in the very last moment came to Wellington’s assistance. And they won. The battle lasted for 3 days, and about 72.000 soldiers died or were wounded. Napoleon asked for political asylum in England, but was instead taken prisoner and sent to the small British island Saint Helena in the South Atlantic. Here he died six years later. He wrote his memoires while he was there. In June 2015 – 200 years later – the battle was re-enacted with 6000 “soldiers” and 120.000 spectators over two days.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Werewolf – what is that? __________________________________________________________________________ TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Many of today’s film directors make films for people, who see them three times instead of making films seen by millions of people once. This was once said by the American film director Billy Wilder. 2. Today’s quote: To be rich is only really nice, when you are poor. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1894: 1910: 1929: 1972:

King Edward VIII ( died 1972 ) Jean Anouilh ( died 1987 ) June Carter ( died 2003 ) Zinedine Zidane

4. Famous people died on this day: 79:

Emperor Vespasian ( 70 years )

1981: Zarah Leander ( 74 years ) 1989: Werner Best ( 86 years ) 1996: Andreas Papandreou ( 77 years ) 1998: Erik Mortensen ( 72 years )

JUNE 24 TODAY’s NAME: This day is called SAINT HANS’ DAY. It has its name after John the Baptist ( Johannes Døberen – or Hans ). John the Baptist was half a year older than Jesus. The Christians decided to celebrate both birthdays on two pre-Christian holidays – the two yearly days of solstice. The day is also called Midsummer Day.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1948: The allied air bridge to West Berlin starts – because of the Soviet blockade of the city.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Werewolf – what is that? A werewolf is according to old European legends a person, which is transferred into a wolf or a monster looking like a wolf. It can either happen by peoples’ own will, perhaps by using magics – or it can happen agains peoples’ will due to curse. The transformation often happens at night during full moon. The word was first used by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus ( 485-426 BC). Later it is known all over Europe in different forms. A werewolf was considered to have the same characteristics as a real wolf: immensely strong; cruel; having a huge appetite, ingenuity and speed. The Nazis used the word – first as a code word for one of Hitler’s secret command centres in 1942-43 and then towards the final days of the war about commandos to operate behind the lines of the enemy. After the war the word werewolf was now and then also used by the secret organizations of former SS soldiers.

All in all, it is not a very cosy phenomenon – a werewolf  ____________________________________________ QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Copenhagen ( a horse ) – what’s the history ?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: To be rich is only really nice, when you are poor. This was said by the French dramatist Jean Anouilh. 2. Today’s quote: Your country needs YOU ! Which of today’s persons is linked to that expression? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1850: 1895: 1929: 1969: 1988:

Horatio Kitchener ( died 1916 ) Jack Dempsey ( died 1983 ) Bent Melchior Sissel Kyrkjebø Lionel Messi

4. Famous people died on this day: 1922: Walther Rathenau ( 55 years )

JUNE 25 TODAY’s NAME: This day is called PROSPER’s DAY. He was born in the French city Aquintanus and became in the 5th century one of the most important persons in the Christian church. He was bishop in Reggio Emilia in northern Italy for 22 years, and he is still the patron of this area. Prosper died on June 25, 466 AC.

TODAY’s EVENT:

1950: The Korean war starts with North Korea´s attack on South Korea.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Copenhagen ( a horse ) – what’s the history ? This was the stallion, which the Duke of Wellington during the Battle of Waterloo – and also at other battles. It was born in 1808 and got its name to celebrate the British victory over Denmark in 1807 in Copenhagen (where they also took the Danish navy). It actually started taking part in horse races in England. It lived for 28 years and died in 1836. It has its own memorial in the estate of the Wellington family.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Ardennes – what is that? And what makes them special?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Your country needs YOU ! This was the slogan of the British minister of defense, Lord Horatio Kitchener, When he in the beginning of World War I encouraged young men to join the British army and navy. 2. Today’s quote: A revolutionary is just a determined person with a bomb in his pocket. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1852: 1900: 1903: 1909: 1963:

Antoni Gaudi ( died 1926 ) Lord Mountbatten ( died 1979 ) George Orwell ( died 1950 ) Marguerite Viby ( died 2001 ) George Michael

4. Famous people died on this day: 1134: King Niels ( 70 years ) 1767: Georg Philipp Telemann ( 86 years ) 1997: Jacques-Yves Cousteau ( 87 years )

JUNE 26 TODAY’s NAME: This day is called PELAGIUS’ DAY. He was an Irish monk and theologist, who in particular is known for his denial of how Augustine was considering the original sin. Pelagius thinks that man always can choose between the good and the evil. That is why he rejects the idea of the original sin. Another Pelagius was a young female dancer in the Middle Eastern ancient city of Antiochia. She lived for many years in Jerusalem disguised like a man. Today is also the United Nations’ Day against abuse of and trade with drugs. And it is UN’s day for support to victims of torture.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1963: President Kennedy uses in Berlin the famous phrase: Ich bin ein Berliner! And 1992: Denmark wins the European Championship in football.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Ardennes – what is that? And what makes them special?

The Ardennes is a big mountain area covering big parts of Belgium and Luxembourg and also parts of France and Germany. The name comes from the Roman times: Arduenna Silva (silva meaning forest). They are covered by extensive forests, a rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges – reaching up to 694 m. In the 18th and 19th century Belgian Wallonia and thereby the Ardennes was the second most important industrial area in the world after England. The Ardennes have also become known because a part of them was taken from Germany after World War I and given to Belgium. About 70.000 German speaking Belgians live there today, German is an official language in Belgium, and they have their own local parliament. And they also got known, because the Germans around Christmas 1944 tried to surprise the Allied forces by a new offensive through the Ardennes. But is failed. Today the Ardennes is a very popular holiday area, not least for Dutch tourists.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Vessel of the Danaids – what is that? And what does it mean?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: A revolutionary is just a determined person with a bomb in his pocket. This was said by the British author George Orwell. 2. Today’s quote: Loyalty should never go so far that you vote against your conscience. If you do so your credibility as a politician will diminish. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1824: 1869: 1898: 1908: 1933:

Lord Kelvin ( died 1907 ) Martin Andersen Nexø ( died 1954 ) Willy Messerschmidt ( died 1979 ) Salvador Allende ( died 1973 ) Claudio Abbado (died 2014)

4. Famous people died on this day: 1810: Joseph Michel Montgolfier ( 70 years ) 1989: Thorkil Kristensen ( 90 år )

JUNE 27 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called SEVEN SLEEPERS’ DAY. It comes from the legend about seven Christian brothers, who were hiding in a mountain cave to get away from the soldiers of the Roman emperor Decius. When they were discovered the soldier blocked the entrance to the cave to make sure that the brothers would starve to death. When some shepherds two hundred years later ( 447 AC) found the seven brothers they woke up again due to the fresh air. After that they could happily die (again), when they found out that Christianity in the meantime had won. Old Danish weather warnings for this day say, that rain on seven sleepers’ day will bring a wet harvest – and sunshine on this day is a warning of sunshine during the coming weeks. TODAY’s EVENT:

1959: The Swedish boxer Ingmar Johansson become world champion in heavyweight with a victory over the American boxer Floyd Patterson.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Vessel of the Danaids – what is that? And what does it mean? Danaos or Danaus was in Greek mythology the son of a king in Egypt. He had 50 daughters – called the Danaids. They were forced to marry 50 men. But when 49 of then during the wedding night killed their husbands they were afterwards condemned to pour water into a vessel, which had no bottom. And according to the legend they continue to do that all the time until this very day. In other words: this is a work which never ends. So the expression the vessel of the Danaids refers to a task, which is futile and useless, and which never ends.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Volapük – what is that? And what is the history? TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Loyalty should never go so far that you vote against your conscience. If you do so your credibility as a politician will diminish. This was said by the Danish liberal politician and later secretary-general of OECD, Thorkil Kristensen. 2. Today’s quote: Science has perhaps found a cure against most evils, but it has not found a medication against the worst of them all – the apathy of people. Who among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1854: Niels Neergaard ( died 1936 ) 1880: Helen Keller ( died 1968 ) 1941: Krzysztof Kieslowski ( died 1996 ) 4. Famous people died on this day: 1844: Joseph Smith ( 39 years ) 1999: Georgios Papadopoulos ( 80 years )

2001: Jack Lemmon ( 76 years ) JUNE 28 TODAY’s NAME: Today’s name is ELEONORA’s DAY. Until around 1800 it was called LEO’s DAY (after pope Leo II, who died in 684 AC). Why the Danish almanac changed to Eleonora is not known. Many people think that it comes from Caroline Amalie (Eleonora) - who lived 17961881, princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg. She was later married to the Danish king Christian VIII.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife were murdered in Sarajevo. This was the start of World War I.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Volapük – what is that? And what is the history?

This is an artificial language created by the catholic German priest Johan Martin Schleyer in 1879. He claimed that God in a dream had asked him to create a new international language. He built his language on words and expressions from English, German and French. And very soon more than a hundred thousand Volaküpists were supporting the new language. International Volapük congresses were held in 1884 and 1887 (in Germany) and in 1889 (in Paris). The language used at these congresses was German, not Volapük. In 1889 you had 283 Volapük clubs and 25 magazines. And 316 text books existed in 25 languages. Around the turn of the century the language more or less disappeared again. It was too complicated and did not develop. And the rise of the other international artificial language Esperanto was another reason. Though a new and simpler form was created in 1931 it did not change much. And today less than a 100 persons speak Volapük. As an example you can see how the Lord’s Prayer looks like in Volapük: O Fat obas, kel binol in süls! Nem olik pasaludükonöd! Regän ola kömonöd! Vil olik jenonöd,

äsä in sül, i su tal! Givolös obes adelo bodi aldelik obsik! E pardolös obes döbotis obsik, äsä i obs pardobs utanes, kels edöbons kol obs. E no blufodolös obis, ab livükolös obis de bad!

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Magna Carta – what is that? And what is its importance?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: Science has perhaps found a cure against most evils, but it has not found a medication against the worst of them all – the apathy of people. This was said by the American deaf-blind author and political activist Helen Keller. 2. Today’s quote: Insults are the arguments used by people, who are wrong. Whom among today’s persons has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1491: King Henrik VIII ( died 1547 ) 1577: Peter Paul Rubens ( died 1640 ) 1712: Jean-Jacques Rousseau ( died 1778 ) 1912: Sergiu Celibidache ( died 1996 ) 1926: Mel Brooks 4. Famous people died on this day: 1994: Ulrik Neumann ( 76 år )

JUNE 29

TODAY’s NAME: This day’s name is PETER AND PAUL’s DAY. It refers to the apostles Peter and Paul. They were both executed in Rome in year 64 AC by emperor Nero (37-68). After the fire of Rome all Christians were blamed and sentenced to death. The belief is that it was the emperor himself, who had started the fire.

TODAY’s EVENT: 1149: In the battle for the city of Antiochia, occupied by the crusaders, the muslim leader Nur-ad-Din succeeded in killing both Christian leaders, Raymond of Poitiers and Ali-ibu-Wafa.

TODAY’s QUESTION: Magna Carta – what is that? And what is its importance?

This old British Charter – also called the Great Charter of the Liberties – was signed on June 15, 1215 by king John and a group of rebellious English barons. The text was drafted by the archbishop of Canterbury. Its purpose was to get peace between the unpopular king and the barons. The main articles gave protection of church rights, protection of barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations to feudal payments to the crown. It other words: it was a charter, which concerned the king and the nobility. Not the population as such. It was renewed almost ever since, when new kings or queens took over. Magna Carta is by many considered to be the start of parliamentary democracy – though it has very little to do with today. It inspired many initiatives much later such as the American declaration of independence and its liberties, the French revolution and later democratic constitutions. Now 800 years later there are still 4 copies of the original Magna Carta in existence. One of them is in the cathedral in Salisbury – very close to where it was originally written. And in good British tradition big festivities are organized now and then to celebrate the Carta, its contents and its importance.

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Peter Principle – what is that? And what does it say?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote:

Insults are the arguments used by people, who are wrong. This was aid by the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. 2. Today’s quote: When the future is concerned your task is not to foresee it, but to make it possible. Who among today’s personalities has said that? 3. Famous people born on this day: 1798: 1868: 1886: 1900: 1929: 1946: 1963:

Giacomo Leopardi ( died 1837 ) George Hale ( died 1938 ) Robert Schuman ( died 1963 ) Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ( died 1944 ) Oriana Fallaci ( died 2006 ) Gitte Hænning Anne-Sophie Mutter

4. Famous people died on this day: 1149: Raymond of Antiochia ( 34 years ) 1967: Jane Mansfield ( 34 years ) 1969: Moise Tshombe ( 50 years ) 2003: Katherine Hepburn ( 96 years )

JUNE 30 TODAY’s NAME: Today is called LUCINA’s DAY. She was a Christian Roman woman, who looked well after other Christians, who were imprisoned, brought food to them, etc. And she took part in the burial of executed martyrs. She died 95 years old in 365 AC.

TODAY’s EVENT: The Frenchman Charles Blondin is as the first person crossing the Niagara Falls on a rope. The distance is 300 m, and he is 90 m above the Falls. About 10.000 people looked at his walk.

TODAY’s QUESTION:

Peter Principle – what is that? And what does it say? This expression tells that there is a tendency to promoting all employees beyond what their skills can manage. This naturally leads to incompetence and people being useless or worse in their jobs. The expression was in its most recent form described by the Canadian Lawrence J. Peter in 1969 (hence the name), The Peter Principle. But already in 1910 Jose Ortega e Gasset wrote that all employees ought to be degraded to the level under the one they are actually working at. This would according to him give the best work. To this description can be added – as others have done – that in such a situation (ruled by the Peter principle) staff often manages to manipulate with their incompetent superiors in such a way that they do not interfere in their work. It is often called Managing upwards. As an old hand in the EU I wonder, if this principle still lives today 

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW: Danish (pastry): what is that? And what is the history?

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE : 1. Yesterday’s quote: When the future is concerned your task is not to foresee it, but to make it possible. This has been said by the French poet Antoine de Exupéry. 2. Today’s quote: None of today’s persons has said anything unforgettable. 3. Famous people born on this day: 1470: 1884: 1893: 1917: 1918: 1964:

King Charles VIII ( died 1498 ) Georges Duhamel ( died 1966 ) Walter Ulbricht ( died 1973 ) Lena Horne ( died 2010 ) Susan Hayward ( died 1975 ) Countess Alexandra

4. Famous people died on this day: 1971: Herbert Bibermann ( 71 years ) 2001: Chet Atkins ( 77 years )

2001: Johannes SlĂ¸k ( 85 years )