Almost everyone has heard of Hans Christian Andersen.
His most famous works include The Snow Queen, The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Princess and the Pea, The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina and so many more.
Even Disney has created movies from his work: The Little Mermaid, The Emperor’s New Groove as well as Frozen 1 and…
History
Everything is relative, relatively. Some of us boast that we live in homes that were built in the 1950's. Your editor, for example, lived in a house from the 1800's, and almost resided in another from the 1400's. That's pretty impressive if you're a history fan. But this all pales when it comes to places…
I am not a crook. With next year being the 50th anniversary of the Watergate break-in of 1972, (For those not aware, the illegal activities that went on in the Watergate Hotel were the start of the unraveling of US president Richard Nixon's reign.) Now, completely legally, guests can visit or reside in room 214,…
What could possibly go wrong? Actually, at this point in time, you're probably OK to camp at Yellowstone National Park. The park is a nearly 3,500-sq.-mile wilderness recreation area atop a volcanic hot spot, so choose a cool spot. Mostly in Wyoming, USA, the park spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho too. Yellowstone features…
Some countries - such as China and Russia - get stuff done. Their enviable work ethic and constant desire to push are legendary.
As with any country who constantly strive, there may be some who get impacted or fall behind - sad stories.
But in this case, here is the tale of Russia building an impressive bridge…
You think your job is tough? Think the boss asks too much?
Well, suffer this poor guy, who works for Japanese Rail. This almost looks like a joke at first. But it's not. They are deadly serious and that is something to reckon with.
No wonder Japan is admired in so many ways. But, don't mess up!
See…
As if the relationship between Canada and the USA isn't convoluted enough, did you know that 50% of all Canadian citizens live south of essentially the 45th Parallel. Canada is one of the largest countries by land in the world, but its population of only 38 million is about ten times less than the United…
OK, so you're rich, bored, ambitious and looking for the latest thing to get your pulse racing, as well as impressing your friends. Doctor, who doesn't want to be a spy? Secretly, all of us, no matter which race, creed or sex. And most of us would want to be James Bond, we assume. Well,…
When Did Persia Become Iran and Why? The region that is now the country of Iran has been known by many different names, and has had varying boundaries and borders over the past 5000 years. The name Iran comes from the Avestan word airyānąm, appearing in the time of Cyrus the Great (4th century BC).…
If you're lucky, you live near trees. And if you're even more lucky, those trees will be plentiful. But, if you're really lucky, you might be able to find a rare habitat, one that would make Frodo feel at home - a tree tunnel: high or low canopies of the trees that create a nature-made…
....down, down . .
When you are in the mood for top seafood, where would you first go to find it?
We're willing to bet than an airport would not be your first choice. For donuts, yes . . . but not lobster.
Well, if you find yourself passing through Canada’s Halifax Stanfield International Airport, prepare to be…
With the benefit of hindsight, we can look back at things that raised the blood pressure of "the people," but can now look back and wonder what all of the fuss was about.
An example is Eileen Gray’s modernist villa E-1027, built in 1929. It resides on the Cap Moderne site. (The Cap Moderne Association is…
Hey tiger, want to explore the bush and find your inner animal? In style, of course. And a rather special place is the The Bushcamp Company in Zambia. It's been around for a while, but they've spent a number of months refreshing the place. The award-winning Mfuwe safari lodge is set in the most prolific…
... but don't worry....yet. Korean Air announced a cooperative initiative for research with Seoul National University and the Korean Air Force to understand the options for launching missiles and orbital vehicles from a Boeing 747 jet. The airline has already started reviewing all technological abilities, operating costs, and how the selected 747 can be equipped…
Every so often, a human mass movement comes along that subtly alters the zeitgeist of we humans. It could have been the art enlightenment in the 1920's. Or perhaps it was the peace and love Hippies in the 1960's. But one of these movements has persisted - the Chautauqua Institute. Chautauqua was an adult education…
Deep in the Caucasus mountains of Georgia is a town called Bochorna. The highest continuously inhabited settlement in Europe, it has an altitude of 7,694 feet—or six Empire State buildings stacked on top of each other—and a population of one. But to get there, to that man, and to that town, you need to ford…
Whether you want to get out of the USA or into Canada, or the other way around, your time has come. After nearly four years of conceptualizing and construction, the nation’s (USA) longest multi-use state trail is open to the public, reaching from the southern most tip of Manhattan right up to the Canadian border.…
For years there have been jokes about the "tin foil hats" people: the doomsayers, the mountain men, the survivalists, the crazies, the Government Plot believers. Others would look askance at them, walk to the other side of the street to avoid them.
Well, there is no doubt that mother earth is struggling, and we humans may…
If you're a YouTube fan, and especially a car aficionado, then have we got a channel for you: Ed's Auto Reviews
Ed (last name unknown) is from the Netherlands and boasts the sense of humour that typically inhabits the people of that most liberal country.
Being from the Netherlands, Ed mostly features European automobiles. But he saves…
Ah, governments are silly old things, aren't they? Their covert missions, surveillance, collusion and hidden agendas. And their dismissal of the intelligence of the people.
But here is a story that beggars belief -- the BT Tower in London. The story of how, for over a quarter of a century, everyone had to pretend the BT…