TODAY - January 4

 

NIELS’ MORNING GREETINGS

ON: JANUARY 4

New 2021 edition

TODAY’s LENGTH:

This day is here in Belgium 10 minutes longer than December 21. Its length is 8 hours and 7 minutes – from 08.44 to 16.51.

See more – also in English – about where you are on:  www.dagenslaengde.dk

TODAY’s NAME:

This day is called METHUSALEM’s DAY. He was Enoch’s son and became 969 years old. That’s where the expression “Old like Methusalem” comes from.

This day is also one of the 32 so-called Tycho Brahe Days. They are days, which the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe in the 17th century based on his calculations appointed as particular unfortunate.  What old nonsense L 

The day’s name in Belgium is SAINTE PHARAÏLDE.  She lived in the years 650-750. She is the patron of the Belgian city of Ghent.

 

TODAY’s EVENT:

1947: In Germany the very first issue of the weekly magazine DER SPIEGEL is published. The founder and editor was Rudolf Augstein.

TODAY’s QUESTION:

Carte Blanche – what’s the origin of that expression? And what does it mean?

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:

Gentlemen’s agreement – how did that expression start? And what does it mean?

47 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EUROPE:

EUROPE AT WORK     www.europe-at-work.be

 

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :

1.  Yesterday’s quote:

Nothing is more unbearable than a foll, who succeeds in being successful.

This was said by the Roman poet and politician Cicero.

 

2.  Today’s quote:

When a woman has become a mother she is no longer a fallen woman, independently of how she became it.

Who of today’s persons has said that?

3.  Famous people born on this day:

1643:  Sir Isaac Newton  ( died 1727 )  - see photo below.

1785:  Jacob Grimm  ( died 1863 )

1935:  Floyd Patterson  ( died 2006 )

1937:  Johannes Møllehave

1946:  Arthur Conley  ( died 2003 )

 

4.  Famous people died on this day:

1786:  Moses Mendelsohn  ( 57 years )

1944:  Kaj Munk  ( 45 years )

1960:  Albert Camus  ( 46 years )

1965:  Thomas Stearns Eliot  ( 76 years )

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

niels4europe@gmail.com  

www.simplesite.com/kimbrer   +  EUROPE AT WORK    www.europe-at-work.be




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