The Russian word for train station, вокзал (vokzal) ultimately comes from Vauxhall Gardens in London. Gardens like it were popular in early 1800's Europe and the first Russian railroad ended at one of these gardens near St. Petersburg. After that all train stations used the name.

(for forty)

Great Flood of 1910 occurred in Paris when the Seine River overflowed, rising 28.3 feet above normal. Water seeped into basements, subway tunnels, and streets, forcing evacuations. Boats were used to navigate the city, and makeshift wooden walkways were built to help people move around.

Some species of grasshoppers can undergo "phase polyphenism" and become locusts. Triggered by crowding and increased serotonin levels, they change color, grow stronger, and start behaving more aggressively. They form massive swarms that can travel great distances, causing significant damage.

European Ashkenazi Jews did not widely adopt surnames until around the turn of 19th century. That was when European countries started to require citizens to have surnames for purposes like taxation and conscription. The Austro-Hungarian Empire's 1787 law required Jews to take German surnames.

The word "buffoon" comes from the French term "bouffon", a style of clown theater.

Champ Kind, Brian Fantana, Ron Burgundy, Brick Tamland
(were wise enough to reject invitations)

December 15 is the birthday of Nero, the emperor of the Julian-Claudian dynasty, born in 37 AD, ruled from 54 AD until his death in 68 AD, aged 30.
Most sources offer overwhelmingly negative assessments of his personality and reign, however he was popular among the Roman commoners.

A lunar halo occurs when light from the moon is refracted, reflected, and dispersed by ice crystals suspended in high cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. The ice crystals act like tiny prisms, creating a large, bright ring around the moon.
Sometimes, they can also have a faint rainbow-like appearance.

Cheese was introduced to Japan from the Korean kingdom of Baekje around 645 AD. It was presented to Emperor Kōtoku and was known as "so" (蘇). The exact recipe for this early Japanese cheese is unknown, but it was likely a fresh cheese made by boiling cow's milk and letting it harden.

Congratulations!
But be careful

The fight-or-flight response dates back to early vertebrates, around the Cambrian explosion, approximately 500 million years ago. This response is part of the sympathetic nervous system and is triggered by the release of hormones like adrenaline.

A "thrupence" or "threepence" refers to a coin that was used in the United Kingdom, worth three old pence. The coin was quite distinctive, often featuring a design with a crowned portcullis or a Tudor rose. The threepence was in circulation from the early 16th century until decimalisation in 1971.

This large encaustic painting by Zoya Litvinova and Svetlana Katkova was on a wall in the movie theater near my childhood home in Minsk. The sign at the top is the name of the theater - "Vilnius". Incidentally painted the year I was born, 1976, but I just learned about encaustic painting today.

Encaustic painting is a technique that involves using heated beeswax mixed with colored pigments. The mixture is then applied to a surface, usually wood or canvas. This method has been used since ancient times and is known for its durability and rich texture.

The very first printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century, used a font known as Blackletter or Gothic script. This typeface was based on the calligraphy used in handwritten manuscripts of the time. The most famous example of this font is the Gutenberg Bible.

Esterházy is a relatively common Hungarian surname. It is derived from the Hungarian word Esterház, which means "estate" or "manor." The Esterházy family is one of the most notable noble families in Hungary, with a long history and significant influence in the country's cultural and political life.

TIL A Baedeker refers to a travel guidebook published by the German company Karl Baedeker Verlag, founded by Karl Baedeker in 1827. These guidebooks, often simply called Baedekers, are known for their detailed information on routes, travel facilities, accommodations, sights, and attractions.