August 5th is International Traffic Light Day and World Oyster Day.
Food Day is celebrated in Canada, Victory and Thanksgiving Day in Croatia, Clown Day in Italy, Underwear Day in the USA, Railroad Day in Latvia, Labor Day in Samoa, and Independence Day in Burkina Faso.
International Traffic Light Day
This holiday is dedicated to one of the most important inventions for road safety. Traffic lights are an integral part of a modern city that ensures order and safety on the roads.
The first traffic light appeared in London in 1868 near the Parliament building. It was created by British engineer John Peake Knight, who was also a specialist in railway signals. This first traffic light was mechanical and had two signal lamps, red and green, which were switched manually.
Unfortunately, this device only worked for a few weeks when a gas lamp exploded, injuring a policeman operating a traffic light. This incident stopped the development of traffic lights for a while.
The modern electric traffic light appeared in 1914 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. It had only two colors — red and green — and an audible signal to warn drivers of changing lights. The first three-color traffic light, which is still in use today, was installed in Detroit in 1920. It was developed by policeman William Potts.
Interesting facts about traffic lights
The first solar-powered traffic light was installed in 1998 in Gauteng, South Africa. This decision made it possible to ensure the operation of traffic lights even in conditions of power outages.
In the city of Canberra, Australia, special traffic lights for kangaroos have been installed. They help animals safely cross roads in national parks and nature reserves.
In many cities of the world, pedestrian traffic lights have unique figures. For example, in Germany, in the eastern part of Berlin, traffic lights with “Ampelman” figurines are used, which have become a symbol of the city.
In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, there are traffic lights for boats that help regulate traffic on the city’s canals.
The oldest operating traffic light is located in the city of Ashby, England. It was installed in 1927 and is still used to regulate traffic.
In some cities around the world, for example in Japan, traffic lights for pedestrians play melodies to help blind people navigate when crossing the road.
World Oyster Day
Every year on August 5, gourmets and seafood lovers celebrate World Oyster Day. This holiday is dedicated to one of the oldest and most popular sea delicacies, which was revered even in ancient times. Oysters are famous for their exquisite taste and numerous useful properties.
Oysters were popular in ancient Greece and Rome. It is known that the Romans specially bred oysters in artificial reservoirs and even exported them from Britain to Rome. Oyster shells are often found during archaeological excavations of ancient settlements, which indicates their widespread use.
During the Middle Ages, oysters became available to the general population in Europe, and only later did they once again become a delicacy associated with luxury and wealth.
Interesting facts about oysters
Oysters are extremely effective natural filters. They are able to purify water by filtering up to 190 liters of water per day. This makes them important for the ecosystem of marine waters.
There are more than 200 species of oysters, and each of them has its own unique taste, depending on where it is grown and where it lives. The most popular types are Belon, Fin de Claire, Casablanca, Kumamoto and Olympia oysters.
Although all oysters are capable of forming pearls, special species called pearl oysters do so most often. Pearls are formed when a foreign material, such as a grain of sand, gets inside the shell and becomes covered with layers of mother-of-pearl.
Oysters are rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly zinc, which is important for the immune system. They also contain a large amount of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the cardiovascular system.
Oysters are often mentioned in literature and art. For example, Lewis Carroll in his famous book “Alice in Wonderland” wrote the poem “The Walrus and the Carpenter”, where oysters are the main characters.
Historical events on this day
1420 – The Czech Taborites published the “12 Prague Articles”, in which they called for the elimination of luxury, the fight against moral evil and the rejection of iconoclasm.
1583 – English explorer Humphrey Gilbert declared Newfoundland a possession of England.
1772 – The first division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place, which led to a significant reduction of its territory.
1789 – Serfdom was officially abolished in France, which became an important stage in the history of human rights.
1858 – The first transatlantic telegraph cable connecting Europe and America was opened. Queen Victoria exchanged greetings with US President James Buchanan.
1884 – In New York, the first stone was laid in the foundation of the Statue of Liberty, which has become a symbol of freedom and democracy.
1886 – The first issue of the Ukrainian-language newspaper “America” was published in the USA.
1914 – In Cleveland, USA, the first electric traffic lights were installed, which contributed to the improvement of road safety.
1924 – In Turkey, polygamy is officially prohibited, which became a significant reform in the country.
1963 Great Britain, the USSR and the USA signed a treaty banning nuclear weapons tests in the atmosphere, outer space and underwater.
1965 – A war broke out between India and Pakistan, which led to numerous casualties and destabilization in the region.
1967 – The debut album of the band “Pink Floyd” was released, which launched their musical career.
Linguistic division in Belgium
On August 5, 1980, according to the Constitution, the population of Belgium was officially divided into three linguistic communities: French-speaking, Flemish and German-speaking. Each of these communities received its official status and language rights.
French is the official language in Wallonia, home to 3.29 million people, or 32.2% of the country’s population. Dutch is the official language in Flanders, home to 5.86 million people, which is 58% of the population. The German language was recognized as the official language in the region in eastern Wallonia, where 67,000 people live.
After gaining independence, Belgium was initially a state where the only official language was French. However, after the First World War, a movement began in the country for the use of native languages in official situations, which eventually led to the passing of laws regulating the use of languages during official events.
Belgian language legislation is considered to be developed at a very high level. Although the Belgian Constitution does not define the legal status of languages, Article 189 states that the text of the Constitution is drawn up in Dutch, French and German. It is interesting that the order in which the languages are listed depends on the official language of the Constitution: in the French-language text, French is mentioned first, in the Dutch – Dutch, and in German – respectively, the German language.
Each region of Belgium has its own official language. At the same time, strict language laws do not touch the sphere of informal interpersonal communication, where the constitutional right to freedom of choice of language operates.
UNESCO actively advocates the preservation of linguistic diversity and multilingualism, which emphasizes the importance of supporting and developing different languages in the world.
The mysterious death of Marilyn Monroe
On August 5, 1962, the world was stunned by the news of the death of Marilyn Monroe, one of Hollywood’s most famous actresses. The real name of the actress was Norma Jean Mortenson, but she became known under the name of Marilyn Monroe. Her mysterious death is still the subject of numerous speculations and conspiracy theories.
Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bedroom in Los Angeles. The official cause of death was determined to be an overdose of barbiturates, and the case was classified as a probable suicide. However, due to a number of strange circumstances and contradictory details, this version does not satisfy many.
Versions and conspiracy theories
- Accidental overdose. This is the most common official version, which indicates that Monroe accidentally took too much of a sleeping pill. She had a history of sleep problems and drug addiction.
- Suicide. Some believe that Monroe deliberately took a fatal dose of drugs due to personal problems and depression. It is known that the actress was going through a difficult period in her life, including problems with her career and personal relationships.
- Premeditated murder. There is a version that Marilyn Monroe was killed by the mafia because of her connections with influential people, including the Kennedy brothers. It is believed that she could know too much about political intrigue and be an unwanted witness.
- Political motive. Another theory claims that Monroe was killed at the behest of the Kennedy brothers, with whom she had affairs. This version is based on numerous speculations about her possible knowledge of important political information.
Despite her tragic death, Marilyn Monroe left a huge impact on the film industry and culture. She became a symbol of female beauty, sexuality and talent. Her films such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Jazz Only Girls are still considered classics.
Marilyn Monroe was remembered not only for her roles, but also for her bright statements that reflect her worldview and attitude to life:
- “It’s better to be alone than to be unhappy with someone.”
- “A good kiss is worth another.”
- “Not to worry, but to worry.”
- “It should be good with my husband, I can live badly myself.”
- “Happiness is not in money, but in shopping.”
- “Hollywood is a place where you can be offered $1,000 for a kiss and only 50 cents for your soul.”
- “Smile because life is a beautiful thing and there are many reasons to smile.”
- “Either the best or nothing.”
Incredible achievements of Harry Houdini
On August 5, 1926, Eric Weiss, known to the world under the stage name Harry Houdini, stunned the public when he spent an entire hour in a closed coffin underwater, remaining unharmed. This trick was another proof of his incredible abilities and skill.
Harry Houdini was known for his exciting and dangerous performances that defied the laws of physics and logic. He could in a matter of seconds open the most complex safes, free himself from a straitjacket, get out of prison cells and even get out of a deep grave. One of his most famous tricks was walking through a brick wall in front of many spectators. In another case, he was able to free himself from the bag, which was hanging at a great height, tied to the element of the skyscraper. He was also placed in a steam boiler and thrown into the river in chains, but even from there Houdini knew how to get out.
Thanks to his outstanding abilities, Houdini’s name became synonymous with the ability to get out of the most difficult situations. In the USA, there was even a new verb “hudinaize”, which means “to be able to get out of a difficult situation”.
Despite his incredible tricks and achievements, the magician’s death was quite tragic and senseless. He once made a bet with a student boxer, claiming he could take a few punches to the torso. However, the blows caused his appendix to rupture, resulting in his death.
Harry Houdini was buried in the same coffin used for the August 5 trick, symbolically ending his life of danger and mystery.
Implementation of the word “Hello” for telephone greeting
On August 5, 1877, inventor Thomas Alva Edison wrote a letter to the president of the Pittsburgh Telegraph Company in which he insisted that the best telephone greeting was the word “Hello.” Over time, this word transformed into the usual “hello”. However, Alexander Bell, the inventor of the telephone, offered another greeting – the word “ahoy”, which was used to greet ships. It is interesting that “hello” is also used on ships. According to Dahl, this term is shouted over the horn to another ship to start a conversation.
The word “hello” has become a standard telephone greeting in most countries. However, there are exceptions. For example, in some countries of Central Asia and the Middle East (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Afghanistan), when picking up the phone, they say “labbai”, which means “listening to you, what do you want?”. In Mexico, when answering a call, they say “bueno”, which means “good” in Spanish. Presumably, this is due to the fact that earlier in Mexico telephone communication was quite unreliable, and thus it was confirmed that the interlocutor could be heard well.
In other countries, the following greetings are used:
- Spain: “dígame” – “speak”.
- Japan: “moshi-moshi” – “listening”.
- Italy: “pronto” — “ready”.
- Greece: “parakalo” – “please”.
- Israel: “shalom” – “peace”.
- Montenegro and Serbia: “molim” – “please” or “please”.
- India: “Ram Ram” is the name of a demigod who is believed to protect against all evil.
Thus, the word “hello” has become a universal telephone greeting, although each culture has its own unique greetings.
Ilya Repin
On August 5, 1844, Ilya Yukhimovych Repin was born in the city of Chuguiv, Kharkiv province. He was born in the family of a military settler. Repin often referred to his origins, noting that although he was sometimes called a Cossack, he was actually born into a despised class of military settlers. He remembered his grandmother’s stories about the times when the Chuguiv Cossacks marched against the French all the way to Paris.
At the age of 28, Repin stunned the audience with his picture “Brokers on the Volga”. In Chuguyev, homeless bachelors were called burlaks, and this is what inspired the artist to create this work. At the age of 35, he painted the famous painting “Zaporozhets”, and at 40 – “Ivan the Terrible, killing his son”. At the age of 58, Repin created a grandiose canvas “The Solemn Meeting of the State Council”, and at the age of 80 – a portrait of Ivan Pavlov.
Repin is often called a mystical artist. He painted with his left hand, since his right stopped working after painting a picture about Ivan the Terrible. Legend has it that it was because he depicted a non-existent historical event that he was cursed. Many legends are associated with this painting, one of which says that Georgy Khruslov, the guard of the Tretyakov Gallery, committed suicide due to damage to the painting with a knife caused by the Old Believer Abram Balashov.
It is known that many of Repin’s sitters died after completing their portraits. Among them were such outstanding personalities as Mussorgsky, Pysemsky, Pirogov and the actor Mercy d’Argenteau. Fyodor Tyutchev died immediately after Repin began painting his portrait. Even healthy men who posed for the picture “Burlaks on the Volga” later died.
The officials depicted in the painting “The Solemn Meeting of the State Council” died during the revolution of 1905. After Repin painted a portrait of Prime Minister Stolypin, he was assassinated in Kyiv.
The artist did not accept the revolution of 1917. He lived in his estate on Finnish territory and refused to return to the USSR, despite attempts by the authorities to lure him back, promising the title of People’s Artist, a solid pension and other benefits. Repin could not accept the destruction of churches and Bolshevik terror.
As for the catchphrase “Repin’s painting They Arrived”, there is no such painting by Repin. The expression appeared after a painting by Lev Solovyov called “Monks” or “They didn’t go there” was accidentally hung at an exhibition in 1930, which depicted women bathing in a river and stunned monks in a boat.
