It takes a long time to become young. ~ Pablo Picasso

I’ll go a bit off-topic with this post and announce you that yesterday (August 18, 2007) I celebrated my 20′th birthday! Entering a new age group, with huge plans, enormous dreams and an astonishing amount of hope.

Life is already good and I’m working on making it better! Better for everyone.

I’ve achieved a lot of things until now, but the most important one is that I’ve created a circle of good friends around me.

On a technological note I can say that now that I’m 20 years old I am fully compatible with the web 2.0 standard! That should make this blog go through the roof.

And because this doesn’t have to be a complete filler and non-informative post, I’ll present you some events that took place on August 18 in various dates in history - and respond to an Ugly Mailbox meme.

Events

• 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus was founded, starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica.
• 1201 - The city of Riga is founded.
• 1541 - A Portuguese ship drifts ashore in the ancient Japanese province of Higo (modern day Kumamoto Prefecture). (Traditional Japanese date: July 27, 1541)
• 1572 - Wedding in Paris of the Huguenot King Henry IV of Navarre with Marguerite de Valois, in a supposed attempt to reconcile Protestants and Catholics.
• 1587 - Virginia Dare, granddaughter of Gov. John White of the Colony of Roanoke, becomes the first English child born in the Americas.
• 1590 - John White, the governor of the Colony of Roanoke, returns from a supply-trip to England and finds his settlement deserted.
• 1634 - Urbain Grandier, accused and convicted of sorcery, burned alive in Loudun, France.

Births

• 1414 - Jami, Persian poet (d. 1492)
• 1450 - Marko Marulić, Croatian poet (d. 1524)
• 1579 - Charlotte Flandrina of Nassau, Roman Catholic nun (died 1640)
• 1587 - Virginia Dare, first English child born in North America (d. 1588)
• 1596 - Jean Bolland, Flemish Jesuit writer (d. 1665)
• 1605 - Henry Hammond, English churchman (d. 1660)
• 1657 - Ferdinando Galli Bibiena, Italian architect/designer (d. 1743)
• 1685 - Brook Taylor, English mathematician (d. 1731)
• 1692 - Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon, Prime Minister of France (d. 1740)
• 1720 - Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers, English murderer (d. 1760)
• 1750 - Antonio Salieri, Italian composer (d. 1825)
• 1754 - François, marquis de Chasseloup-Laubat, French general (d. 1833)
• 1774 - Meriwether Lewis, American explorer (d. 1809)
• 1792 - John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (d. 1878)
• 1822 - Isaac P. Rodman, American Union general (d. 1862)
• 1830 - Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria (d. 1916)
• 1983 - Mica Penniman (Mika), Lebanese-born musician
• 1983 - Kris Boyd,Scottish footballer
• 1984 - Robert Huth, German footballer
• 1987 - Mika Boorem, American actress
• 1992 - Frances Bean Cobain, daughter Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love

Holidays and observances

• International Lighthouse Day
• Australia - Long Tan Day (also called Vietnam Veterans’ Day) named after the Battle of Long Tan
• Roman Catholic Saints - Saint Helena of Constantinople, and Saint Alberto Hurtado
• Buhe in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Thanks go to my family and all my friends (you’re included) for sticking by me in all these years! In the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson, “I am a part of all that I have met”, and I like what I am!

If you are a blogger and you want to make me a sweet birthday present, you could give me a link back from your blog - to a post of your choice. That would truly make a wonderful and appreciated gift!

The most important lessons that I’ve learned in all these years is… coming up in a future post. Until then, be happy!

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