I am honored
to have taken part in the Lakewood Public Library Meet the Author Series for my
book Murder in the Cultural Gardens.
Filmed in the Hungarian and British Gardens and in front of the Mark
Twain bust I tell the story of the book, the Cultural Gardens and the writing
process.
See more at https://www.lakewoodpubliclibrary.org/dan-hanson/
If all you know about Wuhan is what you've heard the last few months about the covid-19 virus, you should watch this episode of Fun with Maps.
When we look at the map and the transportation options starting with the Yangtze River we see why many have called Wuhan the "Chicago of China." Learn more about this city of 11 million people than what you may see on the news.
Like millions of others I am a fan of the Big Bang Theory and especially Sheldon Cooper. I even liked his Fun with Flags videos. Seriously. I wished they would continue.
My name is Dan Hanson and I have also been a longtime fan of maps and the role they play in a region's history, commerce, politics, culture and so on. So I started a new video podcast series called Fun with Maps.
Running ClevelandPeople.com which features the 120 or so different ethnic groups that are represented in the area, I've noticed how the geography of a place has played a role in its culture and history.
For example:,
When you see how close the Horn of Africa is to the Arabian Peninsula you will understand how important the Suez Canal , Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are.
Or what does it mean for Ethiopia to be landlocked?
Or for Somalia to have that huge coastline?
How did a little piece of Russia get to the West of Lithuania?
Which river is longer - The Nile or the Amazon?
Why can you see the Aurora Borealis so often in Lapland? And what famous figure comes from Lapland?
We won't just look at countries and large regions. We'll look at how cities split by a river (Chicago, Cleveland, Budapest, etc.) have been influenced by their geography.
There's so much more.
Don't expect cinematic artistry. I don't have the ability and that's not the intention. I just want to share my interest in Maps with others.
So Sheldon Cooper had Fun with Flags and I'm now hoping you will join me in having Fun with Maps.
Watch the introductory video of Fun with Maps.
Currently there are 3 episodes posted (in addition to the intro video)
"It just didn’t seem right to DJ. A body found bludgeoned in a place known for “Peace through Mutual Understanding.” But there she was, crumpled behind a bust of composer Franz Liszt in the Hungarian Cultural Garden. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911. “What is the nature of your emergency?” the dispatcher queried. With a suddenly very dry mouth DJ managed to get out, “There’s been a murder in the Cultural Gardens.” That's the opening paragraph in my novel. It's a whodunit that takes place in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
Each year we like to gather an eclectic group of friends and business associates for a holiday lunch. No, it's not just techies. Media, non-profits, politicians, business, cultural - they were all represented. The food and atmosphere at Bo Loong at 38th and St. Clair is always terrific and our 75 guests maxed out the party room.
Dan Hanson and Cleveland Fire Chief Angelo Calvillo
Councilwoman Dona Brady, Qaisra Haider, Nate Curry, Basil Russo, Mayor Georgine Welo
Judge Dan Polster and Kevin Goodman
Mayor Ron Falconi and Deborah Yue
The attendees are involved in one or more of the projects that we are involved in such as:
ClevelandPeople.com where we celebrate the 100+ ethnic groups in the area and make it a more attractive destination for immigrant talent as well as showing what a cool and diverse city we live in.
ClevelandSpeakers.com which has grown, by popular demand, from a section on GreatLakesGeek to its own website with some great speakers and topics.
Cleveland101.com which was intended to give visiting reporters some interesting stories during the RNC and Cavs championship run but has evolved into a collection of great Cleveland stories, firsts and landmarks.
ClevelandCooks.com which is for foodies, chefs and wannabe chefs as we celebrate how Cleveland has become a foodie town with great chefs and restaurants.
Cleveland Food Adventurers a group that visits local ethnic restaurants and learns about the food and culture while enjoying camaraderie and a great meal.
ClevelandSeniors.com for the 50 and over crowd and those who care for and about them.
ClevelandWomen.Com for girls and women of all ages in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio
GreatLakesGeek.com. The business, science and technology information on GreatLakesGeek.com is becoming more essential as many of our longtime favorite print publications have disappeared or cut back.
Magnum Computers Inc. where we try and earn some $ so we can volunteer more for CAP and support our other projects. (grin)
ClevelandPets.Com for the four-legged (and other) members of our families.
And some more projects we are working on
When asked what the diverse group of guests had in common, some reflection made it clear that they, like us, love Cleveland. Most have had many opportunities to work and live in other cities. But we have all chosen to be here because we believe in the city.
As attendees introduced themselves, this became evident and all were impressed by the positive outlooks expressed.
And though the techies naturally gravitated to their own area, as did the media, international, political and other types of guests the fun was when seemingly unconnected people discovered a thread that connected them to someone else in the room.
Want to be invited next year? Let's do some positive things together next year. Let's talk.
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation hosted the 74th annual One World Day on August 25, 2019. Police estimates say that over 30,000 people visited the Gardens and attended One World Day.
A highlight of One World Day is the Parade of Flags where people in costumes of their heritage carry the flags. This year was undoubtedly the largest and most colorful in memory. Efforts were made to include communities that do not (yet) have a Cultural Garden and they were warmly welcomed.
A very special event took place just as the Parade units reached the reviewing stand. The Baltic Way or Baltic Chain was a peaceful political demonstration that occurred on August 23, 1989. Approximately two million people joined their hands to form a human chain spanning 675.5 kilometers (419.7 mi) across the three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which were considered at the time to be constituent republics of the Soviet Union.
Baltic Way sign in the Latvian Garden on One World Day
To commemorate this historic event and in keeping with the Cultural Gardens motto of "Peace through Mutual Understanding" a remembrance of the Baltic Way took place.
Baltic Nations at One World Day
Honorary Consul of Lithuania Ingrida Bublys was joined on stage by Honorary Consul of Estonia Mary Nippert.
TV news anchor Chris Tanaka, Honorary Consul of Lithuania Ingrida Bublys and Honorary Consul of Estonia Mary Nippert
Consul Bublys told of the Baltic Way that took place 30 years earlier in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The marchers in the Parade of Flags at One World Day, led by delegations from the Baltic countries, commemorated this historic event by forming their own human chain joining hands along Martin Luther King Blvd. in Cleveland.
The Cleveland commemoration of the Baltic Way was produced by Dan Hanson with Angela Woodson, Al Griffin and members of their team after learning of the historic event from Roman Zorska. The Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian communities came on board first and then all others to show solidarity with the ideals of the historic Baltic Way and showcase the diversity of Cleveland. The chain stretched far down MLK Blvd. in Cleveland with thousands joining hands.
On June 11, 2019 the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Centennial Peace Plaza in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
After welcome and speeches, the actual groundbreaking took place with CCGF President Dr. Wael Khoury being joined by the Plaza committee leaders, major donors, Mayor Frank Jackson and others for the ceremonial shoveling of dirt.
Groundbreaking of Centennial Peace Plaza
Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation Executive Board
For years there has been a bust of Viking Explorer Leif Erikson near the entrance to Shooters on the west bank of Cleveland’s Flats.
Dan Hanson just noticed that now you can walk under the piece of the bridge from the parking lot to the Cuyahoga River and see some of the ironwork of the bridge.
On Wednesday May 22, 2019 the Cleveland Metroparks had a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of the Euclid Beach Pier.
The new 315-foot pier partially extends over Lake Erie, offering views of the downtown Cleveland skyline not experienced from this location for decades.
Dan Hanson took a walk out onto the pier. Sorry for the wind noise.
Dan Hanson walked through the Polish Heritage Garden behind the John Paul II Polish American Cultural Center in the Slavic Village neighborhood of Cleveland.
He enumerated the 27 different placards that depict Polish history throughout the ages including the Constitution of May 3, John Paul II, World War II, Copernicus, Chopin and others.
Interested people and students should visit the beautiful garden to see the highlights of centuries of Polish history.
Computer techies (OK, geeks) Bob Coppedge and Dan Hanson used to take groups to various places of interest to computer professionals (OK, other geeks). They called it Bob and Dan's Excellent Adventures.
This video from 2004 was just unearthed from some old DVDs. This was a different adventure as Bob and Dan visited a cemetery and visited the graves of some old technology - from dBase to Win 95 before facing their own demise.
Each year we like to gather an eclectic group of friends and business associates for a holiday lunch. No, it's not just techies. Media, non-profits, politicians, business, cultural - they were all represented.
The food and atmosphere at Bo Loong at 38th and St. Clair is always terrific and our 75 guests maxed out the party room.
Jose Feliciano
Jim Cookinham and Dan Hanson
Joshua Edmonds
Paramjit Singh
Russ Mitchell and Brad Sussman
Gia Hoa Ryan, Lisa Wong, Nada Martonovic and Oanh Loi-Powell
ClevelandPeople.com where we celebrate the 100+ ethnic groups in the area and make it a more attractive destination for immigrant talent as well as showing what a cool and diverse city we live in.
ClevelandSpeakers.com which has grown, by popular demand, from a section on GreatLakesGeek to its own website with some great speakers and topics.
Cleveland101.com which was intended to give visiting reporters some interesting stories during the RNC and Cavs championship run but has evolved into a collection of great Cleveland stories, firsts and landmarks.
ClevelandCooks.com which is for foodies, chefs and wannabe chefs as we celebrate how Cleveland has become a foodie town with great chefs and restaurants.
Cleveland Food Adventurers a group that visits local ethnic restaurants and learns about the food and culture while enjoying camaraderie and a great meal.
ClevelandSeniors.com for the 50 and over crowd and those who care for and about them.
ClevelandWomen.Com for girls and women of all ages in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio
GreatLakesGeek.com. The business, science and technology information on GreatLakesGeek.com is becoming more essential as many of our longtime favorite print publications have disappeared or cut back.
Magnum Computers Inc. where we try and earn some $ so we can volunteer more for CAP and support our other projects. (grin)
ClevelandPets.Com for the four-legged (and other) members of our families.
And some more projects we are working on.
When asked what the diverse group of guests had in common, some reflection made it clear that they, like us, love Cleveland. Most have had many opportunities to work and live in other cities. But we have all chosen to be here because we believe in the city.
As attendees introduced themselves, this became evident and all were impressed by the positive outlooks expressed.
And though the techies naturally gravitated to their own area, as did the media, international, political and other types of guests the fun was when seemingly unconnected people discovered a thread that connected them to someone else in the room.
Want to be invited next year? Let's do some positive things together next year.
When I spoke at the ClevelandPeople.Com Food Adventurers event at the Ethiopian Restaurant Zoma in Cleveland Heights Ohio several people asked "Where in the world is Ethiopia?"
I showed that Ethiopia is in the Horn of Africa (East Africa about 2/3rds of the way up) and how the geography is important to the politics and history.
I also told of how the Nile River flows South to North and is split, how Ethiopia is the originator of coffee and about the languages (Amharic and others) and religions (Orthodox Christian and Muslim) of Ethiopia.
Watch this short video of Dan's answers about Ethiopia.
Andres Anelli led the National Anthem, the Horizon Science Academy's Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the colors, Rev. Remus Grama gave the invocation and Dan Hanson spoke about the state of ethnics and diversity in Cleveland comparing it to the problems in the rest of the world by referencing the "Chinese curse" 'May you live in interesting times."
Mathematician Dan Hanson spoke at the ClevelandPeople.Com Food Adventure to The Pearl Asian Kitchen. The Food Adventurers travel to authentic ethnic restaurants in the Cleveland area and, besides enjoying a special traditional menu, learn about the culture of the country.
Dan told about and demonstrated the popular Chinese Tangram Puzzle whcih was as popular as the Rubik's Cube when it came out.
Mathematician Dan Hanson spoke at the ClevelandPeople.Com Food Adventure to The Pearl Asian Kitchen. The Food Adventurers travel to authentic ethnic restaurants in the Cleveland area and, besides enjoying a special traditional menu, learn about the culture of the country.
Dan told some basics about Chinese mathematics and the Chinese abacus which is able to do hexadecimal calculation as opposed to abacuses from other countries.
Mehmet Gencer from the Turkish Cultural Garden committee told Dan Hanson of ClevelandPeople.com about the dedication of the new Turkish Garden in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
The dedication took place 93 years after the founding of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Cleveland musician Michael Stanley is the headline act for the Centennial celebration in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens at the 71st annual One World Day on August 28, 2016.
Cultural Gardens board member Dan Hanson spoke with Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation president Sheila Murphy Crawford in the Hungarian Cultural Garden in front of a monument to Franz Liszt.
She explained the significance of the Centennial celebration in the Gardens and why they wanted a headline act of the magnitude of Michael Stanley to perform. The acoustic concert in the Cultural Gardens will be a free event to celebrate the Gardens Centennial Year.
