In 2002, The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (short form Timor-Leste, sometimes called East Timor) was established as the first new nation of the 21st century. Here's a brief look at some points of interest. 
The 2007 project 'Piznai Ukrainu!' (Discover Ukraine!) gave Ukrainians a chance to vote on the Seven Wonders of Ukraine, to which three additions were made by the government. Let's have a look at these sites of national significance. 
Come visit the Central American country whose national motto is "Long live work and peace". This quiz shouldn't be too much like hard work. (Clicking on the image to make it larger may help you answer some questions.) 
With the Christmas tree nearly decorated, it's time to sing some Christmas carols, and learn a bit about their history. 
Authors Richard Marsten and Ed McBain, for example, are in fact the same person - Evan Hunter. Can you match these pseudonyms correctly? 
'My Belarusy' (English translation 'We Belarusians') is the unofficial title of the national anthem of Belarus, originally written when it was known as the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, in 1955. Come find out more! 
In September 2013 Bill Collins celebrated his 50th anniversary of presenting movies on Australian television. Over six nights he presented his ten favourite films - join the countdown of movie classics, all originally released between 1939 and 1958. 
With over 30 years on screen, 'The Simpsons' has had some memorable Christmas episodes. Here is a sample. 
This tiny island nation deserves to be better-known than it is. Care to learn more? 
The national anthem of Zambia is "Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free". Since the country gained independence in 1964, this has been a fitting call. Note: there is valuable information in the pictures. Clicking will make them larger. 
Despite its long history, Myanmar is not as familiar to many as some of its neighbours, so let's fix that! 
Herbs, herbs everywhere - come explore some native Australian herbs and spices. 
In 1985, the first three country code domain names for internet websites were registered: .us (United States), .uk (United Kingdom) and .il (Israel). The number has grown to over 300 (using the Latin alphabet). How many do you know? 
You can learn a lot about a country by exploring the symbols used on its currency. Azerbaijan is a case in point, so let's look at some manats and qәpiks. Clicking the image to enlarge it may help you see valuable clues. 
The imagery of most traditional Christmas songs doesn't really fit with the experience of an Australian mid-summer Christmas. These songs (some parodies, some original) address the issue. 
If you're seriously interested in visiting Serbia, but seriously short of the necessary cash, perhaps this survey of some aspects of Serbian culture can help. 
You've undoubtedly heard references to this area, so let's explore some of its geologic features. 
Come see some of the interesting questions that are raised about a country by different kinds of maps. 
Artificial flies are lures that imitate the natural food of the target fish. Let's explore the amazing variety of materials, shapes, and sizes used to attract a range of fish species. 
Many fairy tales and fables, as originally collected or written, were definitely not suitable for young children. Here are some examples. 
Togo is a tropical West African nation with a multitude of ethnic groups to lend variety to a land where subsistence agriculture, and trade based on it, is the way of life for the majority of citizens. 
Making a batch of pizzas, I noticed how many interesting fungi were involved in the meal I was preparing. 
The name Yemen may come from 'yamin', meaning right, or it may come from 'yumn', meaning felicity, since it is so fertile for the region. The Romans called it 'Arabia Felix', meaning Happy Arabia, in contrast to 'Arabia Deserta'. 
Each question contains a definition or cryptic clue about a word which is part of the answer, one for a letter to be added either before or after the first word to get the answer, and a definition of the answer. Photos may relate to any of the three. 
As Christmas approaches, the family is getting excited. Help them bring JOY to the DAY they so eagerly anticipate. 
The British film company Hammer Films produced a string of horror films between 1955 and 1974 that include some classic titles and legendary performances. It's enough to make your blood run cold! 
Or going with another grain. Let's look at some of the many grains used for food around the world. 
Here are only a few of the many films set, at least in part, on the continent of Africa. How well do you remember them? 
This quiz about songs with the word "end" in their titles celebrates (albeit with some ambivalence) the end of the third stage of my journey through Adventures in Authoring. 
The pictures of actual animals are, of course, reconstructions, some closer to current scientific opinion than others. Hopefully they will bring these ancient animals to life as you read about them. 
You might be surprised what you can do in fifteen minutes! The pictures may provide some extra clues. 
