homeWelcome, sign in or click here to subscribe.login
     


 

 

Weekend


Subscriber content preview

July 5, 2002

Strange But True!

  • A weekly column of incidental information, off-the-wall observations and other random facts about the world.
    • By BILL SONES and RICH SONES, Ph.D.
    Special to the Journal

    Q. Gang surrounds you and starts shouting "Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!" "Selamat ulang tahun!" "Buon compleanno!" "Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji urodzin!" "Gratulerer med dagen!" "Sretan rodjendan!" "Dogum gunun kutlu olsun!" "Sikufisela inhlanhla elangeni lakho lokuzalwa!" What gives? Should you run for your life?

    A. Blow out the candles is more like it, as you're guest of honor at a surprise party receiving well-wishings from your gang of polyglot friends who speak German, Indonesian, Italian, Polish, Norwegian, Croatian, Turkish and Zulu. All together now... "Happy birthday!"


     
    . . .


    To read this story in full login or purchase a subscription.



    Previous columns:


    
    Email or user name:
    Password:
     
    Forgot password? Click here.