Ernő Rubik was born into a family of creators. The son of a flight engineer (Ernő Rubik Sr.) and a poet (Magdolna Szántó), he grew up in the years after World War II. His father remained a great inspiration for all his life: he taught the young Ernő about creating value and working for your goals. Rubik studied architecture and interior design in Budapest, then worked as an architect and designer. University, he recalls, was a strong influence on his life, allowing him to study crafts that needed a great deal of work, persistence, and practice. As Rubik started a position as a professor at the Academy of Applied Arts and Design, he also spent time with his hobby of building geometrical models. This is what soon led him to create a model with a unique story.

The Cube around the Globe

Rubik, as a university professor, needed a demonstration tool for his classes – something practical that his students could use to model three-dimensional movement and talk about engineering basics. The goal was to have the individual pieces of a structure move without the full model falling apart. Rubik took some inspiration from water flowing through pebbles in the Danube, and he came up with a prototype of 27 blocks of wood, held together by rubber bands. The blocks turned along the sides of the cube, and their positions could be swapped, while the cube was still intact. At first, there were no colours and no complex internal pieces, just the bare wooden structure. A simple but creative idea, with lots of potential – the year was 1974.

Soon, Rubik realized that the movements of the cube could be illustrated better if the sides had different colours. So he chose primary colours, with opposite sides only differing in the amount of the yellow colour component each of them had: white with yellow, blue with green, and red with orange. The cube went from a mere demonstration tool to an exciting logical puzzle, and Rubik patented the idea as a “Spatial logical game” under the registration number RU-158 in 1976. The next challenge was producing it. Since Hungary was a planned economy at the time, it was difficult to find someone to manufacture the game, but a company producing chess pieces eventually took on the job and created the first cubes made out of plastic. The “Magic Cube”, as it was called at the time, made its way onto the shelves of shops in 1977, sold by Konsumex, the state trading company.

In 1979, businessman Tibor Laczi took a Cube to the Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany in the hopes of spreading its popularity. Tom Kremer, founder of game licensing company Seven Towns, noticed the Cube, and they signed an agreement for Ideal Toys to release the toy worldwide. First, however, it needed a recognizable name: “The Gordian Knot” and “Inca Gold” were popular candidates, but eventually, “Rubik’s Cube” became the winner, bringing fame to the inventor himself. By 1980, the Cube was sold all around the world, with about 100 million official units finding their owners, and probably at least half as many unauthorized ones doing the same. Today, the number of Cubes sold is over 350 million, making the Rubik’s Cube one of the best-selling toys of all time. It received multiple Toy of the Year Awards, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City included it as a part of its architecture and design exhibit in 1981. (It’s not impossible that Zsazsa Gábor’s US promotion of the Cube helped the process along!) In a nutshell, the Cube became a cultural phenomenon.

The Solution

Of course, one of the most exciting aspects of the Cube is the solution. This is a pretty complex task on paper: after all, the Cube tan take up 43 quadrillion (43×10¹⁸) unique positions! If you turned one side every second for 24 hours straight, it would take you 1,371,512,026,715 years to find every position, assuming you don’t repeat any of them. Nevertheless, there are simple algorithms and complex mathematical equations that try to explain how easy or hard the solution is. The lowest number of turns to solve the puzzle (also known as “God’s number”) is mathematically proven to be 20. The current record for the quickest solution is 3.47 seconds for humans, but as fast as 0.38 seconds for robots. The slowest solution belongs to a British fan, who took 26 years between 1983 and 2009 to finally solve it on his own. This is certainly nothing to be ashamed of – it took Ernő Rubik himself a month to first solve his own logical puzzle.

Life after the Cube

The worldwide success of his creation didn’t change Ernő Rubik too much. It is said that he only swapped his old Fiat 500 but didn’t alter his life drastically. He went on to release several other games, including the Rubik’s Snake, Rubik’s Magic, magic domino, the Rubik’s Clock, and Rubik’s 360. (There were also several versions made of the Cube itself, from a 2x2x2 size all the way to 17x17x17.) He edited a journal called …És játék (…And Games) and started Rubik Stúdió, designing games, and furniture. He also became a full-tenure professor and the president of the Hungarian Engineering Academy. In his free time, he says he is an avid reader, enjoys sailing on the Balaton, and collects succulents as his favourite pastime.

Throughout his life, Ernő Rubik has recognized the importance of education. He is involved in several projects to encourage students to start early with studying science, mathematics, and problem-solving. His International Rubik’s Foundation supports young talents in engineering and industrial design. And while he is a living testament to the power of creative thinking; the value of education, hard work, and the creative process is perhaps best highlighted in his own words: “There is only one freedom: when you can do what you love and what you are talented in”.

2. TOM HARDY WAS BRIEFLY A RAPPER
Falling on Your Arse In 1999 is a mixtape Hardy recorded with his friend Edward Tracy under the name Tommy No. 1 and Eddie Too Tall. While Hardy all but disowned the project—it was never released, and he later described his rapping as “not very good”—it’s really not bad. No less an authority than Vice described it as “actually kind of fire.”

3. TOM HARDY BATTLED DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION AT AN EARLY AGE
With his star on the rise, Hardy was forced to confront an issue he had been dealing with since his teens: a serious alcohol and crack addiction. After shooting Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), Hardy checked himself into rehab. “I didn’t want anyone to know I was out of control, but I couldn’t hide it,” Hardy said in 2014. “I went in thinking I’d do it for a little bit until I can go out and drink and people forgive me. But I did my 28 days, and after listening to people who had been through similar circumstances, I realized I did have a problem.” Hardy has been sober since 2003.

4. TOM HARDY IS A DOG MAN
Hardy is a nut for the hounds, and starred in a pro-adoption ad campaign for PETA along with his rescue dog Woodstock “Woody” Yamaduki. Woodstock is sadly no longer with us, and Hardy penned an emotional tribute to the pup when he passed away in 2017. He currently has a French bulldog. His fondness for his furry friends is so strong that, in 2015, Vanity Fair compiled an oral history of all the times he had professed how much he loved them. Hardy once said “dog” 62 times in one interview, and an Instagram account dedicated to pictures of Hardy with dogs has more than 100,000 followers.

5. MAD MAX WAS IN TOM HARDY’S LIFE LONG BEFORE FURY ROAD
When Hardy was 17, he acquired a dog with the prophetic name Mad Max. A friend of Hardy’s had a dog that he really liked, Cass, so Hardy made him promise that if she ever had puppies, he could have one. He told Details: “I went to visit his mom, see how she was and say hello. And she said, ‘Oh, we’ve got something for you here.’ And I open up the door, and there was Mad Max. And I was like, ‘I don’t like that name.’ He’s not mad, he’s just misunderstood.” Twenty years later, Hardy played Mad Max in Mad Max: Fury Road.

6. TOM HARDY GAINED MORE THAN 40 POUNDS FOR BRONSON … BY EATING CHOCOLATE AND PIZZA
Hardy first gained international attention for playing the title role in Nicolas Winding Refn’s Bronson (2008), an in-your-face biopic about Michael Gordon Peterson, who has been called both the “most violent prisoner in Britain” and “Britain’s most notorious prisoner.” He gained 42 pounds to play the role. He told ShortList: “I got really fat. … By the time I went to Pittsburgh to film Warrior I had two hours of boxing, two hours of Muay Thai, two hours of Jiu-Jitsu, two hours of choreography, and two hours of weightlifting a day, every day for eight weeks. I don’t know how people do that every day. Bronson was fun. For Bronson I just ate chocolate and pizza, lifted [my friend] Pnut up and down the stairs, played Xbox, shaved my head and grew a moustache.”

7. TOM HARDY WAS DELETED FROM STAR WARS (BUT IS IN STAR TREK)
Hardy’s first big meaty Hollywood role was in 2002’s Star Trek: Nemesis, playing an evil clone of Jean-Luc Picard named Shinzon. Hardy auditioned for the role by tape—there was a scene he was supposed to do, but he got hold of the rest of the script and performed a different scene, in his underpants.
Fifteen years later, he filmed a cameo in Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, playing a helmeted stormtrooper who gives Finn (John Boyega) an encouraging smack on the backside, but the scene was deleted from the theatrical release.

8. A REAL-LIFE ACTION HERO
He chased down and caught a thief who stole a moped in 2017. Tom happened to be on the scene when two teenage boys stole a moped. Tom took after them in true action-hero style jumping walls and racing through backyards to catch one of the thieves. One eyewitness said that it was like he switched into action hero mode in a movie and another said he looked as mad as he does on screen. Tom held the teenager until the police arrived.

9. TOM HARDY’S ARM WAS FOREVER TRANSFORMED WHEN HE LOST A BET WITH LEONARDO DICAPRIO.
While shooting The Revenant together, Leonardo DiCaprio predicted that Hardy would get an Oscar nomination for his work. Hardy disagreed, and a bet was struck: Whoever was right could place a tattoo of their choice on the loser. Hardy got the nomination. He later told Esquire: “He wrote, in this really shitty handwriting: ‘Leo knows everything.’ Ha! I was like, ‘OK, I’ll get it done, but you have to write it properly.'” By the time the day came to put needle to skin, it had changed to “Leo knows all.”

10.TOM HARDY’S VENOM PERFORMANCE WAS INSPIRED BY REN & STIMPY AND COACHED BY HIS SON.

When preparing for Venom, in which Hardy plays both journalist Eddie Brock and an alien symbiote that fuses with him, Hardy was inspired by, of all things, the 1990s Nickelodeon carton Ren & Stimpy.

Hardy told Entertainment Tonight he was persuaded to take the role by his 10-year-old son Louis, who also acted as something of a consultant to his dad’s performance. “He told me what I was doing wrong,” said Hardy. “And I was doing more things wrong than I was doing right—children are deeply honest.”

sources: 30 Surprising Facts About Tom Hardy by Jennifer M Wood and Mike Rampton, Mentalfloss; 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Tom Hardy, Alux.com, Youtube

Az összegzés elolvasása után döntsétek el, hogy a következő állítások igazak (A), hamisak (B) vagy nem volt róluk szó (C).

In the heart of Budapest, in the middle of the concrete jungle lies a calm place full of tropical flowers and plants. This garden – often referred to as a ‘green island’ – is the ELTE botanical garden. Founded in 1771, it is the country’s oldest botanical garden. With an over 3.5-hectare territory, the park and its hothouses host over 8,000 plants. The garden claims to help visitors understand the importance of plants and the meaning of biodiversity. Let’s find out a bit more about this magical jungle.

History

The ELTE botanical garden (in Hungarian: Füvészkert), is Hungary’s first botanical garden founded by Jakab Winterl, professor of chemistry and botany. The garden was originally in Nagyszombat and was later moved to Buda in 1777 and then to Pest in 1784. The garden’s care was always done by professionals, as Hungary’s most outstanding science personalities took care of the plants and flowers. After Winterl’s death, his colleague Pál Kitaibel, polyhistor, took over the management of the garden. In honour of Kitaibel’s memorable work on the garden, Eötvös Loránd University’s Department of Mineralogy melted a copy of Kitaibel’s bust and exhibited it in the garden. The bust’s speciality is that it was made with a newly developed melting technique by imitating the process of volcanic activity.  

Between the two World Wars, the garden’s territory decreased significantly. Due to lack of funding, it was neglected. Later, as it received funding, new hothouses were built which could host ferns and cacti. After its damage from World War II, the recovery was a slow process and the garden was only fully redone by 1950. 

Since 2006 the garden has been operating as a special educational unit of Eötvös Loránd University and receives EU funding. One of its most important tasks is to provide as a field for scientific research and to supply knowledge and environmental education to all visitors. 

The story behind the name

The original name of the garden was the Latin Hortus Botanicus. The Hungarian name Füvészkert appeared as a synonym for botanical garden. However, the spread of the name was because of Ferenc Molnár’s well-known novel, The Paul Street Boys. Füvészkert’s widespread popularity is really due to the novel, as an important scene of the plot takes place in the botanical garden. The Hungarian name dates back to the age of language renewal and has been used to this day. Not only its name, but the garden’s popularity is also connected to the novel. In one scene the protagonist Ernő Nemecsek and his friends hide in the old orangery in the garden. To commemorate the novel and its iconic hero, a statue of Nemecsek has recently been inaugurated in the pool of Victoria House. The boy is depicted standing in the pool fully dressed as if he had just emerged from the water after his forced bathing.

Monuments and plant collections

The most monumental attraction of the garden is probably its Victoria House with its large pool of water. It is home to some extremely special tropical and Amazonian giant water lilies and the Paraguayan giant water lily. The garden’s treasures also include some fern pines, some of which are more than 150 years old. Visitors also favour its hothouses, palm trees, orchids, and cacti. The garden’s mission is to preserve and protect endangered plants. Many plants are cared for outdoors, but there is a significant number of plants kept in greenhouses. The garden also hosts a great collection of special plants and flowers, which is expanded year by year. 

Education and other services

Visitors of the ELTE botanical garden can receive professional guidance around the whole garden and can learn about all the details about endangered and tropical plants. Even without guidance, those arriving at the garden can read a lot about all the pieces as there are hundreds of information boards available by the plants. You can also rent a room in the central building to host events in the garden. 

Regular programs also enrich the experience in the garden, such as the Sakura Festival in the spring, which is a traditional Japanese event linked to the cherry tree blossom season. Furthermore, during the autumn, Ginkgo Days bring the Chinese culture into the lives of visitors. The garden is open until November, welcoming anyone open to learn more about plants and botany.

sources (pictures): Gergő Vollai

A cikk elolvasása után döntsétek el, hogy a következő mondatok igazak (T), hamisak (F), vagy nem volt róluk szó (NM) a cikkben.

1. Hungary’s first botanical garden was founded by Pál Kitaibel.
2. Kitaibel’s bust is special because it was made with a newly developed melting technique by imitating the process of volcanic activity.
3. The popularity of Ferenc Molnár’s well-known novel, The Paul Street Boys, is due to Füvészkert because an important scene of the plot takes place in the botanical garden.
4. To commemorate the novel and its iconic hero, a statue of Nemecsek surrounded by some of his friends has recently been inaugurated in the pool of Victoria House.
5. Those arriving at the garden can read a lot about all the pieces as there are hundreds of colourful and interactive information boards available by the plants.

keys/megoldások: 1. F, by Jakab Winterl; 2. T; 3. F, Füvészkert’s widespread popularity is really due to the novel, because an important scene of the plot takes place in the botanical garden.; 4. F, the boy is depicted standing in the pool fully dressed as if he had just emerged from the water after his forced bathing.; 5. NM, all we know is that there are hundreds of information boards available by the plants, we don’t know anything more about these boards

The Duke of Cambridge said he took solace in the Scottish countryside after his mother’s death and spoke about meeting his wife.

Prince William has told how both his happiest and saddest memories have taken place in Scotland.

The Duke of Cambridge said he was at Balmoral, the Queen’s Aberdeenshire home, when he found out his mother Princess Diana had died.

Giving the opening address at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the duke revealed how he found comfort and solace in the Scottish countryside in those “dark days of grief” in 1997.

But he also said Scotland is where he met his wife 20 years ago while they were at the University of St Andrews, which he said was a memory of “great joy”.

The Queen appointed William as Lord High Commissioner to the assembly, which is taking part mainly online with a small number of people at Edinburgh’s Assembly Hall.

He said: “Scotland is a source of some of my happiest memories but also my saddest.

“I was in Balmoral when I was told that my mother had died. Still in shock, I found sanctuary in the service at Crathie Kirk that very morning and in the dark days of grief that followed I found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors.

“As a result, the connection I feel to Scotland will forever run deep.

“Alongside this painful memory is one of great joy because it was here in Scotland 20 years ago this year that I first met Catherine.

“Needless to say, the town where you meet your future wife holds a very special place in your heart.

“George, Charlotte and Louis already know how dear Scotland is to both of us and they are starting to build their own happy memories here too.”

Talking about St Andrews, he said he spent four “very happy and formative years” there with the town and students leaving him alone “to get on with student life, allowing me to share their freedoms – and their pubs”.

“Scotland is incredibly important to me and will always have a special place in my heart.

“I’ve been coming to Scotland since I was a small boy.

“As I grew up, I saw how my grandmother relishes every minute she spends here and my father is never happier than in walking among the hills.

“My childhood was full of holidays having fun in the fresh air, swimming in lochs, family barbecues with my grandfather in command, and yes the odd midge.”

Over the next few days, the assembly will consider several issues, including proposals to reduce the number of presbyteries and the number of full-time ministry posts.

William began a week-long visit to Scotland on Friday, with the Duchess of Cambridge joining him on Monday.

source (article and picture; video): Sky News; Duke of Cambridge found ‘comfort and solace in Scottish outdoors’ after mother’s death, The Telegraph, Youtube

A cikk elolvasása és a videó megnézése után, válaszd ki az egyes mondatkezdéseknél, hogy csak az egyik befejezés igaz (A), esetleg mindkét befejezés igaz (AB) a megadott opciók közül az olvasottak/hallottak alapján.

1. Giving the opening address at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the duke revealed how he found …
   A. comfort and solace in the Scottish countryside in those “dark days of grief” in 1997.
   B.”great joy” in Scotland.
2. Their children …
   A. already know how dear Scotland is to both of their parents.
   B. are beginning to collect their own happy memories there.
3. During his four years at St Andews’, Price William …
   A. was allowed to enjoy the pubs.
   B. was given less freedom.
4. The young William could see …
   A. her grandma enjoy every moment she spent in Scotland.
   B. her father take pleasure in walking among the hills.
5. He loved the family barbecues in Scotland where …
   A. his grandma was in the centre of attention.
   B. his grandpa was the boss.

keys/megoldások: 1. AB; 2. AB; 3. A; 4. AB; 5.B