Anatoly Gavrilov

In his daily life, Anatoly Gavrilov is a postman in the Russian city of Vladimir. 

In another life, he published in literary magazines and collections, became a member of the Literary Fund and the Moscow PEN Club, which unites the most famous contemporary writers. Anatoly Nikolayevich himself clearly separated work at the post office and serving the muses. In his mail bag - glasses, a flashlight and a gas spray to protect himself from dogs, and instead of a notebook for writer's observations - a notebook with lock codes on the doors to the entrances.

Nikolai Dmitrievich Navolochkin

Nikolai Dmitrievich Navolochkin (1923 - 2013) was a Soviet and Russian writer.

From 1977 – 1987 he was the editor-in-chief of the literary and artistic journal " Far East ".

Navolochkin is the author of dozens of books, winner of many awards and an  Honorary citizen of the city of Khabarovsk.

Einstein and Epstein

Albert Einstein and Jacob Epstein, a prominent sculptor, formed an unlikely yet intriguing friendship during a tumultuous time in history. The year was 1933, and the dark clouds of the Nazi regime were spreading across Germany. Einstein, a German-Jewish physicist, found himself in danger due to his Jewish heritage and his vocal criticism of the Nazi regime's rise to power.

In the face of increasing persecution and threats, Albert Einstein sought refuge and safety in England, far away from the oppressive environment in Germany. He had been staying at a country retreat near Cromer, England, hoping to escape the clutches of the Nazis and continue his scientific pursuits in a more hospitable environment.

It was during this period of exile that Jacob Epstein, a distinguished sculptor known for his innovative and sometimes controversial works, was introduced to Einstein. Epstein, born in the United States but residing in England, had gained prominence for his striking and expressive sculptures that often pushed artistic boundaries.

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Arthur Herzog

Self-portrait by Arthur Charles Henri Herzog. 

Herzog was an artist born in Switzerland in 1862 and deceased in 1913. He is known for his Swiss landscapes and Orientalist scenes. In 1897, he made a long trip to Egypt and brought back new Orientalist paintings from this trip. He left Switzerland again in 1900 to take up a professorship at the National Internado of Chile.

He returned in 1905 and exhibited at the Friends of the Arts in Neuchâtel. Long forgotten, this traveling painter was rediscovered from the 2000s.

Richard van Duyvendyk

Richard is a retired teacher from Carp, Ontario and enjoys writing stories. He believes that stories, great and small, define who we are. It is story that sets our inner lives in motion. He enjoys nature, gardening, visual arts, and being an earthling in the natural world. He lives with his wife Bernadette, also a writer, on the edge of a large wetland in Corkery.

Richard writes the Millstone’s Reflections from the Swamp column.

Richard Means

In a 50-year career, Richard Means became one of the top election lawyers in Illinois, committed to guiding local, state and national candidates onto the ballot and keeping them on the straight and narrow election-law path.

A lifelong Democrat, Mr. Means represented candidates for mayor, judge, alderman, state representative and senator from all parties, including Republican, Libertarian and Green.

He consulted with presidential candidates, including Ross Perot in 1992 and Joe Biden in 2008, regarding ballot access in Illinois. Mr. Means died in the coronavirus pandemic in 2021.

Bill Murray

William James Murray (1950) is an American actor and comedian. Known for his deadpan delivery in roles ranging from studio comedies to independent dramas.

Murray rose to fame on The National Lampoon Radio Hour (1973–1974) before becoming a national presence on Saturday Night Live from 1977 to 1980.

Murray's popularity has been such that he holds an iconic status in American popular culture. Murray's eccentric style of comedy, both on-screen and in his personal life, has caused him to be seen as a folk hero to many making him a significant meme in various media including books and the Internet. In 2016 he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor by the Kennedy Center.

Murray is a partner with his brothers in Murray Bros. Caddy Shack, a restaurant with two locations.

Leonardo Carbone

Leonardo Carbone is a German company that manufactures and supplies medieval clothe, shoes and accessories  for film, stage and reenactors.

From men’s robes to Viking shoes, historical drinking horns to a large variety of berets.

Alfie Fripp

Alfred George Fripp (1914 –2013), known as "Alfie" or "Bill", was a British Royal Air Force squadron leader who was a flight sergeant during the Second World War.

He was shot down by the Luftwaffe in 1939 and held in twelve different prisoner of war camps, including Stalag Luft III, later the site of the "Great Escape". As the last of the "39ers" (those taken prisoner in the first year of the war), he was the oldest surviving and longest serving British POW.

Alfred Brendel