8 July: Nora Name Day

Today’s Czech name day is Nora.

Nora is a feminine personal name. It originates as a short form of Honora (also Honoria), a common Anglo-Norman name, ultimately derived from the Latin word Honor. 10 famous Noras:

Nora Barnacle

1. Nora Barnacle: muse and wife of Irish author James Joyce. Barnacle and Joyce had their first romantic assignation in 1904 on a date celebrated worldwide as the "Bloomsday" of his novel Ulysses.

2. Nora Batty: fictional character in the world's longest-running sitcom, Last of the Summer Wine. Nora became a national icon, recognised by her wrinkled stockings, pinny and distinctive style of hair curlers.

3. Nora of Kelmendi: woman in 17th century Albanian folklore known for her beauty and valour. She is sometimes referred to as the "Helen of Albania" as her beauty sparked a great war. She is also called the Albanian Brünhilde, for she herself was the greatest woman warrior in the history of Albania. She killed the Pasha, head of the Ottoman Army, who had vowed to reduce the Highland into ashes if Nora did not become his wife.

4. Norah Jones: American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has sold more than 50 million records worldwide.

5. Nora Ephron: American journalist, writer, and filmmaker. She is best known for her romantic comedy films including When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle.

6. Princess Nora of Liechtenstein: fourth child and only daughter of Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein and his wife Georgina von Wilczek.

7. Nora Perry: 19^th century American poet, newspaper correspondent, and writer of children’s stories.

8. Nora Roberts: American author of more than 225 romance novels. She writes as J. D. Robb for the in Death series and has also written under the pseudonyms Jill March and Sarah Hardesty.

9. Nora Swinburne: English actress who appeared in many British films.

10. Nora Baker: eldest daughter of 'The Bakers' in the film Cheaper by the Dozen.

Character birthday

Iowa Smith. Essentially the Indiana Jones of the Ultraheroes Universe. He spends part of the year lecturing at the University of Birmingham, and in the vacations goes off in search of adventure. On one such adventure, he discovered a mysterious artefact which he brought back to England to study.

The object was alien rather than historic, something which Smith's colleague James Lovell (Unicorn) recognised immediately at a seminar in which Smith invited colleagues to share their ideas as to what the mystifying object was.

As Unicorn wondered how to explain to Smith what a dangerous object he had in his possession, the Power League attacked in order to obtain it. The Freedom League were summoned to fight the Power League off, and Unicorn was able to explain. He advised Smith to return it to the deep cave in which he found it. There followed an expedition in which Smith did exactly that, with the help and protection of the Freedom League. During the trip, Unicorn and Smith became firm friends, and he extended his studies to include alien cultures. Smith is fearless, except when it comes to spiders. He is a severe arachnophobe.