Dedicated to the memory of Esperanza Aquino
Thursday October 28th, 2004
In Today's Edition
I think anybody who doesn't think I'm smart enough to handle the job is underestimating.
-George W. Bush
I think I'm gonna take next week off. I hope you all have a safe and pleasant Halloween. Please try to be civil in my absence. See you next month.
Born on October 28th
Julia Roberts (1967)
Bill Gates (1955)
Bruce Jenner (1949)
Dennis Franz (1944)
Charlie Daniels (1936)
Cleo Laine (1927)
Jonas Salk (1914)
Malik Carrier
Born on October 29th
Antonio Aquino
That's The Way It Goes
Two widows were visiting in the lounge of the Seniors' Center.
"Well," one said, "Mary has just cremated her third husband."
"Yeah, that's the way it goes," replied the other widow. "Some of us can't find a husband, and others have husbands to burn!"
Today's useless fact - What are seashells made of?
Seashells are, quite simply, the exoskeletons of mollusks. At the LUKOL Seashell Category we learned a good deal about the composition of seashells, including the three distinct substances involved: an outer layer of the horny substance "conchiolin", an intermediate layer of "calcite", and a smooth inner layer composed mainly of "calcium carbonate". But how does a mollusk actually create a shell? An article from one of the sites listed in the Directory explains:
The blood of a mollusk is rich in a liquid form of calcium. A soft, outer organ called the mantle concentrates the calcium in areas where it can separate out from the blood, forming calcium carbonate crystals. The mantle deposits sheets of the crystal in varying thicknesses. The individual crystals in each layer vary in shape and orientation.
A fascinating new field called biomimicry, which attempts to replicate Nature's materials, has recently generated detailed studies of abalone and conch shells in an attempt to understand the source of their amazing toughness and strength. This knowledge could be used to create unbreakable windshields and other scientific marvels.
What's The Buzzword For October 28th?
hint \HINT\ noun
What does it mean?
1 : a slight mention : a suggestion or reminder
2 : a very small amount : trace
How do you use it?
"'Well, now I have just given you a hint of what Jane writes
about, we will turn to her letter, and I am sure she tells her
own story a great deal better than I can tell it for her.'"
(Jane Austen, _Emma_)
Are you a word wiz?
Which writer do you think is credited with coining the word
"hint"? Here's a hint: this author is credited with coining
hundreds of English words.
A. Geoffrey Chaucer
B. Harriet Beecher Stowe
C. Judy Blume
D. William Shakespeare
Answer:
You took the hint if you picked answer D. The noun "hint"
first appeared in Shakespeare's play _Othello_, which dates
to 1604. "Hint" is often used in the phrase "take the hint."
We find "take the hint" used for the first time around 1606
in _Antony and Cleopatra_, another of Shakespeare's plays.
In all, "hint" is used eight times in Shakespeare's writings,
but only as a noun. People didn't start using "hint" as a
verb until the mid-1600s. Language experts think "hint"
comes from the obsolete word "hent," which means "the act
of grabbing or seizing."
Today's Jigsaw Puzzle
Click Here
Blue Sky Pumpkin
That's all for now. Have a great weekend.
The following is what appeared in Wednesday's Edition.
In Today's Edition
Thanks to all of you who sent me well wishes for my birthday yesterday. You guys are the greatest.
The chances of seeing the lunar eclipse tonight seem pretty bleak right now. Our weatherman says it's going to rain off and on until tomorrow. Hopefully there will be a break in the rain and maybe we'll get a glimpse of the moon.
Born on October 27th
Jayne Kennedy (1951)
Carrie Snodgress (1946)
John Cleese (1939)
Ruby Dee (1924)
Roy Lichtenstein (1923)
Nanette Fabray (1920)
Dylan Thomas (1914)
Emily Post (1872)
Theodore Roosevelt (1858)
Imani Carrier
Leno-ism
Of the women who tried on-line dating, going out with someone they met on the Internet, 61% said it was a good experience. The other 39% are still missing. - Jay Leno
Today's useless fact - How dry is dry cleaning?
"Dry" in this phrase has a meaning very different from the customary definition: "without moisture of any kind." Actually, "dry cleaning" is more accurately called, in some sections of our country, "French cleaning," for the phrase is a literal translation of the French "nettoyage a sec",. which means cleaning by the dry method, or cleaning without water. In other words, "dry cleaning" is "without water," which means that any of a large variety of liquid solvents - benzine, carbon tetrachloride and naphtha, for example - may be used in the process. The method was first developed in France midway through the nineteenth century and its great merits are that it causes no shrinking of the materials cleaned nor does it cause a garment to lose its shape.
What's The Buzzword For October 27th?
diamond \DYE-mund\ noun
What does it mean?
1 : native crystalline carbon that is the hardest known
mineral, that is usually nearly colorless, that when
transparent and free from flaws is highly valued as a precious
stone, and that is used industrially especially as an abrasive
2 : a square or rhombus-shaped figure usually oriented with
the long diagonal vertical
3 : a baseball infield; also : the entire playing field
How do you use it?
After the final out, the players of the winning team ran
onto the diamond, jumping and shouting to celebrate their
victory.
Are you a word wiz?
Which one of these words do you think is related to
"diamond"?
A. gladiator
B. dynamic
C. adamant
D. diameter
Answer:
The answer that sparkles is C. The ancient Greeks used the
word "adamas" for "diamond," the hardest substance found in
nature. It was also used for any indestructible substance and
for anything unmovable. Later, Latin writers borrowed the
Greek, sometimes as "adamant," and sometimes as "adimant." In
English "adamant" was first used as a noun to refer to a stone
believed to be of impenetrable hardness, and later to mean an
unbreakable or extremely hard substance. The adjective
"adamant," meaning "firmly fixed or decided," comes from Latin
"adamant." Latin "adimant" changed to "diamant" and came to
be used for the gemstone we now call "diamond."
Today's Jigsaw Puzzle
Click Here
That's all for today. Have a good one.
The following is what appeared in Tuesday's Edition.
In Today's Edition
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
-Mahatma Gandhi
Born on October 26th
Cary Elwes (1962)
Lauren Tewes (1954)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (1947)
Pat Sajak (1947)
Jaclyn Smith (1947)
Bob Hoskins (1942)
Jackie Coogan (1914)
Mahalia Jackson (1911)
Bad Dream
I dreamed I drank the worlds largest margarita and when I woke up there was salt on the toilet seat...
Thank God I decided not to eat the worm!
Today's useless fact - What's the story behind Stonehenge?
As we learned from our Stonehenge category, there are tons of stories behind Stonehenge, involving everything from Merlin to aliens (not to mention heavy metal). But maybe we should start with some facts... Stonehenge is a megalithic monument on the Salisbury Plain in England, about 85 miles southwest of London. It consists of a ditch and bank surrounding huge stones -- many weighing between one and 45 tons -- arranged in circle and horseshoe patterns, along with a lane connecting it to the nearby River Avon. Construction began around 3,000 B.C. and continued until about 1,100 B.C.
Unfortunately, the people who built Stonehenge didn't leave much evidence of why they built this massive structure. So writers and researchers through the ages have pondered the stones and come up with their own stories about this prehistoric creation.
The most common theories suggest Stonehenge is an astronomical calendar, a religious site, or a combination of the two. From John Aubrey in the 17th century to William Stukeley in the 18th century to Sir J. Norman Lockyer and Gerald Hawkins in the 20th century, scholars have found that the position of Stonehenge's earthworks and stones coincides with solstices and cycles of the moon. But these scholars have interpreted this information differently.
Early theorists believed the Celtic priesthood called the Druids built Stonehenge as a temple, but there are no records of Druids existing in the same time period that Stonehenge was created. However, other ancient peoples could have built Stonehenge as a temple that marked the solstices as holy days.
But the great attraction of Stonehenge is the mystery. We may never know why 25 generations of people labored to create this massive and awe-inspiring structure.
What's The Buzzword For October 26th?
quixotic \kwik-SAH-tik\ adjective
What does it mean?
: impractical especially in the foolish pursuit of ideals
How do you use it?
The newly elected mayor assured us he was not being quixotic
when he promised a voice in government for everyone.
Are you a word wiz?
"Quixotic" comes from the name of a character in a famous
novel. Which one of these authors do you think wrote the
book that is the source of the word "quixotic"?
A. Roald Dahl
B. Miguel de Cervantes
C. J. K. Rowling
D. Theodore Taylor
Answer:
The word "quixotic" comes from the novel known familiarly
as _Don Quixote_ by Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes.
Published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615, it tells the story
of Alonso Quijana, an idealist who calls himself "Don Quixote"
and sets out to right the wrongs of the world, as did the
knights in the days of chivalry. His attempts turn into comic
misadventures and he returns home a tired old man. The novel
was translated into English and gave rise to "Quixote" as a
synonym for an impractical idealist. "Quixotic" dates from
the early 1800s and describes the "impossible dreams" of
modern Don Quixotes.
Today's Jigsaw Puzzle
Click Here
That's all for today. Have a good one.
The following is what appeared in Monday's Edition.
Total Lunar Eclipse
On Wednesday night, Oct. 27th, North Americans can see a total eclipse of the moon
According to folklore, October's full moon is called the "Hunter's Moon" or sometimes the "Blood Moon." It gets its name from hunters who tracked and killed their prey by autumn moonlight, stockpiling food for the winter ahead. You can picture them: silent figures padding through the forest, the moon overhead, pale as a corpse, its cold light betraying the creatures of the wood.
The Blood Moon rises this year on Wednesday, Oct. 27th. At first it will seem pale and cold, as usual. And then ... blood red.
It's a lunar eclipse. Beginning at 9:14 p.m. EDT (6:14 p.m. PDT), the moon will glide through Earth's shadow for more than three hours. Observers on every continent except Australia can see the event: The pale-white moon will turn pumpkin orange as it plunges into shadow, becoming eerie red during totality.
A lunar eclipse on May 15, 2003, photographed by Loyd Overcash of Houston, Texas.
What makes the eclipsed moon turn red? The answer lies inside Earth's shadow:
Our planet casts a long shadow. It starts on the ground--Step outside at night. You're in Earth's shadow. Think about it!--and it stretches almost a million miles into space, far enough to reach the moon.
Suppose you had a personal spaceship. Here's your mission: Tonight, at midnight, blast off and fly down the middle of Earth's shadow. Keep going until you're about 200,000 miles above Earth, almost to the moon. Now turn around and look down. The view from your cockpit window is Earth's nightside, the dark half of our planet opposite the sun. But it's not completely dark! All around Earth's limb, the atmosphere glows red.
What you're seeing is every sunrise and sunset on Earth--all at once. This ring of light shines into Earth's shadow, breaking the utter darkness you might expect to find there. Turn off the cockpit lights. There's a lovely red glow.
Lunar Eclipse Schedule
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Moon enters
Earth's shadowtotality
beginstotality
endsMoon exits
Earth's shadowUniversal Time 01:14 (Oct 28)
02:23 (Oct 28)
03:45 (Oct 28)
Eastern Time 9:14 p.m. 10:23 p.m. 11:45 p.m. 00:54 a.m. (Oct. 28) Central Time 8:14 p.m. 9:23 p.m.
10:45 p.m.
11:54 p.m.
Mountain Time 7:14 p.m.
8:23 p.m.
9:45 p.m.
10:54 p.m.
Pacific Time 6:14 p.m.
7:23 p.m.
8:45 p.m.
9:54 p.m.
Alaska Time 5:14 p.m.
6:23 p.m.
7:45 p.m.
8:54 p.m.
Hawaii Time 3:14 p.m.
4:23 p.m.
5:45 p.m.
6:54 p.m.
Notes: Unless otherwise marked, all times refer to Wednesday evening, Oct. 27th. Times printed in light gray denote events that happen before local moonrise.
That same red light plays across the moon when it's inside Earth's shadow. The exact color depends on what's floating around in Earth's atmosphere. Following a volcanic eruption, for instance, dust and ash can turn global sunsets vivid red. The moon would glow vivid red, too. Lots of clouds, on the other hand, extinguish sunsets, leading to darker, dimmer eclipses.
How will the moon look on Oct 27th? Corpse white. Pumpkin orange. Blood red. Maybe all three. Step outside and see for yourself.
Warning: While you're staring at the sky, you might hear footsteps among the trees, the twang of a bow, a desperate scurry to shelter. That's just your imagination.
Born on October 25th
Sara Lumholdt (1984)
Tracy Nelson (1963)
Jon Anderson (1944)
Helen Reddy (1941)
Billy Barty (1924)
Minnie Pearl (1912)
Leo G. Carroll (1892)
Pablo Picasso (1881)
Georges Bizet (1838)
New Blonde Father
One day shortly after the birth of their new baby, the mother had to go out to do some errands. So the proud papa stayed home to watch his wonderful new son.
Soon after the mother left, the baby started to cry. The father did everything he could think of to do but the baby wouldn't stop crying. Finally, the dad got so worried he decided to take the infant to the doctor.
After the doctor listened to the father all that he had done to get the baby to stop crying, the doctor began to examine the baby's ears, chest and then down to the diaper area.
When he undid the diaper, he finds that the diaper is indeed full. "Here's the problem", the Dr. says. "He needs a change."
The father is very perplexed, "But the diaper package says it is good for up to 10 lbs.
Today's useless fact - Who was the first woman to be featured on a postage stamp?
Links from the Lukol Stamps category told us that though there is some debate among experts and collectors, it is generally agreed that the first postage stamp was issued in England in 1840. Until that time, the recipient of a letter paid the postage directly to the postman. Sir Roland Hill, a schoolmaster who would later be called "the father of the modern post office," introduced the idea of pre-paid postage; he proposed a charge of one penny per letter. And so, the first postage stamp was issued by the British Treasury, and it bore the image of a woman. The profile of Queen Victoria graced the stamp, called a Penny Black. Hill himself suggested the design, based on a portrait of Queen Victoria as an 18-year-old princess. Approximately 72 million Penny Blacks were issued, and they remained in use until 1841.
In 1893, the first American stamp featuring a woman was introduced. Part of a series commemorating the 400th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of the new world, the stamp pictured Columbus soliciting funds for his voyage from Queen Isabella of Spain. The first American woman commemorated by a stamp was none other than the first First Lady -- Martha Washington. This stamp was introduced in 1902.
What's The Buzzword For October 25th?
vivacious \vuh-VAY-shus\ adjective
What does it mean?
: full of life and good spirits
How do you use it?
For her 65th birthday, my vivacious grandmother decided to
go skydiving.
Are you a word wiz?
"Vivacious" is one of a whole host of words that describe
someone who has a zest for life. Which answer below contains
synonyms of "vivacious"?
A. lively, sprightly
B. frenetic, zippy
C. moribund, morose
D. intense, earnest
Answer:
Your intellect is a lively one if you chose A! "Vivacious,"
"lively," and "sprightly" all mean very alive and spirited.
"Vivacious" suggests an active wittiness that is often playful
or attractive (as in, "a vivacious talk-show host"). "Lively"
implies alertness, quickness, or energy (such as,
"politicians engaged in a lively debate about foreign
policy"). "Sprightly" is used of something or someone light
and playful that enjoys or revels in life (for example,
"sprightly, upbeat music that had us all out on the dance
floor").
Today's Jigsaw Puzzle
Click Here
That's all for today. Have a good one.
