Weather Machine is a lumino-kinetic bronze sculpture in the U.S. city of
Portland, Oregon that serves as a weather beacon, displaying a daily
weather prediction at noon. Designed and constructed at a cost of
$60,000 by Omen Design Group Inc., the approximately 30-foot (9 m) tall
sculpture was installed in 1988 in the northwest corner of Pioneer
Courthouse Square. Two thousand people attended its dedication, which
was broadcast live nationally from the square by Today weatherman
Willard Scott. During its daily two-minute sequence, which includes a
trumpet fanfare, mist and flashing lights, the machine displays one of
three metal symbols as a prediction of the weather for the following
24-hour period: a sun for clear and sunny weather, a blue heron for
drizzle and transitional weather, or a dragon and mist for rainy or
stormy weather. The sculpture includes two bronze wind scoops and
displays the temperature via vertical colored lights along its stem. The
air quality index is also displayed by a light system below the
stainless steel globe. Considered a tourist attraction, Weather Machine
has been called "bizarre", "playful", "unique" and "wacky".
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_Machine>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1449:
The last Byzantine-Roman Emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos,
was crowned, four years before the Fall of Constantinople.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_XI_Palaiologos>
1839:
The most damaging storm in 300 years swept across Ireland, with
100-knot winds damaging or destroying more than 20% of the houses in
Dublin.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Big_Wind>
1907:
Italian educator Maria Montessori opened her first school and
day care center for working class children in Rome, employing the
philosophy of education that now bears her name.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Montessori>
1941:
During his State of the Union Address, U.S. President Franklin
D. Roosevelt presented his Four Freedoms as fundamental freedoms humans
everywhere in the world ought to enjoy.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Freedoms>
1994:
Two-time American Olympic figure skating medalist Nancy
Kerrigan was clubbed on the right leg by an assailant hired by Jeff
Gillooly, the ex-husband of her rival Tonya Harding.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonya_Harding>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
at first blush:
(idiomatic) Upon first impression or consideration; seemingly,
apparently, ostensibly.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/at_first_blush>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
There is no formula for generating the authentic warmth of love.
It cannot be copied. You cannot talk yourself into it or rouse it by
straining at the emotions or by dedicating yourself solemnly to the
service of mankind. Everyone has love, but it can only come out when he
is convinced of the impossibility and the frustration of trying to love
himself. This conviction will not come through condemnations, through
hating oneself, through calling self love bad names in the universe. It
comes only in the awareness that one has no self to love. 
--Alan Watts
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alan_Watts>
Deepika Padukone (born 1986) is an Indian film actress and model. She
has established a successful career in Hindi (Bollywood) films, and is
cited in the media as one of the most popular and attractive Indian
celebrities. She made her acting debut in 2006 as the titular character
of the Kannada film Aishwarya. She then played dual roles in her first
Bollywood release—the 2007 blockbuster Om Shanti Om—and won a
Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Padukone received praise for
portraying the lead female role in the 2009 romance Love Aaj Kal, but
her performances in the 2008 romantic comedy Bachna Ae Haseeno and the
2010 comedy Housefull met with negative reviews. The 2012 box office hit
Cocktail marked a significant turning point in her career, earning her
critical acclaim and Best Actress nominations at several award
ceremonies. In 2013, Padukone established herself as a leading actress
of Hindi cinema by playing primary roles in the comedies Yeh Jawaani Hai
Deewani and Chennai Express (both of which rank among the highest-
grossing Bollywood films of all time), and garnered critical acclaim for
her role in the tragic romance Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepika_Padukone>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1757:
Louis XV of France survived an assassination attempt by Robert-
François Damiens, who later became the last person to be executed in
the country by drawing and quartering.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert-Fran%C3%A7ois_Damiens>
1919:
The German Workers' Party, the forerunner to the Nazi Party,
was founded by Anton Drexler.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Workers%27_Party>
1941:
Second World War: Australian and British troops defeated
Italian forces in Bardia, Libya, the first battle of the war in which an
Australian Army formation took part.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bardia>
1991:
Georgian troops attacked Tskhinvali, the capital of South
Ossetia, opening the 1991–92 South Ossetia War.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991%E2%80%9392_South_Ossetia_War>
2005:
Eris (pictured), the largest known dwarf planet in the Solar
System, was discovered by a team led by Michael E. Brown using images
originally taken on October 21, 2003, at the Palomar Observatory in San
Diego County, California.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eris_(dwarf_planet)>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
Twelfth cake:
A decorative cake distributed among friends or visitors on the festival
of Twelfth Night (which is either the evening of January 5th or of
January 6th, depending on interpretation).
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Twelfth_cake>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
The Devil is not the Prince of Matter; the Devil is the arrogance
of the spirit, faith without smile, truth that is never seized by doubt.
The Devil is grim because he knows where he is going, and, in moving, he
always returns whence he came.
--Umberto Eco
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Umberto_Eco>
"Weight Gain 4000" is the second episode of the American animated
television series South Park. In the episode, South Park residents
excitedly prepare for a visit by celebrity Kathie Lee Gifford, whom
teacher Mr. Garrison plans to assassinate because of a childhood grudge,
and Cartman becomes extremely obese after buying a bodybuilding
supplement called Weight Gain 4000. The episode was written and directed
by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (pictured). After the pilot episode drew
poor test audience results, Comedy Central requested a further script,
and "Weight Gain 4000" helped the network decide to pick up the show. It
was the first South Park episode created completely using computers
rather than construction paper. Although some reviewers criticized the
episode for its profanity and other material deemed offensive, others
felt "Weight Gain 4000" was a significant improvement over the pilot,
particularly for its satirical element regarding American consumerism.
The show's portrayal of Kathie Lee Gifford was the first time a
celebrity was spoofed in South Park. Cartman's line "Beefcake" became
one of the most popular catchphrases from the series.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weight_Gain_4000>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1698:
Most of London's Palace of Whitehall, the main residence of the
English monarchs dating from 1530, was destroyed by fire.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Whitehall>
1884:
The Fabian Society, an intellectual movement whose purpose is
to advance the socialist cause by gradualist and reformist methods
rather than revolutionary means, was founded in London.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabian_Society>
1970:
A magnitude 7.5 Msd earthquake struck Tonghai County, China,
killing at least 15,000 people and spurring the creation of the nation's
largest earthquake monitoring system.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970_Tonghai_earthquake>
1974:
Harry Schwarz and Mangosuthu Buthelezi signed the Mahlabatini
Declaration of Faith, the first declaration by black and white South
African leaders to commit to non-violence and a non-discriminatory
society.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahlabatini_Declaration_of_Faith>
2004:
Spirit (artist's impression pictured), the first of two rovers
of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission, landed successfully on Mars at
04:35 Ground UTC.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_(rover)>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
swage:
A tool, used by blacksmiths and other metalworkers, for cold shaping of
a metal item.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/swage>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
 Christ is called the righteous & by his righteousness we are
saved & except our righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes
and Pharisees we shall not enter into the kingdome of heaven.
Righteousness is the religion of the kingdom of heaven & even the
property of God himself towards man. Righteousness & Love are
inseparable for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
--Isaac Newton
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton>
The false potto is a lorisoid primate of uncertain taxonomic status
found in Africa. Anthropologist Jeffrey H. Schwartz named it in 1996 as
the only species of the genus Pseudopotto on the basis of two skeletal
specimens of uncertain provenance that had previously been identified as
pottos. Schwartz thought the false potto could represent a separate
family, but other researchers have argued that the supposed
distinguishing features of the animal do not actually distinguish it
from the potto; specifically, the false potto shares several features
with West African pottos. The false potto generally resembles a small
potto, but according to Schwartz it differs in having a longer tail,
shorter spines on its neck and chest vertebrae, a smaller, less complex
spine on the second neck vertebra, an entepicondylar foramen (an opening
in the humerus, or upper arm bone), a lacrimal fossa (a depression in
the skull) that is located inside the eye socket, a smaller upper third
premolar and molar, and higher-crowned cheekteeth. However, many of
these traits are variable among pottos; for example, one researcher
found entepicondylar foramina in almost half of the specimens in his
sample of pottos.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_potto>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1888:
The 36 in (91 cm) refracting telescope at the Lick
Observatory near San Jose, California, at the time the largest in the
world, was used for the first time.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lick_Observatory>
1911:
A 7.7 Mw earthquake destroyed the city of Almaty in Russian
Turkestan.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1911_Kebin_earthquake>
1949:
The first Central Bank of the Philippines was formally
inaugurated with Miguel Cuaderno, Sr. as the first governor.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangko_Sentral_ng_Pilipinas>
1973:
American businessman George Steinbrenner and a group of
investors bought the New York Yankees professional baseball team for
US$8.7 million.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Yankees>
2002:
Israeli forces seized the MV Karine A, which was carrying 50
tons of weapons being smuggled in on behalf of the Palestinian
Authority.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karine_A_Affair>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
cacophonous:
Containing, consisting of, or producing harsh, unpleasant or discordant
sounds.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cacophonous>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to
do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set,
uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live
after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not
ours to rule.
--The Return of the King
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Return_of_the_King>
Gagak Item (Indonesian for Black Raven) is a 1939 film from the Dutch
East Indies (now Indonesia) written by Saeroen and directed by Joshua
and Othniel Wong for Tan's Film. Starring long-time screen couple Rd
Mochtar and Roekiah (pictured), with another role held by Eddy T.
Effendi, the black-and-white film followed a masked bandit known only as
"Gagak Item". The film was shot in rural Bogor (then known by the Dutch
name Buitenzorg). It featured the cast and crew from the 1937 hit Terang
Boelan, who were hired by Tan's so that the company could better imitate
the earlier film's success. Gagak Item was part of the recovery of a
domestic film industry which had been severely affected by the Great
Depression; in 1939 four domestic productions were released in the
Indies. Recorded as a commercial success and receiving positive reviews
for its kroncong music and the leading actress' "demure" performance,
the film was last shown sometime after 1951, and is now thought to be
likely lost.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gagak_Item>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1777:
American Revolutionary War: American forces under the command
of George Washington repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the
Assunpink Creek near Trenton, New Jersey.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Assunpink_Creek>
1941:
Second World War: Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, Wales, was
severely damaged by German bombing during the Cardiff Blitz.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llandaff_Cathedral>
1963:
Vietnam War: The Viet Cong won its first major victory in the
Battle of Ap Bac.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ap_Bac>
1967:
Former actor Ronald Reagan began his career in government when
he was sworn in as the 33rd Governor of California.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan>
1976:
The Gale of January 1976 began, which resulted in coastal
flooding around the southern North Sea coasts, leading to at least 82
deaths and US$1.3 billion in damage.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gale_of_January_1976>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
Silent Sam:
(informal) A person who seldom or never speaks; a taciturn or
unresponsive individual.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Silent_Sam>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
 There are no happy endings in history, only crisis points
that pass.
--Isaac Asimov
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov>
Phoenix is a constellation in the southern sky that stretches from
roughly −39° to −57° declination, and from 23.5h to 2.5h of right
ascension. Named after the mythical phoenix, it was first depicted on a
celestial atlas by Johann Bayer in his 1603 Uranometria. The French
explorer and astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille charted the brighter
stars and gave their Bayer designations in 1756. The brightest star,
Alpha Phoenicis, or Ankaa, is an orange giant of apparent magnitude 2.4.
Nu Phoenicis has a dust disk, while the constellation boasts ten star
systems with known planets, and HE0107-5240, possibly one of the oldest
stars yet discovered. It has around 1/200,000 the metallicity that the
Sun has and hence must have formed very early in the history of the
universe. The recently discovered galaxy clusters El Gordo and the
Phoenix Cluster—located 7.2 and 5.7 billion light years away
respectively, are two of the largest objects in the visible universe.
Phoenix is the radiant of two annual meteor showers: the Phoenicids in
December, and the July Phoenicids.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_(constellation)>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1773:
The hymn "Amazing Grace" was probably first used in a prayer
meeting in Olney, England, without the music familiar to modern
listeners.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace>
1800:
Quasi-War: An American convoy of four merchant vessels escorted
by a schooner was attacked by a squadron of armed barges manned by
Haitians.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_of_1_January_1800>
1945:
Second World War: The German Luftwaffe executed Operation
Bodenplatte in an attempt to cripple Allied air forces in the Low
Countries.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bodenplatte>
1959:
Cuban President Fulgencio Batista fled to the Dominican
Republic as forces under Fidel Castro took control of Havana, marking
the end of the Cuban Revolution.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Revolution>
1983:
The ARPANET changed its core networking protocols from NCP to
TCP/IP, marking the beginning of the Internet as we know it today.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Internet>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
inception:
The creation or beginning of something; the establishment.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/inception>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
A legend is sung of when England was young, And Knights were
brave and bold. The good King had died, and no one could decide Who was
rightful heir to the Throne. It seemed that the land would be torn by
war, Or saved by a miracle alone — And that miracle appeared in London
town: The Sword in the Stone.
--The Sword in the Stone
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Sword_in_the_Stone>