Noël Coward (1899–1973) was an English playwright, composer, director,
actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time
magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and
chic, pose and poise". Coward achieved enduring success as a
playwright, publishing more than 50 plays from his teens onwards. Many
of his works, such as Hay Fever, Private Lives, Design for Living,
Present Laughter and Blithe Spirit, have remained in the regular
theatre repertoire. He composed hundreds of songs, in addition to well
over a dozen musical theatre works (including the operetta Bitter Sweet
and comic revues), poetry, several volumes of short stories, the novel
Pomp and Circumstance, and a three-volume autobiography. Coward's stage
and film acting and directing career spanned six decades, during which
he starred in many of his own works. Coward won an Academy Honorary
Award in 1943 for his naval film drama, In Which We Serve, and was
knighted in 1969. In the 1950s he achieved fresh success as a cabaret
performer, performing his own songs, such as "Mad Dogs and Englishmen",
"London Pride" and "Don't Let's Be Beastly to the Germans". His plays
and songs achieved new popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, and his work
and style continue to influence popular culture.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No%C3%ABl_Coward>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1639:
The British East India Company bought a small strip of land on what is
today Chennai, the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, from
the King of the Vijayanagara Empire, Peda Venkata Raya.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai>
1791:
A slave rebellion erupted in the French colony of Saint-Domingue,
starting the Haitian Revolution.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Revolution>
1864:
The Red Cross movement led by Henry Dunant officially began when
twelve European nations signed the First Geneva Convention,
establishing the International Committee of the Red Cross.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Committee_of_the_Red_Cross>
1910:
Korea was annexed by Japan with the signing of the Japan–Korea
Annexation Treaty, beginning a period of Japanese rule of Korea that
lasted until the end of World War II.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan-Korea_Annexation_Treaty>
1922:
Irish Civil War: Irish National Army commander-in-chief Michael Collins
was assassinated in an ambush while en route through County Cork at the
village of Béal na mBláth.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Collins_%28Irish_leader%29>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
cordial (adj):
1. Hearty; sincere.
2. Radiating warmth and friendliness; genial
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cordial>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if
you must be without one, be without the strategy.
--Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr.
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Norman_Schwarzkopf%2C_Jr.>
Zinc is a metallic chemical element with atomic number 30. It is a
first-row transition metal in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is
chemically similar to magnesium because its ion is of similar size and
its only common oxidation state is +2. Zinc is the 24th most abundant
element in the Earth's crust and has five stable isotopes. The most
exploited zinc ore is sphalerite, a zinc sulfide; the largest
exploitable deposits are found in Australia, Canada and the United
States. Brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc, has been used
since at least the 10th century BC. German chemist Andreas Sigismund
Marggraf is normally given credit for discovering pure metallic zinc in
a 1746 experiment. Work by Luigi Galvani and Alessandro Volta uncovered
the electrochemical properties of zinc by 1800. Corrosion-resistant
zinc plating of steel is the major application for zinc. Other
applications are in batteries and alloys, such as brass. Zinc is an
essential mineral of "exceptional biologic and public health
importance". Zinc deficiency affects about 2 billion people in the
developing world and is associated with many diseases.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1772:
A bloodless coup d'état led by Gustav III was completed with the
adoption of a new Swedish Constitution.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_III_of_Sweden>
1831:
Nat Turner led a slave revolt in Southampton County, Virginia, USA, but
it was suppressed about 48 hours later.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_Turner%27s_slave_rebellion>
1959:
Under the terms of the Hawaii Admission Act and a subsequent
plebiscite, the Territory of Hawaii was officially admitted as the 50th
U.S. state.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii_Admission_Act>
1963:
The Army of the Republic of Vietnam Special Forces loyal to Ngo Dinh
Nhu, brother of President Ngo Dinh Diem, raided and vandalised Buddhist
pagodas across the country, arresting thousands and leaving an
estimated hundreds dead.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xa_Loi_Pagoda_raids>
1968:
The "Prague Spring", a period of political liberalization in
Czechoslovakia, abruptly ended after
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_Spring>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
crux (n):
1. The basic, central, or essential point or feature.
2. The critical or transitional moment or issue, a turning point
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/crux>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
A means can be justified only by its end. But the end in its turn needs
to be justified.
--Leon Trotsky
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Leon_Trotsky>
Gangtok is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim.
Gangtok is located in the Shivalik Hills of the eastern Himalayan
range, at an altitude of 1,437 metres (4,715 ft). The town, with a
population of thirty thousand belonging to different ethnicities such
as Nepalis, Lepchas and Bhutia, is administered by various departments
of the Government of Sikkim. Nestled within higher peaks of the
Himalaya and enjoying a year-round mild temperate climate, Gangtok is
at the centre of Sikkim’s tourism industry. Gangtok rose to prominence
as a popular Buddhist pilgrimage site after the construction of the
Enchey Monastery in 1840. In 1894, the ruling Sikkimese Chogyal, Thutob
Namgyal, transferred the capital to Gangtok. In the early 20th century,
Gangtok became a major stopover on the trade route between Lhasa in
Tibet and cities such as Kolkata (then Calcutta) in British India.
After the British granted India its independence in 1947, Sikkim chose
to remain an independent monarchy, with Gangtok as its capital. In
1975, after the integration with the union of India, Gangtok was made
India's twenty-second state capital. Today, Gangtok is a centre of
Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning, with the presence of several
monasteries, religious educational institutions, and centres for
Tibetology.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangtok>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
917:
Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Bulgarians led by Tsar Simeon I drove the
Byzantines out of Thrace with a decisive victory in the Battle of
Anchialus.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Acheloos>
1794:
American troops defeated the Western Confederacy, a Native American
alliance, at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the decisive battle of the
Northwest Indian War.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fallen_Timbers>
1804:
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, exploring the Louisiana Purchase,
suffered its only death when Sergeant Charles Floyd died, apparently
from acute appendicitis.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_and_Clark_Expedition>
1991:
Singing Revolution: Estonia regained its independence from the Soviet
Union.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonia>
1998:
The Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan was destroyed by a bombing
attack launched by the United States in retaliation for the August 7
U.S. embassy bombings.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shifa_pharmaceutical_factory>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
hassle (v):
1. To trouble, to bother, to annoy.
2. To pick a fight or start an argument
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hassle>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
There probably is no more important quest in all science than the
attempt to understand those very particular events in evolution by
which brains worked out that special trick that has enabled them to add
to the cosmic scheme of things: color, sound, pain, pleasure, and all
the other facets of mental experience.
--Roger Wolcott Sperry
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Roger_Wolcott_Sperry>
Harry Murray (1880–1966) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria
Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy"
that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed
forces. Decorated several times throughout his service in the First
World War, Murray rose from the rank of private to lieutenant colonel
in three-and-a-half years. He is often described as the highest
decorated infantry soldier of the British Empire during the First World
War. Born in Tasmania, Murray worked as a farmer, courier and timber
cutter before enlisting in September 1914. He served during the
Gallipoli Campaign, where he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct
Medal. He was later transferred along with the rest of his battalion to
France for service on the Western Front, where he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order during the Battle of the Somme. In February
1917, Murray commanded a company during the battalion's attack on the
German position of Stormy Trench. During the engagement, the company
was able to capture the position and repulse three fierce
counter-attacks, with Murray often leading bayonet and bombing charges
himself. For his actions during the battle, Murray was awarded the
Victoria Cross. Returning to Australia in 1920, Murray eventually
settled in Queensland. Re-enlisting for service in the Second World
War, he was appointed as commanding officer of the 26th (Militia)
Battalion. Taking his discharge in 1944, Murray returned to his farm
and died in 1966 at the age of 85.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Murray>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1666:
Second Anglo–Dutch War: English Rear-Admiral Robert Holmes led a raid
on Terschelling and on the Vlie estuary in the Netherlands, destroying
130 merchant ships within two days.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes%27s_Bonfire>
1812:
War of 1812: American Navy frigate USS Constitution (pictured in 1997)
defeated British Royal Navy frigate HMS Guerrière off the coast of Nova
Scotia, Canada, earning her nickname "Old Ironsides".
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constitution_vs_HMS_Guerriere>
1953:
The government of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq was
overthrown in a coup d'état and was replaced by Fazlollah Zahedi.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat>
1960:
Russian space dogs Belka and Strelka began to orbit the Earth aboard
the Korabl-Sputnik-2 spacecraft.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_space_dogs>
1980:
Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 163 burned after making an emergency
landing at Riyadh International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
killing all 301 people on board.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudia_Flight_163>
2003:
A car bomb destroyed the United Nations headquarters at Baghdad's Canal
Hotel, killing Brazilian diplomat Sérgio Vieira de Mello and 21 others.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Hotel_bombing>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
landlubber (n):
1. A person who lives and works on the land.
2. (nautical) Someone unfamiliar with the sea or seamanship,
especially a novice seaman
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/landlubber>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
Must I at length the Sword of Justice draw?
Oh curst Effects of necessary Law!
How ill my Fear they by my Mercy
scan,
Beware the Fury of a Patient Man.
--John Dryden
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Dryden>
The Emperor Penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin
species and is endemic to Antarctica. The male and female are similar
in plumage and size, reaching 122 cm (48 in) in height and weighing
anywhere from 22 to 37 kg (48 to 82 lb). Like all penguins, it is
flightless, with a streamlined body and wings stiffened and flattened
into flippers for a marine lifestyle. Fish form the bulk of its diet,
which can include crustaceans, such as krill, and cephalopods, such as
squid. In hunting, the species can remain submerged up to 18 minutes,
diving to a depth of 535 m (1,755 ft). It has several adaptations to
facilitate this, including an unusually structured haemoglobin to allow
it to function at low oxygen levels, solid bones to reduce barotrauma,
and the ability to reduce its metabolism and shut down non-essential
organ functions. The Emperor Penguin is perhaps best known for the
sequence of journeys adults make each year in order to mate and to feed
their offspring. The only penguin species that breeds during the
Antarctic winter, it treks 50–120 km (31–75 mi) over the ice to
breeding colonies which may include thousands of individuals. The
lifespan is typically 20 years in the wild, although observations
suggest that some individuals may live to 50 years of age.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Penguin>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1572:
French Wars of Religion: Marguerite de Valois was married to Huguenot
King Henry of Navarre, in a supposed attempt to reconcile Protestants
and Catholics.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marguerite_de_Valois>
1868:
Astronomer Pierre Janssen discovered helium while analyzing the
chromosphere of the sun during a total solar eclipse in Guntur, India.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/helium>
1891:
A hurricane struck the island of Martinique, killing about 700 people.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1891_Martinique_hurricane>
1920:
The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was
ratified, guaranteeing women's suffrage.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Cons…>
1976:
North Korean soldiers killed two American soldiers in the Joint
Security Area of the Korean Demilitarized Zone, heightening tensions
over a 100-foot (30 m) poplar tree that blocked the line of sight
between a United Nations Command checkpoint and an observation post.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Murder_Incident>
1989:
Leading Colombian presidential hopeful Luis Carlos Galán was
assassinated during a public demonstration in the town of Soacha,
Cundinamarca.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Carlos_Gal%C3%A1n>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
dramaturgic (adj):
Of or relating to the art of dramatic composition for the stage
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dramaturgic>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
Oh, my Lolita, I have only words to play with!
--Vladimir Nabokov
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Vladimir_Nabokov>
Matthew Boulton (1728–1809) was an English manufacturer and the partner
of engineer James Watt. In the final quarter of the 18th century, the
partnership installed hundreds of Boulton & Watt steam engines, which
were a great advance on the state of the art, making possible the
mechanisation of factories and mills. He became associated with James
Watt when Watt's business partner, John Roebuck, was unable to pay a
debt to Boulton, who accepted Roebuck's share of Watt's patent as
settlement. He then successfully lobbied Parliament to extend Watt's
patent for an additional seventeen years, enabling the firm to market
Watt's steam engine. Boulton applied modern techniques to the minting
of coins, striking millions of pieces for Britain and other countries,
and supplying the Royal Mint with up-to-date equipment. Boulton was a
key member of the Lunar Society, a group of Birmingham-area men
prominent in the arts, sciences, and theology. Members included
Boulton, Watt, Erasmus Darwin, Josiah Wedgwood, and Joseph Priestley.
Members of the Society have been given credit for developing concepts
and techniques in science, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and
transportation that laid the groundwork for the Industrial Revolution
and for later discoveries, including the theory of evolution.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Boulton>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
986:
Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars: The Bulgarians defeated the Byzantine forces
at the Gate of Trajan near present-day Ihtiman, with Byzantine Emperor
Basil II barely escaping.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Gates_of_Trajan>
1862:
A council of Dakota decided to attack settlements throughout the
Minnesota River valley in an effort to drive whites out of the area,
sparking the Dakota War of 1862.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakota_War_of_1862>
1914:
World War I: Ignoring orders to retreat, Hermann von François led a
successful counterattack defending East Prussia at the Battle of
Stallupönen and scored the first German victory in the Eastern Front.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stallup%C3%B6nen>
1959:
Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, one of the best selling and most acclaimed
jazz recordings of all time, was released.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kind_of_Blue>
1999:
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck northwestern Turkey, killing over
17,000 people and leaving approximately half a million people homeless.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_%C4%B0zmit_earthquake>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
quid pro quo (n):
1. (law) This for that; giving something to receive something else.
2. An equal exchange.
3. Something equivalent
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/quid_pro_quo>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
Everything of value about me is in my books. Whatever extra there is in
me at any given moment isn't fully formed. I am hardly aware of it; it
awaits the next book. It will — with luck — come to me during the
actual writing, and it will take me by surprise. That element of
surprise is what I look for when I am writing.
--V. S. Naipaul
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/V._S._Naipaul>
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver is a third-person action-adventure video
game developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Eidos. It was
released for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows in 1999 and for the
Sega Dreamcast in 2000. As the second game in the Legacy of Kain
series, Soul Reaver is the sequel to Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. Soul
Reaver was followed by three games, one of which, Legacy of Kain: Soul
Reaver 2, is a direct sequel. Taking place 1500 years after the events
of Blood Omen, Soul Reaver chronicles the journey of the
vampire-turned-wraith Raziel, lieutenant to the vampire lord Kain.
Raziel is killed by Kain, but is revived by The Elder God to become his
"soul reaver" and to exact revenge. Raziel shares this title with
Kain's sword, Soul Reaver, which he acquires during the game. Crystal
Dynamics began development of the game in 1997, but a deteriorating
relationship with Silicon Knights, who had developed Blood Omen,
created legal problems. This and other delays forced material
originally planned for Soul Reaver to be instead released with later
games of the series. Soul Reaver was generally well received by critics
and praised for its intriguing gothic story and high-quality graphics.
However, the game was criticized for simple and repetitive gameplay and
an unsatisfying climax. The game is included on Sony's "Greatest Hits"
list.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_of_Kain%3A_Soul_Reaver>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1777:
American Revolutionary War: The Americans led by General John Stark
routed British and Brunswick troops under Friedrich Baum at the Battle
of Bennington in Walloomsac, New York.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bennington>
1819:
Cavalry charged into a crowd of 60–80,000 gathered at St Peter's
Field, Manchester, England, to demand the reform of parliamentary
representation, killing 15 people and injuring 400–700 others.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterloo_Massacre>
1896:
A group led by Skookum Jim Mason discovered gold near Dawson City,
Yukon, Canada, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klondike_Gold_Rush>
1960:
Joseph Kittinger parachuted from a balloon over New Mexico at
102,800 feet (31,330 m), setting records for high-altitude jump,
free-fall height, and fastest speed by a human without an aircraft.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kittinger>
1977:
Elvis Presley, "The King of Rock and Roll", was found dead on the floor
of his bathroom. Although it was officially ruled as a fatal heart
attack, many people have claimed to have seen Elvis alive since then.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
ample (adj):
1. Large; great in size, extent, capacity, or bulk.
2. Fully sufficient; abundant; copious
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ample>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
It is fortunate to be of high birth, but it is no less so to be of such
character that people do not care to know whether you are or are not.
--Jean de La Bruyère
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jean_de_La_Bruy%C3%A8re>
Maynard James Keenan (born 1964) is an American rock singer,
songwriter, musician, producer, winemaker, and actor. He is best known
as the lead singer of the multi-platinum rock bands Tool and A Perfect
Circle. In 2003, he created Puscifer as a side project, financing and
releasing its first studio album in October 2007. Puscifer made its
concert debut in Las Vegas in February 2009, and Tool began their 2009
summer tour, headlining the Mile High Music Festival and Lollapalooza,
with Keenan integrating dates for signing sessions to promote his wine.
In addition to his music career, he has performed improvisational
stand-up comedy, as inspired by close friend Bill Hicks, and ventured
into acting, making his feature film debut in April 2009 with the
release of Crank: High Voltage. He is the current owner of Merkin
Vineyards and the associated winery, Caduceus Cellars, and has part
ownership of Stronghold Vineyards, all located in Arizona, where he
resides. Among other business ventures, he is a partner in the Los
Angeles restaurant Cobras & Matadors and owns a produce market in
Cornville, Arizona. In July 2009, Keenan opened an organic market in
Arizona featuring a tasting room for his wines as well as a food court.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynard_James_Keenan>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
778:
A Frankish army led by Roland was defeated by the Basques at Roncevaux
Pass in the Pyrenees on the border between France and Spain, a tale
retold in the Old French epic poem The Song of Roland.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Roncevaux_Pass>
1248:
The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral , built to house the relics
of the Three Wise Men, was laid.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne_Cathedral>
1914:
The Panama Canal opened to traffic, providing a shortcut from the
Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean through the Isthmus of Panama.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal>
1945:
The Gyokuon-hōsō was broadcast in Japan, announcing the unconditional
surrender of the Japanese army and naval forces, bringing World War II
to a close.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_of_Japan>
1947:
The British Raj was partitioned into the Union of India and the
Dominion of Pakistan.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Raj>
1998:
A car bomb attack carried out by the Real Irish Republican Army killed
29 people and injured approximately 220 others in Omagh, Northern
Ireland.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omagh_bombing>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
rest on one's laurels (v):
(idiomatic) To rely on a past success instead of trying to improve
oneself further
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rest_on_one%27s_laurels>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
A form of government that is not the result of a long sequence of
shared experiences, efforts, and endeavors can never take root.
--Napoleon I of France
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Napoleon_I_of_France>
Magic Johnson (born 1959) is a retired American professional basketball
player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the
National Basketball Association (NBA). After winning championships in
high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979
NBA Draft by the Lakers. He won a championship and an NBA Finals Most
Valuable Player (MVP) Award in his rookie season, and won four more
championships with the Lakers during the 1980s. Johnson retired in 1991
after announcing that he had HIV, but returned to play in the 1992
All-Star Game, winning the All-Star MVP Award. He retired again for
four years, but returned in 1996 to play 32 games for the Lakers before
retiring for the third and final time. Johnson's career achievements
include three NBA MVP Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, twelve
All-Star games, and ten All-NBA nominations. He led the league in
regular-season assists four times, and is the NBA's all-time leader in
assists per game. Johnson was a member of the "Dream Team", the U.S.
basketball team that won the Olympic gold medal in 1992. He was honored
as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996, and enshrined
in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Johnson>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1385:
Forces under John I defeated the Castilians in the Battle of
Aljubarrota, ending the 1383–1385 Crisis in Portugal.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Aljubarrota>
1842:
American Indian Wars: United States general William Jenkins Worth
declared the Second Seminole War to be over.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Seminole_War>
1888:
A recording of English composer Arthur Sullivan's The Lost Chord (audio
clip right), one of the first recordings of music ever made, was played
during a press conference introducing Thomas Edison's phonograph in
London.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Chord>
1994:
Leftist revolutionary and mercenary Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, known as
Carlos the Jackal, was handed over to French agents by his own
bodyguards.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_the_Jackal>
2005:
Helios Airways Flight 522 crashed into a mountain north of Marathon and
Varnava, Greece, killing all 121 on board.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios_Airways_Flight_522>
2006:
The United Nations brokered a ceasefire in the Lebanon War between
Lebanon and Israel.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Lebanon_War>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
eavesdrop (v):
To hear a conversation one is not intended to hear
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/eavesdrop>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
Life seemed to be an educator's practical joke in which you spent the
first half learning and the second half learning that everything you
learned in the first half was wrong.
--Russell Baker
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Russell_Baker>
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960–1279 AD; it
succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed
by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to
issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to
establish a permanent standing navy. The Song Dynasty is divided into
two distinct periods: the Northern Song and Southern Song. During the
Northern Song, the Song capital was in the northern city of Bianjing
and the dynasty controlled most of inner China. The Southern Song
refers to the period after the Song lost control of northern China to
the Jin Dynasty. During this time, the Song court retreated south of
the Yangtze River and established their capital at Lin'an. The Southern
Song Dynasty considerably bolstered naval strength to defend its waters
and land borders and to conduct maritime missions abroad. To repel the
Jin (and later the Mongols), the Song developed revolutionary new
military technology augmented by the use of gunpowder. In 1234, the Jin
Dynasty was conquered by the Mongols, who took control of northern
China, maintaining uneasy relations with the Southern Song. After two
decades of sporadic warfare, Kublai Khan's armies conquered the Song
Dynasty in 1279. China was once again unified, under the Yuan Dynasty.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_Dynasty>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1521:
After an extended siege, forces led by Spanish Conquistador Hernán
Cortés captured Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc and conquered the Aztec capital of
Tenochtitlan.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenochtitlan>
1704:
The combined forces of England, the Holy Roman Empire, and the United
Provinces defeated France and Bavaria in the Battle of Blenheim , one
of the turning points of the War of the Spanish Succession.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blenheim>
1913:
English inventor Harry Brearley developed stainless steel using an
electric furnace.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Brearley>
1937:
The Battle of Shanghai broke out, eventually becoming one of the
largest and bloodiest battles of the entire Second Sino-Japanese War.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Shanghai>
1968:
Greek politician Alexandros Panagoulis attempted to assassinate Greek
leader Georgios Papadopoulos.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandros_Panagoulis>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
joyride (n):
An instance of driving a motor vehicle in a carefree or reckless
manner, especially a vehicle which has been taken without the
permission of the owner
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/joyride>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
It is our hope, that men in proportion as they grow more enlightened,
will learn to hold their theories and their creeds more loosely, and
will none the less, nay, rather all the more be devoted to the supreme
end of practical righteousness to which all theories and creeds must be
kept subservient.
--Felix Adler
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Felix_Adler>