The definition of Macedonia is a major source of confusion due to the
overlapping use of the term to describe geographical, political and
historical areas, languages and peoples. Ethnic groups inhabiting the
area use different terminology for the same entity, or the same
terminology for different entities. Geographically, no single
definition of its borders or the names of its subdivisions is accepted
by all scholars and ethnic groups. Demographically, it is mainly
inhabited by four ethnic groups, three of which self-identify as
Macedonians: One Slavic group does so at a national level, while
another, Bulgarians, as well as a Greek one do so at a regional level.
Linguistically, the names and origins of the languages and dialects
spoken in the region are a source of controversy. Politically, the use
of the name Macedonia has led to a diplomatic dispute between Greece
and the Republic of Macedonia. Despite intervention from the United
Nations, the dispute is still pending full resolution.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia_%28terminology%29
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1732:
The Royal Opera House opened at Covent Garden in London.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Opera_House)
1815:
Michel Ney, Marshal of France, was executed by a firing squad near
Paris' Jardin du Luxembourg for supporting Napoleon Bonaparte.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Ney)
1941:
World War II: The Imperial Japanese Navy made its attack on Pearl
Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor)
1949:
Chinese Civil War: The government of the Republic of China relocated
from Mainland China to Taipei on the island of Taiwan.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei)
1995:
The Galileo spacecraft arrived at Jupiter, a little more than six
years after it was launched by Space Shuttle Atlantis during Mission
STS-34.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_spacecraft)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
May memory restore again and again The smallest color of the smallest
day: Time is the school in which we learn, Time is the fire in which
we burn. -- Delmore Schwartz
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Delmore_Schwartz)
"Weird Al" Yankovic is an American musician, satirist, parodist,
accordionist, and television producer. Yankovic is known in particular
for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that
parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts. Since receiving
his first accordion lesson a day before his seventh birthday, he has
recorded more than 150 parody and original songs and sold more comedy
albums than any other artist. His works have earned him three Grammy
Awards amongst nine nominations, three gold and five platinum records
in the United States. Yankovic's first Top 10 Billboard album and
single were both released in 2006, nearly three decades into his
career. In addition to recording his albums, Yankovic has written and
starred in his own movie and television show, directed music videos
for himself and other artists including Ben Folds and Hanson, and had
guest appearances in television shows such as The Simpsons and Behind
the Music.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Weird_Al%22_Yankovic
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1639:
English astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks made the first observation of a
transit of Venus.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_of_Venus)
1676:
Scanian War: In an area north of Lund, Sweden, forces led by Swedish
Field Marshal Simon Grundel-Helmfelt defeated the invading Danish army
under the command of King Christian V of Denmark.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lund)
1791:
The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, was first published.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Observer)
1829:
The practice of sati was formally abolished in British India after
years of campaigning by Ram Mohan Roy against this Hindu funeral
custom of widows immolating themselves.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sati_(practice))
1977:
The President of the Central African Republic had himself crowned as
Emperor Bokassa I.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokassa_I_of_Central_Africa)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness than
disbelief in great men. -- Thomas Carlyle
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_Carlyle)
The history of erotic depictions includes representations of sexual
acts that have been created by nearly every civilisation, ancient and
modern. Early cultures often associated the sexual act with
supernatural forces and thus their religion is intertwined with their
depictions. In Asian countries such as India, Japan and China,
representations of sex and erotic art have specific meanings within
the native religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto and Taoism. The
Greeks and Romans produced much art and decoration of an erotic nature
also stemming from their religious and cultural beliefs which was
especially influential on the west. In more recent times, erotic
depictions have gone from being a luxury item to a propaganda tool and
then an every day commodity and livelihood for some. As the technology
of communication has changed, each new technique, such as printing,
photography, motion pictures and computers, has been adapted to
display and disseminate these depictions.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_erotic_depictions
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1853:
Russian battleships led by Pavel Nakhimov destroyed an Ottoman fleet
at the Battle of Sinop, precipitating the Crimean War.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_War)
1936:
The Crystal Palace, built for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London,
England, was destroyed by fire.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crystal_Palace)
1939:
The Winter War broke out as the Soviet Red Army invaded Finland and
quickly advanced to the Mannerheim Line.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_War)
1962:
Burmese diplomat U Thant became the Secretary-General of the United
Nations, after serving as Acting Secretary-General following the death
of Dag Hammarskjöld in September of that year.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_Thant)
2005:
John Sentamu was enthroned as Archbishop of York, becoming the first
member of an ethnic minority to serve as an archbishop in the Church
of England.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sentamu)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations is an admirable work, and I studied it
intently. The quotations when engraved upon the memory give you good
thoughts. They also make you anxious to read the authors and look for
more. -- Winston Churchill
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill)
Duke University is a private coeducational research university located
in Durham, North Carolina, US. The school, which officially became
Duke University in 1924, traces its institutional roots to 1838. Duke
is ranked among the world's best universities. In its 2007 edition of
"America's Best Colleges," U.S. News & World Report ranked the
undergraduate division eighth in the nation, while ranking the
medical, law, and business schools among the top eleven in the
country. Besides academics, research, and athletics, Duke is also well
known for its sizeable campus and Gothic architecture, especially Duke
Chapel. Duke's 8,709 acres (35 km²) contain three main campuses in
Durham as well as a marine lab in Beaufort, North Carolina.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_University
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1778:
The expedition led by James Cook reached Maui, the second largest of
the Hawaiian Islands.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maui)
1842:
The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, United States was
founded by members of the Roman Catholic Congregation of Holy Cross.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Notre_Dame)
1922:
Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon became the first people to enter the
tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in over 3000 years.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutankhamun)
1942:
World War II: Josip Tito and the Yugoslav Partisans convened the first
meeting of the Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation of
Yugoslavia at Bihać in northwestern Bosnia.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVNOJ)
1950:
Battle of Chosin Reservoir: Chinese forces in North Korea launched a
massive counterattack against South Korean and United States armed
forces, ending any thought of a quick end to the Korean War.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chosin_Reservoir)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
"Sometimes I lie awake at night and I ask, Why me?" And the voice
says, "Nothing personal your name just happened to come up." --
Charles M. Schulz
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_M._Schulz)
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive sport where pilots
fly un-powered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes. Properly, the
term gliding refers to descending flight of a heavier-than-air craft,
whereas soaring is the correct term to use when the craft gains
altitude or speed from rising air. After launching glider pilots
search for rising air to gain height. If conditions are good enough,
experienced pilots can fly many hundreds, or even thousands, of
kilometers before returning to their home airfields. However if the
weather deteriorates, they must often land elsewhere, but some can
avoid this by using engines. While many glider pilots merely enjoy the
sense of achievement, some competitive pilots fly in races around
pre-defined courses. These competitions test the pilots' abilities to
make best use of local weather conditions as well as their flying
skills. Local and national competitions are organized in many
countries and there are also biennial World Gliding Championships.
Powered aircraft or winches are the most common methods of launching
gliders. These and other methods (apart from self-launching
motor-gliders) require assistance from other participants. Gliding
clubs have thus been established to share airfields and equipment,
train new pilots and maintain high safety standards.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliding
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1644:
John Milton published Areopagitica, arguing for the right to free
speech and against publication censorship during the English Civil
War.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areopagitica)
1869:
Cutty Sark, one of the last sailing clippers ever to be built, was
launched at Dumbarton in Scotland.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutty_Sark)
1971:
The People's Republic of China was given China's permanent seat on the
United Nations Security Council.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_and_the_United_Nations)
1985:
Omar Rezaq and two others from the Abu Nidal terrorist group hijacked
EgyptAir Flight 648 over the Mediterranean Sea.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Nidal)
2003:
Rose Revolution: Eduard Shevardnadze resigned as President of Georgia
following weeks of mass protests over disputed election results.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Revolution)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are
conscious of our treasures. -- Thornton Wilder
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thornton_Wilder)
Stephen Colbert's performance at the 2006 White House Correspondents'
Association Dinner mocked the Bush administration and the White House
press corps, and subsequently generated significant controversy.
Stephen Colbert was the featured entertainer for the 2006 White House
Correspondents' Association Dinner, delivering a 20-minute speech and
video presentation which was broadcast live on C-SPAN and MSNBC.
Colbert spoke as the same character as the one he plays on The Colbert
Report: an over-the-top send-up of a conservative pundit in the
fashion of Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity. Colbert satirized the Bush
administration and the White House press corps. Colbert spoke directly
to President Bush several times, satirically praising his foreign
policy, lifestyle, and beliefs, and referencing his low approval
rating and popular reputation. Various reports give an impression that
Bush did not take too kindly to the performance, as several of Bush's
aides and supporters walked out during Colbert's speech, and one
former aide said that the President had "that look that he's ready to
blow." Reaction to the event caused it to become an Internet and media
sensation, and ratings for The Colbert Report soared 37% in the week
following the speech.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Colbert_at_the_2006_White_House_Corres…
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1272:
Prince Edward I became King of England, succeeding his father Henry
III who died five days earlier.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_I_of_England)
1783:
The first successful untethered flight by humans was made in a hot air
balloon constructed by the Montgolfier brothers.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_air_balloon)
1920:
Anglo-Irish War: The Irish Republican Army killed more than a dozen
British intelligence officers known as the Cairo Gang, and
paramilitary forces of the Royal Irish Constabulary opened fire on
players and spectators at a Gaelic football match in Dublin on Bloody
Sunday.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_Gang)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Sunday_(1920))
1977:
God Defend New Zealand became one of the national anthems of New
Zealand.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Defend_New_Zealand)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
Man is free at the instant he wants to be. -- Voltaire
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Voltaire)
A star is a massive, compact body of plasma in outer space that is
held together by its own gravity and is sufficiently massive to
sustain nuclear fusion in a very dense, hot core region. This fusion
of atomic nuclei generates the energy that is continuously radiated
from the outer layers of the star during much of its life span.
Astronomers can determine many of the properties of a star by
observing its spectrum, luminosity and motion through space.
Individual stars differ in their total mass, chemical composition, and
age. The total mass of a star is the principal determinant in its
evolution and eventual fate. Other characteristics of a star that are
determined by its evolutionary history include the diameter, rotation,
movement and temperature. A plot of the star's temperature against
luminosity, known as a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, allows the current
age and evolutionary state of the star to be determined. Binary and
multi-star systems consist of two or more stars that are
gravitationally bound, and generally move around each other in stable
orbits. When two such stars have a relatively close orbit, their
gravitational interaction can have a significant impact on their
evolution.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1493:
Christopher Columbus became the first European to land on Puerto Rico,
an island he named San Juan Bautista.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico)
1816:
The Royal University of Warsaw, later known as Warsaw University, was
established.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_University)
1863:
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address)
1942:
World War II: Soviet forces under General Georgy Zhukov launched the
Operation Uranus envelopment at the Battle of Stalingrad, turning the
tide of the battle in the Soviet Union's favor.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Uranus)
1999:
Shenzhou 1, China's first unmanned test flight of the Shenzhou
spacecraft, was launched.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenzhou_1)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers, and I linger on the shore, And
the individual withers, and the world is more and more. -- Alfred,
Lord Tennyson
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alfred_Tennyson)