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Fridtjof Nansen (1861–1930) was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel laureate. After studies in zoology at the University of Christiania, his research on the central nervous system of lower marine creatures helped to establish modern theories of neurology. As an explorer, in 1888 Nansen led the first successful crossing of the Greenland interior, and later won international fame after reaching a record northern latitude of 86°14' during his North Pole expedition of 1893–96. After 1896 his main scientific interest switched to oceanography and he contributed significantly to the development of modern oceanographic techniques and equipment. In 1905 Nansen was instrumental in persuading Prince Charles of Denmark to accept the throne of the newly independent Norway, and later served as the Norwegian representative in London. In 1922 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work for the League of Nations on behalf of the displaced victims of the First World War and related conflicts. After his death the League established the Nansen International Office for Refugees to ensure that his work continued. His name is commemorated in numerous geographical features, particularly in the polar regions. (more...)

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

732:

Charles Martel and the Franks defeated a large Andalusian Muslim army led by Abd er Rahman at the Battle of Tours near Tours and Poitiers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tours

1780:

One of the deadliest Atlantic hurricanes on record struck the Caribbean Sea, killing at least 22,000 people over the next several days. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Hurricane_of_1780

1868:

Carlos Manuel de Céspedes made the Grito de Yara, declaring Cuban independence from Spain, sparking the Ten Years' War. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Years%27_War

1943:

World War II: The Kempeitai, the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army, arrested and tortured over 50 civilians and civilian internees on suspicion of their involvement in a raid on Singapore Harbour during Operation Jaywick. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Tenth_Incident

1973:

United States Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned after being charged with tax evasion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiro_Agnew

1982:

Maximilian Kolbe, who had volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz in Poland, was canonized by the Catholic Church. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian_Kolbe

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

beefcake (n): 1. (informal) Imagery of one or more muscular, well-built men. 2. (informal) A muscular, well-built, desirable man http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/beefcake

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I am doing my best to glorify the scamp or vagabond. I hope I shall succeed. For things are not so simple as they sometimes seem. In this present age of threats to democracy and individual liberty, probably only the scamp and the spirit of the scamp alone will save us from being lost in serially numbered units in the masses of disciplined, obedient, regimented and uniformed coolies. The scamp will be the last and most formidable enemy of dictatorships. He will be the champion of human dignity and individual freedom, and will be the last to be conquered. All modern civilization depends entirely upon him. --Lin Yutang http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lin_Yutang