Monday, June 14, 2010
Saturday, November 28, 2009
turkey info
The fleshy appendage that hangs over the top of the turkey's beak = the snood.
The appendage that hangs from the turkey's neck = the wattle.
( A philtrum is the indentation between the human nose and upper lip.)
Male turkeys are called toms; females are called hens. Turkey hatchlings are called poults.
Benjamin Franklin favored the turkey over the eagle as the national bird.
The substance in turkey that has been suspected of making diners sleepy after a big Thanksgiving meal is tryptophan.
Thirty percent of the typical commercially grown Thanksgiving turkey is dark meat.
source The Columbus Dispatch November 26, 2009
The appendage that hangs from the turkey's neck = the wattle.
( A philtrum is the indentation between the human nose and upper lip.)
Male turkeys are called toms; females are called hens. Turkey hatchlings are called poults.
Benjamin Franklin favored the turkey over the eagle as the national bird.
The substance in turkey that has been suspected of making diners sleepy after a big Thanksgiving meal is tryptophan.
Thirty percent of the typical commercially grown Thanksgiving turkey is dark meat.
source The Columbus Dispatch November 26, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Shahnameh
The epic story of Iran
source The Columbus Dispatch, section E, November 1, 2009
Acc to Wikipedia poetic opus by Persian poet Ferdowsi @1000 AD
national epic of Persian speaking world
tells mythical and historical past of (Greater) Iran from creation of the world until Islamic conquest of Persia in the 6th century
source The Columbus Dispatch, section E, November 1, 2009
Acc to Wikipedia poetic opus by Persian poet Ferdowsi @1000 AD
national epic of Persian speaking world
tells mythical and historical past of (Greater) Iran from creation of the world until Islamic conquest of Persia in the 6th century
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Chile
In the north is the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth.
At the southern tip of Chile's mainland is Punta Arenas, the southernmost city in the world.
Tierra el Fuego is an island divided between Chile and Argentina.
The southernmost point of South America is Cape Horn, a 1,390-feet rock on Horn Island in the Wollaston group, which belongs to Chile.
Chile also claims sovereignty over 482,628 sq. miles of Antarctic territory; the Juan Fernandez Islands (about 400 miles west of the mainland); and Easter Island (about 2,000 miles west)
source: Infoplease.com
At the southern tip of Chile's mainland is Punta Arenas, the southernmost city in the world.
Tierra el Fuego is an island divided between Chile and Argentina.
The southernmost point of South America is Cape Horn, a 1,390-feet rock on Horn Island in the Wollaston group, which belongs to Chile.
Chile also claims sovereignty over 482,628 sq. miles of Antarctic territory; the Juan Fernandez Islands (about 400 miles west of the mainland); and Easter Island (about 2,000 miles west)
source: Infoplease.com
Sunday, August 16, 2009
highest point
The highest point in Ohio is Campbell Hill in Logan County - 1,549.81 feet
states surrounding Ohio
West Virginia - Spruce Knobb - 4,863 feet
Kentucky - Black Mountain - 4,039 feet
Pennsylvania - Mount Davis - 3,213 feet
Michigan - Mount Arvon - 1,979 feet
Indiana - Hoosier Hill - 1,257 feet
source: The Columbus Dispatch, August 16, 2009
for further info on state high points, visit www.highpointers.org
states surrounding Ohio
West Virginia - Spruce Knobb - 4,863 feet
Kentucky - Black Mountain - 4,039 feet
Pennsylvania - Mount Davis - 3,213 feet
Michigan - Mount Arvon - 1,979 feet
Indiana - Hoosier Hill - 1,257 feet
source: The Columbus Dispatch, August 16, 2009
for further info on state high points, visit www.highpointers.org
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
acronyms
ALS = Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis known as Lou Gehrig's Disease
Progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord
Amyotrophic comes from the Greek language.
"A" means no or negative.
"Myo" refers to muscle.
"Trophic" means nourishment.
No muscle nourishment.
source ALS Association
Progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord
Amyotrophic comes from the Greek language.
"A" means no or negative.
"Myo" refers to muscle.
"Trophic" means nourishment.
No muscle nourishment.
source ALS Association
Monday, June 22, 2009
First women
In June 1963, Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet cosmonaut, became the first woman to fly in space when she orbited Earth 48 times in the spacecraft Vostok 6. A crater on the Moon is named in her honor.
First American woman in space = Sally Ride, 1983
First American woman to earn a medical degree = Elizabeth Blackwell, 1849
First woman to practice law before U.S. Supreme Court = Belva Ann Lockwood, 1879
First woman named U.S. four-star general = Ann Dunwoody, 2008
First woman to run for U.S. president = Vicotria Woodhull, 1872
First African-American woman elected to Congress = Shirley Chisholm
First African-American woman to run for U. S. president = Shirley Chisholm
see: infoplease.com/spot/womensfirsts
First American woman in space = Sally Ride, 1983
First American woman to earn a medical degree = Elizabeth Blackwell, 1849
First woman to practice law before U.S. Supreme Court = Belva Ann Lockwood, 1879
First woman named U.S. four-star general = Ann Dunwoody, 2008
First woman to run for U.S. president = Vicotria Woodhull, 1872
First African-American woman elected to Congress = Shirley Chisholm
First African-American woman to run for U. S. president = Shirley Chisholm
see: infoplease.com/spot/womensfirsts
Juneteenth
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, commemorates the announcement in Texas in 1865 if the abolition of slavery, two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Trivia
What is a doula?
The word doula is derived from ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves." The term refers to a trained and experienced professional who provides physical, emotional and informational support to a mother during and just after childbirth.
http://www.dona.org/
At what age did Beethoven become deaf?
Ludwig van Beethoven notified friends of his growing deafness in a letter dated 1801, making him about 31. His deafness increased until, in 1818, he started his "conversation books." which he used for communication with friends.
http://www.lvbeethoven.com/
Why do so many racetracks have "Downs" in the name?
Downs indicates "the treeless, undulation chalk uplands of the south and southeast of England, serving chiefly for pasturage." The names of tracks are apparently influenced by such terrain.
(Oxford English Dictionary)
Where did the names of the scale originate?
"Do re mi fa sol la ti" correspond to the seven notes of the Western diatonic scale. Despite changes through time, the English syllables are traced to about 1000 - when they were developed by monk Guido d'Arrezzo.
(World Book Encyclopedia)
What does the phrase "a cappella" mean?
The style of singing without instrumental accompaniment comes form Italian, meaning "in chapel style."
(Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary) see November 16, 2008 post
source the Columbus Dispatch June 6, 2009
The word doula is derived from ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves." The term refers to a trained and experienced professional who provides physical, emotional and informational support to a mother during and just after childbirth.
http://www.dona.org/
At what age did Beethoven become deaf?
Ludwig van Beethoven notified friends of his growing deafness in a letter dated 1801, making him about 31. His deafness increased until, in 1818, he started his "conversation books." which he used for communication with friends.
http://www.lvbeethoven.com/
Why do so many racetracks have "Downs" in the name?
Downs indicates "the treeless, undulation chalk uplands of the south and southeast of England, serving chiefly for pasturage." The names of tracks are apparently influenced by such terrain.
(Oxford English Dictionary)
Where did the names of the scale originate?
"Do re mi fa sol la ti" correspond to the seven notes of the Western diatonic scale. Despite changes through time, the English syllables are traced to about 1000 - when they were developed by monk Guido d'Arrezzo.
(World Book Encyclopedia)
What does the phrase "a cappella" mean?
The style of singing without instrumental accompaniment comes form Italian, meaning "in chapel style."
(Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary) see November 16, 2008 post
source the Columbus Dispatch June 6, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Easter Island
Polynesian island in the relative far east of the Pacific Ocean. 2,360 miles from South America
residents are citizens of Chile
Rapa Nui = name of island
Rapanui = people
Isla de Pascua = Spanish name of the island
Moai = carved figures mad between A.D. 1000 and 1600, busts average 13 feet tall known to islanders as the "living faces"
source The Wall Street Journal May 16-17, 2009 & Wikipedia
residents are citizens of Chile
Rapa Nui = name of island
Rapanui = people
Isla de Pascua = Spanish name of the island
Moai = carved figures mad between A.D. 1000 and 1600, busts average 13 feet tall known to islanders as the "living faces"
source The Wall Street Journal May 16-17, 2009 & Wikipedia
Monday, June 1, 2009
Trivia
1. MEDICINE: Which vitamin is essential in blood clotting?
2. U. S. STATES: Which U. S. state has a license plate that proclaims, "Land of Lincoln"?
3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which one of the seven dwarfs in the film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" did not have a beard?
4. LITERATURE: who wrote the novel "Interview With the Vampire'?
5. LANGUAGE: What were known as "liberty steaks"during World War I in America?
6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many arms does a squid have?
7. HISTORY: Who tried to assassinate George Wallace while he was campaigning for president in 1972?
8. GAMES: What is also known as skeet?
9. MOVIES: How many roles did Peter Sellers play in the movie "Dr. Strangelove"?
10. MEASUREMENTS: How may tablespoons are in one-fourth cup?
1. Vitamin K 2. Illinois 3. Dopey 4. Anne Rice 5. Hamburgers 6. 10 7. Arthur Bremer
8. Trapshooting 9. Three 10. Four
source Kinf Features Synd., Inc. 2009 (Fifi Rodriguez)
2. U. S. STATES: Which U. S. state has a license plate that proclaims, "Land of Lincoln"?
3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which one of the seven dwarfs in the film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" did not have a beard?
4. LITERATURE: who wrote the novel "Interview With the Vampire'?
5. LANGUAGE: What were known as "liberty steaks"during World War I in America?
6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many arms does a squid have?
7. HISTORY: Who tried to assassinate George Wallace while he was campaigning for president in 1972?
8. GAMES: What is also known as skeet?
9. MOVIES: How many roles did Peter Sellers play in the movie "Dr. Strangelove"?
10. MEASUREMENTS: How may tablespoons are in one-fourth cup?
1. Vitamin K 2. Illinois 3. Dopey 4. Anne Rice 5. Hamburgers 6. 10 7. Arthur Bremer
8. Trapshooting 9. Three 10. Four
source Kinf Features Synd., Inc. 2009 (Fifi Rodriguez)
Benjamin Netanyahu
Current Israeli prime minister (since March 2009). He also held the position 1996-99 and is the first (and to date only) Israeli prime minister born after the State of Israel's foundation. Netanyahu is chairman of the Likud party. Known as Bibi.
source Time magazine May 18, 2009
source Time magazine May 18, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
NASA
agency's first black administrator retired astronaut Gen. Charles Bolden
the second astronaut to run NASA in its 50-year history (first was Adm. Richard Truly)
appointed May 23, 2009
source The Columbus Dispatch May 24, 2009
the second astronaut to run NASA in its 50-year history (first was Adm. Richard Truly)
appointed May 23, 2009
source The Columbus Dispatch May 24, 2009
APGAR
A score given to a newborn a minute after birth to assess how well an infant makes the transition from womb to room. Babies are assigned a score of 0, 1, or 2 to each of the five categories.
Appearance
Pulse
Grimace
Activity
Respiration
Named for Virginia Apgar ( b. 1909 d. 1974) who developed the test in 1949. Dr. Apgar never made any money from the test. She helped to build anesthesiology into a medical specialty. Dr Apgar became a senior medical official at the March of Dimes in 1959. She wrote a book on birth defects with Joan Beck - Is My Baby All Right?
source - The Wall Street Journal May 26, 2009
Appearance
Pulse
Grimace
Activity
Respiration
Named for Virginia Apgar ( b. 1909 d. 1974) who developed the test in 1949. Dr. Apgar never made any money from the test. She helped to build anesthesiology into a medical specialty. Dr Apgar became a senior medical official at the March of Dimes in 1959. She wrote a book on birth defects with Joan Beck - Is My Baby All Right?
source - The Wall Street Journal May 26, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
The World's 10 Worst Dictators (Parade magazine)
1. Robert Mugabe - Zimbabwe
Age: 85 In power since 1980
Last year's rank: 6
2. Omar al-Bashir - Sudan
Age: 65. In power since 1989
Last year's rank: 2
3. Kim Jong-Il - North Korea
Age: 67 In power since 1994
Last year's rank: 1
4. Than Shwe - Burma (Myanmar)
Age: 76. In power since 1992
Last year's rank: 3
5. King Abdullah - Saudi Arabia
Age: 85 In power since 1995
Last year's rank: 4
6. Hu Jintao - China
Age: 66 In power since 2002
Last year's rank: 5
7. Sayyid Ali Khamenei - Iran
Age: 69 In power since 1989
Last year's rank: 7
8. Isayas Afewerki - Eritrea
Age 63 In power since 1991
Last year's rank: 10
9. Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov - Turkmenistan
Age: 51 In power since 2006
Last year's rank: Unranked
10. Muammar al-Qaddafi - Libya
Age: 66 In power since 1969
Last year's rank 11
source: Parade magazine March 22, 2009
(Parade.com/dictators)
Age: 85 In power since 1980
Last year's rank: 6
2. Omar al-Bashir - Sudan
Age: 65. In power since 1989
Last year's rank: 2
3. Kim Jong-Il - North Korea
Age: 67 In power since 1994
Last year's rank: 1
4. Than Shwe - Burma (Myanmar)
Age: 76. In power since 1992
Last year's rank: 3
5. King Abdullah - Saudi Arabia
Age: 85 In power since 1995
Last year's rank: 4
6. Hu Jintao - China
Age: 66 In power since 2002
Last year's rank: 5
7. Sayyid Ali Khamenei - Iran
Age: 69 In power since 1989
Last year's rank: 7
8. Isayas Afewerki - Eritrea
Age 63 In power since 1991
Last year's rank: 10
9. Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov - Turkmenistan
Age: 51 In power since 2006
Last year's rank: Unranked
10. Muammar al-Qaddafi - Libya
Age: 66 In power since 1969
Last year's rank 11
source: Parade magazine March 22, 2009
(Parade.com/dictators)
The American Academy of Arts and Letters
The academy was founded more than a century ago, with a mission "to foster and sustain an interest in literature, music and the fine arts." New members are elected after previous members die. There are 250 members.
Current members include Edward Albee, Philip Glass and Toni Morrison.
Past members included Henry Adams, Mark Rothko and Mark Twain.
May 2009 new members are: fiction writers T. Coraghessan Boyle (Drop City, World's End and Richard Price (Clockers, Lush Life); poets Jorie Graham and Yusef Komunyakaa; composers Stephen Hartke, Frederic Rzewski and Augusta Read Thomas; visual artist Judy Pfaff; and architect Tod Williams.
source: The Columbus Dispatch, April 2009
Current members include Edward Albee, Philip Glass and Toni Morrison.
Past members included Henry Adams, Mark Rothko and Mark Twain.
May 2009 new members are: fiction writers T. Coraghessan Boyle (Drop City, World's End and Richard Price (Clockers, Lush Life); poets Jorie Graham and Yusef Komunyakaa; composers Stephen Hartke, Frederic Rzewski and Augusta Read Thomas; visual artist Judy Pfaff; and architect Tod Williams.
source: The Columbus Dispatch, April 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Pi
Pi - which, as the ratio indicating the circumference of a circle divided by its diameter, is rounded to 3.14 - was calculated to 206,158,430,000 digits in 1999 by a supercomputer at the University of Tokyo.
(www.math.com)
(www.math.com)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)