Banbury story of a cock and a bull , n :
(idiomatic, obsolete, slang, Britain) A roundabout, nonsensical story. To celebrate April Fools' Day, we are featuring a series of terms associated with animals. Enjoy!
Friday, 31 March 2017
Nominative determinism
The Wikipedia article of the day for April 1, 2017 is Nominative determinism.
Nominative determinism is the hypothesis that people are drawn to professions that fit their name. The term was first used in the magazine New Scientist in 1994, after its humorous Feedback column mentioned a book on polar explorations by Daniel Snowman and an article on urology by researchers named Splatt and Weedon. The hypothesis had been suggested by psychologist Carl Jung, citing as an example Sigmund Freud (German for "joy"), who studied pleasure. A few recent empirical studies have indicated that certain professions are disproportionately represented by people with appropriate surnames, though the methods of these studies have been challenged. One explanation for nominative determinism is the theory of implicit egotism, which states that humans have an unconscious preference for things they associate with themselves. An alternative explanation is genetic: an ancestor might have been named Smith or Taylor according to their occupation, and the genes they passed down might correlate to aptitudes for those professions.
Nominative determinism is the hypothesis that people are drawn to professions that fit their name. The term was first used in the magazine New Scientist in 1994, after its humorous Feedback column mentioned a book on polar explorations by Daniel Snowman and an article on urology by researchers named Splatt and Weedon. The hypothesis had been suggested by psychologist Carl Jung, citing as an example Sigmund Freud (German for "joy"), who studied pleasure. A few recent empirical studies have indicated that certain professions are disproportionately represented by people with appropriate surnames, though the methods of these studies have been challenged. One explanation for nominative determinism is the theory of implicit egotism, which states that humans have an unconscious preference for things they associate with themselves. An alternative explanation is genetic: an ancestor might have been named Smith or Taylor according to their occupation, and the genes they passed down might correlate to aptitudes for those professions.
This is what Africa looks like from space
NASA database contains thousands of images, videos and audio clips from Africa and beyond.
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Thursday, 30 March 2017
moly cow: Word of the day for March 31, 2017
moly cow , n :
(chemistry, medicine, informal) A device used to extract from a source of decaying molybdenum-99 the metastable isotope 99mTc of technetium, which is the most commonly used medical radioisotope. To celebrate April Fools' Day, we are featuring a series of terms associated with animals. Enjoy!
(chemistry, medicine, informal) A device used to extract from a source of decaying molybdenum-99 the metastable isotope 99mTc of technetium, which is the most commonly used medical radioisotope. To celebrate April Fools' Day, we are featuring a series of terms associated with animals. Enjoy!
Cincinnati Musical Center half dollar
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 31, 2017 is Cincinnati Musical Center half dollar.
The Cincinnati Musical Center half dollar is a commemorative coin that was authorized on March 31, 1936, and struck by the United States Bureau of the Mint that year. Produced with the stated purpose of commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Cincinnati as a center of music, it was conceived by Thomas G. Melish, a coin enthusiast whose group bought the entire issue from the government, and who resold them at high prices. Melish had hired sculptor Constance Ortmayer to design the coin, but the Commission of Fine Arts objected to Stephen Foster being on the obverse, finding no connection between Foster, who died in 1864, and the supposed anniversary. Nevertheless, 5,000 sets of three coins, one from each of the three mints, were issued and sold to Melish's group, the only authorized purchaser. He likely held back much of the issue for later resale, and with few pieces available, prices spiked to over five times the issue price. The coins are still valuable today. Melish has been assailed by numismatic writers as greedy.
The Cincinnati Musical Center half dollar is a commemorative coin that was authorized on March 31, 1936, and struck by the United States Bureau of the Mint that year. Produced with the stated purpose of commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Cincinnati as a center of music, it was conceived by Thomas G. Melish, a coin enthusiast whose group bought the entire issue from the government, and who resold them at high prices. Melish had hired sculptor Constance Ortmayer to design the coin, but the Commission of Fine Arts objected to Stephen Foster being on the obverse, finding no connection between Foster, who died in 1864, and the supposed anniversary. Nevertheless, 5,000 sets of three coins, one from each of the three mints, were issued and sold to Melish's group, the only authorized purchaser. He likely held back much of the issue for later resale, and with few pieces available, prices spiked to over five times the issue price. The coins are still valuable today. Melish has been assailed by numismatic writers as greedy.
Bodies of 2 UN experts found in Democratic Republic of Congo
The bodies of two UN experts who went missing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo earlier this month have been found, the United Nations confirmed in a statement Tuesday.
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Biggest game changer in African fashion is...
An increasing number of designers on the continent are morphing from small tailor businesses into recognized and respected fashion houses, thanks to the internet.
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Ooni of Ife on importance of telling your own story
A traditional king from south-west Nigeria visited the UK and talked about the importance of Africans telling their own stories.
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Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Juan Manuel de Rosas
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 30, 2017 is Juan Manuel de Rosas.
Juan Manuel de Rosas (30 March 1793 – 14 March 1877) was an army officer who ruled Buenos Aires Province and briefly the Argentine Confederation. Like other wealthy provincial warlords, Rosas enlisted rural workers from his landholdings in a private militia, and took part in the numerous disputes and civil wars in his country. He eventually became the undisputed leader of the Argentine army and the Federalist Party. In 1831, he signed the Federal Pact, recognizing provincial autonomy and creating the Argentine Confederation. He established a dictatorship and formed the repressive Mazorca, an armed parapolice that killed thousands of citizens. By 1848, after a war against the Peru–Bolivian Confederation, a blockade by France, and a revolt in his own province, he ruled all of Argentina, and was attempting to annex the neighboring nations of Uruguay and Paraguay. When the Empire of Brazil came to Uruguay's aid, Rosas declared war in August 1851. The short Platine War ended with the defeat of Rosas and his flight to Britain. His last years were spent in exile living as a tenant farmer.
Juan Manuel de Rosas (30 March 1793 – 14 March 1877) was an army officer who ruled Buenos Aires Province and briefly the Argentine Confederation. Like other wealthy provincial warlords, Rosas enlisted rural workers from his landholdings in a private militia, and took part in the numerous disputes and civil wars in his country. He eventually became the undisputed leader of the Argentine army and the Federalist Party. In 1831, he signed the Federal Pact, recognizing provincial autonomy and creating the Argentine Confederation. He established a dictatorship and formed the repressive Mazorca, an armed parapolice that killed thousands of citizens. By 1848, after a war against the Peru–Bolivian Confederation, a blockade by France, and a revolt in his own province, he ruled all of Argentina, and was attempting to annex the neighboring nations of Uruguay and Paraguay. When the Empire of Brazil came to Uruguay's aid, Rosas declared war in August 1851. The short Platine War ended with the defeat of Rosas and his flight to Britain. His last years were spent in exile living as a tenant farmer.
baked Alaska: Word of the day for March 30, 2017
baked Alaska , n :
A dessert consisting of ice cream encased in cake and meringue and briefly baked. The dessert is said to have been named by Charles Ranhofer, chef of Delmonico's in New York City, New York, USA, to mark the latter’s purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867, 150 years ago today. However, there is no contemporary report of this fact.
A dessert consisting of ice cream encased in cake and meringue and briefly baked. The dessert is said to have been named by Charles Ranhofer, chef of Delmonico's in New York City, New York, USA, to mark the latter’s purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867, 150 years ago today. However, there is no contemporary report of this fact.
Tuesday, 28 March 2017
Boise National Forest
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 29, 2017 is Boise National Forest.
Boise National Forest is a federally protected area of the U.S. state of Idaho in the national forest system. Created in 1908 from part of Sawtooth National Forest, it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The Idaho Batholith underlies most of Boise National Forest, forming its Boise, Salmon River, and West mountain ranges; the forest reaches a maximum elevation of 9,730 feet (2,970 m) on Steel Mountain. Common land cover includes sagebrush steppe and spruce-fir forests. It contains 75 percent of the known populations of Sacajawea's bitterroot, a flowering plant endemic to Idaho. The Shoshone people occupied the forest before European settlers, and archeological sites have been found along rivers in the area. Trappers and fur traders of European descent arrived in the area in the early 1800s, starting with John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company in 1811. The first settlers moved into the mountains in the 1860s after gold was discovered. The gold rush forced many of the Shoshone out and led to conflicts including the Bannock War in southern Idaho. Tungsten, silver, antimony, and gold were mined in the forest until the mid-twentieth century.
Boise National Forest is a federally protected area of the U.S. state of Idaho in the national forest system. Created in 1908 from part of Sawtooth National Forest, it is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The Idaho Batholith underlies most of Boise National Forest, forming its Boise, Salmon River, and West mountain ranges; the forest reaches a maximum elevation of 9,730 feet (2,970 m) on Steel Mountain. Common land cover includes sagebrush steppe and spruce-fir forests. It contains 75 percent of the known populations of Sacajawea's bitterroot, a flowering plant endemic to Idaho. The Shoshone people occupied the forest before European settlers, and archeological sites have been found along rivers in the area. Trappers and fur traders of European descent arrived in the area in the early 1800s, starting with John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company in 1811. The first settlers moved into the mountains in the 1860s after gold was discovered. The gold rush forced many of the Shoshone out and led to conflicts including the Bannock War in southern Idaho. Tungsten, silver, antimony, and gold were mined in the forest until the mid-twentieth century.
fauxtatoes: Word of the day for March 29, 2017
fauxtatoes , n :
(plural only) A dish of mashed cauliflower used as an alternative to potatoes by followers of a low-carbohydrate diet.
(plural only) A dish of mashed cauliflower used as an alternative to potatoes by followers of a low-carbohydrate diet.
Ahmed Kathrada, anti-apartheid activist and Mandela ally, dies
Ahmed Kathrada was one of South Africa's revered anti-apartheid activists -- and among the leaders who began charting a way forward for a post-apartheid nation.
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Nigerians boycott Coca-Cola products
Consumers of Sprite and Fanta have more to worry about than rotting teeth according to a Lagos High Court judge, who ruled that the Coca-Cola products could be "poisonous."
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Messi: Argentina star banned for 4 matches
It is proof that even one of the world's best soccer players is not above the law?
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What it's like to be a stranger in your own country
Jorge Matadamas is a Mexican citizen, but at 23 years old, everything about the country is brand new to him.
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Trump seeks $1B for 62 miles of border wall
The Trump administration wants the first $1 billion of border wall funding to cover 62 miles -- including replacing some existing fencing along the southern border.
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Monday, 27 March 2017
6 aid workers killed in South Sudan
Six aid workers were killed in an ambush in South Sudan on Saturday, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for the country said.
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Africa forbidden zone now a wildlife wonderland
If there was ever a candidate for an obscure question on a television quiz show, it's the Caprivi Strip in northern Namibia.
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Sunday, 26 March 2017
begging the question: Word of the day for March 27, 2017
begging the question , n :
A logical fallacy in which a premise of an argument contains a direct or indirect assumption that the conclusion is true; offering a circular argument; circular reasoning.
A logical fallacy in which a premise of an argument contains a direct or indirect assumption that the conclusion is true; offering a circular argument; circular reasoning.
Mayabazar
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 27, 2017 is Mayabazar.
Mayabazar (Market of Illusions) is an Indian epic fantasy film directed by Kadiri Venkata Reddy and produced by B. Nagi Reddy and Aluri Chakrapani, first released on 27 March 1957. The film was shot in Telugu and Tamil with the same title, but with a few differences in the cast. The story is an adaptation of the folk tale Sasirekha Parinayam, which in turn is based on the epic Mahabharata. It tells the story of Krishna (N. T. Rama Rao) and Ghatotkacha (S. V. Ranga Rao), who try to reunite Arjuna's son Abhimanyu with his love, Balarama's daughter (Savitri). Though Rama Rao was initially reluctant to play the lead role, his portrayal of Krishna received acclaim and yielded more offers to reprise the same role in several unrelated films. Most of the musical score was composed by Ghantasala. Both versions of the film were critically and commercially successful. The film is considered a landmark in both Telugu and Tamil cinema, with praise for its cast and technical accomplishments, despite the limitations of the technology at the time. A May 2013 CNN-News18 poll listed Mayabazar as the greatest Indian film of all time.
Mayabazar (Market of Illusions) is an Indian epic fantasy film directed by Kadiri Venkata Reddy and produced by B. Nagi Reddy and Aluri Chakrapani, first released on 27 March 1957. The film was shot in Telugu and Tamil with the same title, but with a few differences in the cast. The story is an adaptation of the folk tale Sasirekha Parinayam, which in turn is based on the epic Mahabharata. It tells the story of Krishna (N. T. Rama Rao) and Ghatotkacha (S. V. Ranga Rao), who try to reunite Arjuna's son Abhimanyu with his love, Balarama's daughter (Savitri). Though Rama Rao was initially reluctant to play the lead role, his portrayal of Krishna received acclaim and yielded more offers to reprise the same role in several unrelated films. Most of the musical score was composed by Ghantasala. Both versions of the film were critically and commercially successful. The film is considered a landmark in both Telugu and Tamil cinema, with praise for its cast and technical accomplishments, despite the limitations of the technology at the time. A May 2013 CNN-News18 poll listed Mayabazar as the greatest Indian film of all time.
Mubarak walks free after six years
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was freed Friday after a six-year imprisonment following his overthrow during the Arab Spring.
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Venezuela asks UN for help as medicine shortages grow severe
President Nicolas Maduro said he has asked the United Nations for help in dealing with Venezuela's medicine shortages, which have grown severe as the country grapples with a crippling economic crisis.
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Hacking suspect's parents say he won't flee
Karim Baratov's parents want him back home, sitting at the dining table where they shared dinner nearly every night as a family of four, and where they now sit to make the case publicly that the young man accused of hacking emails for Russian agents is not a flight risk.
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Mexico: 16 inmates tunnel out of prison
Sixteen of 29 inmates are still on the run after they made an audacious escape by tunneling underneath a Mexican prison wall, authorities said.
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Jet skiers saved from path of cruise ship
College students Skylar Pentasuglia and Allison Garrett screamed in panic and swam for their lives as a 130,000-ton cruise ship bore down on them and their capsized jet ski.
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Thoughts of kids helped me survive mudslide
The world now knows Evangelina Chamorro as the woman in the viral video of a Peruvian mudslide, the young mother who dramatically emerged from a river of muck and debris like a ghostly apparition less than a week ago.
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Cut it out: Canadian diplomats told to stop using Justin Trudeau cut-outs
Cardboard versions of Canada's Prime Minister will no longer be seen at embassy events.
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Samsung is most admired brand in Africa
Slow growth and challenging economic conditions negatively affected the perception of African brands in 2016.
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Instagram comedian lands $1M deal
Henry Obiefule has been making others laugh with his internet skits, but now he'll be laughing all the way to the bank after signing a million dollar deal.
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Saturday, 25 March 2017
steampunk: Word of the day for March 26, 2017
steampunk , n :
(uncountable, neologism) A subgenre of speculative science fiction set in an anachronistic 19th-century society. (countable) A writer of steampunk fiction. (countable, cosplay) A person cosplaying as a steampunk character. American science fiction and horror author K. W. Jeter, who coined the word, was born on this day in 1950.
(uncountable, neologism) A subgenre of speculative science fiction set in an anachronistic 19th-century society. (countable) A writer of steampunk fiction. (countable, cosplay) A person cosplaying as a steampunk character. American science fiction and horror author K. W. Jeter, who coined the word, was born on this day in 1950.
Interstate 8
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 26, 2017 is Interstate 8.
Interstate 8 (I-8) is an Interstate Highway in the southwestern United States. From the southern edge of Mission Bay in San Diego, California, it runs eastward across the Cuyamaca Mountains and the Imperial Valley. Crossing the Colorado River into Arizona, it continues through the city of Yuma across the Sonoran Desert, to the junction with I-10, between Phoenix and Tucson. The first route over the Cuyamaca Mountains was dedicated in 1912, and a plank road served as the first road across the Imperial Valley to Yuma; east of there, the Gila Trail continued east to Gila Bend. Several controversies erupted during I-8's construction process; questionable labor practices in Imperial County led to the federal conviction of mobster Jimmy Fratianno, and the Arizona government was found to have mismanaged financial resources by a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee. The route was completed in 1975 through California, and by 1977 through Arizona, though the bridge over the Colorado River was not completed until 1978. A portion of the freeway in Imperial County had to be rebuilt following damage by the remnants of Hurricane Kathleen.
Interstate 8 (I-8) is an Interstate Highway in the southwestern United States. From the southern edge of Mission Bay in San Diego, California, it runs eastward across the Cuyamaca Mountains and the Imperial Valley. Crossing the Colorado River into Arizona, it continues through the city of Yuma across the Sonoran Desert, to the junction with I-10, between Phoenix and Tucson. The first route over the Cuyamaca Mountains was dedicated in 1912, and a plank road served as the first road across the Imperial Valley to Yuma; east of there, the Gila Trail continued east to Gila Bend. Several controversies erupted during I-8's construction process; questionable labor practices in Imperial County led to the federal conviction of mobster Jimmy Fratianno, and the Arizona government was found to have mismanaged financial resources by a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee. The route was completed in 1975 through California, and by 1977 through Arizona, though the bridge over the Colorado River was not completed until 1978. A portion of the freeway in Imperial County had to be rebuilt following damage by the remnants of Hurricane Kathleen.
Friday, 24 March 2017
rhematic: Word of the day for March 24, 2017
rhematic , adj :
Of or pertaining to a rheme. (linguistics) Of a part of a sentence: providing new information regarding the current theme. (Peircean semiotics) Of or pertaining to a sumisign (a sign that represents its object in respect of quality and so, in its signified interpretant, is represented as a character or mark). (obsolete) Of or pertaining to word formation. (obsolete, rare) In Coleridge's work: relating to the arrangement of words into sentences clearly. (grammar, obsolete, rare) Having a verb for its base; derived from a verb.
Of or pertaining to a rheme. (linguistics) Of a part of a sentence: providing new information regarding the current theme. (Peircean semiotics) Of or pertaining to a sumisign (a sign that represents its object in respect of quality and so, in its signified interpretant, is represented as a character or mark). (obsolete) Of or pertaining to word formation. (obsolete, rare) In Coleridge's work: relating to the arrangement of words into sentences clearly. (grammar, obsolete, rare) Having a verb for its base; derived from a verb.
Piano Concerto No. 24 (Mozart)
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 24, 2017 is Piano Concerto No. 24 (Mozart).
The Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491, is a concerto by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for keyboard (period fortepiano pictured) and orchestra. He composed it in the winter of 1785–86 and completed it on 24 March 1786. He played the solo part in the premiere in early April that year at the Burgtheater in Vienna. The work is one of only two minor-key piano concertos by Mozart, the other being No. 20 in D Minor. It features the largest array of instruments of any Mozart concerto: strings, woodwinds including oboes and clarinets, horns, trumpets and timpani. The concerto consists of three movements. The first, Allegro, is in sonata form and is longer than any opening movement of Mozart's earlier concertos. The second movement, Larghetto, features a strikingly simple principal theme, and the final Allegretto presents a theme followed by eight variations. The work is one of Mozart's most advanced compositions in the concerto genre. Early admirers included Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms. The musicologist Arthur Hutchings considered it to be Mozart's greatest piano concerto.
The Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491, is a concerto by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for keyboard (period fortepiano pictured) and orchestra. He composed it in the winter of 1785–86 and completed it on 24 March 1786. He played the solo part in the premiere in early April that year at the Burgtheater in Vienna. The work is one of only two minor-key piano concertos by Mozart, the other being No. 20 in D Minor. It features the largest array of instruments of any Mozart concerto: strings, woodwinds including oboes and clarinets, horns, trumpets and timpani. The concerto consists of three movements. The first, Allegro, is in sonata form and is longer than any opening movement of Mozart's earlier concertos. The second movement, Larghetto, features a strikingly simple principal theme, and the final Allegretto presents a theme followed by eight variations. The work is one of Mozart's most advanced compositions in the concerto genre. Early admirers included Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms. The musicologist Arthur Hutchings considered it to be Mozart's greatest piano concerto.
Thursday, 23 March 2017
Oran fatwa
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 23, 2017 is Oran fatwa.
The Oran fatwa was an Islamic legal opinion issued in 1504 to address the forced conversion to Christianity of Muslims in the Crown of Castile in Iberia in 1500–1502. The fatwa sets out detailed relaxations of the sharia (Islamic law) requirements, allowing the Muslims to conform outwardly to Christianity and perform acts that are ordinarily forbidden in Islamic law, when necessary to survive. It includes relaxed instructions to fulfill the ritual prayers, charity and purification, and recommendations for how to handle obligations that violated Islamic law, such as worshipping as Christians, performing blasphemy, and consuming pork and wine. The fatwa enjoyed wide currency in Spain among Muslims and Moriscos – Muslims nominally converted to Christianity and their descendants – from the time of the first forced conversions up to the expulsion of the Moriscos (1609–1614). The author of the fatwa was Ahmad ibn Abi Jum'ah, a North African Islamic law scholar (mufti) of the Maliki school.
The Oran fatwa was an Islamic legal opinion issued in 1504 to address the forced conversion to Christianity of Muslims in the Crown of Castile in Iberia in 1500–1502. The fatwa sets out detailed relaxations of the sharia (Islamic law) requirements, allowing the Muslims to conform outwardly to Christianity and perform acts that are ordinarily forbidden in Islamic law, when necessary to survive. It includes relaxed instructions to fulfill the ritual prayers, charity and purification, and recommendations for how to handle obligations that violated Islamic law, such as worshipping as Christians, performing blasphemy, and consuming pork and wine. The fatwa enjoyed wide currency in Spain among Muslims and Moriscos – Muslims nominally converted to Christianity and their descendants – from the time of the first forced conversions up to the expulsion of the Moriscos (1609–1614). The author of the fatwa was Ahmad ibn Abi Jum'ah, a North African Islamic law scholar (mufti) of the Maliki school.
uptalk: Word of the day for March 23, 2017
uptalk , v :
(linguistics, intransitive) To speak with a rising intonation at the end of a sentence, as if it were a question; to upspeak.
(linguistics, intransitive) To speak with a rising intonation at the end of a sentence, as if it were a question; to upspeak.
Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Mogadishu car bombing leaves 10 dead
Extremist group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for a deadly explosion that police say killed 10 people Tuesday afternoon in Mogadishu, Somalia.
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SMS Kaiser (1911)
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 22, 2017 is SMS Kaiser (1911).
SMS Kaiser was the lead ship of her class of battleships of the Imperial German Navy. The ship was built by the Imperial Dockyard at Kiel, launched on 22 March 1911, and commissioned in August 1912 with ten 30.5-centimeter (12.0 in) guns and a top speed of 23.4 knots (43.3 km/h; 26.9 mph). Kaiser was assigned to the Third Squadron of the High Seas Fleet for the majority of World War I. The ship participated in most of the major fleet operations of the war, including the Battle of Jutland on 31 May – 1 June 1916, where she was hit once, suffering negligible damage. The ship was also present during Operation Albion in the Baltic Sea in September and October 1917, and at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in November 1917. After the war she was interned with other ships of the High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow in Scotland. In June 1919 the commander of the interned fleet, Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, ordered the fleet to be scuttled to ensure that the British would not be able to seize the ships. Kaiser's wreck was raised in 1929 and broken up in Rosyth in 1930.
SMS Kaiser was the lead ship of her class of battleships of the Imperial German Navy. The ship was built by the Imperial Dockyard at Kiel, launched on 22 March 1911, and commissioned in August 1912 with ten 30.5-centimeter (12.0 in) guns and a top speed of 23.4 knots (43.3 km/h; 26.9 mph). Kaiser was assigned to the Third Squadron of the High Seas Fleet for the majority of World War I. The ship participated in most of the major fleet operations of the war, including the Battle of Jutland on 31 May – 1 June 1916, where she was hit once, suffering negligible damage. The ship was also present during Operation Albion in the Baltic Sea in September and October 1917, and at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in November 1917. After the war she was interned with other ships of the High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow in Scotland. In June 1919 the commander of the interned fleet, Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, ordered the fleet to be scuttled to ensure that the British would not be able to seize the ships. Kaiser's wreck was raised in 1929 and broken up in Rosyth in 1930.
hydronym: Word of the day for March 22, 2017
hydronym , n :
(onomastics) The name of a river, lake, sea or any other body of water. Today is World Water Day, which focuses on the importance of fresh water and the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
(onomastics) The name of a river, lake, sea or any other body of water. Today is World Water Day, which focuses on the importance of fresh water and the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
greenwood: Word of the day for March 21, 2017
greenwood , n :
A forest in full leaf, as in summer. Wood that is green; in other words, not seasoned. Today is the United Nations’ International Day of Forests.
A forest in full leaf, as in summer. Wood that is green; in other words, not seasoned. Today is the United Nations’ International Day of Forests.
mandil: Word of the day for March 20, 2017
mandil , n :
(chiefly Persia, obsolete) A turban; cloth used to make a turban. Nowruz, the Persian New Year, falls on this day in 2017.
(chiefly Persia, obsolete) A turban; cloth used to make a turban. Nowruz, the Persian New Year, falls on this day in 2017.
in spades: Word of the day for March 19, 2017
in spades , adv :
(idiomatic) In large quantities; to a high degree; to excess, without restraint. (idiomatic) Beyond doubt.
(idiomatic) In large quantities; to a high degree; to excess, without restraint. (idiomatic) Beyond doubt.
gnarly: Word of the day for March 18, 2017
gnarly , adj :
Having or characterized by gnarls; gnarled. (slang) Excellent; attractive. (slang, US) Dangerous; difficult. (slang, US) Unpleasant, awful, ugly. (slang, US) Of music or a sound: harsh. The Odd Couple, the second studio album by American soul duo Gnarls Barkley, was released digitally on this day in 2008.
Having or characterized by gnarls; gnarled. (slang) Excellent; attractive. (slang, US) Dangerous; difficult. (slang, US) Unpleasant, awful, ugly. (slang, US) Of music or a sound: harsh. The Odd Couple, the second studio album by American soul duo Gnarls Barkley, was released digitally on this day in 2008.
shillelagh: Word of the day for March 17, 2017
shillelagh , n :
(Ireland) A wooden (especially oaken) club ending with a large knob. Any cudgel, whether or not of Irish origin. Today is Saint Patrick's Day, the feast day of the patron saint of Ireland.
(Ireland) A wooden (especially oaken) club ending with a large knob. Any cudgel, whether or not of Irish origin. Today is Saint Patrick's Day, the feast day of the patron saint of Ireland.
axiom: Word of the day for March 16, 2017
axiom , n :
(philosophy) A seemingly self-evident or necessary truth which is based on assumption; a principle or proposition which cannot actually be proved or disproved. (logic, mathematics, proof theory) A fundamental assumption that serves as a basis for deduction of theorems (for example, "Through a pair of distinct points there passes exactly one straight line", and "All right angles are congruent"); a postulate. An established principle in some artistic practice or science that is universally received.
(philosophy) A seemingly self-evident or necessary truth which is based on assumption; a principle or proposition which cannot actually be proved or disproved. (logic, mathematics, proof theory) A fundamental assumption that serves as a basis for deduction of theorems (for example, "Through a pair of distinct points there passes exactly one straight line", and "All right angles are congruent"); a postulate. An established principle in some artistic practice or science that is universally received.
dibble: Word of the day for March 15, 2017
dibble , n :
A pointed implement used to make holes in the ground in which to set out plants or to plant seeds.
A pointed implement used to make holes in the ground in which to set out plants or to plant seeds.
timescape: Word of the day for March 14, 2017
timescape , n :
A perspective over a period (particularly a long period) of time. (science fiction) A multi-dimensional view of time, especially one in which time travel occurs. Today is Pi Day, and also the birth anniversary of German-born scientist Albert Einstein, who was born in 1879.
A perspective over a period (particularly a long period) of time. (science fiction) A multi-dimensional view of time, especially one in which time travel occurs. Today is Pi Day, and also the birth anniversary of German-born scientist Albert Einstein, who was born in 1879.
Tuesday, 21 March 2017
thetan: Word of the day for March 13, 2017
thetan , n :
(Scientology) A soul, spirit or being. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, was born on this day in 1911.
(Scientology) A soul, spirit or being. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, was born on this day in 1911.
Neal Dow
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 21, 2017 is Neal Dow.
Neal Dow (March 20, 1804 – October 2, 1897) was an American prohibition advocate and politician. He was elected president of the Maine Temperance Union in 1850, and mayor of Portland the next year. Soon after, largely due to his efforts, the state legislature banned the sale and production of alcohol in what became known as the Maine Law. As mayor, Dow enforced the law with vigor and called for increasingly harsh penalties for violators. In 1855, his opponents rioted and he ordered the state militia to fire on the crowd. One man was killed and several were wounded. After public reaction to the violence turned against him, he chose not to run again for mayor. He was later elected to two terms in the state legislature, but retired after a financial scandal. He joined the Union Army shortly after the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 and became a brigadier general. He was wounded at the siege of Port Hudson and later captured. After being exchanged for another officer in 1864, Dow resigned from the military and devoted himself once more to prohibition. In 1880, he headed the Prohibition Party ticket for President of the United States.
Neal Dow (March 20, 1804 – October 2, 1897) was an American prohibition advocate and politician. He was elected president of the Maine Temperance Union in 1850, and mayor of Portland the next year. Soon after, largely due to his efforts, the state legislature banned the sale and production of alcohol in what became known as the Maine Law. As mayor, Dow enforced the law with vigor and called for increasingly harsh penalties for violators. In 1855, his opponents rioted and he ordered the state militia to fire on the crowd. One man was killed and several were wounded. After public reaction to the violence turned against him, he chose not to run again for mayor. He was later elected to two terms in the state legislature, but retired after a financial scandal. He joined the Union Army shortly after the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 and became a brigadier general. He was wounded at the siege of Port Hudson and later captured. After being exchanged for another officer in 1864, Dow resigned from the military and devoted himself once more to prohibition. In 1880, he headed the Prohibition Party ticket for President of the United States.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 20, 2017 is The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is an action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks and the Take-Two Interactive division 2K Games. Oblivion was released on March 20, 2006, for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360, and later for mobile phones and PlayStation 3. In the main storyline, the player character thwarts the fanatical Mythic Dawn cult from opening the gates to a realm called Oblivion. The player can travel anywhere in the game world at any time, develop the character's skills, and ignore or postpone the main storyline indefinitely. The graphics were designed with an improved Havok physics engine, high dynamic range lighting, and procedural content generation tools to generate terrain. The Radiant A.I. system manages the complex behaviors of the non-player characters (NPCs). The game features the music of award-winning composer Jeremy Soule. Overall, Oblivion has been successful both commercially and critically, winning industry and publication awards. It was praised for its graphics, expansive game world, and fully voiced, schedule-driven NPCs.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is an action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks and the Take-Two Interactive division 2K Games. Oblivion was released on March 20, 2006, for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360, and later for mobile phones and PlayStation 3. In the main storyline, the player character thwarts the fanatical Mythic Dawn cult from opening the gates to a realm called Oblivion. The player can travel anywhere in the game world at any time, develop the character's skills, and ignore or postpone the main storyline indefinitely. The graphics were designed with an improved Havok physics engine, high dynamic range lighting, and procedural content generation tools to generate terrain. The Radiant A.I. system manages the complex behaviors of the non-player characters (NPCs). The game features the music of award-winning composer Jeremy Soule. Overall, Oblivion has been successful both commercially and critically, winning industry and publication awards. It was praised for its graphics, expansive game world, and fully voiced, schedule-driven NPCs.
Seri Rambai
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 19, 2017 is Seri Rambai.
The Seri Rambai is a 17th-century Dutch cannon displayed at Fort Cornwallis in George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site city and capital of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is a fertility symbol, the subject of legends and prophecy, and the largest bronze gun in Malaysia. The cannon's history in the Malacca Straits began in the early 1600s when Dutch East India Company officers gave it to the Sultan of Johor in return for trading concessions. Less than a decade later, after Johor was destroyed and the sultan captured, the Seri Rambai was taken to Aceh. Near the end of the eighteenth century the cannon was sent to Selangor and mounted next to one of the town's hilltop forts. In 1871 pirates seized a Penang junk, murdered its passengers and crew, and took the stolen vessel to Selangor. The British colonial government responded by burning the town, destroying its forts and confiscating the Seri Rambai. Originally displayed on Penang's Esplanade, the gun was moved in the 1950s to the ramparts at Fort Cornwallis.
The Seri Rambai is a 17th-century Dutch cannon displayed at Fort Cornwallis in George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site city and capital of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is a fertility symbol, the subject of legends and prophecy, and the largest bronze gun in Malaysia. The cannon's history in the Malacca Straits began in the early 1600s when Dutch East India Company officers gave it to the Sultan of Johor in return for trading concessions. Less than a decade later, after Johor was destroyed and the sultan captured, the Seri Rambai was taken to Aceh. Near the end of the eighteenth century the cannon was sent to Selangor and mounted next to one of the town's hilltop forts. In 1871 pirates seized a Penang junk, murdered its passengers and crew, and took the stolen vessel to Selangor. The British colonial government responded by burning the town, destroying its forts and confiscating the Seri Rambai. Originally displayed on Penang's Esplanade, the gun was moved in the 1950s to the ramparts at Fort Cornwallis.
Rosetta Stone
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 18, 2017 is Rosetta Stone.
The Rosetta Stone is a large black stone stele bearing a translation of Ancient Egyptian text, the first recovered in modern times. Found in 1799, it is inscribed with three versions of a decree from 196 BC announcing the rule of King Ptolemy V. The texts are in Ancient Egyptian using hieroglyphic script and Demotic script and in Ancient Greek. The stone proved to be the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs. It was taken from building material in Fort Julien near the town of Rashid (Rosetta) in the Nile Delta when it was rediscovered during the Napoleonic campaign in Egypt. After British troops defeated the French in Egypt in 1801, they seized the stone and transported it to London. It has been on public display at the British Museum since 1802, and is the museum's most-visited object. Since its rediscovery, the stone has been the focus of nationalist rivalries, including a long-running dispute over the relative value of Thomas Young's and Jean-François Champollion's contributions to the decipherment, and demands this century for the stone's return to Egypt.
The Rosetta Stone is a large black stone stele bearing a translation of Ancient Egyptian text, the first recovered in modern times. Found in 1799, it is inscribed with three versions of a decree from 196 BC announcing the rule of King Ptolemy V. The texts are in Ancient Egyptian using hieroglyphic script and Demotic script and in Ancient Greek. The stone proved to be the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs. It was taken from building material in Fort Julien near the town of Rashid (Rosetta) in the Nile Delta when it was rediscovered during the Napoleonic campaign in Egypt. After British troops defeated the French in Egypt in 1801, they seized the stone and transported it to London. It has been on public display at the British Museum since 1802, and is the museum's most-visited object. Since its rediscovery, the stone has been the focus of nationalist rivalries, including a long-running dispute over the relative value of Thomas Young's and Jean-François Champollion's contributions to the decipherment, and demands this century for the stone's return to Egypt.
George Bernard Shaw
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 17, 2017 is George Bernard Shaw.
George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) was an Irish playwright and critic who had a major influence on Western theatre, culture and politics. He was born in Dublin and moved to London in 1876 as a struggling writer and novelist. His first stage success was Arms and the Man in 1894; under the influence of Henrik Ibsen he brought a new realism into English-language drama, using his plays as vehicles to disseminate his often contentious political, social and religious ideas. He became a member of the gradualist Fabian Society, was a socialist pamphleteer and polemicist for over 50 years, and was instrumental in the foundation of the modern Labour Party. Many of his plays were critical and commercial successes, including Caesar and Cleopatra (1898), Man and Superman (1903), Major Barbara (1905), The Doctor's Dilemma (1906), Pygmalion (1913) and Saint Joan (1923). He was regarded as the leading dramatist of his generation, and was awarded the 1925 Nobel Prize in Literature. He wrote prolifically until shortly before his death, aged 94.
George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) was an Irish playwright and critic who had a major influence on Western theatre, culture and politics. He was born in Dublin and moved to London in 1876 as a struggling writer and novelist. His first stage success was Arms and the Man in 1894; under the influence of Henrik Ibsen he brought a new realism into English-language drama, using his plays as vehicles to disseminate his often contentious political, social and religious ideas. He became a member of the gradualist Fabian Society, was a socialist pamphleteer and polemicist for over 50 years, and was instrumental in the foundation of the modern Labour Party. Many of his plays were critical and commercial successes, including Caesar and Cleopatra (1898), Man and Superman (1903), Major Barbara (1905), The Doctor's Dilemma (1906), Pygmalion (1913) and Saint Joan (1923). He was regarded as the leading dramatist of his generation, and was awarded the 1925 Nobel Prize in Literature. He wrote prolifically until shortly before his death, aged 94.
Powderfinger
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 16, 2017 is Powderfinger.
Powderfinger, an Australian rock band, formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 to 2010 the lineup consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bass guitarist John Collins and drummer Jon Coghill. The group's third studio album, Internationalist, peaked at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in September 1998. Their next studio album, Odyssey Number Five, reached number one in September 2000 and was certified eight times platinum, shipping over 560,000 units. Their next three studio albums also reached number one: Vulture Street (July 2003), Dream Days at the Hotel Existence (June 2007) and Golden Rule (November 2009). Powderfinger earned the third-highest total of ARIA Awards (18), after Silverchair and John Farnham. Their last tour, the Sunsets Farewell Tour, concluded on 13 November 2010. In November the following year, the band published a biography with Dino Scatena, a rock music journalist, called Footprints: the inside story of Australia's best loved band.
Powderfinger, an Australian rock band, formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 to 2010 the lineup consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bass guitarist John Collins and drummer Jon Coghill. The group's third studio album, Internationalist, peaked at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in September 1998. Their next studio album, Odyssey Number Five, reached number one in September 2000 and was certified eight times platinum, shipping over 560,000 units. Their next three studio albums also reached number one: Vulture Street (July 2003), Dream Days at the Hotel Existence (June 2007) and Golden Rule (November 2009). Powderfinger earned the third-highest total of ARIA Awards (18), after Silverchair and John Farnham. Their last tour, the Sunsets Farewell Tour, concluded on 13 November 2010. In November the following year, the band published a biography with Dino Scatena, a rock music journalist, called Footprints: the inside story of Australia's best loved band.
Allah jang Palsoe
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 15, 2017 is Allah jang Palsoe.
Allah jang Palsoe (Malay for The False God) is a 1919 stage drama from the Dutch East Indies that was written by the ethnic Chinese author Kwee Tek Hoay, based on E. Phillips Oppenheim's short story "The False Gods". Over six acts, the Malay-language play follows two brothers, one a devout son who holds firmly to his morals and personal honour, the other a man who worships money and prioritises personal gain. The two learn over the course of a decade that money (the titular false god) is not the path to happiness. Kwee Tek Hoay's first stage play, Allah jang Palsoe was written as a realist response to whimsical contemporary theatre. Though the published stageplay sold poorly and the play was deemed difficult to perform, Allah jang Palsoe found success on the stage. By 1930 it had been performed by various ethnic Chinese troupes to popular acclaim, and had pioneered a body of work by authors such as Lauw Giok Lan, Tio Ie Soei, and Tjoa Tjien Mo. In 2006 the script for the play, which continues to be performed, was republished with updated spelling by the Lontar Foundation.
Allah jang Palsoe (Malay for The False God) is a 1919 stage drama from the Dutch East Indies that was written by the ethnic Chinese author Kwee Tek Hoay, based on E. Phillips Oppenheim's short story "The False Gods". Over six acts, the Malay-language play follows two brothers, one a devout son who holds firmly to his morals and personal honour, the other a man who worships money and prioritises personal gain. The two learn over the course of a decade that money (the titular false god) is not the path to happiness. Kwee Tek Hoay's first stage play, Allah jang Palsoe was written as a realist response to whimsical contemporary theatre. Though the published stageplay sold poorly and the play was deemed difficult to perform, Allah jang Palsoe found success on the stage. By 1930 it had been performed by various ethnic Chinese troupes to popular acclaim, and had pioneered a body of work by authors such as Lauw Giok Lan, Tio Ie Soei, and Tjoa Tjien Mo. In 2006 the script for the play, which continues to be performed, was republished with updated spelling by the Lontar Foundation.
Hugh de Neville
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 14, 2017 is Hugh de Neville.
Hugh de Neville (died 1234) was the Chief Forester under the kings Richard I, John, and Henry III of England, and a sheriff of several counties over his lifetime. Neville was related to royal officials and a bishop, and was a member of Prince Richard's household. After Richard became king in 1189, Neville continued in his service, accompanying him on the Third Crusade. Neville remained in the royal service following Richard's death in 1199 and the accession of King John to the throne, becoming one of the new king's favourites and often gambling with him. He was named in Magna Carta as one of John's principal advisers, considered by a medieval chronicler to be one of King John's "evil counsellors". He deserted John after the French invasion of England in 1216, but returned to pledge his loyalty to John's son Henry III after the latter's accession to the throne that year. Neville's royal service continued until his death in 1234, though by then he was a less significant figure than he had been at the height of his powers.
Hugh de Neville (died 1234) was the Chief Forester under the kings Richard I, John, and Henry III of England, and a sheriff of several counties over his lifetime. Neville was related to royal officials and a bishop, and was a member of Prince Richard's household. After Richard became king in 1189, Neville continued in his service, accompanying him on the Third Crusade. Neville remained in the royal service following Richard's death in 1199 and the accession of King John to the throne, becoming one of the new king's favourites and often gambling with him. He was named in Magna Carta as one of John's principal advisers, considered by a medieval chronicler to be one of King John's "evil counsellors". He deserted John after the French invasion of England in 1216, but returned to pledge his loyalty to John's son Henry III after the latter's accession to the throne that year. Neville's royal service continued until his death in 1234, though by then he was a less significant figure than he had been at the height of his powers.
God of War II
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 13, 2017 is God of War II.
God of War II is a third person action-adventure video game first released on March 13, 2007, and was the last major release for the PlayStation 2. The player controls Kratos, a Spartan warrior who became the new God of War after killing the former, Ares. Kratos is betrayed by Zeus, the King of the Olympian Gods, who strips him of his godhood and kills him. On his way to the Underworld, Kratos is saved by Gaia, who instructs him to find the Sisters of Fate. Acquiring their power, he travels back in time to avert his betrayal and take revenge on Zeus, who is revealed to be his father. The gameplay focuses on combo-based combat and features quick time events that require the player to complete game controller actions in a timed sequence to defeat stronger enemies and bosses. The game also features magical attacks, puzzles, and platforming elements. The fourteenth best-selling PlayStation 2 game of all time, it sold more than 4.24 million copies worldwide. Regarded as one of the best action-adventure games for the platform and noted for its graphics and gameplay, it received several awards, including PlayStation Game of the Year.
God of War II is a third person action-adventure video game first released on March 13, 2007, and was the last major release for the PlayStation 2. The player controls Kratos, a Spartan warrior who became the new God of War after killing the former, Ares. Kratos is betrayed by Zeus, the King of the Olympian Gods, who strips him of his godhood and kills him. On his way to the Underworld, Kratos is saved by Gaia, who instructs him to find the Sisters of Fate. Acquiring their power, he travels back in time to avert his betrayal and take revenge on Zeus, who is revealed to be his father. The gameplay focuses on combo-based combat and features quick time events that require the player to complete game controller actions in a timed sequence to defeat stronger enemies and bosses. The game also features magical attacks, puzzles, and platforming elements. The fourteenth best-selling PlayStation 2 game of all time, it sold more than 4.24 million copies worldwide. Regarded as one of the best action-adventure games for the platform and noted for its graphics and gameplay, it received several awards, including PlayStation Game of the Year.
Eta Carinae
The Wikipedia article of the day for March 12, 2017 is Eta Carinae.
Eta Carinae is a stellar system of at least two stars with a combined luminosity over five million times that of the Sun, around 7500 light-years distant in the constellation Carina. First recorded as a 4th-magnitude star, it brightened considerably beginning in 1837 in an event known as the Great Eruption, becoming the second-brightest star in the sky between 11 and 14 March 1843 before fading well below naked eye visibility. It has been getting brighter again since about 1940, peaking above magnitude 4.5 in 2014. Eta Carinae is always above the horizon south of latitude 30°S, and never visible north of about latitude 30°N. The two main stars of the system orbit each other with a period of 5.54 years. The primary is a peculiar star similar to a luminous blue variable, initially 150–250 times as massive as the Sun but now at least 30 solar masses lighter, and is expected to eventually explode as a supernova. The secondary star is hot and also highly luminous, around 30–80 times as massive as the Sun. The system is heavily obscured by the Homunculus Nebula, material ejected from the primary during the Great Eruption.
Eta Carinae is a stellar system of at least two stars with a combined luminosity over five million times that of the Sun, around 7500 light-years distant in the constellation Carina. First recorded as a 4th-magnitude star, it brightened considerably beginning in 1837 in an event known as the Great Eruption, becoming the second-brightest star in the sky between 11 and 14 March 1843 before fading well below naked eye visibility. It has been getting brighter again since about 1940, peaking above magnitude 4.5 in 2014. Eta Carinae is always above the horizon south of latitude 30°S, and never visible north of about latitude 30°N. The two main stars of the system orbit each other with a period of 5.54 years. The primary is a peculiar star similar to a luminous blue variable, initially 150–250 times as massive as the Sun but now at least 30 solar masses lighter, and is expected to eventually explode as a supernova. The secondary star is hot and also highly luminous, around 30–80 times as massive as the Sun. The system is heavily obscured by the Homunculus Nebula, material ejected from the primary during the Great Eruption.
Monday, 20 March 2017
Over 70 dead as rainy season could last another 2 weeks
The death toll in Peru's flooding and mudslides reached 72 over the weekend, according to state-run news agency Andina.
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All on board survive 'miraculous' South Sudan crash landing
A commercial plane made a crash landing in poor weather at an airport in South Sudan on Monday, causing several injuries -- but no deaths.
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Pope asks 'forgiveness' for church role in genocide
Pope Francis has asked Rwandan President Paul Kagame for forgiveness for the "sins and failings" of the Catholic Church during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
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Footballer scores own goal by in interview
Ghanaian footballer Mohammed Anas's "man of the match" speech is being cited as one of the "greatest of all time" but for all the wrong reasons.
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Planning for the worst: Immigrants brace for deportation
Ninety-seven people are at Catholic Charities this morning. It feels like a hospital waiting room.
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Canada in top 10 of world's happiest countries
Norwegians have more reason than ever to celebrate the International Day of Happiness.
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Young Yahoo hacking suspect boasted about lavish lifestyle
Karim Baratov, indicted by a US grand jury in connection with the Yahoo hacking, portrayed himself as living the good life before his arrest this week.
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Friday, 17 March 2017
Dream of better life in US within sight for Somali refugee family
Each time Suriya Muse Iftin thought she was finally leaving an overcrowded Kenya refugee camp, her hopes were dashed.
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Ship's crew released without ransom
Eight crew members of a fuel tanker hijacked off the coast of Somalia earlier this week have been released unharmed without a ransom payment, according to the Sri Lankan government.
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Massive 706-carat diamond unearthed
A pastor has unearthed a massive gem in eastern Sierra Leone.
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Trump earmarks just $1.5 billion for border wall in budget proposal
The White House released its budget proposal Thursday with just $1 billion immediately earmarked for the President's oft-promised Southern border wall with Mexico -- a reflection of the fact that the administration doesn't yet know what it wants the wall to look like, the budget director said.
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Trudeau hosts Ivanka at show
It's a Broadway show about Canadians welcoming people during a time of need. So Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hosted Ivanka Trump as his guest of honor.
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Caribbean poet, Nobel laureate, dies
Derek Walcott, the Caribbean poet and playwright who won the 1992 Nobel Prize for literature, died Friday.
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Woman trapped in mudslide
As Peru deals with miserable storms and deadly flooding, one woman was caught in the middle of a mudslide.
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Woman trapped in mudslide in Peru
In a country enduring miserable storms and deadly flooding, one woman has survived when it seemed impossible.
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Thursday, 16 March 2017
Drought: The new normal in East Africa?
A climate phenomenon known as the "Indian Nino" is causing frequent and intense droughts in parts of East Africa.
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Minister: How Nigeria can kick oil habit
"Never waste a good crisis" is a motto for Dr. Okechukwu "Okey" Enelamah, the Nigerian minister of industry, trade and investment.
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African soccer votes for change in shock result
African football has a new president for the first time in 29 years after Madagascar's Ahmad Ahmad won a surprise victory in Thursday's election.
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from CNN.com - RSS Channel - Regions - Africa http://ift.tt/2nshKrV
via IFTTT
Wednesday, 15 March 2017
US sends man back to Ethiopia over female genital mutilation
An Ethiopian man convicted in Georgia of mutilating his 2-year-old daughter's genitals has been sent back to his home country by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
from CNN.com - RSS Channel - Regions - Africa http://ift.tt/2mNqAyU
via IFTTT
from CNN.com - RSS Channel - Regions - Africa http://ift.tt/2mNqAyU
via IFTTT