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Thursday, 31 August 2017
Colombia's FARC unveils new political party
Colombia's most powerful former guerrilla force, FARC, is transitioning into the political arena. On Thursday, FARC unveiled the name and logo of its new political party. The acronym remains the same but the group's chosen party name is "Fuerza Alternativa Revolucionaria del Común" or "Common Alternative Revolutionary Force."
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Ontario Highway 71
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 1, 2017 is Ontario Highway 71.
King's Highway 71 is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Part of the Trans-Canada Highway, the 194-kilometre (121 mi) route travels west from the Fort Frances-International Falls International Bridge in Fort Frances, concurrently with Highway 11, for 40 kilometres (25 mi). At Chapple, Highway 71 branches from Highway 11, travelling 154 kilometres (96 mi) north to a junction with Highway 17 just east of Kenora. The concurrent portion of the highway follows the Cloverleaf Trail, which was completed by the end of the 1880s and improved over the next several decades. The portion between Highway 11 and Highway 17 follows the Heenan Highway, which connects the Rainy River region with Kenora and the remainder of Ontario's road network; before its opening the area was accessible only via the United States. Both highways were incorporated into the provincial highway system in 1937 following the merger of the Department of Highways and the Department of Northern Development.
King's Highway 71 is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Part of the Trans-Canada Highway, the 194-kilometre (121 mi) route travels west from the Fort Frances-International Falls International Bridge in Fort Frances, concurrently with Highway 11, for 40 kilometres (25 mi). At Chapple, Highway 71 branches from Highway 11, travelling 154 kilometres (96 mi) north to a junction with Highway 17 just east of Kenora. The concurrent portion of the highway follows the Cloverleaf Trail, which was completed by the end of the 1880s and improved over the next several decades. The portion between Highway 11 and Highway 17 follows the Heenan Highway, which connects the Rainy River region with Kenora and the remainder of Ontario's road network; before its opening the area was accessible only via the United States. Both highways were incorporated into the provincial highway system in 1937 following the merger of the Department of Highways and the Department of Northern Development.
desire line: Word of the day for September 1, 2017
desire line , n :
A path that pedestrians or vehicles take informally rather than taking a sidewalk or set route, for example, a well-worn ribbon of dirt cutting across a patch of grass, or a path in the snow.
A path that pedestrians or vehicles take informally rather than taking a sidewalk or set route, for example, a well-worn ribbon of dirt cutting across a patch of grass, or a path in the snow.
Wednesday, 30 August 2017
shambolic: Word of the day for August 31, 2017
shambolic , adj :
(Australia, Britain) Chaotic, disorganised or mismanaged.
(Australia, Britain) Chaotic, disorganised or mismanaged.
Meteorological history of Hurricane Ivan
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 31, 2017 is Meteorological history of Hurricane Ivan.
The meteorological history of Hurricane Ivan (2004) spans 26 days from late August to late September, the tenth longest storm duration of any Atlantic hurricane on record. The tropical cyclone developed from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on August 31. Tracking westward due to a ridge, it developed into Tropical Depression Nine on September 2, gradually intensifying until September 5, when it underwent rapid deepening and reached Category 4 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. At the time Ivan was the southernmost major North Atlantic hurricane on record. It was weakened by dry air but gradually reorganized, passing just south of Grenada as a major hurricane on September 7. The hurricane attained Category 5 status in the central Caribbean Sea, and passed just south of Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and western Cuba with winds at or slightly below that. Ivan gradually weakened before making landfall just west of Gulf Shores, Alabama, on September 16 with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). After weakening, crossing Florida, restrengthening, and making another landfall in Louisiana, its circulation dissipated in Texas on September 25.
The meteorological history of Hurricane Ivan (2004) spans 26 days from late August to late September, the tenth longest storm duration of any Atlantic hurricane on record. The tropical cyclone developed from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on August 31. Tracking westward due to a ridge, it developed into Tropical Depression Nine on September 2, gradually intensifying until September 5, when it underwent rapid deepening and reached Category 4 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. At the time Ivan was the southernmost major North Atlantic hurricane on record. It was weakened by dry air but gradually reorganized, passing just south of Grenada as a major hurricane on September 7. The hurricane attained Category 5 status in the central Caribbean Sea, and passed just south of Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and western Cuba with winds at or slightly below that. Ivan gradually weakened before making landfall just west of Gulf Shores, Alabama, on September 16 with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). After weakening, crossing Florida, restrengthening, and making another landfall in Louisiana, its circulation dissipated in Texas on September 25.
Tuesday, 29 August 2017
janissary: Word of the day for August 30, 2017
janissary , n :
(historical) An infantry soldier, often Christian, in a former elite Turkish guard (disbanded in 1826); by extension, any Turkish soldier, particularly one escorting a traveller. (figuratively) An elite, highly loyal supporter. Today is Zafer Bayramı (Victory Day) in Turkey, which commemorates the Battle of Dumlupınar in 1922 that ended the Turkish War of Independence.
(historical) An infantry soldier, often Christian, in a former elite Turkish guard (disbanded in 1826); by extension, any Turkish soldier, particularly one escorting a traveller. (figuratively) An elite, highly loyal supporter. Today is Zafer Bayramı (Victory Day) in Turkey, which commemorates the Battle of Dumlupınar in 1922 that ended the Turkish War of Independence.
Pallas's leaf warbler
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 30, 2017 is Pallas's leaf warbler.
Pallas's leaf warbler (Phylloscopus proregulus) is a migratory bird that breeds in mountain forests from southern Siberia east to northern Mongolia and northeastern China. It is named for German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas, who first described it. It winters mainly in and near southern China, although in recent decades increasing numbers have been found in Europe in autumn. One of the smallest Eurasian leaf warblers, it has a relatively large head and short tail. It has greenish upperparts and white underparts, a lemon-yellow rump, and yellow double wingbars and supercilia. The female builds a cup nest in a tree or bush, and incubates four to six eggs that hatch after 12 or 13 days. The chicks are fed mainly by the female and fledge when they are 12–14 days old. Pallas's leaf warbler feeds on small insects and spiders. It forages in bushes and trees, picking items from leaves or catching prey in short flights or while hovering. The species has a large range, its numbers are believed to be stable, and it is not endangered.
Pallas's leaf warbler (Phylloscopus proregulus) is a migratory bird that breeds in mountain forests from southern Siberia east to northern Mongolia and northeastern China. It is named for German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas, who first described it. It winters mainly in and near southern China, although in recent decades increasing numbers have been found in Europe in autumn. One of the smallest Eurasian leaf warblers, it has a relatively large head and short tail. It has greenish upperparts and white underparts, a lemon-yellow rump, and yellow double wingbars and supercilia. The female builds a cup nest in a tree or bush, and incubates four to six eggs that hatch after 12 or 13 days. The chicks are fed mainly by the female and fledge when they are 12–14 days old. Pallas's leaf warbler feeds on small insects and spiders. It forages in bushes and trees, picking items from leaves or catching prey in short flights or while hovering. The species has a large range, its numbers are believed to be stable, and it is not endangered.
Monday, 28 August 2017
Skynet: Word of the day for August 29, 2017
Skynet , proper n :
A family of United Kingdom military communications satellites. (science fiction) A distributed artificial intelligence system that is aware of the physical world and acts autonomously through cyborgs and computer control systems. Today is the 20th anniversary of “Judgment Day”, the day in 1997 when Skynet is supposed to initiate a nuclear holocaust in the 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
A family of United Kingdom military communications satellites. (science fiction) A distributed artificial intelligence system that is aware of the physical world and acts autonomously through cyborgs and computer control systems. Today is the 20th anniversary of “Judgment Day”, the day in 1997 when Skynet is supposed to initiate a nuclear holocaust in the 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 29, 2017 is Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908) was a Russian composer, a member of a group of prominent composers known as The Five, who worked together in Saint Petersburg in the mid-19th century. Considered a master of orchestration, his best-known compositions, which include Capriccio Espagnol, the Russian Easter Festival Overture, and the symphonic suite Scheherazade, are considered staples of the classical music repertoire, along with suites and excerpts from some of his 15 operas. Scheherazade is an example of Rimsky-Korsakov's frequent use of fairy tale and folk subjects; he also left a considerable body of original Russian nationalist compositions. His preparation of works by The Five for performance brought them into the active classical repertoire, although his editing of the music of Modest Mussorgsky created controversy. As a shaper of a generation of younger composers and musicians during his decades as an educator, he is considered the main architect of what the classical music public considers the Russian style of composition.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908) was a Russian composer, a member of a group of prominent composers known as The Five, who worked together in Saint Petersburg in the mid-19th century. Considered a master of orchestration, his best-known compositions, which include Capriccio Espagnol, the Russian Easter Festival Overture, and the symphonic suite Scheherazade, are considered staples of the classical music repertoire, along with suites and excerpts from some of his 15 operas. Scheherazade is an example of Rimsky-Korsakov's frequent use of fairy tale and folk subjects; he also left a considerable body of original Russian nationalist compositions. His preparation of works by The Five for performance brought them into the active classical repertoire, although his editing of the music of Modest Mussorgsky created controversy. As a shaper of a generation of younger composers and musicians during his decades as an educator, he is considered the main architect of what the classical music public considers the Russian style of composition.
Inventor: Device can detect explosives and cancer
A Nigerian start-up founder has created a device that he says can be used to detect the smell of explosives and even cancer cells.
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Civil war rages in East African nation
A US journalist has been killed in South Sudan.
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2 guilty in South Africa coffin assault case
Two white men have been convicted of attempted murder after they forced a black South African farmworker into a coffin, which they then threatened to set alight.
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Opinion: How Trump can stop the four famines
The President should use his media coverage as a call to action on the famine crisis afflicting Yemen, South Sudan, Yemen, and Nigeria, writes Richard Fontaine
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Nigerian President delivers speech after mystery illness
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has delivered a public speech for the first time since returning from three months of medical treatment in the UK.
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South Africa: Rhino horn auction stirs controversy
South Africa's first online auction of rhinoceros horn is underway, with more than 500 kilograms up for bid from Wednesday through Friday.
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The Kenyan artist who is taking the Maasai to space
Maasai elders may seem an improbable choice to navigate a spaceship, but for digital artist Jacque Njeri, the semi-nomadic nature of the tribe makes members the perfect candidates for space exploration.
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Breeding novelty animals for trophy hunting
South Africa's wildlife is thriving.
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Sunday, 27 August 2017
syndicate: Word of the day for August 28, 2017
syndicate , n :
A group of individuals or companies formed to transact some specific business, or to promote a common interest; a self-coordinating group. (crime) A group of gangsters engaged in organized crime. (mass media) A group of media companies, or an agency, formed to acquire content such as articles, cartoons, etc., and to publish it in multiple outlets; a chain of newspapers or other media outlets managed by such an organization. The office or jurisdiction of a syndic; a body or council of syndics.
A group of individuals or companies formed to transact some specific business, or to promote a common interest; a self-coordinating group. (crime) A group of gangsters engaged in organized crime. (mass media) A group of media companies, or an agency, formed to acquire content such as articles, cartoons, etc., and to publish it in multiple outlets; a chain of newspapers or other media outlets managed by such an organization. The office or jurisdiction of a syndic; a body or council of syndics.
Black Reconstruction in America
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 28, 2017 is Black Reconstruction in America.
W. E. B. Du Bois (1868–1963) was an American sociologist, historian and civil rights activist. The first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard, he became a professor of history, sociology and economics at Atlanta University. He rose to national prominence as the leader of the Niagara Movement, a group of African-American activists who wanted equal rights for blacks, and was one of the co-founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. He wrote one of the first scientific treatises in the field of American sociology, and published three autobiographies. Black Reconstruction in America (1935) challenged the prevailing orthodoxy that blacks were responsible for the failures of the Reconstruction Era. On August 28, 1963, a day after his death, his book The Souls of Black Folk was highlighted by Roy Wilkins at the March on Washington, and hundreds of thousands of marchers honored him with a moment of silence. A year later, the US Civil Rights Act, embodying many of the reforms for which he had campaigned his entire life, was enacted.
W. E. B. Du Bois (1868–1963) was an American sociologist, historian and civil rights activist. The first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard, he became a professor of history, sociology and economics at Atlanta University. He rose to national prominence as the leader of the Niagara Movement, a group of African-American activists who wanted equal rights for blacks, and was one of the co-founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. He wrote one of the first scientific treatises in the field of American sociology, and published three autobiographies. Black Reconstruction in America (1935) challenged the prevailing orthodoxy that blacks were responsible for the failures of the Reconstruction Era. On August 28, 1963, a day after his death, his book The Souls of Black Folk was highlighted by Roy Wilkins at the March on Washington, and hundreds of thousands of marchers honored him with a moment of silence. A year later, the US Civil Rights Act, embodying many of the reforms for which he had campaigned his entire life, was enacted.
Saturday, 26 August 2017
Lead
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 27, 2017 is Lead.
Lead is a chemical element with symbol Pb and atomic number 82. A heavy metal with a density exceeding that of most common materials, it is malleable and has a low melting point for a metal. Chemically, it is a relatively unreactive post-transition metal. Lead was known to prehistoric people. A principal ore of lead, galena, often bears silver; interest in silver sparked lead extraction and use in ancient Rome. Lead production declined after the fall of Rome and did not reach comparable levels until the Industrial Revolution. Nowadays, global production of lead is about ten million tonnes annually. Its high density, low melting point, high malleability, relative inertness to oxidation, relative abundance, and low cost have resulted in its extensive use in construction, plumbing, batteries, bullets and shot, weights, solders, pewters, fusible alloys, and radiation shielding. In the late 19th century, lead was recognized as highly toxic, and since then it has been phased out for many uses. A neurotoxin that accumulates in soft tissues and bones, it can damage the nervous system and cause brain and blood disorders.
Lead is a chemical element with symbol Pb and atomic number 82. A heavy metal with a density exceeding that of most common materials, it is malleable and has a low melting point for a metal. Chemically, it is a relatively unreactive post-transition metal. Lead was known to prehistoric people. A principal ore of lead, galena, often bears silver; interest in silver sparked lead extraction and use in ancient Rome. Lead production declined after the fall of Rome and did not reach comparable levels until the Industrial Revolution. Nowadays, global production of lead is about ten million tonnes annually. Its high density, low melting point, high malleability, relative inertness to oxidation, relative abundance, and low cost have resulted in its extensive use in construction, plumbing, batteries, bullets and shot, weights, solders, pewters, fusible alloys, and radiation shielding. In the late 19th century, lead was recognized as highly toxic, and since then it has been phased out for many uses. A neurotoxin that accumulates in soft tissues and bones, it can damage the nervous system and cause brain and blood disorders.
Friday, 25 August 2017
yeasayer: Word of the day for August 26, 2017
yeasayer , n :
One whose attitude is positive, optimistic, confidently affirmative. (pejorative) One who habitually agrees uncritically.
One whose attitude is positive, optimistic, confidently affirmative. (pejorative) One who habitually agrees uncritically.
Operation Bernhard
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 26, 2017 is Operation Bernhard.
Operation Bernhard was an exercise by the Nazis to forge British bank notes. The initial plan was to drop the notes over Britain to bring about a collapse of the economy, but the operation was closed in early 1942 after its head, Alfred Naujocks, fell out of favour with his superior officer, Reinhard Heydrich. It was reopened in July as a counterfeiting operation to finance German intelligence operations. Prisoners were sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp to work under SS Major Bernhard Krüger, producing British notes until mid-1945 worth between £130 and £300 million. Counterfeit notes from the operation were used to pay the Turkish agent Elyesa Bazna—code-named Cicero—for his work in obtaining secrets from the British ambassador in Ankara, Turkey. Another £100,000 helped to free the Italian leader Benito Mussolini in the Gran Sasso raid in September 1943. The operation was dramatised in a 1981 BBC comedy-drama miniseries, Private Schulz, and in a 2007 Austrian film, The Counterfeiters.
Operation Bernhard was an exercise by the Nazis to forge British bank notes. The initial plan was to drop the notes over Britain to bring about a collapse of the economy, but the operation was closed in early 1942 after its head, Alfred Naujocks, fell out of favour with his superior officer, Reinhard Heydrich. It was reopened in July as a counterfeiting operation to finance German intelligence operations. Prisoners were sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp to work under SS Major Bernhard Krüger, producing British notes until mid-1945 worth between £130 and £300 million. Counterfeit notes from the operation were used to pay the Turkish agent Elyesa Bazna—code-named Cicero—for his work in obtaining secrets from the British ambassador in Ankara, Turkey. Another £100,000 helped to free the Italian leader Benito Mussolini in the Gran Sasso raid in September 1943. The operation was dramatised in a 1981 BBC comedy-drama miniseries, Private Schulz, and in a 2007 Austrian film, The Counterfeiters.
Thursday, 24 August 2017
The Fade Out
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 25, 2017 is The Fade Out.
The Fade Out is a crime comic created by writer Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips with the help of colorist Elizabeth Breitweiser and research assistant Amy Condit. Twelve issues were published by Image Comics between August 2014 and January 2016, and republished in paperback and hardcover formats. The story, partly inspired by the life of Brubaker's uncle, is set in 1948 and features Charlie Parish, a Hollywood screenwriter suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder and fronting for his blacklisted best friend, Gil. When Charlie wakes from a blackout in the same room as a murdered starlet, he and Gil set out to bring her killer to justice. As they learn more about her troubled past, they find themselves up against powerful Hollywood elites. Although Brubaker had been concerned the premise was not commercial enough to have wide appeal, The Fade Out sold better than any of the authors' previous collaborations and early issues went through several printings. The series received positive reviews from critics, who enjoyed the tragic conclusion.
The Fade Out is a crime comic created by writer Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips with the help of colorist Elizabeth Breitweiser and research assistant Amy Condit. Twelve issues were published by Image Comics between August 2014 and January 2016, and republished in paperback and hardcover formats. The story, partly inspired by the life of Brubaker's uncle, is set in 1948 and features Charlie Parish, a Hollywood screenwriter suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder and fronting for his blacklisted best friend, Gil. When Charlie wakes from a blackout in the same room as a murdered starlet, he and Gil set out to bring her killer to justice. As they learn more about her troubled past, they find themselves up against powerful Hollywood elites. Although Brubaker had been concerned the premise was not commercial enough to have wide appeal, The Fade Out sold better than any of the authors' previous collaborations and early issues went through several printings. The series received positive reviews from critics, who enjoyed the tragic conclusion.
apple of discord: Word of the day for August 25, 2017
apple of discord , n :
An object or topic which sows anger and dissension; something which causes argument, rivalry, or strife.
An object or topic which sows anger and dissension; something which causes argument, rivalry, or strife.
Wednesday, 23 August 2017
Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co.
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 24, 2017 is Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co..
Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co. (1928) is a leading case in American tort law on the question of liability to an unforeseeable plaintiff. Arising out of an unusual incident on August 24, 1924, the case has been studied by generations of law students. The plaintiff, Helen Palsgraf, was injured as she was boarding a train when a man (aided by railroad employees) dropped a package that exploded, causing a large coin-operated scale on the platform to hit her. She sued the railroad, arguing that she had been harmed by the negligence of its employees while they assisted the man. She won a jury verdict but lost on appeal to the New York Court of Appeals, the highest state court in New York; its opinion was written by Chief Judge Benjamin Cardozo (pictured), a leading figure in the development of American common law and later a Supreme Court justice. Cardozo wrote for a majority of the Court of Appeals, ruling that the railroad was not negligent because its employees, in helping the man board, did not have a duty of care to Palsgraf as injury to her was not a foreseeable harm from aiding a man with a package.
Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co. (1928) is a leading case in American tort law on the question of liability to an unforeseeable plaintiff. Arising out of an unusual incident on August 24, 1924, the case has been studied by generations of law students. The plaintiff, Helen Palsgraf, was injured as she was boarding a train when a man (aided by railroad employees) dropped a package that exploded, causing a large coin-operated scale on the platform to hit her. She sued the railroad, arguing that she had been harmed by the negligence of its employees while they assisted the man. She won a jury verdict but lost on appeal to the New York Court of Appeals, the highest state court in New York; its opinion was written by Chief Judge Benjamin Cardozo (pictured), a leading figure in the development of American common law and later a Supreme Court justice. Cardozo wrote for a majority of the Court of Appeals, ruling that the railroad was not negligent because its employees, in helping the man board, did not have a duty of care to Palsgraf as injury to her was not a foreseeable harm from aiding a man with a package.
lumination: Word of the day for August 24, 2017
lumination , n :
(rare) Illumination; specifically, artificial illumination.
(rare) Illumination; specifically, artificial illumination.
Hoping for arrest as a first step to freedom outside US
Canadian authorities are scrambling to manage the exponential surge of asylum seekers flooding into Quebec province border. So many people have been fleeing in the past few months that Canadian police have set up tents for processing and background checks.
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Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Yugoslav torpedo boat T3
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 23, 2017 is Yugoslav torpedo boat T3.
T3 was a sea-going torpedo boat operated by the Royal Yugoslav Navy between 1921 and 1941. Originally 78 T, a 250t-class torpedo boat commissioned on 23 August 1914 by the Austro-Hungarian Navy, she saw active service during World War I, performing convoy, escort and minesweeping tasks, anti-submarine operations and shore bombardment missions. Following Austria-Hungary's defeat in 1918, she was allocated to Yugoslavia and renamed T3. She was captured by the Italians during the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941. After her main armament was modernised, she served with the Royal Italian Navy as T3, although she was only used for coastal and second-line tasks. Following the Italian capitulation in September 1943, she was captured by Germany, and after being fitted with additional anti-aircraft guns, she served with the German Navy and the Navy of the Independent State of Croatia as TA48. In German and Croatian service her crew of 52 consisted entirely of Croatian officers and enlisted men. She was sunk by Allied aircraft in February 1945 while in the port of Trieste, where she had been built.
T3 was a sea-going torpedo boat operated by the Royal Yugoslav Navy between 1921 and 1941. Originally 78 T, a 250t-class torpedo boat commissioned on 23 August 1914 by the Austro-Hungarian Navy, she saw active service during World War I, performing convoy, escort and minesweeping tasks, anti-submarine operations and shore bombardment missions. Following Austria-Hungary's defeat in 1918, she was allocated to Yugoslavia and renamed T3. She was captured by the Italians during the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941. After her main armament was modernised, she served with the Royal Italian Navy as T3, although she was only used for coastal and second-line tasks. Following the Italian capitulation in September 1943, she was captured by Germany, and after being fitted with additional anti-aircraft guns, she served with the German Navy and the Navy of the Independent State of Croatia as TA48. In German and Croatian service her crew of 52 consisted entirely of Croatian officers and enlisted men. She was sunk by Allied aircraft in February 1945 while in the port of Trieste, where she had been built.
paean: Word of the day for August 23, 2017
paean , n :
(Ancient Greece, historical) A chant or song, especially a hymn of thanksgiving for deliverance or victory, to Apollo or sometimes another god or goddess; hence any song sung to solicit victory in battle. Any loud and joyous song; a song of triumph. An enthusiastic expression of praise.
(Ancient Greece, historical) A chant or song, especially a hymn of thanksgiving for deliverance or victory, to Apollo or sometimes another god or goddess; hence any song sung to solicit victory in battle. Any loud and joyous song; a song of triumph. An enthusiastic expression of praise.
Monday, 21 August 2017
2015 Vuelta a España
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 22, 2017 is 2015 Vuelta a España.
The 2015 Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain) was the 70th edition of the three-week race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The 3,358.1-kilometre (2,086.6 mi) race included 21 stages, from Marbella on 22 August to Madrid on 13 September. Astana Pro Team's Fabio Aru (pictured) won the race, with Joaquim Rodríguez (Team Katusha) second and Rafał Majka (Tinkoff–Saxo) third. The early leaders were Esteban Chaves (Orica–GreenEDGE) and Tom Dumoulin (Team Giant–Alpecin). Aru took over the lead in Andorra following Stage 11, and kept it for five stages through the mountains of northern Spain before losing it to Rodríguez on Stage 16. Dumoulin retook the lead on Stage 17, but was dropped by Aru in the next-to-last stage, falling to sixth place overall. It was Aru's first Grand Tour victory. The points classification, decided during the final stage, was won by Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team), while Rodriguez won the combination classification. The mountains classification was won by Omar Fraile (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA). Dumoulin won the combativity award, while Movistar won the team prize.
The 2015 Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain) was the 70th edition of the three-week race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The 3,358.1-kilometre (2,086.6 mi) race included 21 stages, from Marbella on 22 August to Madrid on 13 September. Astana Pro Team's Fabio Aru (pictured) won the race, with Joaquim Rodríguez (Team Katusha) second and Rafał Majka (Tinkoff–Saxo) third. The early leaders were Esteban Chaves (Orica–GreenEDGE) and Tom Dumoulin (Team Giant–Alpecin). Aru took over the lead in Andorra following Stage 11, and kept it for five stages through the mountains of northern Spain before losing it to Rodríguez on Stage 16. Dumoulin retook the lead on Stage 17, but was dropped by Aru in the next-to-last stage, falling to sixth place overall. It was Aru's first Grand Tour victory. The points classification, decided during the final stage, was won by Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team), while Rodriguez won the combination classification. The mountains classification was won by Omar Fraile (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA). Dumoulin won the combativity award, while Movistar won the team prize.
talking head: Word of the day for August 22, 2017
talking head , n :
(idiomatic) A pundit, especially one on television, who discusses issues of the day. Charles Francis Jenkins, one of the inventors of television, was born on this day in 1867.
(idiomatic) A pundit, especially one on television, who discusses issues of the day. Charles Francis Jenkins, one of the inventors of television, was born on this day in 1867.
Sunday, 20 August 2017
My Happiness (Powderfinger song)
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 21, 2017 is My Happiness (Powderfinger song).
Powderfinger "My Happiness" is a song by Australian rock band Powderfinger (pictured), released by Universal Music Australia on 21 August 2000 as the first single from the band's fourth album, Odyssey Number Five. Frontman Bernard Fanning, inspired by a love of gospel and soul music, wrote the lyrics for "My Happiness" as a reflection on the loneliness the band felt while touring. The rest of the band are co-credited with Fanning for composing the track. Powderfinger's most successful single, it peaked at number four on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, was instantly successful in New Zealand, and was the first Powderfinger song to appear on the American Hot Modern Rock Tracks. It won an ARIA and an APRA Award, topped the Triple J Hottest 100 poll in 2000, and placed 27th in the 2009 Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time poll. Along with the single "My Kind of Scene", "My Happiness" was highly praised by critics; even negative reviews of Odyssey Number Five noted it as a highlight, especially for its catchy chorus.
Powderfinger "My Happiness" is a song by Australian rock band Powderfinger (pictured), released by Universal Music Australia on 21 August 2000 as the first single from the band's fourth album, Odyssey Number Five. Frontman Bernard Fanning, inspired by a love of gospel and soul music, wrote the lyrics for "My Happiness" as a reflection on the loneliness the band felt while touring. The rest of the band are co-credited with Fanning for composing the track. Powderfinger's most successful single, it peaked at number four on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, was instantly successful in New Zealand, and was the first Powderfinger song to appear on the American Hot Modern Rock Tracks. It won an ARIA and an APRA Award, topped the Triple J Hottest 100 poll in 2000, and placed 27th in the 2009 Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time poll. Along with the single "My Kind of Scene", "My Happiness" was highly praised by critics; even negative reviews of Odyssey Number Five noted it as a highlight, especially for its catchy chorus.
man down: Word of the day for August 21, 2017
man down , v :
(transitive, idiomatic) To lose courage or cause to lose courage. (transitive) To reduce in manpower. (transitive, chiefly falconry) To train (a raptor or other type of bird) to become accustomed to the presence of people; to man.
(transitive, idiomatic) To lose courage or cause to lose courage. (transitive) To reduce in manpower. (transitive, chiefly falconry) To train (a raptor or other type of bird) to become accustomed to the presence of people; to man.
Death toll mounts amid cholera fears
Sierra Leone is facing significant health challenges after this week's devastating mudslides claimed nearly 500 lives, a government official said, with the number of dead expected to rise.
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Grace Mugabe home after alleged assault on model
Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe returned home Sunday from South Africa where she was accused of assaulting a model with an electric cable, public broadcaster ZBC reported.
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Minibus crash in S.Africa leaves 18 dead
Emergency responders found more than a dozen bodies lying around an overturned minibus near a bridge in eastern South Africa Sunday, according to a news release from a private emergency services company.
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Buhari returns to Nigeria after medical treatment
President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Nigeria on Saturday after spending more than three months in London seeking medical treatment.
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Saturday, 19 August 2017
Lundomys
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 20, 2017 is Lundomys.
Lundomys molitor, commonly known as the greater marsh rat, is a semiaquatic rat species from southeastern South America. Its distribution is now restricted to Uruguay and nearby Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, but it previously ranged northward into Minas Gerais, Brazil, and southward into eastern Argentina. It was first described in 1887 by Danish zoologist Herluf Winge, who reviewed materials collected by Peter Wilhelm Lund in the caves of Lagoa Santa in Minas Gerais. The Argentine form may have been distinct from the form that now lives in Brazil and Uruguay. It is a large rodent, with a head-and-body length averaging 193 mm (7.6 in). Its tail is longer than the head and body combined. Its coat, yellow-brown at the sides, is long, dense, and soft. It is an excellent swimmer, propelled by large hindfeet with conspicuous interdigital webbing. It builds nests above the water supported by reeds. It is not currently threatened, reflecting a relatively wide distribution and the absence of evidence for a decline in populations.
Lundomys molitor, commonly known as the greater marsh rat, is a semiaquatic rat species from southeastern South America. Its distribution is now restricted to Uruguay and nearby Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, but it previously ranged northward into Minas Gerais, Brazil, and southward into eastern Argentina. It was first described in 1887 by Danish zoologist Herluf Winge, who reviewed materials collected by Peter Wilhelm Lund in the caves of Lagoa Santa in Minas Gerais. The Argentine form may have been distinct from the form that now lives in Brazil and Uruguay. It is a large rodent, with a head-and-body length averaging 193 mm (7.6 in). Its tail is longer than the head and body combined. Its coat, yellow-brown at the sides, is long, dense, and soft. It is an excellent swimmer, propelled by large hindfeet with conspicuous interdigital webbing. It builds nests above the water supported by reeds. It is not currently threatened, reflecting a relatively wide distribution and the absence of evidence for a decline in populations.
underbelly: Word of the day for August 20, 2017
underbelly , n :
The underside of an animal. The underside of any thing. (figuratively) The side which is not normally seen, normally a dark, immoral place.
The underside of an animal. The underside of any thing. (figuratively) The side which is not normally seen, normally a dark, immoral place.
Friday, 18 August 2017
Bone Wars
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 19, 2017 is Bone Wars.
The Bone Wars were rivalries between paleontologists, mainly Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, that led to a surge of fossil discoveries during the Gilded Age of American history. Cope, of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, and Marsh, of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale, competed using underhanded methods, resorting to bribery, theft, destruction of bones, and mutual attacks in scientific publications. They sought fossils in rich bone beds in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming. From 1877 to 1892, they used their wealth and influence to finance their own expeditions and to procure services and dinosaur bones from fossil hunters. Cope and Marsh were financially and socially ruined by their attempts to disgrace each other, but their contributions to science and the field of paleontology, including many unopened boxes of fossils found after their deaths, were massive. Their efforts led to many new descriptions of dinosaur species, of which 32 remain valid today. The Bone Wars shed light on prehistoric life and sparked the public's interest in dinosaurs, leading to continued fossil excavation in North America in the decades to follow.
The Bone Wars were rivalries between paleontologists, mainly Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, that led to a surge of fossil discoveries during the Gilded Age of American history. Cope, of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, and Marsh, of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale, competed using underhanded methods, resorting to bribery, theft, destruction of bones, and mutual attacks in scientific publications. They sought fossils in rich bone beds in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming. From 1877 to 1892, they used their wealth and influence to finance their own expeditions and to procure services and dinosaur bones from fossil hunters. Cope and Marsh were financially and socially ruined by their attempts to disgrace each other, but their contributions to science and the field of paleontology, including many unopened boxes of fossils found after their deaths, were massive. Their efforts led to many new descriptions of dinosaur species, of which 32 remain valid today. The Bone Wars shed light on prehistoric life and sparked the public's interest in dinosaurs, leading to continued fossil excavation in North America in the decades to follow.
trickle truth: Word of the day for August 19, 2017
trickle truth , n :
(informal) Facts gradually and reluctantly admitted by one's significant other under questioning, especially about having been unfaithful.
(informal) Facts gradually and reluctantly admitted by one's significant other under questioning, especially about having been unfaithful.
New mudslide threat looms
Officials in Sierra Leone say there is a growing threat of a new landslide, just days after a mudslide on the capital's outskirts left more than 330 dead. CNN's Farai Sevenzo has more.
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Canada sees 'unprecedented' surge in asylum seekers
Canadian officials stress that the influx can be handled and at no time has the security of the country been compromised.
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Thursday, 17 August 2017
Heathenry (new religious movement)
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 18, 2017 is Heathenry (new religious movement).
Heathenry, or Germanic Neopaganism, is a modern Pagan religion. The practitioners of this new religious movement model their faith on the belief systems of Germanic peoples of Iron Age and Early Medieval Europe. Heathenry uses historical, archaeological, and folkloric evidence as a basis. It does not have a unified theology and typically centers on a pantheon of deities. It adopts cosmological views, including an animistic view of the cosmos in which the natural world is imbued with spirits. Many practitioners are solitary; other members of the Heathen community assemble in small groups to perform their rites in specially constructed buildings or outdoors (pictured). Heathen ethical systems place great emphasis on honor, personal integrity, and loyalty, while beliefs about an afterlife are varied and rarely emphasized. Many groups adopt a universalist perspective which holds that the religion is open to all, irrespective of ethnic or racial identity. Scholarly estimates put the number of Heathens at no more than 20,000 worldwide, with communities of practitioners active in Europe, North America, and Australasia.
Heathenry, or Germanic Neopaganism, is a modern Pagan religion. The practitioners of this new religious movement model their faith on the belief systems of Germanic peoples of Iron Age and Early Medieval Europe. Heathenry uses historical, archaeological, and folkloric evidence as a basis. It does not have a unified theology and typically centers on a pantheon of deities. It adopts cosmological views, including an animistic view of the cosmos in which the natural world is imbued with spirits. Many practitioners are solitary; other members of the Heathen community assemble in small groups to perform their rites in specially constructed buildings or outdoors (pictured). Heathen ethical systems place great emphasis on honor, personal integrity, and loyalty, while beliefs about an afterlife are varied and rarely emphasized. Many groups adopt a universalist perspective which holds that the religion is open to all, irrespective of ethnic or racial identity. Scholarly estimates put the number of Heathens at no more than 20,000 worldwide, with communities of practitioners active in Europe, North America, and Australasia.
scabrous: Word of the day for August 18, 2017
scabrous , adj :
Covered with scales or scabs; hence, very coarse or rough. (figuratively) Disgusting, repellent, repulsive, vile. (figuratively) Of music, writing, etc.: lacking refinement, harsh, rough; unmelodious, unmusical. (figuratively) Difficult, thorny, troublesome. (figuratively, chiefly US) Covered with a crust of dirt or grime.
Covered with scales or scabs; hence, very coarse or rough. (figuratively) Disgusting, repellent, repulsive, vile. (figuratively) Of music, writing, etc.: lacking refinement, harsh, rough; unmelodious, unmusical. (figuratively) Difficult, thorny, troublesome. (figuratively, chiefly US) Covered with a crust of dirt or grime.
50 natural wonders: The ultimate list of scenic splendor
These awe-inspiring views will make you wish you'd paid attention in geography class.
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Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Hurricane Andrew
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 17, 2017 is Hurricane Andrew.
Hurricane Andrew (1992) was an Atlantic hurricane, the most destructive one ever in Florida. Named as a tropical storm on August 17, it hit the northwestern Bahamas six days later at Category 5 strength, leaving 1,700 people homeless, killing four, and disrupting the transport, communications, water, sanitation, agriculture, and fishing sectors. It struck Florida on August 24 with sustained wind speeds as high as 165 mph (270 km/h). In the city of Homestead in Miami-Dade County, it stripped many homes of all but their concrete foundations. Statewide, Andrew destroyed or damaged over 164,000 homes, killed 44 people, and left a record $25 billion in damage. A facility housing Burmese pythons was destroyed, releasing them into the Everglades, where they now number up to 300,000. The hurricane destroyed oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico before hitting Louisiana, where it downed 80% of the trees in the Atchafalaya River Basin, devastated agriculture, and caused 17 deaths. The storm spawned at least 28 tornadoes along the Gulf Coast, mostly in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. In total, Andrew caused $26.5 billion in damage and left 65 people dead.
Hurricane Andrew (1992) was an Atlantic hurricane, the most destructive one ever in Florida. Named as a tropical storm on August 17, it hit the northwestern Bahamas six days later at Category 5 strength, leaving 1,700 people homeless, killing four, and disrupting the transport, communications, water, sanitation, agriculture, and fishing sectors. It struck Florida on August 24 with sustained wind speeds as high as 165 mph (270 km/h). In the city of Homestead in Miami-Dade County, it stripped many homes of all but their concrete foundations. Statewide, Andrew destroyed or damaged over 164,000 homes, killed 44 people, and left a record $25 billion in damage. A facility housing Burmese pythons was destroyed, releasing them into the Everglades, where they now number up to 300,000. The hurricane destroyed oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico before hitting Louisiana, where it downed 80% of the trees in the Atchafalaya River Basin, devastated agriculture, and caused 17 deaths. The storm spawned at least 28 tornadoes along the Gulf Coast, mostly in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. In total, Andrew caused $26.5 billion in damage and left 65 people dead.
grisly: Word of the day for August 17, 2017
grisly , adj :
Horrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying.
Horrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying.
Nearly 300 bodies recovered
Rescuers have recovered nearly 300 bodies following Monday's deadly mudslide on the outskirts of Sierra Leone's capital, the country's tourism minister said Wednesday.
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Grace Mugabe seeks diplomatic immunity over 'assault'
Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe is seeking diplomatic immunity over allegations of assault in South Africa.
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Nigeria: At least 30 people killed in attack
At least 30 people were killed and more than 80 others injured in a triple suicide attack Tuesday in the town of Mandarari, in Nigeria's Borno State, according to civilian vigilantes fighting Boko Haram Islamists in the area.
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40,000-year-old culture in crisis
Deep in the Dja Faunal Reserve in southeast Cameroon, Baka Pygmies endeavor to live as they have always done: off the forest and firmly within it.
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Tuesday, 15 August 2017
come together: Word of the day for August 16, 2017
come together , v :
(intransitive) To assemble, to congregate. (intransitive, figuratively) To harmonize socially; to come to an amicable agreement; to ally or band together. […]
(intransitive) To assemble, to congregate. (intransitive, figuratively) To harmonize socially; to come to an amicable agreement; to ally or band together. […]
Richard II of England
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 16, 2017 is Richard II of England.
Richard II (1367–1400) was King of England, the last of the main-line kings of the House of Plantagenet. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. A son of Edward, the Black Prince, he was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III. Richard was tall, good-looking and intelligent, but he may have suffered from a personality disorder, especially toward the end of his reign. Less warlike than his father or grandfather, he sought to bring an end to the Hundred Years' War started by Edward III. A firm believer in the royal prerogative, he restrained the power of the aristocracy and relied on a private retinue for military protection. He promoted an elevated image of himself, and art and culture were at the centre of his court, in contrast to the fraternal, martial court of his grandfather. Shakespeare's play Richard II portrays his misrule and deposition as responsible for the 15th-century Wars of the Roses, but modern historians disagree, attributing his downfall to practices that were unacceptable to the political establishment.
Richard II (1367–1400) was King of England, the last of the main-line kings of the House of Plantagenet. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. A son of Edward, the Black Prince, he was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III. Richard was tall, good-looking and intelligent, but he may have suffered from a personality disorder, especially toward the end of his reign. Less warlike than his father or grandfather, he sought to bring an end to the Hundred Years' War started by Edward III. A firm believer in the royal prerogative, he restrained the power of the aristocracy and relied on a private retinue for military protection. He promoted an elevated image of himself, and art and culture were at the centre of his court, in contrast to the fraternal, martial court of his grandfather. Shakespeare's play Richard II portrays his misrule and deposition as responsible for the 15th-century Wars of the Roses, but modern historians disagree, attributing his downfall to practices that were unacceptable to the political establishment.
Sierra Leone floods: Rescue continues as death toll rises
The hunt for survivors of the deadly mudslide in Sierra Leone continued Tuesday as the official death toll rose to 245, with numbers expected to grow and hundreds still missing.
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Zimbabwean first lady faces allegations of assault at South Africa hotel
Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe is facing allegations she assaulted a 20-year-old woman on Sunday while on a visit to South Africa.
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Peacekeeper, workers killed in attack on UN missions in Mali
A total of eight people were killed Monday in two separate attacks on the United Nations mission in Mali, according to the UN.
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Tourists return to Tunisia after terror
Tunisia is still counting the cost of the worst terror attacks in its modern history.
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Monday, 14 August 2017
pomerium: Word of the day for August 15, 2017
pomerium , n :
(historical, Roman Empire) The tract of land denoting the formal, sacral ambit of a Roman city. Today is Ferragosto, a public holiday in Italy. The term derives from the Latin feriae Augusti (holidays of the Emperor Augustus), and is said to have been introduced by Augustus after his victory at the Battle of Actium in 31 bce.
(historical, Roman Empire) The tract of land denoting the formal, sacral ambit of a Roman city. Today is Ferragosto, a public holiday in Italy. The term derives from the Latin feriae Augusti (holidays of the Emperor Augustus), and is said to have been introduced by Augustus after his victory at the Battle of Actium in 31 bce.
Jennifer Lawrence
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 15, 2017 is Jennifer Lawrence.
Jennifer Lawrence (born August 15, 1990) is an American actress. After starring in the television series The Bill Engvall Show (2007–2009) and making her film debut in Garden Party (2008), she had her breakthrough with Winter's Bone in 2010. She took over the role of Mystique in the X-Men film series in 2011, and starred as Katniss Everdeen in the top-grossing Hunger Games films (2012–2015). She became the second-youngest recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing a depressed widow in Silver Linings Playbook (2012). She won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for playing a troubled wife in American Hustle (2013), and received Golden Globe Awards for both of these films and for playing an inventor in the biopic Joy (2015). Lawrence's films have grossed in excess of $5.5 billion globally, and she has been the world's highest-paid actress since 2015. Her many awards and honors include appearances in Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2013 and the Forbes Celebrity 100 in 2014 and 2016. She is a vocal advocate of feminism and gender equality.
Jennifer Lawrence (born August 15, 1990) is an American actress. After starring in the television series The Bill Engvall Show (2007–2009) and making her film debut in Garden Party (2008), she had her breakthrough with Winter's Bone in 2010. She took over the role of Mystique in the X-Men film series in 2011, and starred as Katniss Everdeen in the top-grossing Hunger Games films (2012–2015). She became the second-youngest recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing a depressed widow in Silver Linings Playbook (2012). She won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for playing a troubled wife in American Hustle (2013), and received Golden Globe Awards for both of these films and for playing an inventor in the biopic Joy (2015). Lawrence's films have grossed in excess of $5.5 billion globally, and she has been the world's highest-paid actress since 2015. Her many awards and honors include appearances in Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2013 and the Forbes Celebrity 100 in 2014 and 2016. She is a vocal advocate of feminism and gender equality.
Former Al-Shabaab deputy leader surrenders
Former Al-Shabaab deputy leader and spokesman Mukhtar Robow Ali surrendered to Somali authorities on Sunday, according to a state official.
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Sunday, 13 August 2017
rupee: Word of the day for August 14, 2017
rupee , n :
The common name for the monetary currencies used in modern India, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, the Seychelles, or Sri Lanka, often abbreviated ₨. A silver coin circulating in India between the 16th and 20th centuries, weighing one tola (formerly 170–180 troy grains; from 1833, 180 troy grains). Today is the Independence Day of Pakistan, one of the countries that calls its currency the rupee.
The common name for the monetary currencies used in modern India, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, the Seychelles, or Sri Lanka, often abbreviated ₨. A silver coin circulating in India between the 16th and 20th centuries, weighing one tola (formerly 170–180 troy grains; from 1833, 180 troy grains). Today is the Independence Day of Pakistan, one of the countries that calls its currency the rupee.
Xx (album)
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 14, 2017 is Xx (album).
xx is the debut album by English indie pop band the xx, released by Young Turks, an imprint of XL Recordings, on 14 August 2009. Audio engineer Rodaidh McDonald and the xx strove for an intimate, unembellished sound. The band's Jamie Smith produced xx on his laptop, mixing in electronic beats. Strongly influenced by R&B acts, the album also drew comparisons to alternative rock, electronica, and post-punk sounds. The melancholic songs on xx featured minimalist arrangements. Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim sang most of these as low-key duets, and wrote emotional lyrics about love, intimacy, loss, and desire. The album received widespread acclaim from critics, many naming it one of the year's best records. It became a sleeper hit in Britain and the United States. Although none of its singles became hits, xx benefited from the licensing of its songs on television and the band's 2010 Mercury Prize win for the album. In 2013, xx was ranked number 237 on NME magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
xx is the debut album by English indie pop band the xx, released by Young Turks, an imprint of XL Recordings, on 14 August 2009. Audio engineer Rodaidh McDonald and the xx strove for an intimate, unembellished sound. The band's Jamie Smith produced xx on his laptop, mixing in electronic beats. Strongly influenced by R&B acts, the album also drew comparisons to alternative rock, electronica, and post-punk sounds. The melancholic songs on xx featured minimalist arrangements. Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim sang most of these as low-key duets, and wrote emotional lyrics about love, intimacy, loss, and desire. The album received widespread acclaim from critics, many naming it one of the year's best records. It became a sleeper hit in Britain and the United States. Although none of its singles became hits, xx benefited from the licensing of its songs on television and the band's 2010 Mercury Prize win for the album. In 2013, xx was ranked number 237 on NME magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Dozens killed in Egyptian train collision
Two trains collided in Alexandria, Egypt, leaving at least 20 dead and 74 wounded, according to Egypt's Health Ministry, via state-run Al-Ahram news.
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John Kerry reassures Kenyans vote was not rigged
Former US Secretary of State John Kerry said he was confident in the "overall integrity" of the Kenyan elections and praised the country's election commission for its transparency and diligence on Thursday.
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$1 billion grant approved for Mugabe University
The cash-strapped government of Zimbabwe announced Wednesday that it has approved a grant of $1 billion for the construction of a university to be named after the country's President Robert Mugabe.
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Why teens are fleeing to war-torn Yemen
Refugees and migrants hoping to reach oil-rich Gulf countries -- many of them teenagers -- are increasingly traversing a dangerous sea route to Yemen, despite the conflict raging there.
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Up to 50 migrants feared dead
Up to 50 Somalis and Ethiopians are feared dead after a smuggler taking dozens of migrants to Yemen forced them back into the Arabian Sea off the nation's coast, the UN migration agency said.
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Study: Boko Haram favors women, children as suicide bombers
The majority of suicide bombers used by terror group Boko Haram to kill innocent victims are women and children, a US study reveals.
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Africa leaps forward into space technology
African space programs are nothing new.
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Odinga rejects preliminary results
Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga has claimed the country's election systems were "hacked," leading to "massive" voting fraud following Tuesday's presidential elections.
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Isaac Makwala qualifies for 200m final after day of drama in London
From heartbreak to hope for an athlete who experienced 24 hours like no other at the IAAF World Championships in London.
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Saturday, 12 August 2017
sinistromanual: Word of the day for August 13, 2017
sinistromanual , adj :
Left-handed. Today is celebrated by some people as International Lefthanders Day.
Left-handed. Today is celebrated by some people as International Lefthanders Day.
Bert T. Combs
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 13, 2017 is Bert T. Combs.
Bert T. Combs (August 13, 1911 – December 4, 1991) was an American jurist and politician from Kentucky. After being decorated for prosecuting Japanese war criminals before military tribunals during World War II, he returned to his law practice in Prestonsburg. In 1951 he was appointed by Governor Lawrence Wetherby to fill a vacancy on the Kentucky Court of Appeals, and was elected to a full term later that year. He was elected the 50th Governor of Kentucky in 1959 on his second run for the office. Combs secured passage early in his term of a larger-than-needed three percent sales tax to pay a bonus to the state's military veterans, and used much of the surplus to improve the state's educational system and expand the state park and highway systems. He was appointed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967, serving three years. In 1985 Combs' challenge to the state's education funding model led to a court ruling that declared Kentucky's entire public school system unconstitutional. In 1991 Combs was caught in a flash flood on the road, and died of hypothermia.
Bert T. Combs (August 13, 1911 – December 4, 1991) was an American jurist and politician from Kentucky. After being decorated for prosecuting Japanese war criminals before military tribunals during World War II, he returned to his law practice in Prestonsburg. In 1951 he was appointed by Governor Lawrence Wetherby to fill a vacancy on the Kentucky Court of Appeals, and was elected to a full term later that year. He was elected the 50th Governor of Kentucky in 1959 on his second run for the office. Combs secured passage early in his term of a larger-than-needed three percent sales tax to pay a bonus to the state's military veterans, and used much of the surplus to improve the state's educational system and expand the state park and highway systems. He was appointed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967, serving three years. In 1985 Combs' challenge to the state's education funding model led to a court ruling that declared Kentucky's entire public school system unconstitutional. In 1991 Combs was caught in a flash flood on the road, and died of hypothermia.
Leaving Venezuela with just four suitcases
Carolina Wong never thought she would leave Venezuela. But when protests came to her door, it was time to find a way to get her family out.
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Friday, 11 August 2017
gunmetal: Word of the day for August 12, 2017
gunmetal , n :
(historical) A type of bronze used for making cannons. An alloy of 88% copper, 10% tin and 2% zinc, originally used for making guns. A dark grey or bluish-grey colour; gunmetal-grey. American gunmaker Eliphalet Remington, who founded the Remington Arms company and designed the Remington rifle, died on this day in 1861.
(historical) A type of bronze used for making cannons. An alloy of 88% copper, 10% tin and 2% zinc, originally used for making guns. A dark grey or bluish-grey colour; gunmetal-grey. American gunmaker Eliphalet Remington, who founded the Remington Arms company and designed the Remington rifle, died on this day in 1861.
Falaise Pocket
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 12, 2017 is Falaise Pocket.
In the Battle of the Falaise Pocket (12–21 August 1944) in the Second World War, Allied forces encircled and destroyed most of the German Army Group B west of the Seine river in a pocket at Falaise in northwestern France. It was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy. The Americans had broken out from the Normandy beachhead, the Third U.S. Army under General George Patton was rapidly advancing, and British and Canadian forces were launching offensives south of Caumont and Caen. Adolf Hitler ordered Field Marshal Günther von Kluge, the commander of Army Group B, to conduct a counter-offensive at Mortain instead of withdrawing. Four depleted panzer divisions were not enough to stop the First U.S. Army, which converged with the British Second Army and the First Canadian Army on the Falaise–Chambois area, directed by the Allied ground forces commander, General Bernard Montgomery. German counter-attacks forced some gaps in the Allied lines, but by the evening of 21 August the pocket had been sealed, with around 50,000 Germans trapped inside. Many escaped, but losses in men and equipment were huge. A few days later, the Allies liberated Paris.
In the Battle of the Falaise Pocket (12–21 August 1944) in the Second World War, Allied forces encircled and destroyed most of the German Army Group B west of the Seine river in a pocket at Falaise in northwestern France. It was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy. The Americans had broken out from the Normandy beachhead, the Third U.S. Army under General George Patton was rapidly advancing, and British and Canadian forces were launching offensives south of Caumont and Caen. Adolf Hitler ordered Field Marshal Günther von Kluge, the commander of Army Group B, to conduct a counter-offensive at Mortain instead of withdrawing. Four depleted panzer divisions were not enough to stop the First U.S. Army, which converged with the British Second Army and the First Canadian Army on the Falaise–Chambois area, directed by the Allied ground forces commander, General Bernard Montgomery. German counter-attacks forced some gaps in the Allied lines, but by the evening of 21 August the pocket had been sealed, with around 50,000 Germans trapped inside. Many escaped, but losses in men and equipment were huge. A few days later, the Allies liberated Paris.
Thursday, 10 August 2017
find oneself: Word of the day for August 11, 2017
find oneself , v :
(idiomatic) To learn, or attempt to learn, what kind of person one is and what one wants in life. (idiomatic) To unexpectedly or unintentionally begin to do or experience something. (idiomatic) To be in a particular state of mind. (literally) To find (something) for oneself. (literally) To discover oneself to be in a particular place.
(idiomatic) To learn, or attempt to learn, what kind of person one is and what one wants in life. (idiomatic) To unexpectedly or unintentionally begin to do or experience something. (idiomatic) To be in a particular state of mind. (literally) To find (something) for oneself. (literally) To discover oneself to be in a particular place.
Elfin woods warbler
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 11, 2017 is Elfin woods warbler.
The elfin woods warbler (Setophaga angelae) is an uncommon bird species endemic to Puerto Rico. Discovered in 1968, it is the most recently described species of the New World warblers. The name angelae is a tribute to Angela Kepler, one of its discoverers. Characteristic of Antillean warblers (S. adelaidae, S. delicata, S. plumbea and S. pharetra), the species features a long bill and short, round wings (averaging 53.8 mm or 2.12 in). An insectivore, it feeds by gleaning small insects off leaves. El Yunque National Forest, where it was first captured, was initially believed to be its only habitat, but its largest population has been found in the Maricao State Forest. Due to its small numbers and restricted habitats, conservation efforts were begun in 1982 to protect this species. It is not in immediate danger as it lives mainly in protected forest, but potential threats include habitat reduction, natural disasters, and introduced species such as rats and small Asian mongooses.
The elfin woods warbler (Setophaga angelae) is an uncommon bird species endemic to Puerto Rico. Discovered in 1968, it is the most recently described species of the New World warblers. The name angelae is a tribute to Angela Kepler, one of its discoverers. Characteristic of Antillean warblers (S. adelaidae, S. delicata, S. plumbea and S. pharetra), the species features a long bill and short, round wings (averaging 53.8 mm or 2.12 in). An insectivore, it feeds by gleaning small insects off leaves. El Yunque National Forest, where it was first captured, was initially believed to be its only habitat, but its largest population has been found in the Maricao State Forest. Due to its small numbers and restricted habitats, conservation efforts were begun in 1982 to protect this species. It is not in immediate danger as it lives mainly in protected forest, but potential threats include habitat reduction, natural disasters, and introduced species such as rats and small Asian mongooses.
Wednesday, 9 August 2017
Lynx (constellation)
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 10, 2017 is Lynx (constellation).
Lynx is a constellation in the northern sky that was introduced in the 17th century by Johannes Hevelius. Named after the animal, it is a faint constellation whose brightest stars form a zigzag line. The orange giant Alpha Lyncis is the brightest star in the constellation, while the semiregular variable star Y Lyncis is a popular target for amateur astronomers. Six star systems have been found to contain planets. Those of 6 Lyncis and HD 75898 were discovered by the Doppler method; those of XO-2, XO-4, XO-5 and WASP-13 were observed as they passed in front of the host star. Within the constellation's borders lie NGC 2419, an unusually remote globular cluster; the galaxy NGC 2770, which has hosted three recent Type Ib supernovae; the distant quasar APM 08279+5255, whose light is magnified and split into multiple images by the gravitational lensing effect of a foreground galaxy; and the Lynx Supercluster, which was the most distant supercluster known at the time of its discovery in 1999.
Lynx is a constellation in the northern sky that was introduced in the 17th century by Johannes Hevelius. Named after the animal, it is a faint constellation whose brightest stars form a zigzag line. The orange giant Alpha Lyncis is the brightest star in the constellation, while the semiregular variable star Y Lyncis is a popular target for amateur astronomers. Six star systems have been found to contain planets. Those of 6 Lyncis and HD 75898 were discovered by the Doppler method; those of XO-2, XO-4, XO-5 and WASP-13 were observed as they passed in front of the host star. Within the constellation's borders lie NGC 2419, an unusually remote globular cluster; the galaxy NGC 2770, which has hosted three recent Type Ib supernovae; the distant quasar APM 08279+5255, whose light is magnified and split into multiple images by the gravitational lensing effect of a foreground galaxy; and the Lynx Supercluster, which was the most distant supercluster known at the time of its discovery in 1999.
Hurricane Franklin is first in Atlantic this year
Tropical Storm Franklin gained strength Wednesday to become a Category 1 hurricane -- with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.
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Tuesday, 8 August 2017
merlion: Word of the day for August 9, 2017
merlion , n :
(Singapore) An imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, which is one of the national symbols of Singapore. Today is Singapore’s National Day, which commemorates the nation’s independence from Malaysia in 1965.
(Singapore) An imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, which is one of the national symbols of Singapore. Today is Singapore’s National Day, which commemorates the nation’s independence from Malaysia in 1965.
Leningrad première of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 9, 2017 is Leningrad première of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7.
The Leningrad première of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 took place on 9 August 1942 during the Second World War, while the city (now Saint Petersburg) was under siege by Nazi German forces. Dmitri Shostakovich (pictured) had intended for the piece to be premièred by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, but they had been evacuated because of the siege, along with the composer, and the world première was instead held in Kuybyshev. The Leningrad première was performed by the surviving musicians of the Leningrad Radio Orchestra, supplemented with military performers. Most of the musicians were starving, and three died during rehearsals. Supported by a Soviet military offensive intended to silence German forces, the performance was a success, prompting an hour-long ovation. The symphony was broadcast to the German lines by loudspeaker as a form of psychological warfare. The Leningrad première was considered by music critics to be one of the most important artistic performances of the war because of its psychological and political effects. Reunion concerts featuring surviving musicians were convened in 1964 and 1992 to commemorate the event.
The Leningrad première of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 took place on 9 August 1942 during the Second World War, while the city (now Saint Petersburg) was under siege by Nazi German forces. Dmitri Shostakovich (pictured) had intended for the piece to be premièred by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, but they had been evacuated because of the siege, along with the composer, and the world première was instead held in Kuybyshev. The Leningrad première was performed by the surviving musicians of the Leningrad Radio Orchestra, supplemented with military performers. Most of the musicians were starving, and three died during rehearsals. Supported by a Soviet military offensive intended to silence German forces, the performance was a success, prompting an hour-long ovation. The symphony was broadcast to the German lines by loudspeaker as a form of psychological warfare. The Leningrad première was considered by music critics to be one of the most important artistic performances of the war because of its psychological and political effects. Reunion concerts featuring surviving musicians were convened in 1964 and 1992 to commemorate the event.
UN: Excessive force against Venezuelan protesters
Venezuelan security forces have used excessive force and arbitrarily detained thousands of people over months of sometimes deadly anti-regime protests, the UN's human rights office said Tuesday, citing interviews with demonstrators and witnesses.
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Monday, 7 August 2017
filch: Word of the day for August 8, 2017
filch , v :
(transitive) To illegally take possession of (especially items of low value); to pilfer, to steal. The Great Train Robbery took place at Bridego Railway Bridge, in Ledburn, Buckinghamshire, England, UK, on this day in 1963. Most of the over £2.6 million in cash which was stolen has never been recovered.
(transitive) To illegally take possession of (especially items of low value); to pilfer, to steal. The Great Train Robbery took place at Bridego Railway Bridge, in Ledburn, Buckinghamshire, England, UK, on this day in 1963. Most of the over £2.6 million in cash which was stolen has never been recovered.
Quehanna Wild Area
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 8, 2017 is Quehanna Wild Area.
Quehanna Wild Area is a wildlife area in Cameron, Clearfield, and Elk counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. At 48,186 acres (75 sq mi; 195 km2), it is the largest state forest wild area in Pennsylvania, and hosts herds of native elk. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the logging industry cut the virgin forests. In 1955 the Curtiss-Wright Corporation bought 80 square miles (210 km2) of state forest for a facility developing nuclear-powered jet engines. A succession of tenants further contaminated the nuclear reactor facility and its hot cells with radioactive isotopes, including strontium-90 and cobalt-60. Pennsylvania reacquired the land in 1963 and 1967, and in 1965 established Quehanna as a wild area, but retained the nuclear facility and industrial complex. The facilities were used to treat hardwood flooring with radiation until 2002. The cleanup of the reactor and hot cells took over eight years and cost $30 million. Quehanna Wild Area has many sites with radioactive and toxic waste; some have been cleaned up, but others have been dug up by black bears and white-tailed deer.
Quehanna Wild Area is a wildlife area in Cameron, Clearfield, and Elk counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. At 48,186 acres (75 sq mi; 195 km2), it is the largest state forest wild area in Pennsylvania, and hosts herds of native elk. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the logging industry cut the virgin forests. In 1955 the Curtiss-Wright Corporation bought 80 square miles (210 km2) of state forest for a facility developing nuclear-powered jet engines. A succession of tenants further contaminated the nuclear reactor facility and its hot cells with radioactive isotopes, including strontium-90 and cobalt-60. Pennsylvania reacquired the land in 1963 and 1967, and in 1965 established Quehanna as a wild area, but retained the nuclear facility and industrial complex. The facilities were used to treat hardwood flooring with radiation until 2002. The cleanup of the reactor and hot cells took over eight years and cost $30 million. Quehanna Wild Area has many sites with radioactive and toxic waste; some have been cleaned up, but others have been dug up by black bears and white-tailed deer.
Venezuela hunts army base attackers
A manhunt is underway in Venezuela Monday after two people were killed in an anti-government paramilitary attack at a military barracks in the northwestern city of Valencia.
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Tropical Storm Franklin menaces Yucatan
Tropical Storm Franklin is strengthening over the Caribbean Sea, menacing Mexico with storm warnings and a hurricane watch issued for the Yucatan peninsula.
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Sunday, 6 August 2017
nene: Word of the day for August 7, 2017
nene , n :
The Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis, which was designated the state bird of Hawaii in 1957. Twins Days, a festival celebrating multiple births, takes place annually in Twinsburg, Ohio, USA, during the first full weekend of August.
The Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis, which was designated the state bird of Hawaii in 1957. Twins Days, a festival celebrating multiple births, takes place annually in Twinsburg, Ohio, USA, during the first full weekend of August.
Disneyland Railroad
The Wikipedia article of the day for August 7, 2017 is Disneyland Railroad.
The Disneyland Railroad is a 3-foot (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad and attraction in the Disneyland theme park of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, in the United States. Its route is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long, has four train stations, and encircles almost everything in the park. The rail line, which was built by WED Enterprises, is operated with two steam locomotives built by WED and three historic steam locomotives originally built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. The attraction originated as a concept created by Walt Disney, who drew inspiration from the ridable miniature Carolwood Pacific Railroad built in his backyard. Since 1955 when the Disneyland Railroad first opened to the public at the park's grand opening, it has been consistently billed as one of the top attractions, and for many years visitors had to buy a top-tier ticket to ride the train. It is one of the world's most popular steam-powered railroads, with an estimated 6.6 million passengers served each year.
The Disneyland Railroad is a 3-foot (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad and attraction in the Disneyland theme park of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, in the United States. Its route is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long, has four train stations, and encircles almost everything in the park. The rail line, which was built by WED Enterprises, is operated with two steam locomotives built by WED and three historic steam locomotives originally built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. The attraction originated as a concept created by Walt Disney, who drew inspiration from the ridable miniature Carolwood Pacific Railroad built in his backyard. Since 1955 when the Disneyland Railroad first opened to the public at the park's grand opening, it has been consistently billed as one of the top attractions, and for many years visitors had to buy a top-tier ticket to ride the train. It is one of the world's most popular steam-powered railroads, with an estimated 6.6 million passengers served each year.
Venezuela quells 'paramilitary' attack at base; 2 dead
Venezuela remained a powder keg on Sunday as authorities said they had quelled an anti-government paramilitary attack at a military base that led to the deaths of two people, and the country's attorney general defied her ouster by the newly elected National Constituent Assembly.
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Saturday, 5 August 2017
Venezuela's Leopoldo Lopez returns to house arrest
Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, whose recent imprisonment was criticized by the international community, was released to house arrest late Saturday.
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