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Saturday, 30 September 2017
Air France superjumbo engine failure forces emergency landing in Canada
An Air France flight from Paris to Los Angeles made an emergency landing in Canada on Saturday after one of its engines failed during an Atlantic crossing.
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The Founding Ceremony of the Nation
The Wikipedia article of the day for October 1, 2017 is The Founding Ceremony of the Nation.
The Founding Ceremony of the Nation is a 1953 oil painting by Chinese artist Dong Xiwen. It depicts Mao Zedong and other Communist officials inaugurating the People's Republic of China at Tiananmen Square on October 1, 1949. A prominent example of socialist realism, it is one of the most celebrated works of official Chinese art. After the Communists took control of China, they sought to memorialize their achievements through artworks. Dong was commissioned, and completed the oil painting in three months in a folk art style, drawing on historical Chinese art. The success of the painting was assured when Mao viewed it and liked it, and it was reproduced in large numbers for display in homes. Dong was ordered to remove Gao Gang from the painting in 1954 and Liu Shaoqi in 1967, after government purges. In 1972 a reproduction was painted by other artists to accommodate another deletion. After the purged officials were rehabilitated, the replica was modified in 1979 to include them. Both canvases are in the National Museum of China in Beijing.
The Founding Ceremony of the Nation is a 1953 oil painting by Chinese artist Dong Xiwen. It depicts Mao Zedong and other Communist officials inaugurating the People's Republic of China at Tiananmen Square on October 1, 1949. A prominent example of socialist realism, it is one of the most celebrated works of official Chinese art. After the Communists took control of China, they sought to memorialize their achievements through artworks. Dong was commissioned, and completed the oil painting in three months in a folk art style, drawing on historical Chinese art. The success of the painting was assured when Mao viewed it and liked it, and it was reproduced in large numbers for display in homes. Dong was ordered to remove Gao Gang from the painting in 1954 and Liu Shaoqi in 1967, after government purges. In 1972 a reproduction was painted by other artists to accommodate another deletion. After the purged officials were rehabilitated, the replica was modified in 1979 to include them. Both canvases are in the National Museum of China in Beijing.
songcraft: Word of the day for October 1, 2017
songcraft , n :
(music) The practice or skill of crafting or composing songs. Today is designated International Music Day by the International Music Council to promote musical art among all sections of society, among other things. It was established in 1975 by violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin, who was President of the Council at the time.
(music) The practice or skill of crafting or composing songs. Today is designated International Music Day by the International Music Council to promote musical art among all sections of society, among other things. It was established in 1975 by violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin, who was President of the Council at the time.
Friday, 29 September 2017
bombast: Word of the day for September 30, 2017
bombast , n :
(archaic) Cotton, or cotton wool. (archaic) Cotton, or any soft, fibrous material, used as stuffing for garments; stuffing, padding. (figuratively) High-sounding words; language above the dignity of the occasion; a pompous or ostentatious manner of writing or speaking.
(archaic) Cotton, or cotton wool. (archaic) Cotton, or any soft, fibrous material, used as stuffing for garments; stuffing, padding. (figuratively) High-sounding words; language above the dignity of the occasion; a pompous or ostentatious manner of writing or speaking.
Washington v. Texas
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 30, 2017 is Washington v. Texas.
Washington v. Texas (1967) is a US Supreme Court case about the right of criminal defendants to have witnesses testify on their behalf. The Court decided that the Compulsory Process Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution applied in state courts as well as federal courts. At his trial Jackie Washington had attempted to call his co-defendant as a witness but was blocked because state law prevented co-defendants from testifying for each other, under the theory that they might lie for each other on the stand. The Supreme Court reasoned that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment gives defendants the right to fair proceedings, including the right to compel defense witnesses to testify. In previous cases, the Supreme Court had ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment, which was adopted after the Civil War, makes many federal guarantees in the Bill of Rights applicable to the states. The impact of Washington was narrowed by a later case, Taylor v. Illinois (1988), in which the Court said that "countervailing public interests" could be balanced against a defendant's right to present witnesses.
Washington v. Texas (1967) is a US Supreme Court case about the right of criminal defendants to have witnesses testify on their behalf. The Court decided that the Compulsory Process Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution applied in state courts as well as federal courts. At his trial Jackie Washington had attempted to call his co-defendant as a witness but was blocked because state law prevented co-defendants from testifying for each other, under the theory that they might lie for each other on the stand. The Supreme Court reasoned that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment gives defendants the right to fair proceedings, including the right to compel defense witnesses to testify. In previous cases, the Supreme Court had ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment, which was adopted after the Civil War, makes many federal guarantees in the Bill of Rights applicable to the states. The impact of Washington was narrowed by a later case, Taylor v. Illinois (1988), in which the Court said that "countervailing public interests" could be balanced against a defendant's right to present witnesses.
The US Virgin Islands are suffering from the storms, too
The humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico grips the country, but the destruction from the storms was widespread, and the US Virgin Islands are facing their own lengthy recovery.
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Cuba Fast Facts
Read Cuba Fast Facts from CNN and learn more about this communist country located in the Caribbean Sea, approximately 90 miles south of Florida.
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Engineer makes epic 4,900-mile road trip from Paris to Accra
Some people just prefer to hit the road.
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Corruption scandals rock South Africa
CNN's David McKenzie looks at a corruption vortex in South Africa.
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Thursday, 28 September 2017
whopping: Word of the day for September 29, 2017
whopping , adj :
(colloquial) Exceptionally great or large.
(colloquial) Exceptionally great or large.
Michael Francis Egan
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 29, 2017 is Michael Francis Egan.
Michael Francis Egan (September 29, 1761 – July 22, 1814) was a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Born in Ireland, he joined the Franciscan Order at a young age. He was ordained a priest, probably in Prague, in 1785 or 1786. He advanced rapidly to positions of responsibility in the Franciscan order, becoming custos (guardian) in the province of Munster in Ireland, then at the Pontifical College at the home of Irish Franciscans in Rome, and later at Ennis in Ireland. Egan arrived in the United States in January 1802 to serve as an assistant pastor near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His reputation as a gifted preacher secured him a position in 1803 as a pastor at St. Mary's Church in Philadelphia. In 1808, he was appointed the first Bishop of Philadelphia, holding that position until his death in 1814. His tenure as bishop saw the construction of new churches and the expansion of the Catholic Church membership in his diocese, but much of his time was consumed by disputes with the lay trustees of St. Mary's Church.
Michael Francis Egan (September 29, 1761 – July 22, 1814) was a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Born in Ireland, he joined the Franciscan Order at a young age. He was ordained a priest, probably in Prague, in 1785 or 1786. He advanced rapidly to positions of responsibility in the Franciscan order, becoming custos (guardian) in the province of Munster in Ireland, then at the Pontifical College at the home of Irish Franciscans in Rome, and later at Ennis in Ireland. Egan arrived in the United States in January 1802 to serve as an assistant pastor near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His reputation as a gifted preacher secured him a position in 1803 as a pastor at St. Mary's Church in Philadelphia. In 1808, he was appointed the first Bishop of Philadelphia, holding that position until his death in 1814. His tenure as bishop saw the construction of new churches and the expansion of the Catholic Church membership in his diocese, but much of his time was consumed by disputes with the lay trustees of St. Mary's Church.
Wednesday, 27 September 2017
Gods' Man
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 28, 2017 is Gods' Man.
Gods' Man is a wordless novel by American artist Lynd Ward (1905–1985) published in 1929. In 139 captionless woodblock prints it tells the Faustian story of an artist who signs away his soul for a magic paintbrush. It was the first American wordless novel, and is seen as a precursor of, and influence on, the graphic novel. Ward first encountered the wordless novel with Frans Masereel's The Sun (1919) while studying art in Germany in 1926. He returned to the United States in 1927 and established a career for himself as an illustrator. He found Otto Nückel's wordless novel Destiny (1926) in New York City, and it inspired him to create a similar work. Gods' Man appeared a week before the Wall Street Crash of 1929; it nevertheless enjoyed strong sales and remains the best-selling American wordless novel. Its success inspired other Americans to experiment with the medium, including cartoonist Milt Gross, who parodied it in He Done Her Wrong (1930). In the 1970s Ward's example inspired cartoonists Art Spiegelman and Will Eisner to create their first graphic novels.
Gods' Man is a wordless novel by American artist Lynd Ward (1905–1985) published in 1929. In 139 captionless woodblock prints it tells the Faustian story of an artist who signs away his soul for a magic paintbrush. It was the first American wordless novel, and is seen as a precursor of, and influence on, the graphic novel. Ward first encountered the wordless novel with Frans Masereel's The Sun (1919) while studying art in Germany in 1926. He returned to the United States in 1927 and established a career for himself as an illustrator. He found Otto Nückel's wordless novel Destiny (1926) in New York City, and it inspired him to create a similar work. Gods' Man appeared a week before the Wall Street Crash of 1929; it nevertheless enjoyed strong sales and remains the best-selling American wordless novel. Its success inspired other Americans to experiment with the medium, including cartoonist Milt Gross, who parodied it in He Done Her Wrong (1930). In the 1970s Ward's example inspired cartoonists Art Spiegelman and Will Eisner to create their first graphic novels.
medicaster: Word of the day for September 28, 2017
medicaster , n :
(dated, now chiefly literary) A quack doctor; someone who pretends to have medical knowledge.
(dated, now chiefly literary) A quack doctor; someone who pretends to have medical knowledge.
Tuesday, 26 September 2017
Elysian: Word of the day for September 27, 2017
Elysian , adj :
Of or pertaining to Elysian or Elysium, the location. (idiomatic) Blissful, happy, heavenly.
Of or pertaining to Elysian or Elysium, the location. (idiomatic) Blissful, happy, heavenly.
Spotted green pigeon
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 27, 2017 is Spotted green pigeon.
The spotted green pigeon is a species of pigeon which is most likely extinct. It was first mentioned and described in 1783 by John Latham, who claimed to have seen two specimens and a drawing depicting the bird. Today, the species is only known from a specimen kept in World Museum, Liverpool. Overlooked for much of the 20th century, it was only recognised as a valid extinct species by the IUCN Red List in 2008. In 2014 a genetic study confirmed it as a distinct species related to the Nicobar pigeon, and showed that the two were the closest relatives of the extinct dodo and Rodrigues solitaire. The remaining specimen is 32 cm (12.5 in) long, and has very dark, brownish plumage with a green gloss. The neck-feathers are elongated, and most of the feathers on the upperparts and wings have a yellowish spot on their tips. It has a black bill with a yellow tip, and the end of the tail has a pale band. It has relatively short legs and long wings. It may have been native to an island somewhere in the South Pacific Ocean or the Indian Ocean, and it has been suggested that a bird referred to in 1928 as titi by Tahitian islanders was this bird.
The spotted green pigeon is a species of pigeon which is most likely extinct. It was first mentioned and described in 1783 by John Latham, who claimed to have seen two specimens and a drawing depicting the bird. Today, the species is only known from a specimen kept in World Museum, Liverpool. Overlooked for much of the 20th century, it was only recognised as a valid extinct species by the IUCN Red List in 2008. In 2014 a genetic study confirmed it as a distinct species related to the Nicobar pigeon, and showed that the two were the closest relatives of the extinct dodo and Rodrigues solitaire. The remaining specimen is 32 cm (12.5 in) long, and has very dark, brownish plumage with a green gloss. The neck-feathers are elongated, and most of the feathers on the upperparts and wings have a yellowish spot on their tips. It has a black bill with a yellow tip, and the end of the tail has a pale band. It has relatively short legs and long wings. It may have been native to an island somewhere in the South Pacific Ocean or the Indian Ocean, and it has been suggested that a bird referred to in 1928 as titi by Tahitian islanders was this bird.
Zimbabwe slaps vocal pastor with more subversion charges
A prominent critic of President Robert Mugabe is facing 20 years in jail if convicted of multiple counts of subverting Zimbabwe's government.
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Monday, 25 September 2017
pie in the sky: Word of the day for September 26, 2017
pie in the sky , n :
A fanciful notion; an unrealistic or ludicrous concept; the illusory promise of a desired outcome that is unlikely to happen.
A fanciful notion; an unrealistic or ludicrous concept; the illusory promise of a desired outcome that is unlikely to happen.
St Botolph's Church, Quarrington
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 26, 2017 is St Botolph's Church, Quarrington.
St Botolph's Church is an Anglican place of worship in the village of Quarrington, part of the civil parish of Sleaford in Lincolnshire, England. By the time Domesday Book was compiled in 1086, a church in Quarrington was part of Ramsey Abbey's fee, and around 1165 it was granted to Haverholme Priory. The right to present the rector was claimed by the Abbey in the 13th century, by the Bishop of Lincoln in the early 16th century, and by Robert Carre and his descendants after Carre acquired a manor at Quarrington. The oldest parts of the current building date to the 13th century, although substantial rebuilding took place over the following century. Renovations followed and the local architect Charles Kirk the Younger carried out restoration work in 1862 and 1863, when he added a chancel in his parents' memory. The church consists of a tower and spire with a nave and north aisle spanning eastwards to the chancel. With capacity for 124 people, the church serves the ecclesiastic parish of Quarrington with Old Sleaford. Recognised for its age and tracery, the church has been designated a grade II* listed building.
St Botolph's Church is an Anglican place of worship in the village of Quarrington, part of the civil parish of Sleaford in Lincolnshire, England. By the time Domesday Book was compiled in 1086, a church in Quarrington was part of Ramsey Abbey's fee, and around 1165 it was granted to Haverholme Priory. The right to present the rector was claimed by the Abbey in the 13th century, by the Bishop of Lincoln in the early 16th century, and by Robert Carre and his descendants after Carre acquired a manor at Quarrington. The oldest parts of the current building date to the 13th century, although substantial rebuilding took place over the following century. Renovations followed and the local architect Charles Kirk the Younger carried out restoration work in 1862 and 1863, when he added a chancel in his parents' memory. The church consists of a tower and spire with a nave and north aisle spanning eastwards to the chancel. With capacity for 124 people, the church serves the ecclesiastic parish of Quarrington with Old Sleaford. Recognised for its age and tracery, the church has been designated a grade II* listed building.
Mexico earthquake: Search for victims continues
The grim, relentless job of digging through rubble in the search for earthquake victims continued Monday in Mexico.
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Sunday, 24 September 2017
exemplary: Word of the day for September 25, 2017
exemplary , adj :
Deserving honour, respect and admiration. Of such high quality that it should serve as an example to be imitated; ideal, perfect. Serving as a warning; monitory. Providing an example or illustration.
Deserving honour, respect and admiration. Of such high quality that it should serve as an example to be imitated; ideal, perfect. Serving as a warning; monitory. Providing an example or illustration.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 25, 2017 is Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Catherine Zeta-Jones (born 25 September 1969) is a film and stage actress. Raised in Swansea, Wales, she studied musical theatre at the Arts Educational Schools, London, and made her adult stage breakthrough with a leading role in 1987 in 42nd Street. She found great success as a regular in the British television series The Darling Buds of May (1991–93). Dismayed at being typecast as the token pretty girl in British films, Zeta-Jones relocated to Los Angeles. Critics praised her portrayal of a vengeful pregnant woman in Traffic (2000) and a murderous singer in the musical film Chicago (2002), winning her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She continued to star in high-profile films for much of the 2000s, including the black comedy Intolerable Cruelty (2003), the heist film Ocean's Twelve (2004), the comedy The Terminal (2004), and the romantic comedy No Reservations (2007). During a decrease in workload, she returned to the stage and portrayed an ageing actress in A Little Night Music (2009), winning the Tony Award for Best Actress.
Catherine Zeta-Jones (born 25 September 1969) is a film and stage actress. Raised in Swansea, Wales, she studied musical theatre at the Arts Educational Schools, London, and made her adult stage breakthrough with a leading role in 1987 in 42nd Street. She found great success as a regular in the British television series The Darling Buds of May (1991–93). Dismayed at being typecast as the token pretty girl in British films, Zeta-Jones relocated to Los Angeles. Critics praised her portrayal of a vengeful pregnant woman in Traffic (2000) and a murderous singer in the musical film Chicago (2002), winning her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She continued to star in high-profile films for much of the 2000s, including the black comedy Intolerable Cruelty (2003), the heist film Ocean's Twelve (2004), the comedy The Terminal (2004), and the romantic comedy No Reservations (2007). During a decrease in workload, she returned to the stage and portrayed an ageing actress in A Little Night Music (2009), winning the Tony Award for Best Actress.
Hurricane Maria: Puerto Rico officials describe 'apocalyptic' conditions
Days after Hurricane Maria pounded the island of Puerto Rico, killing at least 10 people, authorities are starting to see firsthand the scope of devastation that left the US territory off the grid.
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Saturday, 23 September 2017
Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 24, 2017 is Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel.
The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel is a public transit tunnel for buses and light rail trains in Seattle, Washington, in the United States. It runs north–south through Downtown Seattle, connecting five stations on 3rd Avenue and Pine Street. It is the busiest section of Sound Transit's Link light rail network, with an average of over 10,000 weekday train boardings at the four stations served by light rail. The $469 million tunnel was planned in the late 1970s and built between 1987 and 1990, using tunnel boring machines and cut-and-cover excavation. Between 1990 and 2004, the tunnel was exclusively used by dual-mode buses that ran on overhead wires; they were later replaced with hybrid electric buses using batteries within the tunnel. After a two-year renovation, the tunnel reopened on September 24, 2007, and light rail service began in July 2009, sharing the platforms with existing buses. Planned expansion of the light rail system, along with the closure of one station, will necessitate the removal of buses from the tunnel by 2019.
The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel is a public transit tunnel for buses and light rail trains in Seattle, Washington, in the United States. It runs north–south through Downtown Seattle, connecting five stations on 3rd Avenue and Pine Street. It is the busiest section of Sound Transit's Link light rail network, with an average of over 10,000 weekday train boardings at the four stations served by light rail. The $469 million tunnel was planned in the late 1970s and built between 1987 and 1990, using tunnel boring machines and cut-and-cover excavation. Between 1990 and 2004, the tunnel was exclusively used by dual-mode buses that ran on overhead wires; they were later replaced with hybrid electric buses using batteries within the tunnel. After a two-year renovation, the tunnel reopened on September 24, 2007, and light rail service began in July 2009, sharing the platforms with existing buses. Planned expansion of the light rail system, along with the closure of one station, will necessitate the removal of buses from the tunnel by 2019.
rainbows and unicorns: Word of the day for September 24, 2017
rainbows and unicorns , n :
(idiomatic) A wonderful (but often unrealistic) scenario.
(idiomatic) A wonderful (but often unrealistic) scenario.
Hurricane Maria: US East Coast warned to monitor storm
After clobbering Caribbean islands through the week, Hurricane Maria could bring "direct impacts" to the US East Coast in the coming days.
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6.2 magnitude earthquake strikes Oaxaca, Mexico
A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Oaxaca, Mexico, early Saturday, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake was located 4 miles from Lázaro Cárdenas in southern Oaxaca. USGS puts the depth at 32 kilometers.
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Mexico quake survivor: Floors came down like dominoes
Martin Mendez spent 17 hours trapped beneath the ruins of a six-story building in Mexico City before rescuers pulled him and three others out of the wreckage.
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Friday, 22 September 2017
Mexican town shakes off shock after quake, begins to move forward
Days after a deadly earthquake in the battered the small market town of Jojutla, collective shock and fear have already given way to the gritty work of cleaning up and moving forward.
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Literary Hall
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 23, 2017 is Literary Hall.
Literary Hall is a brick library building and museum in Romney, West Virginia, built in 1869 and 1870 by the Romney Literary Society. Founded in 1819, the society was the first literary organization of its kind in the present-day state of West Virginia, and one of the first in the United States. In 1846, the society constructed a building which housed the Romney Classical Institute and its library. During the Civil War the library's contents were plundered by Union Army forces, and many of its 3,000 volumes were scattered or destroyed. The society transferred ownership of its Romney Classical Institute campus to the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind in 1870 and in that year completed Literary Hall, where the society reconstituted its library collection and revived its literary activities. The Romney Literary Society's last meeting was held there in 1886. In 1979 the hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its basic design incorporates Federal and Greek Revival styles along with Victorian details.
Literary Hall is a brick library building and museum in Romney, West Virginia, built in 1869 and 1870 by the Romney Literary Society. Founded in 1819, the society was the first literary organization of its kind in the present-day state of West Virginia, and one of the first in the United States. In 1846, the society constructed a building which housed the Romney Classical Institute and its library. During the Civil War the library's contents were plundered by Union Army forces, and many of its 3,000 volumes were scattered or destroyed. The society transferred ownership of its Romney Classical Institute campus to the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind in 1870 and in that year completed Literary Hall, where the society reconstituted its library collection and revived its literary activities. The Romney Literary Society's last meeting was held there in 1886. In 1979 the hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its basic design incorporates Federal and Greek Revival styles along with Victorian details.
derisively: Word of the day for September 23, 2017
derisively , adv :
In a derisive manner; demeaningly, mockingly.
In a derisive manner; demeaningly, mockingly.
Frantic search to contact relatives in Puerto Rico
Those anxious to learn about the fate of their loved ones in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria say that waiting for word is the most agonizing part.
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Mexico earthquake: Searches could last weeks
Hiram Navarro had reasons for hope and despair Friday as rescuers hunted for his brother and dozens of others who were feared to be in a Mexico City office building that collapsed in this week's magnitude-7.1 earthquake.
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Kenya's Supreme Court involved in 'coup,' says Kenyatta
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta publicly rebuked the country's Supreme Court on Thursday, saying its decision to annul the result of last month's election amounted to a "coup."
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The Nigerian man saving Boko Haram orphans
He has helped to educate and feed hundreds of displaced Boko Haram orphans and his efforts have earned him the United Nations' highest honor.
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Mexico earthquake: Who are 'Los Topos' volunteer rescuers?
Members of "Los Topos," or the moles, at times emerge from the ruins of collapsed buildings too traumatized to speak. The cries from those entombed in brick and concrete can be haunting.
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In Mexico City's worst hit neighborhoods, hopelessness and fear grows
Almost two full days after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake destroyed parts of Mexico City, Carlos Enrique Silva and his family found themselves packing up all their belongings into two white pickup trucks, as an unwanted rain-shower trickled down.
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Small town of Jojutla is another face of Mexico's deadly earthquake
The rush of aid and the sense of solidarity that helped lift Mexico City following the deadly earthquake this week have spread outside the Mexican capital.
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Hurricane Maria rages on as Caribbean residents attempt to pick up their lives
After devastating the US territory of Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria is tracking toward the Turks and Caicos Islands, and beyond that, the stretched out island chain of the Bahamas.
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Thursday, 21 September 2017
34 hours of tragedy at a Mexican school
Crowds falling silent outside the Enrique Rébsamen school were a sign of hope that someone alive could be heard in the rubble. As the hours passed, the silences became fewer, and the hope faded.
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INS Vikrant (R11)
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 22, 2017 is INS Vikrant (R11).
INS Vikrant (from Sanskrit for "courageous") was a Majestic-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. The ship was laid down as HMS Hercules for the British Royal Navy during World War II and launched on 22 September 1945, but construction was put on hold when the war ended. India purchased the incomplete carrier in 1957, and construction was completed in 1961. Vikrant was commissioned as the first aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy and played a key role in enforcing the naval blockade of East Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. In its later years, the ship underwent major refits to embark modern aircraft, before being decommissioned in January 1997. Vikrant was preserved as a museum ship in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, until 2012. The ship was sold through an online auction in January 2014 and scrapped in November 2014 after final clearance from the Supreme Court. The Indian Navy is currently constructing its first home-built carrier, also named INS Vikrant, scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2018.
INS Vikrant (from Sanskrit for "courageous") was a Majestic-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. The ship was laid down as HMS Hercules for the British Royal Navy during World War II and launched on 22 September 1945, but construction was put on hold when the war ended. India purchased the incomplete carrier in 1957, and construction was completed in 1961. Vikrant was commissioned as the first aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy and played a key role in enforcing the naval blockade of East Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. In its later years, the ship underwent major refits to embark modern aircraft, before being decommissioned in January 1997. Vikrant was preserved as a museum ship in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, until 2012. The ship was sold through an online auction in January 2014 and scrapped in November 2014 after final clearance from the Supreme Court. The Indian Navy is currently constructing its first home-built carrier, also named INS Vikrant, scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2018.
imbongi: Word of the day for September 22, 2017
imbongi , n :
(chiefly South Africa) A praise singer, a traditional bard in Zulu culture. ‘Shaka’ kaSenzangakhona, also known as Shaka Zulu, who was one of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu Kingdom, died on this day in 1828.
(chiefly South Africa) A praise singer, a traditional bard in Zulu culture. ‘Shaka’ kaSenzangakhona, also known as Shaka Zulu, who was one of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu Kingdom, died on this day in 1828.
Mexico shrouds its sorrow in solidarity
Mexico's biggest earthquake in decades brought parts of Mexico City to its knees on Tuesday. But as the earth continued to tremble, residents mobilized.
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Mexico school collapse: Rescuers in race to reach girl
Rescuers in Mexico City continued to claw through an elementary school's debris Thursday morning in an urgent attempt to reach a 12-year-girl, two days after a powerful earthquake trapped her and killed at least 250 people across central Mexico.
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Kenya Supreme Court: 'No choice but to accept' hacking claims
Kenya's highest court delivered its verdict for annulling last month's presidential election, condemning the country's voting authority for failing to give the court full access to its IT servers.
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Trump praises nonexistent African country's health care
President Donald Trump lavished praise on the health care system of Nambia during a speech at the United Nations. But there's one little problem -- there's no such country.
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Africa's only female soccer president to stand for re-election
Sierra Leone Football Association president Isha Johansen has announced she will stand for re-election despite admitting that her decision will "infuriate a lot of people."
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Carlos the Jackal Fast Facts
Check out CNN's Carlos the Jackal Fast Facts for a look at the life of one of the world's most wanted terrorists.
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Hurricane Maria strengthens again as it heads toward Turks and Caicos
Hurricane Maria regained strength Thursday morning as it continued to ravage the Caribbean, with the Turks and Caicos islands next in its cross-hairs.
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Wednesday, 20 September 2017
olive branch: Word of the day for September 21, 2017
olive branch , n :
A branch of an olive tree offered as an emblem of peace. (figuratively) Any symbol of peace, or a peace offering to an adversary to show goodwill and in the hope of securing peace. […] Today is designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Peace, which is dedicated to world peace.
A branch of an olive tree offered as an emblem of peace. (figuratively) Any symbol of peace, or a peace offering to an adversary to show goodwill and in the hope of securing peace. […] Today is designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Peace, which is dedicated to world peace.
The Blue Flame (play)
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 21, 2017 is The Blue Flame (play).
The Blue Flame is a four-act play written by George V. Hobart and John Willard, who revised an earlier version by Leta Vance Nicholson. In 1920, producer Albert H. Woods staged the play on Broadway and on tour across the United States. Ruth Gordon, the main character, is a religious young woman who dies and is revived by her scientist fiancé as a soulless femme fatale. She seduces several men and involves them in crimes, including drug use and murder. In the final act, her death and resurrection are revealed to be a dream. The production starred Theda Bara (pictured), a popular silent film actress who was known for playing similar roles in movies. Critics panned the play, ridiculing the plot, the dialog, and Bara's acting. Theater historian Ward Morehouse called it "one of the worst plays ever written". Bara's movie fame drew large crowds to theaters, and the play was a commercial success, breaking attendance records at some venues. Ruth Gordon was Bara's only Broadway role, and The Blue Flame was one of her last professional acting projects.
The Blue Flame is a four-act play written by George V. Hobart and John Willard, who revised an earlier version by Leta Vance Nicholson. In 1920, producer Albert H. Woods staged the play on Broadway and on tour across the United States. Ruth Gordon, the main character, is a religious young woman who dies and is revived by her scientist fiancé as a soulless femme fatale. She seduces several men and involves them in crimes, including drug use and murder. In the final act, her death and resurrection are revealed to be a dream. The production starred Theda Bara (pictured), a popular silent film actress who was known for playing similar roles in movies. Critics panned the play, ridiculing the plot, the dialog, and Bara's acting. Theater historian Ward Morehouse called it "one of the worst plays ever written". Bara's movie fame drew large crowds to theaters, and the play was a commercial success, breaking attendance records at some venues. Ruth Gordon was Bara's only Broadway role, and The Blue Flame was one of her last professional acting projects.
Mexico City crews race to save girl trapped in rubble of school
Rescue crews working in silence raced Wednesday to remove a girl trapped in the rubble of a collapsed elementary school in Mexico City.
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This is Mexico City before the quake. And after.
These before-and-after photos show the impact of the earthquake in Mexico and the damage it left behind.
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In the aftermath of an earthquake, silence can save lives
In and around Mexico City, authorities and rescue workers are asking for complete silence as they search for signs of life.
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How Hurricane Maria's path compares to Irma's
Two weeks after Hurricane Irma ravaged the Caribbean, Hurricane Maria is following a similar deadly path, unleashing its fury on Puerto Rico after killing seven people in Dominica.
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Family escapes Irma to face Maria's wrath
Jessica Mangiaracina and Bob Perkins barely survived Hurricane Irma with their two children, but their nightmare isn't over yet. They now face Maria's wrath.
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Mexico had two major earthquakes this month. Here's why
Although the two earthquakes struck hundreds of miles apart, they share some similarities.
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Death toll in Mexico's earthquake rises, rescue attempts continue
A sea of rescuers in hard hats and masks continue to descend upon the streets of Mexico City in search of survivors after a deadly earthquake struck the region.
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Hurricane Maria: Puerto Rico awaits direct hit
Thousands of Puerto Ricans heeded the calls of government officials and have taken refuge in shelters as the Caribbean island braces for Hurricane Maria's direct hit early Wednesday.
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7.1-magnitude Mexico earthquake: Live updates
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit southeast of Mexico City late Tuesday night local time, leaving hundreds of people dead and dozens missing.
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Trafficking survivor 'raped 43,200 times'
Human trafficking survivor says she was was raped 43,200 times in four years.
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Tuesday, 19 September 2017
Hours after an earthquake drill, the real thing struck
Initially, Ricardo Ramos thought it was a drill when the ground began to shake on Tuesday. This was the day for it, after all.
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moonsickle: Word of the day for September 20, 2017
moonsickle , n :
(poetic) A thin crescent of the moon.
(poetic) A thin crescent of the moon.
Planet Stories
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 20, 2017 is Planet Stories.
Planet Stories was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published by Fiction House between 1939 and 1955. It featured adventures in space and on other planets, and was initially focused on a young readership. Malcolm Reiss was editor or editor-in-chief for all of its 71 issues. It was launched at the same time as Fiction House's more successful Planet Comics. Almost every issue's cover emphasized scantily clad damsels in distress or alien princesses. Planet Stories did not pay well enough to regularly attract the leading science fiction writers of the day, but did on occasion manage to obtain work from well-known names including Isaac Asimov, Clifford Simak, and Philip K. Dick. The two writers most identified with the magazine are Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury, both of whom set many of their stories on a romanticized version of Mars that owed much to the depiction of Barsoom in the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Bradbury contributed an early story in his Martian Chronicles sequence, and Brackett authored a series of adventures featuring Eric John Stark.
Planet Stories was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published by Fiction House between 1939 and 1955. It featured adventures in space and on other planets, and was initially focused on a young readership. Malcolm Reiss was editor or editor-in-chief for all of its 71 issues. It was launched at the same time as Fiction House's more successful Planet Comics. Almost every issue's cover emphasized scantily clad damsels in distress or alien princesses. Planet Stories did not pay well enough to regularly attract the leading science fiction writers of the day, but did on occasion manage to obtain work from well-known names including Isaac Asimov, Clifford Simak, and Philip K. Dick. The two writers most identified with the magazine are Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury, both of whom set many of their stories on a romanticized version of Mars that owed much to the depiction of Barsoom in the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Bradbury contributed an early story in his Martian Chronicles sequence, and Brackett authored a series of adventures featuring Eric John Stark.
A magnitude-7.1 earthquake hit central Mexico on Tuesday, September 19, leveling buildings in the country's capital.
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See photos from the Caribbean as Hurricane Maria makes its way through the region.
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7.1 earthquake strikes central Mexico
A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck the central Mexican state of Puebla on Tuesday afternoon, the US Geological Survey said. Preliminary reports put the epicenter 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers) east-northeast of San Juan Reboso and 34.1 miles (55 km) south-southwest of the city of Puebla, according to the USGS. The earthquake struck at a depth of about 33 miles (51 km).
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New 2016 report finds one in four of those were children
More than 40 million people were estimated to be victims of modern slavery in 2016 -- and one in four of those were children.
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Students take up Lincoln's fight to end slavery
Teens from around the world attended the Students Opposing Slavery summit, held at the cottage where Abraham Lincoln drafted the emancipation proclamation.
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Hurricane Maria aims for Puerto Rico
Hurricane Maria, making its first landfall as a Category 5 storm, has blasted Dominica with "widespread devastation," according to the prime minister of the Caribbean island nation.
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Monday, 18 September 2017
Egyptian temple
The Wikipedia article of the day for September 19, 2017 is Egyptian temple.
Egyptian temples were built to commemorate the pharaohs and to support the central functions of their religion: giving offerings to the gods, reenacting their mythological interactions through festivals, and warding off the forces of chaos. Rituals, it was believed, invoked the divine presence, sustained the god, and enabled it to continue to uphold the divine order of the universe. Temples were important religious sites for all classes of Egyptians even though most people were forbidden from entering their most sacred areas. Temples are among the largest and most enduring examples of Egyptian architecture, with their elements arranged and decorated according to complex patterns of religious symbolism. A large temple owned sizable tracts of land and employed thousands of laymen to supply its needs. Some temples, such as Abu Simbel, have become tourist attractions that contribute significantly to the modern Egyptian economy. Egyptologists continue to study the surviving temples for their invaluable sources of information about ancient Egyptian society.
Egyptian temples were built to commemorate the pharaohs and to support the central functions of their religion: giving offerings to the gods, reenacting their mythological interactions through festivals, and warding off the forces of chaos. Rituals, it was believed, invoked the divine presence, sustained the god, and enabled it to continue to uphold the divine order of the universe. Temples were important religious sites for all classes of Egyptians even though most people were forbidden from entering their most sacred areas. Temples are among the largest and most enduring examples of Egyptian architecture, with their elements arranged and decorated according to complex patterns of religious symbolism. A large temple owned sizable tracts of land and employed thousands of laymen to supply its needs. Some temples, such as Abu Simbel, have become tourist attractions that contribute significantly to the modern Egyptian economy. Egyptologists continue to study the surviving temples for their invaluable sources of information about ancient Egyptian society.
Hurricane Maria strengthens to Category 5
Hurricane Maria continues to intensify and is now a Category 5 storm with winds of 160 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The center of the storm is located 15 miles from Dominica in the Caribbean's Leeward Islands.
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shiver my timbers: Word of the day for September 19, 2017
shiver my timbers , interj :
A mild oath expressing surprise, disbelief or annoyance. It is stereotypically regarded as being uttered by pirates. Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, a parodic holiday invented in 1995 by John Baur (‘Ol’ Chumbucket’) and Mark Summers (‘Cap’n Slappy’), of Albany, Oregon, USA.
A mild oath expressing surprise, disbelief or annoyance. It is stereotypically regarded as being uttered by pirates. Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, a parodic holiday invented in 1995 by John Baur (‘Ol’ Chumbucket’) and Mark Summers (‘Cap’n Slappy’), of Albany, Oregon, USA.
Nigeria announces $5.8B deal for power plant
The government of Nigeria has announced the award of a $5.8 billion contract to build what will be the largest power plant in the country.
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