Historical Events, Birthdays And Quotations

This Day in History

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Game 3 of the World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics was scheduled to begin at 5:35 PM on October 17, 1989, but Mother Nature intervened. The Loma Prieta earthquake struck San Francisco at 5:04 PM with 60,000 fans already inside Candlestick Park. Due to the timing, it was the first major earthquake to be broadcast on live TV, and a blimp covering the game was able to coordinate emergency efforts. What did broadcaster Al Michaels say before the network feed was lost? Discuss

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

More than 150 countries celebrate World Food Day every year on October 16, the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. World Food Day aims to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and to promote cooperation in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. It has been observed since 1981 with different themes each year, such as "United against Hunger" and "The Right to Food." What was the theme of the first World Food Day?

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

A few weeks before Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the US, 11-year-old Grace Bedell sent him a letter urging him to grow a beard to win over voters. Bedell claimed that "all the ladies like whiskers" and would urge their husbands to vote for a bearded Lincoln. Days later, Lincoln drafted a noncommittal response in which he wondered whether such a change in appearance would be well received. Within months, he was sporting his now-iconic beard. What did he say when he later met Bedell?

Word Trivia

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

physical, physician - Physical and physician come from Latin physica, "things related to nature." More...

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

roorback - A false report made to damage the reputation of a political candidate. More...

character, reputation - Character is what one is; reputation is what one is thought to be by others. More...

denigrate - From Latin de- and nigare, "blacken," it first meant "make black or dark in color," and came to mean "blacken the reputation of." More...

fame - Also meant "reputation" in early contexts. More...

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

erase - From Latin e-, "out," and radere, "scrape." More...

raze, razor - Raze, from French raser, "shave close," is from Latin radere, "scrape, scratch"—also giving us razor. More...

gride - To scratch, scrape, or cut with a grating sound. More...

scrumble - To scrape or scratch (something) out of or from. More...

Today's Birthdays

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Born in America at a time when being black and female were considered distinct disadvantages, particularly in the scientific community, Jemison nevertheless had big dreams and intense drive. She studied medicine and was a practicing physician until the late 1980s, when she made history by becoming the first black female astronaut. In 1992, she skyrocketed to fame aboard the US space shuttle Endeavour as the first African-American woman in space. Why did she resign from NASA the next year? Discuss

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Wilde was an Irish poet, novelist, and playwright who mocked social conventions and scandalized English society with his unorthodox ideas and conduct. He is best known for his sophisticated, witty plays, among them Lady Windermere's Fan and The Importance of Being Earnest, as well as his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, about a handsome young man who purchases eternal youth at the expense of his soul. Why did Wilde spend his final years living abroad under an assumed name?

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

A Scottish paleobotanist whose first marriage was annulled—and allegedly never consummated—Stopes went on to publish a controversial yet highly influential sex manual, Married Love, in 1918. Thereafter, she became a pioneer in the field of family planning, opening the first birth-control clinic in the British Empire in 1921. Stopes helped break down taboos and improve women's reproductive health, but her support of what field of reproductive science has somewhat marred her reputation?

Article of the Day

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

The probable ancestors of modern cattle, aurochs once inhabited forests in Northern Africa, Europe, and Southwest Asia. The enormous—having a shoulder height of around 6 ft (1.8 m)—horned, black oxen are depicted in prehistoric cave paintings, and the species endured until the 17th century, when the last known aurochs died in Poland. Breeders have since tried to recreate the extinct species, but none have yet managed to produce a genetically identical animal. What has arisen from their efforts? Discuss

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

The guqin is an ancient Chinese stringed instrument of the zither family that originated thousands of years ago. Throughout Chinese history, it was often associated with scholars, and it is said to have been played by Confucius. The guqin has remained symbolic of Chinese heritage and was featured during the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and a recording of its music was even included on the Voyager Golden Record that was sent into space. What does its name mean?

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

About 20 years after the Spanish conquered the Aztec empire, they commissioned Aztec scribes to create the Codex Mendoza. Named for Antonio de Mendoza, the first viceroy of New Spain, the codex contains a history of Aztec conquests, a description of Aztec daily life in traditional pictograms, and commentary added by Spanish missionaries. The codex was intended to be sent to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, but the ship carrying it was attacked. Where did it end up?

Quotations of the Day

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. Discuss

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

We love flattery even though we are not deceived by it, because it shows that we are of importance enough to be courted.

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT

The greatest trust, between man and man, is the trust of giving counsel. For in other confidences, men commit the parts of life; their lands, their goods ... some particular affair; but to such as they make their counselors, they commit the whole.