Picture of the day for January 31, 2018

Loxura atymnus, Yamfly, is a species of Lycaenidae found in Asia.. Learn more.

bobbin

Definition: (noun) A winder around which thread or tape or film or other flexible materials can be wound.
Synonyms: spool, reel.
Usage: Please thread the bobbin so that I can mend your shirt.
Discuss

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Picture of the day for January 30, 2018

2 US Navy E-2C Hawkeye flying by Mount Fuji, Japan. Learn more.

US President George W. Bush Introduces the "Axis of Evil" (2002)

During his 2002 State of the Union Address, US President George W. Bush described the countries of Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as an "Axis of Evil" for their alleged support of terrorism. Since then, the phrase has spawned many imitations, including the Eritrean-coined "Axis of Belligerence," the South American "Axis of Good," and the "Axis of Diesel" proposed by The Economist magazine. What word did Bush speechwriter David Frum originally use instead of "evil"? Discuss


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be looking for trouble

To be doing something or acting in a manner that will very likely result in trouble, difficulty, or danger. Watch the video

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James Jamerson (1936)

Jamerson learned to play bass guitar in high school in Detroit, Michigan, in the 1950s and thereafter found work as a studio musician for Motown Records. He went on to perform on hundreds of songs by artists like Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, and The Supremes, but his work was largely uncredited, and he died in relative obscurity at the age of 47. Today, however, he is regarded as one of the most influential bassists in modern history. One of his fingers even had its own nickname. What was it? Discuss


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The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a poem written by English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Published in 1798, it represented a shift to modern poetry and heralded the beginning of English Romanticism. The poem opens with a mariner stopping a man on his way to a wedding and recounting to him the supernatural events he experienced during a long sea voyage. As the story progresses, the wedding guest's impatience fades and is replaced by fascination. What events may have inspired the poem? Discuss


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Thomas Paine Day

Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was a propagandist and humanitarian whose influential pamphlet, Common Sense, is credited with persuading the American colonies to declare their independence from Great Britain. On January 29, Paine's birthday, he is honored by members of the Thomas Paine National Historical Association in New Rochelle, New York. They lay a wreath at his monument in the Thomas Paine Memorial Museum, which houses some of his letters and personal effects. The cottage in which Paine lived is only a short walk away. Discuss


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infringement

Definition: (noun) An encroachment, as of a right or privilege.
Synonyms: violation.
Usage: Before I could prove to them that this proceeding was a gross infringement on the liberties of the British subject, I found myself lodged within the walls of a prison.
Discuss

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Picture of the day for January 29, 2018

A local train to Tirano, hauled by a RhB ABe 8/12 "Allegra" EMU, pushes a plow (Xk 9144) to clear the snow that has accumulated between the rails, just after Ospizio Bernina, Switzerland.. Learn more.

look (at something) through rose-colored glasses

To assume a generally optimistic and cheerful attitude (toward something); to focus on the positive aspects (of something). Primarily heard in US. Watch the video

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Lego Patents Its Interlocking Plastic Bricks (1958)

The founder of Lego, a Danish carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen, began making wooden toys in 1932. By the late 1940s, he had begun making plastic ones, including "automatic binding bricks," which he patented in 1958. Today, Lego produces roughly 20 billion of those bricks annually, and today's pieces are still compatible with the originals. By producing some 306 million miniature, functioning replicas of this item each year, Lego could be considered the world's leading manufacturer of what? Discuss


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St. Charlemagne's Day

Charlemagne wasn't actually a saint at all; he was an emperor and the first ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, crowned in 800 by Pope Leo III. Although he was never able to read and write himself, Charlemagne, whose name means "Charles the Great," founded the University of Paris. In fact, his reign was marked by a huge cultural revival, including significant advances in scholarship, literature, and philosophy. He died on January 28, 814. Discuss


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forswear

Definition: (verb) Formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure.
Synonyms: abjure, recant, resile, retract.
Usage: "It's rank poison," said he, grasping the bottle by the neck, "and I forswear it! I've given up gambling, and I'll give up this too."
Discuss

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Colette (1873)

In her highly eventful life, French novelist Colette freely flouted convention and repeatedly scandalized the public, but by her later years, she had become a national icon. Her numerous novels are marked by sensitive observations—particularly of women—and an intimate style. Among her works are The Vagabond, a fictionalized account of her time as a music-hall performer, and Gigi, a comedy about a girl reared to be courtesan. In 1907, she nearly caused a riot by doing what on stage? Discuss


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W. Somerset Maugham

I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present. Discuss


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DEET

DEET is the abbreviation of N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, a chemical compound commonly used as an insect repellent. DEET was developed by the US Army following its experience with jungle warfare during World War II and entered civilian use in 1957. Intended to be applied to skin or clothing to protect against tick and mosquito bites, it is believed to work by blocking the receptors insects use to locate hosts. What potential detrimental health effects have been linked to its use? Discuss


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Picture of the day for January 28, 2018

Hand made model Subaru Impreza WRC 2001. Scale 1:24. Learn more.

Picture of the day for January 27, 2018

Eiffel Tower and Pont Alexandre III at night in Paris, France.. Learn more.

Picture of the day for January 26, 2018

Amber Fort in Jaipur, India. Learn more.

Picture of the day for January 25, 2018

A hungry savanna hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis) from the Pantanal in Brazil.. Learn more.

Picture of the day for January 24, 2018

Arabesque Room in the Catherine Palace in Pushkin, Saint Petersburg, Russia.. Learn more.

Picture of the day for January 23, 2018

Portrait of three lions (one female and two males) of a pride, all resting at morning time. Taken in Masai Mara, southwest Kenya.. Learn more.

Sir Walter Scott

I have heard men talk of the blessings of freedom, ... but I wish any wise man would teach me what use to make of it now that I have it. Discuss


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look out for number one

To put one's own needs, concerns, or responsibilities before those of anyone else. Watch the video

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Pierre Gassendi (1592)

As a priest and a professor, Gassendi lectured on theology in his native southeastern France. However, as a philosopher, scientist, and astronomer, he was compelled to try to reconcile his scientific beliefs with the teachings of the church. Dissatisfied with the teachings of Aristotle, he came to espouse empiricism and atomism, the belief that tiny, indestructible particles form the basic building blocks of the entire universe. In 1631, he became the first person to observe what? Discuss


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Vasant Panchami

Vasant Panchami is a festival of spring, celebrated throughout India among Hindus and Sikhs at the end of January or in early February. People wear bright yellow clothes, the color of the mustard flower that heralds the onset of spring, and mark the day with music, dancing, and kite-flying. In Shantiniketan, West Bengal, the festival is celebrated with special lavishness in honor of Sarasvati, the Hindu goddess of learning and the arts. Her images are taken in procession to rivers to be bathed, and books and pens are placed at her shrine. Discuss


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Swiss Guard Arrives at the Vatican (1506)

Though various units of Swiss Guards have existed throughout history, the most famous unit—and the only one remaining—is responsible for the safety of the Pope. Known for their colorful uniforms, the guards must be single, Swiss, and Catholic and must have completed Swiss military training. The first 150 Swiss mercenaries were invited to the Vatican during the reign of Pope Julius II. In 1527, 147 of the Swiss Guards were killed while helping the Pope escape from whom? Discuss


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risible

Definition: (adjective) Arousing or provoking laughter.
Synonyms: amusing, comic, comical, funny, laughable, mirthful.
Usage: The dramatic performance's unintentionally trite and risible dialogue drew hearty laughs from the audience.
Discuss

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Endurance Riding

Endurance riding is an equestrian sport in which horseback riders race long distances, usually 50 or 100 miles (80 or 160 km). To ensure the safety of the horses during the rides, veterinarians periodically inspect the animals and eliminate from competition any horse deemed unfit. Although any breed can compete, Arabian horses often dominate the top levels of the sport due to their natural speed and stamina. How long do winners usually take to cross the finish line in 100-mile (160-km) races? Discuss


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Picture of the day for January 22, 2018

VKG Ojamaa mine for oil shale extraction, using an Atlas Copco underground loader.. Learn more.

Sophia Jex-Blake (1840)

In 1858, Jex-Blake enrolled in college against the wishes of her parents. She struggled to find a medical school that would accept women, and though she persuaded the University of Edinburgh to admit her, she could not graduate. She took her fight to Parliament, which passed a law enabling women to receive medical degrees. Jex-Blake founded two medical schools for women, and, after obtaining her degree in 1877, became the third female doctor in the UK. What became of her Edinburgh home? Discuss


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Battle of Khe Sanh Begins (1968)

Located near the demilitarized zone that marked the border between North and South Vietnam, Khe Sanh was the site of a protracted battle during the Vietnam War. It involved months of near-constant artillery attacks on the local US Marine base, matched by a bombing barrage of surrounding areas by US planes. The US forces retained the base but gained no advantage, and both sides suffered heavy casualties. Why do some historians believe the North Vietnamese never intended to capture the base? Discuss


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solace

Definition: (verb) To give comfort or cheer to (a person) in time of sorrow or distress.
Synonyms: comfort, console, soothe.
Usage: I grieved quietly and solaced myself with the knowledge that she was in a better place.
Discuss

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The Portuguese Bank Note Crisis

Perpetrated by Portuguese criminal Alves dos Reis, the Portuguese Bank Note Crisis was one of the largest frauds in history. In 1924, Reis forged a contract that fooled a legitimate print company into printing illegitimate banknotes for him. By the time his scheme was revealed, Reis had introduced into circulation banknotes equivalent to nearly 1% of Portugal's gross domestic product at the time, causing widespread economic and political repercussions. How did he initially cover up his scam? Discuss


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long since

Long ago; of the (relatively) distant past. Watch the video

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Barrow Day

This national public holiday honors Barbados' first prime minister. Errol Barrow was born in 1920, earned a law degree in England, then returned to Barbados. He became finance minister in 1959 and prime minister in 1961. He was reelected in 1966 and, soon after, Barbados became independent of Great Britain. Barrow was voted out in 1976, but regained office in 1986; he died the next year. Discuss


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Picture of the day for January 21, 2018

Engineers successfully tested the parachutes for NASA's Orion spacecraft at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona Wednesday, March 8, 2017. This was the second test in a series of eight that will certify Orion's parachutes for human spaceflight. The test, which dropped an Orion engineering model from a C-17 aircraft at 25,000 feet, simulated the descent astronauts might experience if they have to abort a mission after liftoff.. Learn more.

Picture of the day for January 20, 2018

True color image of Mars taken by the OSIRIS instrument on the European Space Agency (ESA) Rosetta spacecraft during its February 2007 flyby of the planet.. Learn more.

Picture of the day for January 19, 2018

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), east part of Utö, Haninge Municipality, Stockholm archipelago, Sweden. In the background the Baltic Sea, with some sea smoke.. Learn more.

Goliath Beetles

Named after the biblical giant slain by David, goliath beetles are among the largest insects on Earth. Native to Africa, they are found mostly in tropical forests, where they feed primarily on tree sap and fruit. Heavily armored, they measure from 2 to 4.3 inches (50–110 mm) long as adults and can reach weights of up 3.5 ounces (100 grams) in the larval stage, though adults are only about half this weight. How long do they live? Discuss


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Picture of the day for January 18, 2018

Young European bison (Bison bonasus) in the Wisentgehege Springe game park near Springe, Hanover, Germany. The European bison or wisent is the heaviest of the surviving land animals in Europe, with males growing to around 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). European bison were hunted to extinction in the wild, but have since been reintroduced from captivity into several countries.. Learn more.

Picture of the day for January 17, 2018

The commuter ferry Emelie arriving in Henriksdalshamnen, Stockholm. In the background, Norra Hammarbyhamnen (Södermalm).. Learn more.

Upton Sinclair

There is one kind of prison where the man is behind bars, and everything that he desires is outside; and there is another kind where the things are behind the bars, and the man is outside. Discuss


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Dian Fossey (1932)

Fossey was an occupational therapist when, on a trip to Africa in 1963, she met famed anthropologist Louis Leakey, who encouraged her to pursue her dream of studying gorillas. In 1966, she began living a solitary life in the mountains of central Africa, gradually gaining the acceptance of the gorillas she observed and building a vast body of knowledge about their habits, communication, and social structure. In 1985, she was found hacked to death in her Rwandan forest camp. Who murdered her? Discuss


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Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

This extravaganza of ice sculptures takes place from January 5 through February in the port city of Harbin, the second largest city of northeast China, located in Heilongjiang Province. The sculptures, using themes of ancient legends and stories and modern historic events, depict pavilions, temples, and mythic animals and persons. Located in Zhaolin Park, they shimmer in the sun by day, and at night are illuminated in a rainbow of colors. Theatrical events, art exhibitions, and a photo exhibition mark festival time, and wedding ceremonies are often scheduled in the ice-filled park. Discuss


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Picture of the day for January 16, 2018

Fluorescence and birefringence of 445 nm blue laser in calcite crystal. Learn more.

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809)

Believed to have been the first person to call himself an anarchist, Proudhon was a French journalist and social theorist best known for his radical assertion that "property is theft." Originally a printer, he joined the socialist movement after moving to Paris in 1838. There, he published radical newspapers and was imprisoned. His writings were deeply influential within the anarchist movement. In his famous essay "What is Government?" how does Proudhon define what it means to be governed? Discuss


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Charlotte Bronte

It is not violence that best overcomes hate—nor vengeance that most certainly heals injury. Discuss


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Shar Peis

The Shar Pei is an ancient breed of dog known for its loose, wrinkled skin. Unlike humans, Shar Peis lose their wrinkles with age as they "grow into their skin." Originally bred in China as a fighting and guard dog, the Shar Pei is prone to a number of genetic diseases and was once recognized as the world's rarest dog breed. Because of their protective and loyal nature, however, they have since become popular family pets. Shar Peis are said to have been originally tasked with guarding whom? Discuss


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Otho Begins His 3-Month Reign as Roman Emperor (69 CE)

Otho and Roman Emperor Nero were once friends. Then, Otho's wife became Nero's mistress, and Nero dispatched Otho to the remote province of Lusitania. After patiently governing the province for a decade, Otho joined a revolt against the emperor in 68 CE. Nero committed suicide, and Otho took over. However, a rival soon challenged him for the throne. Just three months into his reign, Otho killed himself, presumably to avoid a civil war in his empire. How did he bid farewell to his friends? Discuss


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green folding stuff/money

Paper money, especially in large amounts. Primarily heard in US. Watch the video

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wring

Definition: (verb) To clasp and twist or squeeze (one's hands), as in distress.
Synonyms: wrench.
Usage: And the little princess began to cry capriciously like a suffering child and to wring her little hands even with some affectation.
Discuss

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., rose to national prominence after the Montgomery bus boycott inspired by Rosa Parks. King went on to play an active role in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday, the only one that honors a person who was not a president. It has become a focal point for recognition of African-American history. In schools, the day is often observed with special lessons and assembly programs dealing with Dr. King's life and work. Discuss


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Picture of the day for January 15, 2018

Panorama of Lake Baikal, seen from Olkhon Island. Irkutsk Oblast, Russia.. Learn more.

Charles Dickens

It was on one of those mornings, common in early spring, when the year, fickle and changeable in its youth like all other created things, is undecided whether to step backward into winter or forward into summer. Discuss


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Kimitake Hiraoka, AKA Yukio Mishima (1925)

Born into a samurai family, Mishima served briefly in the finance ministry before going on to become one of the most important Japanese novelists of the 20th century. His novels are known for their exquisite attention to detail and character and often involve paradoxes—such as when a troubled monk destroys the temple he loves in The Temple of the Golden Pavilion. Following a failed coup attempt in 1970, he tried to commit seppuku, ritual suicide by self-disembowelment. How did he die? Discuss


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rector

Definition: (noun) A person authorized to conduct religious worship.
Synonyms: curate, minister, parson, pastor.
Usage: She was the daughter of a clergyman, and it was with her father, the rector of a village in Lincolnshire, that Mr. Carey had spent his last curacy.
Discuss

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Huygens Probe Lands on Titan (2005)

It took the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft more than six years to reach Saturn. During the trip, the Huygens probe remained dormant, preserving its battery life for a landing on Saturn's largest moon. The only moon in the solar system known to have clouds and a dense atmosphere, Titan resembles Earth in many ways. It was not known whether the probe would land on solid ground or in an ocean. After Huygens touched down, Titan's surface was described as being similar to what food? Discuss


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Xenoglossy

Often cited as proof of reincarnation, xenoglossy is a purportedly paranormal phenomenon wherein a person displays the ability to speak a language that he or she could not have learned by natural means. For example, an individual who begins to speak fluent German but who has never studied German, traveled to a German-speaking country, or associated with German speakers is said to exhibit xenoglossy. What are some of the bizarre accounts of individuals reported to have experienced xenoglossy? Discuss


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Meitlisonntag

In the Seetal district of Aargau, Switzerland, the girls of Meisterschwanden and Farhwangen hold a procession on the second Sunday in January known as Meitlisonntag, or "Girls' Sunday." They dress in historical uniforms and stage a military parade before an all-female General Staff. The custom dates from the second Villgermen War of 1712, a conflict in which the women of Meisterschwanden and Fahrwangen played a vital role in achieving victory. The military procession is followed by a popular festival. Discuss


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on the long finger

In a state of postponement or procrastination. (Used especially in the phrase "put something on the long finger.") Primarily heard in Ireland. Watch the video

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Picture of the day for January 14, 2018

Emirates airline Airbus A380-861 (reg. A6-EER, msn 139) departing 26L at Munich Airport, Germany.. Learn more.