92) 31/7/2008
Today I learnt that the expression "flogging a dead horse" was probably coined in Victorian times by British politician John Bright. (He used it whilst making a speech in Parliament). In America they use "beating a dead horse".
----------------------------------------------
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
91
91) 30/7/2008
Today I learnt that The ICF (Inter City Firm) was a football hooligan gang associated with West Ham United. Most active during the heyday of British hooliganism - their moniker was derived from the InterCity train network they travelled to away games on.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that The ICF (Inter City Firm) was a football hooligan gang associated with West Ham United. Most active during the heyday of British hooliganism - their moniker was derived from the InterCity train network they travelled to away games on.
----------------------------------------------
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
90
90) 29/7/2008
Today I learnt there is a place called Daisy Hill on the outskirts of Bradford.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt there is a place called Daisy Hill on the outskirts of Bradford.
----------------------------------------------
Monday, 28 July 2008
89
89) 28/7/2008
Today I learnt that the word Berserk as in "he went berserk" comes from Old Norse. Berserkers were insane Norse warriors who fought in a frenzied, furious manner. These men, whilst possibly under the influence of drugs, showed uncontrollable rage in battle and wore bizarre coats of bear-skin.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the word Berserk as in "he went berserk" comes from Old Norse. Berserkers were insane Norse warriors who fought in a frenzied, furious manner. These men, whilst possibly under the influence of drugs, showed uncontrollable rage in battle and wore bizarre coats of bear-skin.
----------------------------------------------
Sunday, 27 July 2008
88
88) 27/7/2008
Today I learnt that the Argentian mountain Aconcagua, in The Andes, is the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere. Indeed, at nearly 7,000 metres, it is the highest peak outside of Asia.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the Argentian mountain Aconcagua, in The Andes, is the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere. Indeed, at nearly 7,000 metres, it is the highest peak outside of Asia.
----------------------------------------------
Saturday, 26 July 2008
87
87) 26/7/2008
Today I learnt that Colchester claims to be the oldest recorded town in Britain.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Colchester claims to be the oldest recorded town in Britain.
----------------------------------------------
Friday, 25 July 2008
86
86) 25/7/2008
Today I learnt the word avuncular - it is an adjective that means "like or with the mannerisms of an uncle". When applied to a person it denotes kindness and tolerance.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt the word avuncular - it is an adjective that means "like or with the mannerisms of an uncle". When applied to a person it denotes kindness and tolerance.
----------------------------------------------
Thursday, 24 July 2008
85
85) 24/7/2008
Today I learnt that Hasidic Judaism is an orthodox Jewish religious movement. The vast majority of its circa 500,000 followers live in Israel or America.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Hasidic Judaism is an orthodox Jewish religious movement. The vast majority of its circa 500,000 followers live in Israel or America.
----------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
84
84) 23/7/2008
Today I learnt that the longest year ever was 46 BC. It lasted for 445 days in order to bring the calendar properly in line with the sun. Julius Caesar introduced this change thus reforming the Roman calendar. Today many countries use an even more accurate version of this system - The Gregorian calendar which was first introduced in the 16th Century.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the longest year ever was 46 BC. It lasted for 445 days in order to bring the calendar properly in line with the sun. Julius Caesar introduced this change thus reforming the Roman calendar. Today many countries use an even more accurate version of this system - The Gregorian calendar which was first introduced in the 16th Century.
----------------------------------------------
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
83
83) 22/7/2008
Today I learnt that The Z-Boys were an influential group of young Californian skaters in the mid 1970s who revolutionised and popularised the sport of skateboarding. The likes of Tony Alva, Jay Adams and Stacy Peralta are credited not only with creating a more intense, aerial skateboarding style but also with kick-starting the punk/skater subculture now widespread.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that The Z-Boys were an influential group of young Californian skaters in the mid 1970s who revolutionised and popularised the sport of skateboarding. The likes of Tony Alva, Jay Adams and Stacy Peralta are credited not only with creating a more intense, aerial skateboarding style but also with kick-starting the punk/skater subculture now widespread.
----------------------------------------------
Monday, 21 July 2008
82
82) 21/7/2008
Today I learnt that Chinua Achebe is an African writer best known for the widely read novel Things Fall Apart. This book is set in Nigeria at the turn of the 20th Century and explores the family life of the protagonist as well as British colonialism.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Chinua Achebe is an African writer best known for the widely read novel Things Fall Apart. This book is set in Nigeria at the turn of the 20th Century and explores the family life of the protagonist as well as British colonialism.
----------------------------------------------
Sunday, 20 July 2008
81
81) 20/7/2008
Today I learnt that the "Dada" anti-art movement was a precursor to surrealism and flourished during World War 1 in the neutral country of Switzerland. (Zurich). Artists would, for example, present ordinary objects removed from their everday context as art or produce nonsense automatic drawing. The movement was a reaction against the traditional art establishment and expressed a strong anti-war stance.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the "Dada" anti-art movement was a precursor to surrealism and flourished during World War 1 in the neutral country of Switzerland. (Zurich). Artists would, for example, present ordinary objects removed from their everday context as art or produce nonsense automatic drawing. The movement was a reaction against the traditional art establishment and expressed a strong anti-war stance.
----------------------------------------------
80
80) 19/7/2008
Today I learnt that Gordon Banks' football career was ended by a car crash where he lost an eye. Previously I thought this accident occured after he had retired.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Gordon Banks' football career was ended by a car crash where he lost an eye. Previously I thought this accident occured after he had retired.
----------------------------------------------
Friday, 18 July 2008
79
79) 18/7/2008
Today I learnt that English cricketer Darren Pattinson, who surprisingly made his test debut against South Africa today, grew up in Australia and has only played 11 first-class matches despite being in his late twenties. He only signed for Nottinghamshire at the start of this season. It is one of the most unexpected call-ups of all time.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that English cricketer Darren Pattinson, who surprisingly made his test debut against South Africa today, grew up in Australia and has only played 11 first-class matches despite being in his late twenties. He only signed for Nottinghamshire at the start of this season. It is one of the most unexpected call-ups of all time.
----------------------------------------------
78
78) 17/7/2008
Today I learnt that the word immutable means unchangable or changeless.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the word immutable means unchangable or changeless.
----------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
77
77) 16/7/2008Today I learnt that the Thylacine is a now extinct animal which survived on Tasmania until its demise from hunting in the 1930s. They resembled short-haired dogs and were also known as Tasmanian tigers because of their striped backs. This large carnivorous marsupial could also open its jaws to an unusually massive extent. It is now a symbol of Tasmania despite the European settlers' systematic eradication of the animal.
----------------------------------------------
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
76
76) 15/7/2008
Today I learnt that Ferdinand Magellan, in the service of Spain, led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe. He himself did not complete the voyage as he died in a battle in the Phillipines (the first Westerners to set foot here). Magellan's aim was to find a westward route from Europe to the Spice Islands (Indonesia). His few surviving men returned to Spain in 1522 now knowing the full extent of the Earth for the first time.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Ferdinand Magellan, in the service of Spain, led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe. He himself did not complete the voyage as he died in a battle in the Phillipines (the first Westerners to set foot here). Magellan's aim was to find a westward route from Europe to the Spice Islands (Indonesia). His few surviving men returned to Spain in 1522 now knowing the full extent of the Earth for the first time.
----------------------------------------------
Monday, 14 July 2008
75
75) 14/7/2008
Today I learnt that The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of English artists who formed their "brotherhood" in the mid 19th Century; they advocated a return to the intense colour and effect of works produced before the artist Raphael. (Hence the name). The group criticised aspects of Classical convention and realism.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of English artists who formed their "brotherhood" in the mid 19th Century; they advocated a return to the intense colour and effect of works produced before the artist Raphael. (Hence the name). The group criticised aspects of Classical convention and realism.
----------------------------------------------
Sunday, 13 July 2008
74
74) 13/7/2008
Today I learnt that the adjective sanguine means cheerful, optimistic and confident.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the adjective sanguine means cheerful, optimistic and confident.
----------------------------------------------
Saturday, 12 July 2008
73
73) 12/7/2008
Today I learnt that an acrostic is a poem where the first letters of each line or stanza spell out a hidden message. For example; the Dutch National Anthem.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that an acrostic is a poem where the first letters of each line or stanza spell out a hidden message. For example; the Dutch National Anthem.
----------------------------------------------
72
72) 11/7/2008
Today I learnt that Google has a program called StreetView which shows 360° close-up, road-level views of streets in USA and France.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Google has a program called StreetView which shows 360° close-up, road-level views of streets in USA and France.
----------------------------------------------
71
71) 10/7/2008
Today I learnt that David Lloyd George, British prime-minister at the end of World War 1, was the last Liberal to hold the office and the only ever PM who could speak Welsh.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that David Lloyd George, British prime-minister at the end of World War 1, was the last Liberal to hold the office and the only ever PM who could speak Welsh.
----------------------------------------------
70
70) 9/7/2008
Today I learnt that jazz musician Coleman Hawkins was an eminent master of the tenor-saxophone.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that jazz musician Coleman Hawkins was an eminent master of the tenor-saxophone.
----------------------------------------------
69
69) 8/7/2008
Today I learnt that the third longest river on Earth is The Yangtze in China. (The Nile being the longest followed by The Amazon).
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the third longest river on Earth is The Yangtze in China. (The Nile being the longest followed by The Amazon).
----------------------------------------------
68
68) 7/7/2008
Today I learnt that circa 4 – 5 thousand years ago man developed the ability to create the alloy bronze by mixing copper with tin. Veins of copper ore (eg. green Malachite in limestone) were mined out. Then the crushed copper ore was smelted at a very high temperature – turning it into pure liquid copper which, combined with tin, was poured into moulds. (Drying to create very strong tools and weapons).
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that circa 4 – 5 thousand years ago man developed the ability to create the alloy bronze by mixing copper with tin. Veins of copper ore (eg. green Malachite in limestone) were mined out. Then the crushed copper ore was smelted at a very high temperature – turning it into pure liquid copper which, combined with tin, was poured into moulds. (Drying to create very strong tools and weapons).
----------------------------------------------
67
67) 6/7/2008
Today I learnt that Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (known as Le Corbusier) was a famous 20th Century architect who designed striking urban landscapes and modern city tower-blocks. The round, black-rimmed glasses he wore was his trademark look.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (known as Le Corbusier) was a famous 20th Century architect who designed striking urban landscapes and modern city tower-blocks. The round, black-rimmed glasses he wore was his trademark look.
----------------------------------------------
66
66) 5/7/2008
Today I learnt the three records of boxer Floyd Patterson. He was the first Olympic gold medallist to later become Word Heavyweight champion; and the then youngest champion at this weight. Thirdly, he was the first man to regain the title after losing it.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt the three records of boxer Floyd Patterson. He was the first Olympic gold medallist to later become Word Heavyweight champion; and the then youngest champion at this weight. Thirdly, he was the first man to regain the title after losing it.
----------------------------------------------
65
65) 4/7/2008
Today I learnt that a tabby cat is one with a mottled/stripy coating.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that a tabby cat is one with a mottled/stripy coating.
----------------------------------------------
64
64) 3/7/2008
Today I learnt that the Earth’s atmosphere consists of the troposphere, stratosphere and ionosphere. (In ascending order).
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the Earth’s atmosphere consists of the troposphere, stratosphere and ionosphere. (In ascending order).
----------------------------------------------
63
63) 2/7/2008
Today I learnt that The Boer War was a conflict over gold-rich land between Britain and the independent ‘Boer’ communities of South Africa. It was fought at the turn of the 20th Century and featured the Boer commandoes using expert guerrilla tactics.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that The Boer War was a conflict over gold-rich land between Britain and the independent ‘Boer’ communities of South Africa. It was fought at the turn of the 20th Century and featured the Boer commandoes using expert guerrilla tactics.
----------------------------------------------
62
62) 1/7/2008
Today I learnt that in 1984 Margaret Thatcher agreed Hong Kong should be handed back to Chinese rule. This was to happen in 1997 when Britain’s original lease on the land expired.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that in 1984 Margaret Thatcher agreed Hong Kong should be handed back to Chinese rule. This was to happen in 1997 when Britain’s original lease on the land expired.
----------------------------------------------
61
61) 30/6/2008
Today I learnt that a ha-ha is a ditch dug around the grounds of a stately home. It prevents animals from encroaching on the land without the aesthetic problem of a fence obstructing the view of the grounds.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that a ha-ha is a ditch dug around the grounds of a stately home. It prevents animals from encroaching on the land without the aesthetic problem of a fence obstructing the view of the grounds.
----------------------------------------------
60
60) 29/6/2008
Today I learnt that Nelson Mandela was a defence lawyer in Johannesburg before he took up the fight against apartheid full-time; eventually being imprisoned in 1964.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Nelson Mandela was a defence lawyer in Johannesburg before he took up the fight against apartheid full-time; eventually being imprisoned in 1964.
----------------------------------------------
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
