184) 31/10/2008
Today I learnt that The Mayflower was a famous ship which carried a group of emigrants (known as the Pilgrims) from England to America. It's voyage was made in 1620 and it returned to England after depositing the surviving passengers.
----------------------------------------------
Friday, 31 October 2008
Thursday, 30 October 2008
183
183) 30/10/2008
Today I learnt the probable reason why the word "love" is used for zero in tennis. The French used to say l'ouef (egg) to symbolise zero points. (An egg being the shape of a zero). Then the English appropriated this as "love" because that's what it phonetically sounded like. The phrase stuck.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt the probable reason why the word "love" is used for zero in tennis. The French used to say l'ouef (egg) to symbolise zero points. (An egg being the shape of a zero). Then the English appropriated this as "love" because that's what it phonetically sounded like. The phrase stuck.
----------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
182
182) 29/10/2008
Today I learnt that Gilbert of the Gilbert & Sullivan partnership drowned whilst giving swimming lessons to two young ladies in a lake.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Gilbert of the Gilbert & Sullivan partnership drowned whilst giving swimming lessons to two young ladies in a lake.
----------------------------------------------
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
181
181) 28/10/2008
Today I learnt that on Living TV's Most Haunted television programme, paranormal investigator Cath has the additional role of hair and make-up artist.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that on Living TV's Most Haunted television programme, paranormal investigator Cath has the additional role of hair and make-up artist.
----------------------------------------------
Monday, 27 October 2008
180
180) 27/10/2008
Today I learnt that ersatz means a cheap substitute; an inferior imitation. For example: "They were drinking ersatz coffee. It wasn't the real thing." It is originally a German word.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that ersatz means a cheap substitute; an inferior imitation. For example: "They were drinking ersatz coffee. It wasn't the real thing." It is originally a German word.
----------------------------------------------
Sunday, 26 October 2008
179
179) 26/10/2008
Today I learnt that the London Monarchs were an American Football team who played in the now defunct World League in the early 90s. They played their home games for one season at Wembley.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the London Monarchs were an American Football team who played in the now defunct World League in the early 90s. They played their home games for one season at Wembley.
----------------------------------------------
Saturday, 25 October 2008
178
178) 25/10/2008
Today I learnt that there is a controversial but brilliant song called He Hit Me (And it Felt Like a Kiss) which was written as a protest song by Carole King but released by The Crystals with seemingly different connotations. After being banned from airplay it was re-released and re-worded as Then He Kissed Me.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that there is a controversial but brilliant song called He Hit Me (And it Felt Like a Kiss) which was written as a protest song by Carole King but released by The Crystals with seemingly different connotations. After being banned from airplay it was re-released and re-worded as Then He Kissed Me.
----------------------------------------------
Friday, 24 October 2008
177
177) 24/10/2008
Today I learnt that fivethirtyeight.com is a website/blog that aims to produce accurate statistical predictions of the upcoming American presidential election. The methods it uses are the brainchild of an expert baseball statistician.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that fivethirtyeight.com is a website/blog that aims to produce accurate statistical predictions of the upcoming American presidential election. The methods it uses are the brainchild of an expert baseball statistician.
----------------------------------------------
Thursday, 23 October 2008
176
176) 23/10/2008
Today I learnt that legendary baseball player Babe Ruth was primarily a pitcher at the start of his career for the Boston Redsox. He threw and batted left-handed.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that legendary baseball player Babe Ruth was primarily a pitcher at the start of his career for the Boston Redsox. He threw and batted left-handed.
----------------------------------------------
175
175) 22/10/2008
Today I learnt that mohair is the fine, silky hair of the Angora goat.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that mohair is the fine, silky hair of the Angora goat.
----------------------------------------------
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
174
174) 21/10/2008
Today I learnt that "Quebec" represents the letter Q in the NATO phonetic alphabet.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that "Quebec" represents the letter Q in the NATO phonetic alphabet.
----------------------------------------------
Monday, 20 October 2008
173
173) 20/10/2008
Today I learnt that Eadweard Muybridge was a 19th Century photographer. His photographic sequences proved that a galloping horse has all 4 hooves off the ground at one point during its gallop.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Eadweard Muybridge was a 19th Century photographer. His photographic sequences proved that a galloping horse has all 4 hooves off the ground at one point during its gallop.
----------------------------------------------
Sunday, 19 October 2008
172
172) 19/10/2008
Today I learnt that Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire was not the first Simpsons episode produced; despite it being the first aired on television. Some Enchanted Evening was actually the first produced but it had major animation problems.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire was not the first Simpsons episode produced; despite it being the first aired on television. Some Enchanted Evening was actually the first produced but it had major animation problems.
----------------------------------------------
Saturday, 18 October 2008
171
171) 18/10/2008
Today I learnt that Liechtenstein use the same tune as "God Save The Queen" for their national anthem.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Liechtenstein use the same tune as "God Save The Queen" for their national anthem.
----------------------------------------------
Friday, 17 October 2008
170
170) 17/10/2008
Today I learnt that the song Higher by Creed is in D Major.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the song Higher by Creed is in D Major.
----------------------------------------------
Thursday, 16 October 2008
169
169) 16/10/2008
Today I learnt that "vela" is a Spanish word meaning "candle". It has other other meanings including connections with sailing.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that "vela" is a Spanish word meaning "candle". It has other other meanings including connections with sailing.
----------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
168
168) 15/10/2008
Today I learnt that that jazz music was often written as "jass" in the early days.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that that jazz music was often written as "jass" in the early days.
----------------------------------------------
167
167) 14/10/2008
Today I learnt that Lance Armstrong never rode in the Giro d'Italia. However, after coming out (of retirement) he will ride it next year.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Lance Armstrong never rode in the Giro d'Italia. However, after coming out (of retirement) he will ride it next year.
----------------------------------------------
Monday, 13 October 2008
166
166) 13/10/2008
Today I learnt that Britney Spears is an anagram of Presbyterians.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Britney Spears is an anagram of Presbyterians.
----------------------------------------------
Sunday, 12 October 2008
165
165) 12/10/2008
Today I learnt that LSD is an abbreviation of Lysergic acid diethylamide.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that LSD is an abbreviation of Lysergic acid diethylamide.
----------------------------------------------
Saturday, 11 October 2008
164
164) 11/10/2008
Today I learnt that the universe, as we know it, is 13.7 billion years old.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the universe, as we know it, is 13.7 billion years old.
----------------------------------------------
Friday, 10 October 2008
163
163) 10/10/2008
Today I learnt that the composer Jean Sibelius was commissioned to write his 5th Symphony by the Finnish government. The 3 movement piece was to mark his 50th birthday - and he himself conducted the premiere on his birthday.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the composer Jean Sibelius was commissioned to write his 5th Symphony by the Finnish government. The 3 movement piece was to mark his 50th birthday - and he himself conducted the premiere on his birthday.
----------------------------------------------
Thursday, 9 October 2008
162
162) 9/10/2008
Today I learnt that The Electric Prunes were a psychedelic rock band of the late 60s. For one of their albums they set the Catholic mass to acid rock music.
.
----------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
161
161) 8/10/2008
Today I learnt what the continent of Australia was like when the first people reached this land circa 40,000 years ago. Lower sea levels meant it was joined on to New Guinea and Tasmania - the land mass was quite a bit bigger than it is today. The first settlers, coming by a pioneering sea journey from South East Asia encountered bizarre megafauna like giant kangaroos and massive ox-like beasts. The sea levels only rose at the end of the last ice age.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt what the continent of Australia was like when the first people reached this land circa 40,000 years ago. Lower sea levels meant it was joined on to New Guinea and Tasmania - the land mass was quite a bit bigger than it is today. The first settlers, coming by a pioneering sea journey from South East Asia encountered bizarre megafauna like giant kangaroos and massive ox-like beasts. The sea levels only rose at the end of the last ice age.
----------------------------------------------
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
160
160) 7/10/2008
Today I learnt that Schubert's 8th (Unfinished) Symphony consists of only 2 completed movements. There exists a fragmented sketch of the scherzo (3rd) movement but that is all.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Schubert's 8th (Unfinished) Symphony consists of only 2 completed movements. There exists a fragmented sketch of the scherzo (3rd) movement but that is all.
----------------------------------------------
159
159) 6/10/2008
Today I learnt that the citadel is a city's fortress.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that the citadel is a city's fortress.
----------------------------------------------
Sunday, 5 October 2008
158
158) 5/10/2008
Today I learnt that a stratocracy is a form of government whereby a society is governed by military chiefs.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that a stratocracy is a form of government whereby a society is governed by military chiefs.
----------------------------------------------
Saturday, 4 October 2008
157
157) 4/10/2008
Today I learnt that Nombre de Dios is in Panama. It was an early Spanish colony and an important part of their treasure operations. The city was sacked by Francis Drake.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Nombre de Dios is in Panama. It was an early Spanish colony and an important part of their treasure operations. The city was sacked by Francis Drake.
----------------------------------------------
Friday, 3 October 2008
156
156) 3/10/2008
Today I learnt that Altrincham F.C.'s ground is Moss Lane. Their traditional main rivals are Macclesfield Town.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Altrincham F.C.'s ground is Moss Lane. Their traditional main rivals are Macclesfield Town.
----------------------------------------------
Thursday, 2 October 2008
155
155) 2/10/2008
Today I learnt that composer Alban Berg died after an insect bite gave him blood poisoning. He was 50. It was 1935.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that composer Alban Berg died after an insect bite gave him blood poisoning. He was 50. It was 1935.
----------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
154
154) 1/10/2008
Today I learnt that Johann Strauss II (composer of The Blue Danube Waltz) followed in his father's footsteps by writing popular music waltzes. His father popularised the dance in Vienna and was a pioneer of sheet music sales. For the first time music was becoming a commodity and the growing middle classes were buying into the new dance.
----------------------------------------------
Today I learnt that Johann Strauss II (composer of The Blue Danube Waltz) followed in his father's footsteps by writing popular music waltzes. His father popularised the dance in Vienna and was a pioneer of sheet music sales. For the first time music was becoming a commodity and the growing middle classes were buying into the new dance.
----------------------------------------------
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
