214

214) 30/11/2008

Today I learnt that the footballer Robin Van Persie is capable of emphatic shooting ability with his right foot. Previously I thought that just his left foot possessed stunning ball-striking credentials.

HIGHER GROUND, HIGHER PURPOSE

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213

213) 29/11/2008

Today I learnt that the winner of this year's X Factor will release a cover version of Leonard Cohen's Hallejulah as their debut single/Christmas number one.... Dude.
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212

212) 28/11/2008

Today I learnt that there is a New York musical act known as The Benevento/Russo Duo. Their work can be described as a kind of experimentally electronic, improvised jazz-fusion based instrumental art rock.
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211

211) 27/11/2008

Today I learnt that the band Nightwish are Finnish.
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210

210) 26/11/2008

Today I learnt that Quincy Jones is an acclaimed producer and composer of music with a truly diverse set of achievements. Amongst other things he produced Michael Jackson's album Thriller, arranged music for Sinatra, wrote the music for The Italian Job and penned the song It's My Party (and I'll Cry if I want to).













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209

209) 25/11/2008

Today I learnt that Celestine Babayaro is the youngest footballer ever to play in the Champions League.
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208

208) 24/11/2008

Today I learnt that a woman's maiden name can be indicated by the term: née. (Pronounced nay). For example, Jackie Kennedy, née Bouvier.
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207

207) 23/11/2008

Today I learnt that Boots The Chemists originated in Nottingham, England. Even today its main headquarters are in Nottingham.
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206

206) 22/11/2008

Today I learnt that former X Factor contestants Same Difference are releasing a debut single and album. The brother and sister combo's music appears to be strongly influenced by the High School Musical phenomenon and is directed at the childrens' market.
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205

205) 21/11/2008

Today I learnt that The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest man-made structure on Earth for nearly 4,000 years. It held the record until the early 14th century when Lincoln Cathedral exceeded its height. (The cathedral used to have a spire, which was destroyed in a storm, meaning it is not as tall now as its record-breaking height in the 14th century).
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204

204) 20/11/2008)

Today I learnt that The Colossus of Rhodes was a giant statue of the Greek God Helios built on the island of Rhodes in BC times. It only stood for little over half a century though before an earthquake brought it crashing down. It then lay for centuries in pieces on the ground; still drawing visitors amazed at the sheer scale of the broken statue. This was one of the original 7 Wonders of The Ancient World.
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203

203) 19/11/2008)

Today I learnt that a comprehensive and detailed list of British National Party members was leaked online. My nearest BNP member lives 0.3 miles away.
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202

202) 18/11/2008

Today I learnt that a Diaspora is the dispersal of people, originally of the same ethnic group or culture, to different parts of the world.
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201

201) 17/11/2008

Today I learnt that R.S. Thomas was a 20th century Welsh poet and priest. He had a strong sense of Welsh nationalism and was once nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature.
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200 up!

That's 200 days of this project in the bag! Yes... it's been fun and I'm not done yet.
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200

200) 16/11/2008

Today I learnt that from near the summit of Rombalds Moor in West Yorkshire you can, with binoculars on a clear day, make out York Minster which is well over 30 miles away.
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199

199) 15/11/2008

Today I learnt that there is an element called Einsteinium (Es). It is radioactive.
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198

198) 14/11/2008

Today I learnt that in Nazi Germany a nationwide anti-smoking campaign was started by Hitler. It was the first large-scale, public anti-tobacco movement of its kind.
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197

197) 13/11/2008

Today I learnt that Dodge City is in the midwestern state of Kansas.
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196

196) 12/11/2008

Today I learnt that Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg were/are associated with the West Coast hip hop scene whilst The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls) and Sean Combs (P. Diddy) were/are part of the East Coast scene.
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195

195) 11/11/2008

Today I learnt that Nas is an American rapper.
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194

194) 10/11/2008

Today I learnt that Johnny Vegas is an accomplished potter.
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193

193) 9/11/2008

Today I learnt that Johnny Marr is now some kind of lecturer.
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192

192) 8/11/2008

Today I learnt that the first chapter of Albert Camus' L'Etranger describes the main protagonist preparing to attend his mother's funeral.
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191

191) 7/11/2008

Today I learnt that Terence Davies is a British film director.
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190

190) 6/11/2008

Today I learnt that the folk song "John Brown's Body" originates from the American Civil War. Sung by Union soldiers, it celebrates the the abolitionist John Brown.
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189

189) 5/11/2008

Today I learnt that barbiturates are sedative drugs.
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188

188) 4/11/2008

Today I learnt that Dixville Notch, New Hampshire is a tiny village which in US presidential elections holds a very early midnight vote. They are usually the first place to declare their results on election day.
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187

187) 3/11/2008

Today I learnt that what is referred to in the media as "anorexia" is technically wrong. The name of this form of eating disorder is actually anorexia nervosa.
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186

186) 2/11/2008

Today I learnt that Joe Lieberman was the first Jewish person to appear on a major-party presidential ticket in the USA. He was Al Gore's running-mate in the controversial 2000 election.
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185

185) 1/11/2008

Today I learnt that St. David's in Wales is the smallest city in the UK. It's population is under 2,000. It has a cathedral and not much else.
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