276) 31/1/2009
Today I learnt that ZOA is a word permitted in the game of Scrabble. It is the plural of ZOON which is the whole product of one fertilised egg.
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Saturday, 31 January 2009
Friday, 30 January 2009
275
275) 30/1/2009
Today I learnt that one of the great legends of Test Match Special, the cricket scorer Bill Frindall, has died at the age of 69.
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Today I learnt that one of the great legends of Test Match Special, the cricket scorer Bill Frindall, has died at the age of 69.
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Thursday, 29 January 2009
274
274) 29/1/2009
Today I learnt that on the Channel 4 game show Countdown the official rules stipulate that you must select 3, 4 or 5 vowels. Previously I thought that you could select whatever letters you wanted and could thus initiate unsporting "spoiler" tactics. (Eg. select 9 vowels if you were winning and wanted to maintain your lead because neither player could then score with this combination of letters).
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Today I learnt that on the Channel 4 game show Countdown the official rules stipulate that you must select 3, 4 or 5 vowels. Previously I thought that you could select whatever letters you wanted and could thus initiate unsporting "spoiler" tactics. (Eg. select 9 vowels if you were winning and wanted to maintain your lead because neither player could then score with this combination of letters).
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Wednesday, 28 January 2009
273
273) 28/1/2009
Today I learnt that Joy Division's singer Ian Curtis hardly played guitar in the band at all. Previously I thought that he was the main guitar player as well as the vocalist.
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Today I learnt that Joy Division's singer Ian Curtis hardly played guitar in the band at all. Previously I thought that he was the main guitar player as well as the vocalist.
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Tuesday, 27 January 2009
272
272) 27/1/2009
Today I learnt that the Abrahamic faiths are Judaism, Christianity and Islam which all recognise Abraham as a central figure to their religion for varying reasons.
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Today I learnt that the Abrahamic faiths are Judaism, Christianity and Islam which all recognise Abraham as a central figure to their religion for varying reasons.
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Monday, 26 January 2009
271
271) 26/1/2009
Today I learnt that ex-footballer Gary Mabutt never swears and never swore throughout his career playing football.
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Today I learnt that ex-footballer Gary Mabutt never swears and never swore throughout his career playing football.
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270
270) 25/1/2009
Today I learnt that there exists a recent yet lame B movie called 100 Million BC. The dinosaur CGI are hilariously bad.
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Today I learnt that there exists a recent yet lame B movie called 100 Million BC. The dinosaur CGI are hilariously bad.
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Saturday, 24 January 2009
269
269) 24/1/2009
Today I learnt that the term "suspended disbelief" (which describes how an an audience can knowingly accept/believe the often impossible/improbable events of a fictitious work in exchange for entertainment) was coined by the Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
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Today I learnt that the term "suspended disbelief" (which describes how an an audience can knowingly accept/believe the often impossible/improbable events of a fictitious work in exchange for entertainment) was coined by the Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
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268
268) 23/1/2009
Today I learnt that Harvey Milk was a prominent gay rights activist and San Francisco politician who became the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in America. He was assassinated in the late 70s.
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Today I learnt that Harvey Milk was a prominent gay rights activist and San Francisco politician who became the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in America. He was assassinated in the late 70s.
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267
267) 22/1/2009
Today I learnt that Caroline Flint is the current Europe minister.
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Today I learnt that Caroline Flint is the current Europe minister.
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Wednesday, 21 January 2009
266
266) 21/1/2009
Today I learnt how the Unofficial Football World Championships works. It all starts from the very first international football match which was played between Scotland and England in 1872. That was a 0-0 draw but after the second ever international match (between the same two sides again) England became Unofficial World Champions by beating Scotland. Since then, it has been defended in boxing title-fight style every time the holders play and is automatically won by the country who beat the holder. It is an unbroken chain going right back to the first international match ever played and countries from every continent have at one point or other held the title. (Austria being the first non-British nation to win the title in 1931). The current unofficial world champions are Holland and the prestigious title will be put on the line against Tunisia in February. Scotland are considered the ultimate champions of football because they have played more matches as champion than any other country.
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Today I learnt how the Unofficial Football World Championships works. It all starts from the very first international football match which was played between Scotland and England in 1872. That was a 0-0 draw but after the second ever international match (between the same two sides again) England became Unofficial World Champions by beating Scotland. Since then, it has been defended in boxing title-fight style every time the holders play and is automatically won by the country who beat the holder. It is an unbroken chain going right back to the first international match ever played and countries from every continent have at one point or other held the title. (Austria being the first non-British nation to win the title in 1931). The current unofficial world champions are Holland and the prestigious title will be put on the line against Tunisia in February. Scotland are considered the ultimate champions of football because they have played more matches as champion than any other country.
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Tuesday, 20 January 2009
265
265) 20/1/2009
Today I learnt that the White House is on Pennsylvania Avenue.
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Today I learnt that the White House is on Pennsylvania Avenue.
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Monday, 19 January 2009
264
264) 19/1/2009
Today I learnt that Manic Street Preachers have a song called Kevin Carter written about a Pulitzer prize winning photographer who committed suicide.
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Today I learnt that Manic Street Preachers have a song called Kevin Carter written about a Pulitzer prize winning photographer who committed suicide.
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Sunday, 18 January 2009
263
263) 18/1/2009
Today I learnt that the Arizona Cardinals have never been to the Super Bowl. Until this year???
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Today I learnt that the Arizona Cardinals have never been to the Super Bowl. Until this year???
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Saturday, 17 January 2009
262
262) 17/1/2009
Today I learnt that Jim Baxter was a legendary Scottish footballer in the 1960s who is often regarded as Scotland's greatest ever player. Unfortunately he had problems with alcoholism but one of his crowning achievements was destroying and humiliating the so-called world champions England in 1967 when Scotland won 3-2 at Wembley. He tormented England, even doing some derogatory kick-ups, and some criticised him for not trying more because they could have absolutely thrashed England that day.
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Today I learnt that Jim Baxter was a legendary Scottish footballer in the 1960s who is often regarded as Scotland's greatest ever player. Unfortunately he had problems with alcoholism but one of his crowning achievements was destroying and humiliating the so-called world champions England in 1967 when Scotland won 3-2 at Wembley. He tormented England, even doing some derogatory kick-ups, and some criticised him for not trying more because they could have absolutely thrashed England that day.
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261
261) 16/1/2009
Today I learnt that Larry David's sitcom "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was nearly called "Regrets Only".
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Today I learnt that Larry David's sitcom "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was nearly called "Regrets Only".
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Thursday, 15 January 2009
260
260) 15/1/2009
Today I learnt that the word "segue" is pronounced "SEG-way". The word is Italian in its origins.
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Today I learnt that the word "segue" is pronounced "SEG-way". The word is Italian in its origins.
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Wednesday, 14 January 2009
259
259) 14/1/2009
Today I learnt that there is a small chance Kaka may join Manchester City for an absurd amount of money.
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Today I learnt that there is a small chance Kaka may join Manchester City for an absurd amount of money.
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Tuesday, 13 January 2009
258
258) 13/1/2009
Today I learnt that Carl Nielsen was a Danish composer most famous for his symphonies. He can be seen as a contemporary of Jean Sibelius.
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Today I learnt that Carl Nielsen was a Danish composer most famous for his symphonies. He can be seen as a contemporary of Jean Sibelius.
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Monday, 12 January 2009
257
257) 12/1/2009
Today I learnt that my daily train fare has increased by 30p.
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Today I learnt that my daily train fare has increased by 30p.
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256
256) 11/1/2009
Today I learnt that the primary definition of "slut" is an untidy, dirty woman rather than promiscuous.
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Today I learnt that the primary definition of "slut" is an untidy, dirty woman rather than promiscuous.
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255
255) 10/1/2009
Today I learnt that Jack Hobbs holds the record for most centuries scored in first class cricket.
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Today I learnt that Jack Hobbs holds the record for most centuries scored in first class cricket.
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Friday, 9 January 2009
254
254) 9/1/2009
Today I learnt that Kilmarnock and Ayr United are local rivals in football.
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Today I learnt that Kilmarnock and Ayr United are local rivals in football.
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Thursday, 8 January 2009
253
253) 8/1/2009
Today I learnt that the backwards through-the-legs shot in tennis (sometimes played in desperation when chasing back to reach a lob) is known as the hot dog shot.
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Today I learnt that the backwards through-the-legs shot in tennis (sometimes played in desperation when chasing back to reach a lob) is known as the hot dog shot.
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Wednesday, 7 January 2009
252
252) 7/1/2009
Today I learnt that sports journalist Martin Samuel will now write for the Daily Mail newspaper. He will replace former chief-sports writer Paul Hayward who will now work for The Guardian.
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Today I learnt that sports journalist Martin Samuel will now write for the Daily Mail newspaper. He will replace former chief-sports writer Paul Hayward who will now work for The Guardian.
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251
251) 6/1/2009
Today I learnt that Joe Jackson was a British new wave/pop artist who penned "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" amongst other hits.
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Today I learnt that Joe Jackson was a British new wave/pop artist who penned "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" amongst other hits.
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Monday, 5 January 2009
250
250) 5/1/2009
Today I learnt that on a golf course a winter green is where a portion of the fairway is cut short and used as a temporary green during the winter.
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Today I learnt that on a golf course a winter green is where a portion of the fairway is cut short and used as a temporary green during the winter.
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249
249) 4/1/2009
Today I learnt that the famous movie line "frankly my dear, I don't give a damn" is from Gone with the Wind.
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Today I learnt that the famous movie line "frankly my dear, I don't give a damn" is from Gone with the Wind.
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248
248) 3/1/2009
Today I learnt that the mighty German World War 2 battleship Bismarck had a very short life in which it destroyed the pride of the British Navy, Hood, before being sunk itself days later.
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Today I learnt that the mighty German World War 2 battleship Bismarck had a very short life in which it destroyed the pride of the British Navy, Hood, before being sunk itself days later.
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Friday, 2 January 2009
247
247) 2/1/2009
Today I learnt that Ogunquit (a town in Maine, USA) is pronounced o-GUHN-kwit.
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Today I learnt that Ogunquit (a town in Maine, USA) is pronounced o-GUHN-kwit.
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Thursday, 1 January 2009
246
246) 1/1/2009
Today I learnt that Arsenal's Gavin Hoyte has gone on loan to Watford.
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Today I learnt that Arsenal's Gavin Hoyte has gone on loan to Watford.
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