Daily Archives: December 9, 2014

today’s birthday: Fritz Haber (1868)


Fritz Haber (1868)

Haber was a Nobel Prize-winning German chemist whose work was instrumental in the development of poison gas during World War I. He was unwavering in his support of chemical warfare and staunchly defended his work against critics, though he might have felt differently had he known how the Nazis would use the gas he helped develop against its own people—indeed Haber’s own relatives—just a few years later. His wife, on the other hand, was deeply opposed. In what way did she protest his work? More… Discuss

this day in the yesteryear: Kecksburg UFO Incident (1965)


Kecksburg UFO Incident (1965)

Many believe that the large fireball observed in the sky above Ontario, Canada, and at least six US states in 1965 was nothing more than a passing meteor. However, some witnesses in the small town of Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, claim a car-sized, acorn-shaped object with hieroglyphic-like markings crashed in a nearby wood and was then carted off by the military. Government officials long denied these allegations, but 40 years later, in 2005, NASA made what admission regarding the suspicious object? More… Discuss


Reggae

Reggae is a form of popular music that developed in the 1960s among the Jamaican poor. It draws on American “soul” music and traditional African and Jamaican folk music, as well as ska—Jamaican-British dance-hall music. Many of reggae’s highly political songs proclaim the tenets of the Rastafarian religious movement. Instrumentation accents the upbeat and usually includes an ensemble of organ, piano, drums, bass, and electric guitars. What are some theories on the origin of the term “reggae”? More… Discuss

Einstein’s Personal Life, Now Online


Einstein’s Personal Life, Now Online

If you’ve ever wondered about the man behind the principle of relat ivity, now you can know him better: the Einstein Papers Project has made accessible online 5,000 searchable documents from the first 44 years of Albert Einstein‘s life. Before, these letters, diaries, and scientific papers were mainly used by scholars, but now anyone can read—in Einstein’s own words—about his transformation from mediocre student to world famous scientific genius. As the papers highlight Einstein’s wit, work ethic, and large network of friends, the publishers hope they will dispel the notion of him as an isolated “mad” scientist. More… Discuss

word: termagant


termagant 

Definition: (noun) A quarrelsome, scolding woman.
Synonyms: shrew
Usage: His aunt was such a termagant that he dreaded her annual visit. Discuss.

Zuckerberg’s China charm offensive backfires


Zuckerberg’s China charm offensive backfires
http://www.cnn.com//2014/12/09/world/china-facebook/index.html

Do S. Africans blame US for hostage’s death?


Do S. Africans blame US for hostage’s death?
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2014/12/08/lead-intv-sooliman-south-african-hostage-killed.cnn.html

Rogers: Torture report will cause deaths


Rogers: Torture report will cause deaths
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2014/12/07/sotu-crowley-intel-chair-mike-rogers-cia-torture-report-will-cause-violence-and-deaths.cnn.html

US to publish CIA ‘torture’ report


US to publish CIA ‘torture’ report http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30383924

Day in pictures: 9 December 2014


Day in pictures: 9 December 2014 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-30393421

President Obama writes Frozen code


President Obama writes Frozen code http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30393234

No trial over Nazi massacre case


No trial over Nazi massacre case http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30391649

Viewpoint: Black victims unfairly blamed


Viewpoint: Black victims unfairly blamed http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30340632

A sideways look at capitalism


A sideways look at capitalism http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30378297

Hoverfly kiss wins photo prize


Hoverfly kiss wins photo prize http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30382316

Ofcom: UK broadband coverage patchy


Ofcom: UK broadband coverage patchy http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30375854

Inequality hurts growth, warns OECD


Inequality hurts growth, warns OECD http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30390232