December 31: Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 Published On

Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 (English: Oral Fixation, Vol. 1) is a Latin pop
album, the sixth studio album by Colombian recording artist Shakira
(pictured). It followed her first English-language record, Laundry
Service, an international success. It received generally favorable
reviews that complimented Shakira's evolving style. Released in June
2005, it debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200, and topped the
charts in Argentina, Germany, Mexico and Spain. Fijación Oral, Vol. 1
was the Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album at the 2006 Grammy Awards, and
the Album of the Year and the Best Female Pop Vocal Album at the Latin
Grammy Awards. It became the highest selling Latin pop album of the
decade in the US. Four singles were released to promote the album,
although only the lead single ("La Tortura") reached the US Billboard
Hot 100. In November 2005 Shakira supplemented the album with her second
English-language record, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2. The two were packaged
together and promoted with the Oral Fixation Tour.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fijaci%C3%B3n_Oral,_Vol._1>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1775:

American Revolutionary War: At the Battle of Quebec, British
forces repulsed an attack by the Continental Army to capture Quebec City
and enlist French Canadian support.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Quebec_(1775)>

1857:

Queen Victoria selected Ottawa, then a small logging town, to
be the capital of the British colony of Canada.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa>

1907:

Times Square in New York City held its first New Year's Eve
celebrations with the ball drop.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square_Ball>

1986:

Three disgruntled employees set fire to the Dupont Plaza Hotel
in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which killed 98 people and injured 140 others,
making it the second deadliest hotel fire in United States history.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dupont_Plaza_Hotel_arson>

2004:

Taipei 101 in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan, opened to the
public as the world's tallest skyscraper.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei_101>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

reverie:
A state of dreaming while awake; a loose or irregular train of thought;
musing or meditation; daydream.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/reverie>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  If man does find the solution for world peace it will be the
most revolutionary reversal of his record we have ever known.
 
--George Marshall
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Marshall>

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[Daily article] December 30: Thief II: The Metal Age Published On

Thief II: The Metal Age is a 2000 stealth game developed by Looking
Glass Studios and published by Eidos Interactive. Like its predecessor
Thief: The Dark Project, the game follows Garrett, a master thief who
works in and around a steampunk metropolis called the City. The player
assumes the role of Garrett as he unravels a conspiracy related to a new
religious sect. In response to feedback from players of the original
Thief, the developers placed a heavy focus on urban stealth in the
sequel, and they minimized the use of monsters and maze-like levels.
Looking Glass neared bankruptcy as the game was created, and the company
was kept running by advances from Eidos. Thief II received positive
reviews from critics and its initial sales were stronger than those of
its predecessor, but the game's royalties were processed slowly, which
compounded Looking Glass's financial troubles. As a result, the company
closed in May 2000, with plans for Thief III canceled. The third game in
the series, entitled Thief: Deadly Shadows, was developed by Ion Storm
and published by Eidos in 2004. Thief 2X: Shadows of the Metal Age, an
expansion mod for Thief II, was released in 2005.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thief_II:_The_Metal_Age>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1460:

War of the Roses: Richard, Duke of York, was killed in the
Battle of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England, and his army was
destroyed.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wakefield>

1702:

Carolina colonial governor James Moore abandoned the siege
against the Castillo de San Marcos at St. Augustine, Spanish Florida,
and retreated to Charles Town in disgrace.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_St._Augustine_(1702)>

1896:

Philippine Revolution: Nationalist José Rizal was executed by
a firing squad in Manila after Spanish authorities convicted him of
rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal>

1965:

Ferdinand Marcos, who went on to rule the Philippines for 21
years, took office, beginning his first term as President.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Marcos>

2006:

Basque nationalist group ETA detonated a van bomb at Madrid-
Barajas Airport in Spain, ending a nine-month ceasefire.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Madrid-Barajas_Airport_bombing>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

peckled:
(now UK dialectal) Speckled, spotted.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/peckled>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  God was Life, the drop of light fallen into the darkness,
spreading out, reaching out, drinking up the night. But the night is
limitless, and the Divine struggle will never cease: and none can know
how it will end. It was a heroic symphony wherein the very discords
clashed together and mingled and grew into a serene whole!  
--Romain Rolland
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Romain_Rolland>

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[Daily article] December 29: Three Beauties of the Present Day Published On

Three Beauties of the Present Day is a nishiki-e colour woodblock print
of c. 1792–93 by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Kitagawa Utamaro
(c. 1753–1806). The triangular composition depicts the busts of
three celebrity beauties of the time: geisha Tomimoto Toyohina (middle),
and teahouse waitresses Takashima Hisa (left) and Naniwa Kita (right),
each adorned with an identifying family crest. Subtle differences can be
detected in the faces of the subjects—a level of individualized
realism at the time unusual in ukiyo-e, and a contrast with the
stereotyped beauties in earlier masters such as Harunobu and Kiyonaga.
The triangular positioning became a vogue in the 1790s. Utamaro produced
several other pictures with this arrangement of the same three beauties,
and each appeared in numerous other portraits by Utamaro and other
artists. Utamaro was the leading ukiyo-e artist in the 1790s in the
bijin-ga genre of pictures of female beauties, and was known in
particular for his ōkubi-e, which focus on the heads. The luxurious
print was published by Tsutaya Jūzaburō and made with multiple
woodblocks—one for each colour—and the background was dusted with
muscovite to produce a glimmering effect.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Beauties_of_the_Present_Day>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1835:

The United States signed the Treaty of New Echota with leaders
of a minority Cherokee faction, which became the legal basis for the
forcible removal known as the Trail of Tears.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_New_Echota>

1891:

Physical education teacher James Naismith introduced a game in
Springfield, Massachusetts, with thirteen rules and nine players on each
team that he called "Basket Ball".
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_basketball>

1911:

Sun Yat-sen was elected in Nanjing as the Provisional President
of the Republic of China.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Yat-sen>

1937:

The Constitution of Ireland, the founding legal document of the
state known today as the Republic of Ireland, came into force.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Ireland>

1992:

President of Brazil Fernando Collor de Mello resigned in an
attempt to stop his impeachment proceedings from continuing, but the
Senate of Brazil continued anyway, finding him guilty.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Collor_de_Mello>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

nobble:
1. (UK, Australia, slang) To injure or obstruct intently; batter.
2. (UK, slang) To gain influence by corrupt means or intimidation.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nobble>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  Pain nourishes courage. You can't be brave if you've only had
wonderful things happen to you.  
--Mary Tyler Moore
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mary_Tyler_Moore>

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[Daily article] December 28: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Published On

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is a 1986 American science fiction film.
The fourth film in the series, it completes the story arc from The Wrath
of Khan and The Search for Spock. Returning home to face trial for their
crimes, former crewmembers of the USS Enterprise find Earth in danger
from an alien probe attempting to contact now-extinct humpback whales.
They travel to Earth's past to find whales who can answer the probe.
After directing The Search for Spock, cast member Leonard Nimoy
(pictured) was asked to direct the next feature, and given greater
freedom regarding its content. He and producer Harve Bennett conceived a
story with an environmental message and no clear-cut villain.
Dissatisfied, Paramount Pictures hired The Wrath of Khan writer and
director Nicholas Meyer, who rewrote the story with Bennett. Unlike
previous Star Trek films, The Voyage Home was shot extensively on
location, for scenes set in and around San Francisco. The film's humor
and unconventional story were well received by critics, fans of the
series and the general audience. It was financially successful, and
received several awards and four Academy Award nominations for its
cinematography and audio.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek_IV:_The_Voyage_Home>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1836:

At the Old Gum Tree near present-day Adelaide, Royal Navy Rear-
Admiral John Hindmarsh read a proclamation establishing the British
province of South Australia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Australia>

1879:

The Tay Rail Bridge, spanning the Firth of Tay in Scotland
between Dundee and the Wormit, collapsed during a violent storm while a
train was passing over it, killing all on board.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tay_Bridge_disaster>

1912:

The San Francisco Municipal Railway, operator of the city's
famed cable car system, opened its first line.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Municipal_Railway>

1989:

In one of Australia's most serious natural disasters, a 5.6 ML
earthquake struck Newcastle, New South Wales, killing 13 people and
injuring more than 160 others, and causing an estimated A$4 billion in
damages.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Newcastle_earthquake>

2011:

Acting on information that PKK militants were crossing the
border into Şırnak Province, two Turkish F-16 jets fired at a group of
villagers, killing 34 people.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roboski_airstrike>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

brawn:
Physical strength; muscularity.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/brawn>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  There probably is a God. Many things are easier to explain if
there is than if there isn't.  
--John von Neumann
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann>

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[Daily article] December 27: Fifth Test, 1948 Ashes series Published On

The Fifth Test of the 1948 Ashes series, held at The Oval in London from
14–18 August, was the final Test match in a cricket series between
Australia and England. Australia won the match by an innings and 149
runs to complete a 4–0 series win. It was the last Test in the career
of Australian captain Donald Bradman (pictured), generally regarded as
the best batsman in the history of the sport. After a delayed start due
to inclement weather, the Australian fast bowlers, led by Ray Lindwall,
took all of England's wickets within the first day of the match, England
scoring only 52 runs. When Bradman came out to bat, he received a
standing ovation from the crowd and three cheers from his opponents. He
needed only four runs from his final innings to have a Test batting
average of exactly 100, but he failed to score and was out to the second
ball he faced (bowled by leg spinner Eric Hollies). The match was
followed by speeches from both captains, after which the crowd sang "For
He's a Jolly Good Fellow" in Bradman's honour. Having been undefeated in
their matches up to this point, the Australians maintained their streak
in the remaining matches, gaining them the sobriquet of The Invincibles.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Test,_1948_Ashes_series>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

537:

The current Hagia Sophia building in Istanbul, originally built
as a church before it later became a mosque in 1453 and then a museum in
1935, was inaugurated.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia>

1831:

Aboard HMS Beagle, Charles Darwin left Plymouth, England, on
what became a historic expedition to South America that made his name as
a naturalist.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_voyage_of_HMS_Beagle>

1911:

"Jana Gana Mana", the national anthem of India, was first sung
in the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jana_Gana_Mana>

1979:

Soviet war in Afghanistan: Soviet troops stormed Tajbeg Palace
outside of Kabul and killed Afghan President Hafizullah Amin and his 300
elite guards.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafizullah_Amin>

2002:

The company Clonaid announced the birth of a cloned human baby,
although it has yet to present any verifiable evidence.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonaid>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

hooey:
(slang) Silly talk or writing; nonsense.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hooey>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to
humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world. Science is the
highest personification of the nation because that nation will remain
the first which carries the furthest the works of thought and
intelligence.  
--Louis Pasteur
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Louis_Pasteur>

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[Daily article] December 26: Turkey vulture Published On

The turkey vulture is the most widespread of the New World vultures. One
of three species in the genus Cathartes, in the family Cathartidae, it
ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America,
inhabiting subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts. Like
all New World vultures, it is not related to the Old World vultures of
Europe, Africa, and Asia, but looks nearly identical to them because of
convergent evolution, in which unrelated animals adapting to the same
conditions are similarly shaped by natural selection. The turkey vulture
is a scavenger and feeds almost exclusively on carrion. It finds its
food using its keen eyes and sense of smell, flying low enough to detect
the gases produced by decaying animal corpses. In flight, it uses
thermals to move through the air, flapping its wings infrequently. It
roosts in large community groups. Lacking a vocal organ, its only
vocalizations are grunts or low hisses. It nests in caves, hollow trees,
or thickets. Each year it generally raises two chicks. It has very few
natural predators, and has legal protection in the United States under
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1806:

War of the Fourth Coalition: French troops under Napoleon
engaged Russian forces in both the Battles of Pultusk and Golymin.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Golymin>

1825:

Imperial Russian Army officers led about 3,000 soldiers in a
protest against Nicholas I's assumption of the throne after his elder
brother Constantine removed himself from the line of succession.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decembrist_revolt>

1900:

A relief crew arrived at the lighthouse on the Flannan Isles of
Scotland and discovered that the previous crew had disappeared without a
trace.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flannan_Isles>

1968:

The Communist Party of the Philippines, which is fighting an
insurgency, was established by Jose Maria Sison.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Maria_Sison>

1996:

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions called upon its 1.2
million members to walk off the job, beginning the largest organized
strike in the nation's history,
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996%E2%80%9397_strikes_in_South_Korea>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

rebarbative:
Irritating, repellent.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rebarbative>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  Political leaders are never leaders. For leaders we have to look
to the Awakeners! Lao Tse, Buddha, Socrates, Jesus, Milarepa, Gurdjiev,
Krishnamurti.  
--Henry Miller
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henry_Miller>

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[Daily article] December 25: Nativity (Christus) Published On

The Nativity is a large oil-on-wood panel painting by the Early
Netherlandish artist Petrus Christus, completed between the early 1440s
and early 1460s. It shows a nativity scene bordered with grisaille
(monochrome) archways and faux sculpted reliefs. Christus was influenced
by the first generation of Netherlandish artists, especially Jan van
Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden, and in its sense of grace, simplicity
and naturalism, the devotional panel is characteristic of art of that
period. The unusually large panel – perhaps painted as a central
altarpiece panel for a triptych – is nuanced and visually complex. It
reflects the 14th-century Devotio Moderna movement and contains complex
Christian iconography, juxtaposing Old and New Testament saints and
figures with great subtlety. The sculpted archway reliefs depict Old
Testament ideas of sin and punishment, signaling the advent of Christ's
sacrifice. The composition employs geometric forms and a bold use of
color. In the 1930s, Andrew Mellon bequeathed it to the National Gallery
of Art in Washington, as one of several hundreds of works donated from
his personal collection. It was restored in the early 1990s.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_(Christus)>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1066:

Norman Conquest: William the Conqueror was crowned King of
England at Westminster Abbey, although he still faced rebellions over
the following years and was not secure on his throne until after 1072.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Conqueror>

1776:

American Revolutionary War: At night, George Washington and his
army crossed the Delaware River to launch a surprise attack against the
Hessian forces at the Battle of Trenton the next morning.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trenton>

1926:

Emperor Taishō died of a heart attack, and was succeeded by
his son, Hirohito, who ruled until his death in 1989, becoming the
longest-reigning Emperor of Japan.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito>

1989:

Romanian Revolution: Dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife
Elena were condemned to death under a wide range of charges and
executed.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolae_Ceau%C8%99escu>

2007:

A tiger at the San Francisco Zoo escaped from its enclosure and
attacked three patrons before it was shot and killed.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Zoo_tiger_attacks>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

wassail:
To go from house to house at Christmastime, singing carols.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wassail>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  The earth has grown old with its burden of care But at Christmas
it always is young, The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair And
its soul full of music breaks the air, When the song of angels is sung.
 
--Phillips Brooks
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Phillips_Brooks>

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[Daily article] December 24: American paddlefish Published On

The American paddlefish is one of the largest freshwater fish in North
America. Closely related to the sturgeon, it is one of only two extant
taxa in the paddlefish family (the other being the Chinese paddlefish).
Fossil records of paddlefish date back over 300 million years ago,
nearly 50 million years before dinosaurs appeared. The American
paddlefish is referred to as a relict species (because it retains some
morphological characteristics of its early ancestors) even though it is
highly derived with evolutionary adaptations specifically for filter
feeding. The rostrum and cranium of American paddlefish are covered with
tens of thousands of sensory receptors for locating swarms of
zooplankton, their primary food source. American paddlefish are native
to the Mississippi River Basin and once moved freely under the
relatively natural, unaltered conditions that existed prior to the early
1900s. Their numbers have declined dramatically primarily because of
overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution. They are currently
found in only twenty-two U.S. states, and their range has been reduced
to the Mississippi and Missouri river tributaries and Mobile Bay
drainage basin.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_paddlefish>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1777:

An expedition led by English explorer James Cook reached
Christmas Island (pictured), the largest coral atoll in the world.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiritimati>

1814:

The Treaty of Ghent was signed in Ghent, in present-day
Belgium, ending the War of 1812 between the United Kingdom and the
United States.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Ghent>

1826:

More than one third of the cadets enrolled in the United States
Military Academy in West Point, New York, rioted over the smuggling of
whiskey to make eggnog for a Christmas Day party.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eggnog_Riot>

1964:

The Viet Cong bombed the Brinks Hotel in Saigon, killing two US
Army officers, raising fears of an escalation in the Vietnam War.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Brinks_Hotel_bombing>

1974:

Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin, Australia, eventually destroying
more than 70 percent of the city.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Tracy>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

bullshot:
1. A cocktail made from vodka and beef bouillon.
2. (neologism, video games) A phony screenshot created for promotional
purposes.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bullshot>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  I feel like a spinning top or a Dreidel The spinning don't stop
when you leave the cradle You just slow down Round and around this world
you go Spinning through the lives of the people you know We all slow
down.  
--Don McLean
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Don_McLean>

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[Daily article] December 23: 1995 Pacific hurricane season Published On

The 1995 Pacific hurricane season, running roughly from May to November,
was the least active one since 1979. Of the eleven tropical cyclones
that formed, four affected land, all in Mexico: Hurricane Flossie killed
seven people around Baja California, Tropical Storm Gil dropped heavy
rainfall in Southern Mexico, Hurricane Henriette caused moderate damage
near Cabo San Lucas, and Ismael struck the state of Sinaloa as a minimal
hurricane, killing at least 116 people. The strongest hurricane of the
season was Hurricane Juliette, which reached peak winds of 150 mph
(240 km/h) but did not significantly affect land. Of eleven tropical
cyclones, including Tropical Depression Erick and Tropical Storm Flossie
(both pictured, with Erick to the left), ten became tropical storms.
Seven storms attained hurricane status, of which three acquired major
hurricane status. The number of tropical storms was much less than the
average of 16 storms, with a slightly below average number of hurricanes
and major hurricanes.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Pacific_hurricane_season>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1823:

A Visit from St. Nicholas, also known as The Night Before
Christmas, was first published anonymously. Authorship was later
attributed to Clement Clarke Moore.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Visit_from_St._Nicholas>

1876:

The Great Powers convened the Constantinople Conference to
discuss political reforms both in Bosnia and in the Ottoman territories
with a majority Bulgarian population.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople_Conference>

1916:

First World War: Allied forces gained a strategic victory in
the Battle of Magdhaba, located in the Sinai Peninsula.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Magdhaba>

1958:

The Tokyo Tower (pictured), the tallest self-supporting steel
structure in the world at 332.5 metres (1,091 ft), opened.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Tower>

2010:

A monsoonal trough brought torrential rain to Queensland,
causing massive flooding that killed 38 people and caused A$2.38 billion
in damage.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_Queensland_floods>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

relict:
1. Something which, or someone who, survives or remains after the loss of
others (compare relic).
2. (archaic) The surviving member of a married couple; a widow or widower.
3. (biology, ecology) A species, organism or ecosystem which was once
widespread but which is now found only in a few areas: some think the
Loch Ness monster is a relict from the age of dinosaurs.
4. (geology) A structure or other feature which has survived from a
previous age: dark rims are a relict of a primary interaction between
basalt and seawater.
5. (linguistics) A word or language which survives as an archaicism.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/relict>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  All I'm saying is, if you celebrate Festivus, you may live a
little longer. You are getting back to the essentials, to the days of
gods on mountaintops and howling wolves. Because you are saying the
holidays are in the heart, a celebration of being alive with our fellow
humans. For that purpose, an aluminum pole will do just as well as
anything else — as long as it's not stuck in the wrong place.
 
--Jerry Stiller
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jerry_Stiller>

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[Daily article] December 22: Colin Hannah Published On

Sir Colin Hannah (1914–1978) was a senior commander in the Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) and a Governor of Queensland. Born in
Western Australia, he joined the RAAF in 1935 and served as a pilot in
Nos. 22 and 23 Squadrons. During World War II, he was the RAAF's
Deputy Director of Armament, saw action in the South West Pacific as
commander of No. 6 Squadron and, later, No. 71 Wing, and ended the war
in charge of Western Area Command in Perth. During the Malayan
Emergency, he was senior air staff officer at RAF Far East Air Force
Headquarters, Singapore. His other post-war appointments included Deputy
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Operational
Command, and AOC Support Command. In January 1970, he was promoted to
air marshal and became Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), the RAAF's senior
position. Knighted in 1971, Hannah concluded his three-year appointment
as CAS a year early, in March 1972, to become Governor of Queensland,
where he attracted controversy by making comments critical of the
Federal government. The British government refused to agree to his term
being extended. He retired in March 1977, and died the following year.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Hannah>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1769:

Having been soundly defeated in battle, the Qing dynasty agreed
to terms of truce, ending the Sino-Burmese War.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Burmese_War_(1765%E2%80%9369)>

1920:

The 8th Congress of Soviets approved the GOELRO plan, the first
Soviet plan for national economic recovery and development.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GOELRO_plan>

1939:

Members of the All-India Muslim League observed a "Day of
Deliverance" to celebrate the resignations of members of the Indian
National Congress over the decision to enter the Second World War at the
request of the United Kingdom.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Deliverance_(India)>

1964:

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (pictured), the United States Air
Force's long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft and the
world's fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, made its first flight.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_SR-71_Blackbird>

1984:

While riding a New York City Subway train, Bernhard Goetz shot
four African American youths who attempted to rob him, sparking a
nationwide debate on vigilantism, racism, and the legal limits of self-
defense.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Goetz>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

rebirth:
1. Reincarnation, new birth subsequent to one's first: rebirth of the soul
in a new body.
2. Revival, reinvigoration: the rebirth of feminism, the rebirth of the
Handelian oratorio.
3. Spiritual renewal: rebirth in Christ, the doctrine of rebirth through
baptism.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rebirth>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  I'm proof against that word failure. I've seen behind it. The
only failure a man ought to fear is failure of cleaving to the purpose
he sees to be best.  
--George Eliot
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Eliot>

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[Daily article] December 21: James Whiteside McCay Published On

Sir James McCay (1864–1930) was an Australian general and politician.
As a member of the Victorian Parliament (1895–99), he championed
federation and women's suffrage. He became a member of the first
Australian Federal Parliament in 1901 and was Minister for Defence
(1904–05), where his long-lasting reforms included creating the
Military Board. In World War I, McCay commanded the 2nd Infantry Brigade
of the Australian Army in the landing at Anzac Cove, during the
Gallipoli Campaign. He was later wounded in the Second Battle of Krithia
and sent home, but returned to command the 5th Division, which he led in
the Battle of Fromelles in 1916, dubbed "the worst 24 hours in
Australia's entire history". His failures in difficult military
operations made him a controversial figure who earned the disfavour of
his superiors, and his efforts to succeed in the face of insurmountable
obstacles earned him the odium of troops under his command, who blamed
him for high casualties. After the war, McCay resumed his old job as
Deputy Chairman of the State Bank of Victoria; his other public roles
included commanding the Special Constabulary Force during the 1923
Victorian Police strike.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Whiteside_McCay>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1826:

American settlers in Mexican Texas made the first attempt to
secede from Mexico, establishing the short-lived Republic of Fredonia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredonian_Rebellion>

1844:

The Rochdale Pioneers, usually considered the first successful
co-operative enterprise, opened their store in Rochdale, England, and
formed the basis for the modern co-operative movement.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_cooperative_movement>

1923:

Nepal and the United Kingdom signed a treaty, the first to
define the international status of Nepal as an independent and a
sovereign nation.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal%E2%80%93Britain_Treaty_of_1923>

1965:

The United Nations adopted the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which 87 member
nations have since signed.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Convention_on_the_Elimination_of_All_Forms_of_Racial_Discrimination>

1994:

Mexico's Popocatépetl volcano, dormant for 47 years, began
erupting, and is now the nation's most active volcano.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popocat%C3%A9petl>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

solstitial:
1. Pertaining to a solstice: a solstitial point, the solstitial meridian
plane, avenues with a solstitial orientation.
2. Occurring on a solstice: the solstitial half-moon, a solstitial event.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/solstitial>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  The light Begin to bleed, Begin to breathe, Begin to speak.
D'you know what? I love you better now.  
--Kate Bush
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Kate_Bush>

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[Daily article] December 20: Albatrellus subrubescens Published On

Albatrellus subrubescens is a species of polypore fungus in the family
Albatrellaceae. The fruit bodies (mushrooms) of the fungus have whitish
to pale buff-colored caps that can reach up to 14.5 cm (5.7 in) in
diameter, and stems up to 7 cm (2.8 in) long and 2 cm (0.8 in)
thick. On the underside of the caps are tiny light yellow to pale
greenish-yellow pores, the site of spore production. When the fruit
bodies are fresh, the cap and pores stain yellow where exposed, handled,
or bruised. The species is found in Asia, Europe, and North America,
where it grows on the ground in deciduous or mixed woods, usually in
association with pine trees. It is closely related, and physically
similar, to the more common Albatrellus ovinus, from which it may be
distinguished macroscopically by differences in the color when bruised,
and microscopically by the amyloid (staining bluish-black to black with
Melzer's reagent) walls of the spores. The fruit bodies of
A. subrubescens contain scutigeral, a bioactive chemical that has
antibiotic activity. A. subrubescens mushrooms are mildly poisonous,
and consuming them will result in a short-term gastrointestinal illness.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albatrellus_subrubescens>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1860:

South Carolina became the first of eleven slave states to
secede from the United States, leading to the eventual creation of the
Confederate States of America and later the American Civil War.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_States_of_America>

1955:

Cardiff (Cardiff City Hall pictured) was proclaimed as the
capital of Wales.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff>

1987:

The deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in history occurred
when the MV Doña Paz sank after colliding with an oil tanker on the
Tablas Strait in the Philippines, resulting in an estimated 4,000
deaths.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Do%C3%B1a_Paz>

1989:

American forces invaded Panama to overthrow the government of
Manuel Noriega.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_invasion_of_Panama>

2007:

Pablo Picasso's Portrait of Suzanne Bloch was stolen from the
São Paulo Museum of Art.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Suzanne_Bloch>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

deracinate:
1. To pull up by the roots; to uproot; to extirpate.
2. To force (people) from their homeland to a new or foreign location.
3. To liberate or be liberated from a culture or its norms..
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/deracinate>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  Why should the thirst for knowledge be aroused, only to be
disappointed and punished? My volition shrinks from the painful task of
recalling my humiliation; yet, like a second Prometheus, I will endure
this and worse, if by any means I may arouse in the interiors of Plane
and Solid Humanity a spirit of rebellion against the Conceit which would
limit our Dimensions to Two or Three or any number short of Infinity.
 
--Edwin Abbott Abbott
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Edwin_Abbott_Abbott>

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[Daily article] December 19: December 1964 South Vietnamese coup Published On

In a coup on December 19, 1964, South Vietnam's ruling military junta
led by General Nguyễn Khánh (pictured) dissolved the High National
Council (HNC) and arrested some of its members. Khánh needed to satisfy
the wishes of some younger generals to stay in power, after they had
saved him from an earlier coup attempt. They wanted to sideline older
officers who had previously been in high leadership positions, hiding
their motives with a plan to force all general officers with more than
25 years of service to retire. The HNC, an unelected advisory body
created to give a veneer of civilian rule, recommended against this, and
was then dissolved. This dismayed the United States, South Vietnam's
main sponsor. The US ambassador, Maxwell D. Taylor, harshly berated the
generals and threatened aid cuts. Khánh embarked on a media offensive,
criticizing US policy and what he saw as infringement of Vietnamese
sovereignty. He and the other generals began preparations to expel
Taylor before changing their minds. Khánh's tactics rallied support for
his fragile leadership, at least temporarily. The Americans did not
carry through on Taylor's threats to cut off aid, even though the HNC
was never restored.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_1964_South_Vietnamese_coup>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1154:

Henry II was crowned King of England in London's Westminster
Abbey.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_II_of_England>

1843:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (pictured), a novella
about the miser Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation after being
visited by three Christmas ghosts, was first published.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol>

1956:

Irish-born British physician John Bodkin Adams was arrested in
connection with the suspicious deaths of more than 160 of his patients,
although he was only convicted on minor charges.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bodkin_Adams>

1981:

Sixteen lives were lost when a Penlee lifeboat went to the aid
of the stricken coaster Union Star in heavy seas off the south-west
coast of England.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penlee_lifeboat_disaster>

1986:

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev released dissident Andrei
Sakharov after six years of internal exile in Gorky.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Sakharov>

1998:

The U.S. House of Representatives impeached President Bill
Clinton following the Lewinsky scandal.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_of_Bill_Clinton>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

doomsayer:
One who makes dire predictions about the future; one fond of predicting
disaster.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/doomsayer>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let
them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that
nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did
not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as
these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they
should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less
attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for
him.  
--A Christmas Carol
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol>

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[Daily article] December 18: Murder of Leigh Leigh Published On

Leigh Leigh was a 14-year-old girl from Fern Bay on the east coast of
Australia, who was murdered on 3 November 1989. While attending a
teenage birthday party at Stockton Beach (location of party pictured in
2014), Leigh was kicked and spat on by a group of boys after she
publicly asserted she had been raped. Leigh left the party shortly
afterwards. Her naked body was found in nearby sand dunes the following
morning, with severe genital damage and a crushed skull. Matthew Webster
(18 years old) pleaded guilty to her murder and served 14½ years in
prison. A 19-year-old male pleaded guilty to assault; a third male (aged
15) pleaded guilty to having sex with a minor. The murder investigation
proved controversial as several people who admitted to various crimes,
including assaulting Leigh, were never charged, and Webster's confession
did not match the forensic evidence. The extended media coverage of the
murder, which has been cited as an example of victim blaming, tended to
focus on the lack of parental supervision at the party, drug and alcohol
use, and Leigh's sexuality. The murder inspired a theatrical play
entitled Blackrock, as well as a feature film of the same name.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Leigh_Leigh>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1867:

In Angola, New York, US, the last coach of a Lake Shore Railway
train derailed, plunged 40 ft (12 m) down a gully, and caught fire,
resulting in 49 deaths.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angola_Horror>

1892:

The first performance of the fairy-tale ballet The Nutcracker
was held at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nutcracker>

1939:

Second World War: The German Luftwaffe victory over the Royal
Air Force in the Battle of the Heligoland Bight greatly influenced both
sides' future air strategy.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Heligoland_Bight_(1939)>

1996:

The school board of Oakland, California, passed a controversial
resolution officially declaring African American Vernacular English as a
separate language or dialect.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_Ebonics_controversy>

2009:

The Copenhagen Summit on climate change ended with the drafting
of the non-binding Copenhagen Accord.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_Accord>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

pergola:
A framework in the form of a passageway of columns that supports a
trelliswork roof; used to support and train climbing plants.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pergola>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  God buries his workmen, but carries on his work.  
--Charles Wesley
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_Wesley>

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[Daily article] December 17: 509th Composite Group Published On

The 509th Composite Group was a United States Army Air Forces unit
created during World War II and tasked with the operational deployment
of nuclear weapons. Commanded by Paul W. Tibbets, it conducted the
atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. The group,
which was activated on 17 December 1944, was designated as a "composite"
rather than a "bombardment" formation because it contained flying
squadrons equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers and C-47
Skytrain and C-54 Skymaster transport aircraft. It operated Silverplate
B-29s, which were specially configured to enable them to carry nuclear
weapons. In addition to the two nuclear bombing raids, it carried out
15 practice missions against Japanese-held islands and 12 combat
missions against targets in Japan, dropping high-explosive pumpkin
bombs. In the postwar era, the 509th Composite Group was one of the
original ten bombardment groups assigned to Strategic Air Command on 21
March 1946 and the only one equipped with Silverplate B-29 Superfortress
aircraft capable of delivering atomic bombs. It was standardized as a
bombardment group and redesignated the 509th Bombardment Group, Very
Heavy, on 10 July 1946.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/509th_Composite_Group>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

546:

After a nearly year-long siege, Ostrogoths led by Totila sacked
Rome.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Rome_(546)>

1819:

The Republic of Gran Colombia in South America was established,
with Simón Bolívar as its first president.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gran_Colombia>

1918:

About 1,000 demonstrators marched on Government House in
Darwin, Australia, where they burnt an effigy of Administrator John
Gilruth and demanded his resignation.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_Rebellion>

1970:

Soldiers fired at workers (memorial pictured) emerging from
trains in Gdynia, Poland, beginning the government's brutal crackdown on
mass anti-communist protests across the country.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_1970_protests>

1989:

The Simpsons, currently the longest running American prime time
entertainment series, made its debut on the Fox television network with
the episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire".
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simpsons>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

neotenous:
1. Exhibiting retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult.
2. (informal) Babyfaced.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/neotenous>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  We need to get to know each other, listen to each other and
improve our knowledge of the world around us. Sometimes after a meeting
I want to arrange another one because new ideas are born and I discover
new needs. This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the
circle of ideas. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer
together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead
towards the Good.  
--Pope Francis
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Pope_Francis>

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[Daily article] December 16: Central Coast Mariners FC Published On

Central Coast Mariners FC is an Australian professional soccer club
based on the Central Coast of New South Wales. The Mariners, founded in
2004 as one of the original eight A-League teams, were the first
professional sports club from the Gosford region to compete in a
national competition. Despite being considered one of the smallest-
market clubs in the league, the Central Coast Mariners have won the
A-League Premiership twice and claimed one A-League Championship from
four Grand Final appearances. They have also appeared in the AFC
Champions League four times. The club plays matches at Central Coast
Stadium (pictured), a 20,059 seat stadium in Gosford. The English
Championship's Sheffield United has invested in the club, and the
Mariners have affiliation agreements with several international clubs.
Their main supporters' group is known as the Yellow Army, after the
colour of the club's home kit. The club and the Newcastle Jets share a
rivalry known as the F3 Derby, after the previous name of the motorway
that connects the cities of the teams. Matt Simon and Adam Kwasnik are
the Mariners' all-time leading goalscorers, with 42 goals each in all
competitions.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Coast_Mariners_FC>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1598:

Admiral Yi Sun-sin's Korean navy defeated the Japanese fleet at
the Battle of Noryang, the final naval battle of the Imjin War.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Noryang>

1689:

The Parliament of England adopted the Bill of Rights, declaring
that Englishmen possessed certain positive civil and political rights.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_Rights_1689>

1944:

World War II: The Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany launched its final
offensive in the western front, the Battle of the Bulge (German tank
pictured).
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge>

1986:

Dinmukhamed Konayev was dismissed from the post of First
Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, sparking riots
throughout the country.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeltoqsan>

2012:

A woman in New Delhi was gang-raped on a bus, generating public
protests across the country against the Government of India and the
Government of Delhi for not providing adequate security for women.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Delhi_gang_rape>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

neverendum:
A series of "neverending" referendums on the same issue held in an
attempt to achieve an unpopular result.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/neverendum>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  We'll know homo superior when he comes — by
definition. He'll be the one we won't be able to euth.  
--Philip K. Dick
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Philip_K._Dick>

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[Daily article] December 15: Fuck: Word Taboo and Protecting Our First Amendment Liberties Published On

Fuck: Word Taboo and Protecting Our First Amendment Liberties is a 2009
nonfiction book by law professor Christopher M. Fairman about freedom of
speech, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, censorship, and
use of the word fuck in society. Citing studies in social science,
psychoanalysis, and linguistics, Fairman says that most of its current
usages have connotations distinct from its meaning of sexual
intercourse. The book discusses the efforts of American conservatives to
censor the word from common parlance, and says that legal precedent
regarding its use is unclear because of contradictory court decisions.
The book, which was a follow-up by Fairman to an article in 2007 on the
same topic, received mostly favorable reception from news sources and
library trade publications. Library Journal described the book as a
sincere analysis of the word and efforts to censor it, while Choice:
Current Reviews for Academic Libraries called it stimulating. After the
book's release, Fairman was consulted by media sources including CNN and
The New York Times, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union, on
issues surrounding word taboo in society.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuck:_Word_Taboo_and_Protecting_Our_First_Amendment_Liberties>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

687:

Sergius was elected pope, ending the last disputed sede vacante
of the Byzantine Papacy.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Sergius_I>

1161:

Emperor Hailing of the Jin dynasty was assassinated in a
military camp near the Yangtze River front during a campaign against the
Southern Song.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Hailing_of_Jin>

1864:

American Civil War: Union troops defeated the Army of
Tennessee, one of the largest Confederate forces, at the Battle of
Nashville.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Nashville>

1939:

The American historical epic film Gone With the Wind (poster
pictured), adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning novel of
the same name, made its premiere in Atlanta, Georgia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_with_the_Wind_(film)>

1961:

Former Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann was sentenced to death after
being found guilty on fifteen criminal charges, including war crimes and
crimes against humanity.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Eichmann>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

think of the children:
Suggesting moral panic.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/think_of_the_children>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  We stand, in a manner of speaking, midway between the
unpredictability of atoms and the unpredictability of God.  
--Freeman Dyson
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Freeman_Dyson>

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[Daily article] December 14: Quainton Road railway station Published On

Quainton Road railway station was opened in 1868 near Quainton,
Buckinghamshire, 44 miles (71 km) from London. It was built by the
Aylesbury and Buckingham Railway after pressure from the 3rd Duke of
Buckingham to route the railway near his home. It connected with the
Brill Tramway, which carried goods from the duke's estates and
passengers from Brill, and was heavily used despite its geographical
isolation. Both lines were absorbed in 1891 by the Metropolitan Railway
(MR), which operated from Aylesbury to London. When the Great Central
Railway from the north of England opened in 1899, Quainton Road became a
significant junction. The MR became part of the London Passenger
Transport Board's London Underground in 1933. The Brill Tramway was
closed in 1935, and Underground trains were withdrawn north of Aylesbury
after 1936. Quainton Road closed to passengers in 1963 and to goods in
1966. In 1969 the Quainton Road Society was formed; it restored and
reopened the station as the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. Freight
trains still use the line, and passenger trains call for special events.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quainton_Road_railway_station>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

557:

A large earthquake severely damaged the city of Constantinople.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/557_Constantinople_earthquake>

1836:

The Toledo War, the mostly bloodless boundary dispute between
Ohio and the adjoining Territory of Michigan, unofficially ended with a
resolution passed by the controversial "Frostbitten Convention".
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo_War>

1913:

Haruna, the fourth and last ship of the Kongō-class, was
launched, eventually becoming one of the Japanese workhorses during
World War I and World War II.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Haruna>

1994:

Construction on the Three Gorges Dam began on the Yangtze River
in China.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Dam>

2004:

Cuba and Venezuela founded the Alliance for the Americas, an
intergovernmental organization dedicated to the integration of Latin
American and Caribbean nations.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALBA>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

instar:
1. Any one of the several stages of postembryonic development which an
arthropod undergoes, between molts, before it reaches sexual maturity:
the hopper was placed in a box in its first instar.
2. An arthropod at a specified one of these stages: first and second
instars of this species are more susceptible to H. bacteriophora than
later instars.
3. A stage in development: "photographs of the landlady's children in all
their instars" (Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita).
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/instar>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  At sea on a ship in a thunderstorm on the very night the Christ
was born a sailor heard from overhead a mighty voice cry "Pan is Dead!"
So follow Christ as best you can Pan is dead — Long live Pan!  
--Mike Scott
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mike_Scott_(musician)>

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December 13: Bombing of Singapore (1944–45) Published On

During World War II, Japanese-occupied Singapore was bombed by Allied
air forces. Most of the 11 raids by U.S. Army Air Forces long-range
bomber units between November 1944 and March 1945 targeted the naval
base and dockyard facilities on the island, though several minelaying
missions were conducted in nearby waters. After the American bombers
were redeployed, the British Royal Air Force assumed responsibility for
minelaying operations near Singapore and these continued until 24 May
1945. While significant damage was inflicted on Singapore's important
naval base and commercial port (damage at docks pictured), some raids on
these targets were not successful and other attacks on oil storage
facilities on nearby islands were ineffective. The minelaying campaign
disrupted Japanese shipping in the area, causing some loss and damage,
but was not decisive. The Allied air attacks raised the morale of
Singapore's civilian population, who believed that the raids marked the
impending liberation of the city. Civilian casualties were limited,
though one attack rendered hundreds homeless and civilian workers were
killed during attacks on military facilities.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Singapore_(1944%E2%80%9345)>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1643:

First English Civil War: Parliamentary forces serving under Sir
William Waller led a successful surprise attack on a winter garrison of
Royalist infantry and cavalry.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Alton>

1758:

While transporting Acadians from Prince Edward Island to
France, the Duke William sank in the North Atlantic with the loss of
over 360 lives, one of the greatest marine disasters in Canadian
history.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_William_(ship)>

1937:

Second Sino-Japanese War: Japanese forces captured Nanjing in
China and then began to commit numerous atrocities over the next several
weeks.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanking_Massacre>

1989:

The Troubles: The Provisional Irish Republican Army engaged in
a fierce firefight with the King's Own Scottish Borderers at a vehicle
checkpoint complex in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Derryard_checkpoint>

2001:

The Parliament of India was attacked by five gunmen, resulting
in 12 deaths, including those of the perpetrators.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Indian_Parliament_attack>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

calendrical:
Of, pertaining to, or used by a calendar system.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/calendrical>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  A higher power than man power guided and watched over me and
told me what to do. … There can be no doubt in the world of the fact
of the divine power being in that. No other power under heaven could
bring a man out of a place like that. Men were killed on both sides of
me; and I was the biggest and the most exposed of all. Over thirty
machine guns were maintaining rapid fire at me, point-blank from a range
of about twenty-five yards.  
--Alvin C. York
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alvin_C._York>

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[Daily article] December 12: Geoffrey (archbishop of York) Published On

Geoffrey (c. 1152 – 1212) was an illegitimate son of King Henry II
of England who became Bishop of Lincoln and Archbishop of York. Geoffrey
held some minor clerical offices before becoming bishop in 1173, and was
ordained a priest in 1189. In 1173–74 he led a campaign in northern
England to help put down a rebellion by his legitimate half-brothers,
capturing William the Lion, the King of the Scots. After Pope Lucius III
ordered him to resign Lincoln or be consecrated, Geoffrey resigned and
became Chancellor. After succeeding to the throne, Richard I of England,
his half-brother, nominated him Archbishop of York, probably to
eliminate a potential rival. He was consecrated in France in 1191, and
was briefly imprisoned in Dover Castle on his return during a dispute
with William Longchamp, Richard's regent in England. Geoffrey spent much
of his time as archbishop in various disputes with Richard and John,
Richard's successor and another half-brother. Geoffrey also quarrelled
with his suffragan bishops, his cathedral chapter, and other clergy in
his diocese. In 1207, he was forced into exile in France by John, and
died there five years later.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_(archbishop_of_York)>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

627:

A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeated Emperor
Khosrau II's Persian forces, commanded by General Rhahzadh, near
present-day Mosul, Iraq.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Nineveh_(627)>

1531:

According to traditional Catholic accounts, the image of the
Blessed Virgin Mary miraculously appeared imprinted on Juan Diego's
tilma.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe>

1939:

The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duchess collided with the
battleship HMS Barham she was escorting and sank with heavy loss of
life.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Duchess_(H64)>

1964:

Jomo Kenyatta became the first President of the Republic of
Kenya.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jomo_Kenyatta>

2000:

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bush v. Gore that the election
recount of the ballots cast in Florida for the presidential election
must stop, effectively making George W. Bush the winner.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_v._Gore>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

svelte:
1. Attractively thin; gracefully slender.
2. Refined, delicate.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/svelte>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  Little boldness is needed to assail the opinions and practices
of notoriously wicked men; but to rebuke great and good men for their
conduct, and to impeach their discernment, is the highest effort of
moral courage. The great mass of mankind shun the labor and
responsibility of forming opinions for themselves.  
--William Lloyd Garrison
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Lloyd_Garrison>

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[Daily article] December 11: Xerochrysum bracteatum Published On

Xerochrysum bracteatum, commonly known as the golden everlasting, is a
flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae, native to Australia. It
grows as a woody or herbaceous perennial or annual shrub up to a metre
(3 ft) tall with green or grey leafy foliage. Golden yellow or white
flower heads are produced from spring to autumn; their distinctive
feature is the papery bracts that resemble petals. The species is
widespread, growing in a variety of habitats across the country, from
rainforest margins to deserts and subalpine areas. The golden
everlasting serves as food for various larvae of lepidopterans
(butterflies and moths), and adult butterflies, hoverflies, native bees,
small beetles and grasshoppers visit the flower heads. The golden
everlasting has proven very adaptable to cultivation. It was propagated
and developed in Germany in the 1850s, and annual cultivars in a host of
colour forms from white to bronze to purple flowers became available.
Many of these are still sold in mixed seed packs. In Australia, many
cultivars are perennial shrubs, which have become popular garden plants.
Sturdier, long-stemmed forms are used commercially in the cut flower
industry.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerochrysum_bracteatum>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

630:

Muslims led by Muhammad conquered Mecca from the Quraysh.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conquest_of_Mecca>

1789:

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (The Old Well
pictured), one of the oldest public universities in the United States
and the only one to award degrees in the 18th century, received its
charter.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_North_Carolina_at_Chapel_Hill>

1905:

In support of the December Uprising in Moscow, the Council of
Workers' Deputies of Kiev stage a mass uprising, establishing the
Shuliavka Republic in the city.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuliavka_Republic>

1962:

Convicted murderers Ronald Turpin and Arthur Lucas were the
last two persons to be executed in Canada.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Canada>

2006:

The first action in the Mexican Drug War took place as
President Felipe Calderón ordered Mexican military and Federal Police
units into the state of Michoacán.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Drug_War>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

stigmatize:
(transitive) To characterize as disgraceful or ignominious; to mark with
a stigma or stigmata.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stigmatize>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  Of course God is endlessly multi-dimensional so every religion
that exists on earth represents some face, some side of God. One must
not have any negative attitude to any religion but nonetheless the depth
of understanding God and the depth of applying God's commandments is
different in different religions.  
--Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Solzhenitsyn>

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[Daily article] December 10: Slow loris Published On

Slow lorises are a group of several species of strepsirrhine primates.
Found in South and Southeast Asia, they range from Bangladesh and
Northeast India in the west to the Philippines in the east, and from the
Yunnan province in China in the north to the island of Java in the
south. Although many previous classifications recognized one all-
inclusive species, there are now at least eight that are considered
valid (including the Sunda slow loris, pictured). Slow lorises have a
round head, narrow snout, large eyes, and a variety of distinctive
coloration patterns. Their arms and legs are nearly equal in length, and
their long trunk allows them to twist and extend to nearby branches. The
hands and feet of slow lorises have a pincer-like grip, enabling them to
grasp branches for long periods. Slow lorises have a toxic bite, a trait
rare among mammals. They are omnivores, eating small animals, fruit,
tree gum, and other vegetation. Many of the slow loris species are
listed as either "Vulnerable" or "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List.
Their habitat is rapidly disappearing, but the greatest causes of their
decline are the exotic pet trade and traditional medicine.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_loris>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1684:

Edmond Halley presented the paper De motu corporum in gyrum,
containing Isaac Newton's derivation of Kepler's laws from his theory of
gravity, to the Royal Society.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_motu_corporum_in_gyrum>

1861:

Forces led by Nguyễn Trung Trực, an anti-colonial guerrilla
leader in southern Vietnam, sank the French lorcha L'Esperance.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_Trung_Tr%E1%BB%B1c>

1896:

Alfred Jarry's play Ubu Roi made its only performance in Paris
at the Théâtre de l'Œuvre, infamously causing a riotous response in
the audience.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubu_Roi>

1936:

Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, still desiring to marry
American socialite Wallis Simpson against widespread opposition,
abdicated the throne, the only British monarch to have voluntarily done
so since the Anglo-Saxon period.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII_abdication_crisis>

1989:

At the first open pro-democracy demonstration in Mongolia,
journalist Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj announced the formation of the
Mongolian Democratic Union, which would be instrumental in ending
Communist rule four months later.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsakhiagiin_Elbegdorj>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

canary in a coal mine:
(idiomatic) Something whose sensitivity to adverse conditions makes it a
useful early indicator of such conditions; something which warns of the
coming of greater danger or trouble by a deterioration in its health or
welfare.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/canary_in_a_coal_mine>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  A genuine work of art must mean many things; the
truer its art, the more things it will mean. If my drawing, on the other
hand, is so far from being a work of art that it needs THIS IS A HORSE
written under it, what can it matter that neither you nor your child
should know what it means? It is there not so much to convey a meaning
as to wake a meaning. If it do not even wake an interest, throw it
aside. A meaning may be there, but it is not for you. If, again, you do
not know a horse when you see it, the name written under it will not
serve you much.  
--George MacDonald
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_MacDonald>

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[Daily article] December 9: Endometrial cancer Published On

Endometrial cancer is cancer that arises from the endometrium (the
lining of the uterus or womb). The first sign is most often vaginal
bleeding not associated with a woman's period. Other symptoms include
pain with urination or sexual intercourse, or pelvic pain. Endometrial
cancer occurs most commonly after menopause, and is associated with high
blood pressure and diabetes. Approximately 40% of cases are related to
obesity, and 2–5% of cases have a genetic link. The most frequent type
of endometrial cancer, more than 80% of cases, is endometrioid carcinoma
(example pictured). Endometrial cancer is commonly diagnosed by
endometrial biopsy or by taking samples during a procedure known as
dilation and curettage; a pap smear is not typically sufficient. In
2012, endometrial cancers occurred in 320,000 women and caused
76,000 deaths, making it the third most common cause of death from
female cancers, behind ovarian and cervical cancer. If the disease is
caught at an early stage, the outcome is favorable, and the overall
five-year survival rate in the United States is greater than 80%.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometrial_cancer>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1872:

P. B. S. Pinchback took office as Governor of Louisiana, the
first African American governor of a U.S. state.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._B._S._Pinchback>

1917:

First World War: Hussein al-Husayni, the Ottoman mayor of
Jerusalem, surrendered the city to the British.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Jerusalem_(1917)>

1931:

The approval of the Spanish Constitution by the Constituent
Cortes paved the way to the establishment of the Second Spanish
Republic.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Constitution_of_1931>

1958:

The John Birch Society, named after John Birch, an American
missionary who was killed in China by communists, was founded to fight
the perceived threat of communism in the United States.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Birch_Society>

1979:

A World Health Organization commission of scientists certified
the global eradication of smallpox, making it the only human infectious
disease to date to have been completely eradicated from nature.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallpox>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

pass muster:
1. (idiomatic) To meet or exceed a particular standard.
2. (idiomatic) To adequately pass a formal or informal inspection.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pass_muster>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  The history of human thought recalls the swinging of a pendulum
which takes centuries to swing. After a long period of slumber comes a
moment of awakening. Then thought frees herself from the chains with
which those interested — rulers, lawyers, clerics — have carefully
enwound her. She shatters the chains. She subjects to severe criticism
all that has been taught her, and lays bare the emptiness of the
religious political, legal, and social prejudices amid which she has
vegetated. She starts research in new paths, enriches our knowledge with
new discoveries, creates new sciences.  
--Peter Kropotkin
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Peter_Kropotkin>

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[Daily article] December 8: SMS Scharnhorst Published On

SMS Scharnhorst was an armored cruiser of the Imperial German Navy and
the lead ship of her class. Named after the Prussian reformer General
Gerhard von Scharnhorst, the ship entered service on 24 October 1907.
After brief service with the High Seas Fleet in Germany in 1908, she was
assigned to the German East Asia Squadron based in Tsingtao, China in
1909, becoming the squadron flagship. Over the next five years, she went
on several tours of Asian ports and was present in Japan for the
coronation of the Taishō Emperor in 1912. After the outbreak of World
War I, Scharnhorst and her sister ship SMS Gneisenau, accompanied by
three light cruisers and several colliers, sailed across the Pacific
Ocean—in the process evading the various Allied naval forces sent to
intercept them—before arriving off the southern coast of South
America. On 1 November 1914, Scharnhorst and the rest of the East Asia
Squadron encountered and overpowered a British squadron at the Battle of
Coronel. The stinging defeat prompted the British Admiralty to dispatch
two battlecruisers to hunt down and destroy Scharnhorst '​s
flotilla, which they accomplished at the Battle of the Falkland Islands
on 8 December 1914.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Scharnhorst>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

1432:

The first battle of the Lithuanian Civil War between the forces
of Švitrigaila and Sigismund Kęstutaitis was fought near the modern
town of Ashmyany.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuanian_Civil_War_(1431%E2%80%9335)>

1854:

In his apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus, Pope Pius IX
proclaimed the dogmatic definition of the Immaculate Conception, which
holds that the Virgin Mary was conceived free of original sin.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Conception>

1941:

Second World War: Led by Takashi Sakai, the Imperial Japanese
Army invaded Hong Kong and quickly achieved air superiority by bombing
Kai Tak Airport.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hong_Kong>

1980:

Former Beatle John Lennon (pictured with Yoko Ono) was shot and
killed in the entrance of the Dakota apartments in New York City.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_John_Lennon>

1998:

The Australian Cricket Board's cover-up of Shane Warne and Mark
Waugh's involvement with bookmakers was revealed.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_bookmaker_controversy>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

menorah:
(Judaism) A candelabrum with nine branches used in Jewish worship on
Hanukkah.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/menorah>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  No one saves us but ourselves, No one can and no one may. We
ourselves must walk the path Buddhas merely teach the way. By ourselves
is evil done, By ourselves we pain endure, By ourselves we cease from
wrong, By ourselves become we pure. as translated by  
--Paul Carus
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paul_Carus>

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[Daily article] December 7: Ford Island Published On

Ford Island is an islet in the center of Pearl Harbor, Oahu, in the U.S.
state of Hawaii. Its original area of 334 acres (135 ha) was increased
during the 1930s to 441 acres (178 ha) with fill dirt after the U.S.
Navy dredged Pearl Harbor to make it safe for battleships. The island
was the site of an ancient Hawaiian fertility ritual, which was stopped
by Christian missionaries during the 1830s. It was given by
Kamehameha I to Spanish deserter Francisco de Paula Marín, and was
later owned by Seth Porter Ford. In 1916 the U.S. Army bought part of it
for use by an aviation division, and by 1939 it was taken over by the
U.S. Navy, for whom it was a strategic center of operations in the
Pacific Ocean. Ford Island was at the center of the attacks on Pearl
Harbor on December 7, 1941, and was designated a National Historic
Landmark in 1964. By the late 1990s hundreds of millions of dollars had
been invested in real-estate development and infrastructure. Ford Island
is home to the USS Arizona memorial, the USS Missouri museum, the
Pacific Warfighting Center, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The
island has been featured in films such as Tora! Tora! Tora! and Pearl
Harbor.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Island>

_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:

43 BC:

Cicero, widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and
prose stylists, was killed after having been proscribed as an enemy of
the state.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero>

1815:

Michel Ney, Marshal of France, was executed by a firing squad
near Paris' Jardin du Luxembourg for supporting Napoleon.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Ney>

1972:

The crew of the Apollo 17 spacecraft took the photograph "The
Blue Marble" (pictured), the first clear image of an illuminated face of
Earth, on their way to the Moon.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Marble>

1999:

The Recording Industry Association of America filed a lawsuit
against the peer-to-peer file sharing network Napster, alleging the
service facilitated widespread copyright infringement.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napster>

2007:

A crane barge that had broken free from a tugboat crashed into
an oil tanker near Daesan, South Korea, causing the country's worst-ever
oil spill.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_South_Korea_oil_spill>

_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:

blunderbuss:
An old style of muzzleloading firearm and early form of shotgun with a
distinctive short, large caliber barrel that is flared at the muzzle,
therefore able to fire scattered quantities of nails, stones, shot, etc.
at short range: Timothy was excited to find a toy blunderbuss waiting
under the Christmas tree.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/blunderbuss>

___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:

  As soon as one identifies, challenges and overcomes
illegitimate power, he or she is an anarchist. Most people are
anarchists. What they call themselves doesn't matter to me. … This
world is full of suffering, distress, violence and catastrophes.
Students must decide: does something concern you or not? I say: look
around, analyze the problems, ask yourself what you can do and set out
on the work!  
--Noam Chomsky
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Noam_Chomsky>

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