July 15, 2011

Word of the Day:

Adroit - nimble or an expert in the use of the body or hands; resourceful; ingenious; cleverly skillful.

The gymnast put on an adroit performance in the Olympics.

Quote:

Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fact:

If you ever go eat ice cream with an Eskimo, you will find that there ice cream is neither creamy or icy.

Fact About the Day:

On July 15, 1903, Ford Motor Company took their very first order. Ernst Pfenning, a dentist from Chicago, ordered an $850 two-cylinder Model A automobile with a backseat. The car was produced at Ford's plant in Detroit and was delivered to the Dr. a little more than a week later. This order, the first of many from around the country, launched Ford into profitability. The company sold 215 Fords within two months and produced 1,000 by the end of its first year. Though the company grew quickly, it was the Model T, launched in 1908, that put Ford at the top of the automobile industry. The Model T was produced until 1927 when sales started slowing, the same year Ford released the second Model A.

July 14, 2011

Word of the Day:

Superfluous - excessive; unnecessary; irrelevant; excessive; exceeding requirements or sufficiency; obsolete.

The scientist listed the important information in his report but also listed superfluous details.

Quote:

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fact:

The best kind of milk to leave in the refrigerator for a long period of time is camel's milk, because it doesn't curdle.

Fact About the Day:

On July 14, 1881, Henry McCarty, otherwise known as Billy the Kid, was shot by Sheriff Pat Garrett at the Maxwell Ranch in New Mexico. Billy the Kid had reportedly killed 21 men and was only 21 when he died. He was known as a notorious outlaw in the west as well as a folk hero. Garrett had been after Billy since November of 1880.

July 13, 2011

Word of the Day:

Blithely - a disposition that is merry, joyous, or gay; heedless; cheerful; glad; carefree.

She danced blithely, as though no one was watching.

Quote:

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fact:

If you have ever wondered how big an ostrich's brain is, just look at its eye. The ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Fact About the Day:

On July 13, 1955, Ruth Ellis became the last woman to be put to death in Great Britain. Ellis had been convicted of murder after point-blank shooting her ex-lover David Blakely in front of the Magdala Pub. Ellis had a trial in which she stated "It was obvious that when I shot him I intended to kill him." Ellis was 28 years old when she was hanged shortly after the trial at Holloway Prison in Islington, London.

July 12, 2011

Word of the Day:

Ardent - fervent; passionate; fierce; vehement; zealous; characterized by intense feeling; enthusiastic; eager.

The movie goers are quite ardent about seeing the seventh movie from the series.

Quote:

If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's rights, you'll probably never do much of anything.

- Win Borden

Fact:

If you are ever successful at weighing a hummingbird, as they are quite hard to catch, you will find that it weighs less than a penny.

Fact About the Day:

On July 12, 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower became the first president to take a ride in a helicopter. Experimental helicopters had been in use since 1947, but it was not until 1957 that a president considered using them for short trips to and from the White House. Most presidential helicopter flights arrive and depart on the White House's south lawn.

July 11, 2011

Word of the Day:

Unbosoming - to disclose a person's feelings or thoughts in confidence.

Anne Frank unbosomed herself to her diary.

Quote:

Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.

- Oscar Wilde

Fact:

If you ever decide to cut off a cockroaches head, you will find that it will still live for several weeks.

Fact About the Day:

On July 11, 1979, pieces of Skylab, America's first space station, rained down on Australia and the Indian Ocean. The space station was originally launched in 1973, and housed three separate three man crews for long periods of time. Unfortunately, the space stations orbit began to deteriorate five years after the last Skylab mission. It came back to earth in a spectacular display of burning debris having broken up in the atmosphere. Fortunately, no one was injured.

July 10, 2011

Word of the Day:

Tremulous - timid; fearful; trembling from weakness, nervousness, or fear.

The girls were very tremulous before their performance.

Quote:

Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.

- Ashley Smith

Fact:

Among the many other things that float in water, you will find that if you place a porcupine in water that it will float.

Fact About the Day:

On July, 10, 1850, Vice President Millard Fillmore was sworn in as the 13th President of the United States. President Fillmore took the office the day following the death of President Zachary Taylor, who became ill on July 4. Fillmore was the second Vice President to take office after the death of a President, the first being John Tyler after the death of William Henry Harrison.

July 9, 2011

Word of the Day:

Abashed - embarrassed; ashamed; disconcerted; confused.

The young woman was abashed when she saw that her undergarments were not put away when she came home.

Quote:

Don't condemn me; remember rather that sometimes I too can reach the bursting point.

- Anne Frank

From The Diary of a Young Girl

Fact:

Have you ever choked on a toothpick? If you have, you're not alone. A toothpick is the object that most Americans choke on.

Fact About the Day:

On July 9, 1777, the state of New York elected its very first governor. Brigadier General George Clinton was not only the first governor of New York, he was also the longest serving governor of New York and of the United States. Clinton served as governor of New York from 1777 till 1795 and again from 1801 to 1804. The General also served as Vice President of the United States under both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison until he died in 1812.

July 8, 2011

Word of the Day:

Obfuscate - to stupefy, confuse, or bewilder; to make darker; obscure or unclear.

The boy obfuscated the story instead of telling all of the details and the way it really happened.

Quote:

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

- James Dean

Fact:

If you have a small child, you probably don't want to let it get to close to a hippo. They can open their mouths wide enough to fit a four foot child inside!

Fact About the Day:

On July 8, 1951, Paris celebrated its 2,000th birthday, though it is much older. The history of Paris goes back to a Gallic tribe known as the Parisii who settled on an island in the middle of the Seine River around 250 B.C. Today Paris has a reputation for being the center of food, fashion, and culture and remains one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. It is also the home of many tourist attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysees, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum.

July 7, 2011

Word of the Day:

Incredulous - skeptical, disinclined to believe; showing or indicating disbelief; unbelief or unbelieving.

The crowd was very incredulous at the thought of the team winning the championship.

Quote:

Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.

- Albert Einstein

Fact:

Ever notice how often a cat moves its ears? Cats have 32 muscles in each ear! All the better to hear you with.

Fact About the Day:

On July 7, 1930, construction began on the Hoover Dam. It took five years and 21,000 men to produce the great dam and it was finished two years ahead of schedule. There are 4,360,000 cubic yards of concrete that help make up the dam, the first of which was poured on June 6, 1933 and the last being put into place on May 29, 1935.

July 6, 2011

Word of the Day:

Astute - clever; cunning; shrewd; ingenious.

The scientist was quite astute in his plan to destroy the world.

Quote:

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.

- Walter Winchell

Fact:

The giraffe is only native to Africa.

Fact About the Day:

On July 6, 1942, Anne Frank and her family chose to take refuge in their Secret Annex as opposed to going to the Nazi concentration camps. Anne kept a diary of the things she experienced shortly before and during the time that the family spent in hiding. Unfortunately, the Franks and a few others who were in hiding with the Franks were discovered on August 4, 1944, and were sent to the concentration camps. Most of them were sent to Auschwitz. After the war was over, Anne's diary was found in the annex. It was translated into English and published in 1947. The Diary of Anne Frank now serves as a testament to the six million Jews who were silenced by the Holocaust. Read The Diary of a Young Girl to find out more about Anne, her family, and what she went through during her short life.

July 5, 2011

Word of the Day:

Confound - to be bewildered, amazed, confused, or perplexed, particularly if it is done suddenly.

The children were confounded by the magic act.

Quote:

When you feel dog tired at night, it may be because you've growled all day long.

- Unknown

Fact:

The bumblebee bat, from Thailand, is the worlds smallest mammal. It weighs as much as a dime.

Fact About the Day:

On July 5, 1865, the Salvation Army was founded by revivalist preacher William Booth and his wife Catherine. The Christian Mission, as it was originally named, was set up to provide physical and spiritual help to those who were destitute. The Salvation Army was founded in London, and is still based there. There are now branches in over 75 countries around the world that operate evangelical and community centers, hospitals, alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers, second-hand stores, and much more.

July 4, 2011

Word of the Day:

Guileless - frank; honest; sincere; straightforward; without guile.

The man was guileless when he was talking about the product.

Quote:

The best way for a person to have happy thoughts is to count his blessings and not his cash.

- Anonymous

Fact:

Whales are warm-blooded. Since they don't have much hair (yes, whales do have some hair) they rely on layers of blubber to keep them warm. Young whales have more hair than the older whales. As they grow and their blubber increases, the hair decreases. Learn more about whales with one of these great books:

Fact About the Day:

On July 4, 1826, two former presidents died. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died fifty years to the day, after they signed the Declaration of Independence. President Jefferson was 82 on this day and preceded President Adams in death by only five hours. President Adams was 90 years old.

July 3, 2011

Word of the Day:

Collier - a person who sells or carries coal; a coal miner; a ship that carries coal.

Loretta Lynn's father was a collier.

Quote:

To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others.

- Albert Camus

Fact:

The chicken is one of the few things that man eats before it's born and after it's dead.

Fact About the Day:

On July 3, 1890, Idaho became the forty-third state admitted to the Union. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were the very first white men to travel through what would become known as Idaho. In 1805 the pair were searching for a route over the Rocky Mountains that would take them to the Columbia River. They were helped by the Shoshone Indians and their horses.

July 2, 2011

Word of the Day:

Uncouth - strange; unusual; unmannerly; awkward; ungraceful.

The boys were uncouth with their lack of manners.

Quote:

Happiness to a dog is what lies on the other side of a door.

- Charlton Ogburn

Fact:

The elephant is the only animal that cannot jump.

Fact About the Day:

On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, making it illegal to discriminate against blacks and women. The new law also banned racial segregation in public places such as schools, parks, swimming pools, and buses. The bill fought opposition in the House and a long debate in the Senate before it was approved in July of 1964.

July 1, 2011

Word of the Day:

Resplendent - Shining brightly; gleaming; brilliant in appearance.

The moon shown resplendently in the dark night.

Quote:

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

- Will Rogers

Fact:

The planet, or ex-planet, Pluto is smaller in size than the Earth's moon.

Fact About the Day:

On July 1, 1979, the Sony Walkman went on sale for the first time for 30,000 Yen, or approximately 150 dollars. Sony's Masaru Ibuka, the chairman at the time, made a request for a device that he could easily transport during international flights. The first prototype required large, earmuff-type headphones and custom made batteries, but impressed the chairman so much that he pushed to have a marketable version of the device made. After four months, Sony engineers had a reliable product ready for the market. The original 30,000 devices were sold out in August, after the release, when Sony representatives started going up to people on the streets of Tokyo allowing them to listen to the quality of the sound on the portable Walkman.

June 30, 2011

Word of the Day:

Vehemently - Strong emotion; impassioned; intense.

The coach vehemently argued with the referee about the call.

Quote:

There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.

- Epictetus

Fact:

A tornado that forms over any body of water is called a watersprout.

Fact About the Day:

On June 30, 2004, the spacecraft Cassini became the first vessel to enter Saturn's orbit. Cassini was launched by NASA on October 15, 1997. It took nearly seven years because it had to go around other planets several times in order to gain speed. Since Cassini entered Saturn's orbit, it has studied the planet, its rings, several of its moons, and perhaps discovered five new moons. The spacecraft has also sent back new information about Saturn's largest moon, Titan, discovered another ring around the planet, and has provided new information about the other rings surrounding Saturn.

June 29, 2011

Word of the Day:

Catawampus - awry; askew; crooked.

The house was a bit catawampus after the sleepover.

Quote:

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.

- Helen Keller.

Fact:

Another way people are all different from each other, besides fingerprints, is their tongue print. Tongue prints are unique to every person.

Fact About the Day:

On June 29, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill known as the Federal Highway Act into law. This law authorized the construction of 41,000 miles of interstate highways. It's original cost authorization was $25 billion with 90% of the costs being paid for by the Highway Trust Fund and the other 10% coming from the states.

June 28, 2011

Word of the Day:

Ignoble - inferior; of low grade; someone who is not noble.

His motives for changing things were ignoble.

Quote:

Friends and good manners will carry you where money won't go.

- Margaret Walker

Fact:

If you ever need a deep tunnel dug, you should call a mole. A mole can dig a hole 300 feet long in one night.

Fact About the Day:

On June 28, 1894, the first of a chain of events leading to World War I took place. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie were shot by a Bosnian Serb nationalist. Five years later, to the day, the Allied Powers along with Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles, marking the official end of the first World War.

June 27, 2011

Word of the Day:

Flibbertigibbet - Someone who is silly, flighty, irresponsible, or a gossip.

The group of girls were being flibbertigibbets as they talked about other people.

Quote:

A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.

- Elbert Hubbard

Fact:

When someone says they will be back in a jiffy, you shouldn't believe them. A jiffy is a unit of time and is only 1/100 of a second.

Fact About the Day:

On June 27, 1880, Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama. After falling ill at only 19 months old, Helen was left blind and deaf. Helen became the first deaf-blind person to have earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, which she received from Radcliffe College. Throughout her life, Helen was an author, lecturer, and a political activist. Helen also spent many of her later years devoted to raising money for the American Foundation for the Blind.

June 26, 2011

Word of the Day:

Enraptured - to be delighted beyond measure.

The sisters were enraptured at the thought of having a new baby brother.

Quote:

Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.

- Mark Twain

Fact:

If you ever tell a goldfish a secret that you don't want anyone else to know about, you won't have to worry about it for long... a goldfish only has a 3 second memory span.

Fact About the Day:

On June 26, 1870, America's first beachfront boardwalk opened in Atlantic City, New Jersey. By 1870, Atlantic City had already become a popular winter spa and summer resort. Alexander Boardman brought about the idea of constructing a boardwalk to help keep sand out of hotels and railroad cars. For many years, at the end of the summer season the boardwalk would be taken apart and stored for the winter.

June 25, 2011

Word of the Day:

Trepidation - tremor; quivering or trembling movement; shaking.

The thought of flunking the exam caused trepidation.

Quote:

Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.

- Mark Twain

Fact:

As they are immune to all known diseases, sharks are very healthy animals.

Fact About the Day:

On June 25, 1868, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina, the first of the former Confederate states, were readmitted to the Union.

June 24, 2011

Word of the Day:

Hypocorism - the act of using pet names.

Quote:

Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.

- Mark Twain

Fact:

Squirrels are wonderful tree planters. They gather and bury nuts for food, but forget where they buried them.

Fact About the Day:

On June 24, 1948, the Soviet Union blocked all rail and road traffic going to and coming from West Berlin. After being in place only two days, the United States began airlifting supplies to the people of West Berlin and continued to do so until the blockade was lifted. The blockade officially ended on May 12, 1949.

June 23, 2011

Word of the Day:

Boisterous - noisy or rough; unrestrained; turbulent.

The sea was very boisterous with the storm.

Quote:

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

- Mark Twain

Fact:

A butterfly doesn't taste with its tongue, in fact they taste with their feet, which is where their taste buds are located.

Fact About the Day:

On June 23, 1989, the film Batman was released in theaters. Bruce Wayne was played by Michael Keaton with Jack Nicholson co-starring as the Joker and Kim Basinger playing Vicki Vale.

June 22, 2011

Word of the Day:

Baffle - to be perplexed or confused.

The man was baffled by the mystery.

Quote:

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.

- William Shakespeare

Fact:

In the wild, a lions roar can be heard from as far away as five miles.

Fact About the Day:

On June 22, 1945, the battle of Okinawa ended. It was one of the bloodiest battles of Word War 2. The invasion of Okinawa began on April 1 of the same year. In defending Okinawa, the Japanese lost 120,000 soldiers while the Americans lost 12,500 with 35,000 other soldiers wounded.

June 21, 2011

Word of the Day:

Indubitable - cannot be doubted.

The truth is indubitable.

Quote:

Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now.

- Dennis Waitley

Fact:

One reason that you may not be able to keep your eyes open when you sneeze, is because sneezes usually leave your body at or above 100 mph. Also another reason to cover your mouth when you sneeze.

Fact About the Day:

On June 21, 1997, the tip off for the first WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) game took place in Los Angeles. The teams facing off were New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks. New York took home the win beating their opponent 67-57.

If you have any questions or comments about the blog, feel free to post. Come back tomorrow to learn something new and subscribe to the blog if you like it!

June 20, 2011

Word of the Day:

Rapturously - to feel ecstatic; to be excited; to be overjoyed.

The crowd clapped rapturously at the exciting announcement.

Quote:

If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.

- John D. Rockefeller

Fact:

The largest animal on earth weighs 150 tons and can grow to be 100 feet long. It is the blue whale.

Fact About the Day:

On June 20, 1975, the hit movie Jaws was released in theaters. Steven Spielberg produced the film and it was based on the novel written by Peter Benchley. There were several sequels that followed the original Jaws film, namely: Jaws 2, Jaws 3 (or Jaws 3-D), and Jaws: The Revenge. The film eventually made over $470 million worldwide, the highest grossing movie until Star Wars made its debut a few years later.

June 19, 2011

Word of the Day:

Egregious - to act in a very bad manner; incredible in a bad way.

They made an egregious mistake when they broke mother's china.

Quote:

Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.

- Victor Kiam

Fact:

Including your heart, all of your bodily functions cease when you sneeze.

Fact About the Day:

On June 19, 1862, slavery was banned throughout the United States. Slavery, however, did not end immediately. There are a few different arguments as to when slavery actually, truly ended. Some say that it ended in 1865, others believe that because of some of the South's laws that slavery did not end until the late 1920's.

If you have any questions or comments about the blog, please feel free to post. Come back tomorrow to learn something else new and subscribe to the blog if you like it!

June 18, 2011

Word of the Day:

Antiquated - old; obsolete, out-dated.

The antiquated sewing machine is an antique.

Quote:

Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.

- Thomas Jefferson

Fact:

Wisdom teeth are mostly useless. These days wisdom teeth do not do much more than crowd your mouth and sometimes cause pain.

Fact About the Day:

On June 18, 1983, Sally Ride became known as the first American woman in space. This expedition took place on the rocket ship Challenger. Sally Ride went back up into space a year later and was preparing for a third flight when the Challenger exploded in 1986. She spent more than 343 hours in space.

If you have any questions or comments about the blog, please feel free to post. Come back tomorrow to learn something else new and subscribe to the blog if you like it!

June 17, 2011

Word of the Day:

Permeate - to diffuse through or penetrate something. To completely go through something.

The bright light permeated the room.

Quote:

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

- William James

Fact:

You can't tickle yourself. Try it.

Fact About the Day:

On June 17, 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in America. She arrived in a whopping 350 pieces, once assembled, she weighed 225 tons, and is 151 feet tall! The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France recognizing the friendship established during the American Revolution. The Statue of Liberty has welcomed millions of immigrants to this country and was the first thing most saw when coming here by boat. Lady Liberty was dedicated on October 28th, 1886.

If you have any questions or comments about the blog, please feel free to post. Come back tomorrow to learn something else new and subscribe to the blog if you like it!

June 16, 2011

Word of the Day:

Fastidious - excessively particular, critical or demanding; hard to please. (Dictionary.com)

Someone who is fastidious may be particularly hard to please or pays excessive amounts of attention to detail.

Quote:

All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.

-Walt Disney

Fact:

It takes more muscles to frown than to smile.

Fact About the Day:

On June 16, 1884, the first roller coaster in America opened on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. The coaster was called The Gravity Pleasure Ride or the Gravity Pleasure Switchback Railway. It was invented by LaMarcus Thompson and only cost a nickel ($0.05) to ride. The coaster only went 6mph for 600 feet and passengers could only ride point-to-point instead of in a loop. This was because the coaster relied solely on gravity for its speed.

If you have any questions or comments about the the blog, please feel free to post. Come back tomorrow to learn something else new and subscribe to the blog if you like it!

Introduction

Have you ever thought about expanding your vocabulary? What about learning new facts to impress family or friends? If you have, then you have come to the right place! My goal in this blog is to give readers not only a new word everyday, but also interesting facts and quotes. I will also include in each post a fact about the day.