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.