June 27, 2006
Helen Keller
Blind and deaf from the age of 2, Helen Keller was put under the care of Anne Sullivan, who became her teacher and companion for 49 years. As a pupil, Keller made rapid progress and graduated from Radcliffe College with honors. The famous play The Miracle Worker is about how she learned to communicate. Keller traveled extensively, raising funds for the training of the blind and promoting other social causes. What was Alexander Graham Bell's role in her life?World’s First ATM Installed in Enfield, London
An ATM, or automated teller machine, is a device used by bank customers to process account transactions, such as dispensing cash, accepting deposits, transferring funds, and providing information on account balances. The world's first ATM, invented by John Shepherd-Barron, was installed by Barclay's Bank in North London on June 27, 1967; however, a mechanical cash dispenser, arguably an ATM, was installed in New York how many years before that?Tomás de Torquemada
After distinguished service as a monk and scholar, Torquemada grew close to Ferdinand II and Isabella I of the newly created kingdom of Spain and was appointed Inquisitor General in 1482. Remembered for his cruelty, he owes his reputation to the harsh rules of procedure that he devised for the Spanish Inquisition and to the rigor with which he had them enforced. Torquemada was largely instrumental in bringing about the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. What does "auto-da-fe" refer to? June 26, 2006
Cell Phones Pose Risk During Thunderstorms
According to British doctors, using a cell phone outside during a thunderstorm can be fatal. Human skin is resistant to transmitting electricity into the body, so when lightning strikes a person, it tends to travel along the skin in a "flashover." Conductive materials in direct contact with skin, such as metallic objects, disrupt flashovers and lead to internal injury. The doctors found 3 cases of people killed by lightning while using mobiles outdoors. snuggery
DEFINITION: (noun) A small secluded room.
SYNONYMS: cubby, cubbyhole.
USAGE: Now that they were alone, in this snuggery, which seemed barely large enough to contain so great a man's moustaches, the parties understood each other.
Lord Kelvin
Kelvin was a British mathematician and physicist known especially for his work on heat and electricity. He introduced the Kelvin temperature scale, discovered the Thomson effect in thermoelectricity, and was an important innovator and authority in the field of message transmissions through submarine cables. He invented the siphon recorder, an instrument by which telegraphic messages are recorded in ink fed from a siphon, as well as the reflecting galvanometer, which measures what?Elvis Presley Gives Last Concert
Elvis Presley is also known as "The King of Rock 'n' Roll." He became a national sensation in 1956 and dominated rock music until 1963. Among his most successful songs were "Heartbreak Hotel," "Love Me Tender," and "Don't Be Cruel." His success spawned a spate of B movie appearances, but his popularity waned in the late 60s after the "British Invasion." What facts do some fans cite in their claims that Elvis did not really die in 1977?Francis Bacon
If we do not maintain Justice, Justice will not maintain us.Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann, the wife of composer Robert Schumann, was one of the outstanding pianists of her time. She made her debut in 1836 and later performed with great success all over Europe. Noted for the intellectual brilliance and sensitivity of her playing, she was an outstanding interpreter of Robert Schumann's and Brahms's works. Her own compositions were mainly piano pieces and songs. From 1878-1892, she taught at the Frankfurt Conservatory. How many children did the Schumanns have? June 25, 2006
diffidence
DEFINITION: (noun) The quality or state of being diffident; timidity or shyness.
SYNONYMS: self-distrust, self-doubt.
USAGE: The youth sat down as directed, but reluctantly and with diffidence.
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