Fascinating Stories: History of Halloween

The Haunted History of Halloween

Discover how trick or treat originated in ancient Ireland's harvest festivals, when food and sweets were offered to entice the dead to stay in the spirit world. See how Christianity tried to co-opt the celebration by turning it into All Saints Day, but how the underlying dark elements have survived, inspiring debate to the present day. From ghoulies and ghosties to the origins of the Jack-O-Lantern, THE HAUNTED HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN is a delicious journey into the enchanting past of the spookiest night of the year. [1997, Length: 45:17 (DVD released 2005)]

Watch video free online: video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1077540724317334372
History Channel: www.history.com/minisites/halloween/
Buy this DVD from Amazon.com

Laugh of the Day

A male patient is lying in bed in the hospital, wearing an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose. A young, student nurse appears to give him a partial sponge bath.

“Nurse,” he mumbles, from behind the mask. “Are my testicles black?”

Embarrassed, the young nurse replies, “I don’t know, Sir. I’m only here to wash your upper body and feet.”

He struggles to ask again, “Nurse, please check. Are my testicles black?”

Concerned that he may elevate his blood pressure and heart rate from worry about his testicles, she overcomes her embarrassment and pulls back the covers. She raises his gown, holds his manhood in one hand and his testicles in the other. Then, she takes a close look and says, “There’s nothing wrong with them, Sir!”

The man pulls off his oxygen mask, smiles at her and says very slowly, “Thank you very much. That was wonderful, but, listen very, very closely...

A r e   m y   t e s t   r e s u l t s   b a c k?”

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Photo of the Day

NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft flew by Jupiter in March on its way to a 2015 rendezvous with Pluto and snapped this spectacular photo on March 2, 2007.

You are looking at two of Jupiter’s moons, Io on the left, and Europa on the right.

Take a closer look at Io—that blue cone on top is an erupting volcano called Tvashtar and the plume extends nearly 200 miles. In fact, if you look really close, you can see two other smaller volcanoes erupting to the lower left of Tvashtar.

Io is the most volcanically active body in the entire solar system.

Read more: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html

Today's Words to Define

hubris
hypotenuse
impeach
incognito
incontrovertible

hubris: \hyōō'brĭs\; overbearing pride or presumption; excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance.
hypotenuse: \hī-pŏt'n-ōōs', -yōōs'\; the side of a right triangle opposite the right angle.
impeach: \ĭm-pēch'\; to make an accusation against; to charge (a public official) with improper conduct in office before a proper tribunal; to challenge the validity of; try to discredit.
incognito: \ĭn'kŏg-nē'tō, ĭn-kŏg'nĭ-tō'\; one whose identity is disguised or concealed; the condition of having a disguised or concealed identity.
incontrovertible: \ĭn-kŏn'trə-vûr'tə-bəl, ĭn'kŏn-\; impossible to dispute; unquestionable; impossible to deny or disprove.

Fascinating Stories: Nikola Tesla

The Lost Wizard

This fascinating short video gives us a glimpse of who Nikola Tesla was and shows us just a few of his vast inventions and patents of which there were close to 300 worldwide.

Some of Dr. Tesla’s inventions and developments include the ac motor, the bifilar coil, various devices that use rotating magnetic fields, the alternating current polyphase power distribution system, the fundamental devices of systems of wireless communication (legal priority for the invention of radio), radio frequency oscillators, devices for voltage magnification by standing waves, robotics, logic gates for secure radio frequency communications, devices for x-rays, apparatus for ozone generation, devices for ionized gases, devices for high field emission, devices for charged particle beams, methods for providing extremely low level of resistance to the passage of electrical current, means for increasing the intensity of electrical oscillations, voltage multiplication circuitry, devices for high voltage discharges, devices for lightning protection, the bladeless turbine, and VTOL aircraft. [Length: 14:16]

Watch video free online: video.google.com/videoplay?docid=448493458864593229
Nikola Tesla Museum: www.tesla-museum.org/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla

Laugh of the Day

Two little old ladies were sitting on a park bench outside the local town hall where a flower show was in progress.

One leaned over and said, “Life is so darned boring. We never have any fun any more. For $5.00 I’d take my clothes off and streak through that stupid flower show!”

“You’re on!” said the other old lady, holding up a $5.00 bill.

The first old lady slowly fumbled her way out of her clothes and completely naked, streaked (as fast as an old lady can) through the front door of the flower show.

Waiting outside, her friend soon heard a huge commotion inside the hall, followed by loud applause and shrill whistling.

The smiling and naked old lady came through the exit door surrounded by a cheering crowd.

“What happened?” asked her waiting friend.

“I won 1st prize as Best Dried Arrangement.”

Editing Tip(s) of the Day

Here are a few quick tips.

• Spell out numbers from one to nine and use numerals for all higher numbers. However, spell out a number at the beginning of a sentence.


• Use commas with numbers in the thousands (e.g. 1,325).


• Ages expressed as an adjective before a noun use hyphens (e.g. They have a 6-year-old daughter).


• Capitalize the word “state” only in formal reference to the state as a legal institution (e.g. the State of Michigan; the state legislature; the State Assembly; We work for the state).


• Use “backward,” not “backwards;” “toward,” not “towards;” “forward,” not “forwards.”

Here is one reference: www.pvamu.edu/files/institutional_relations_public_service/ProofreadingTipSheet.pdf

T-Shirt of the Day

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Photo of the Day

Yuanyang II, Tsang Cheung-shing, Central Concourse of Hong Kong International Airport

The pottery, named Yuanyang II, is one of the collections of Hong Kong Museum of Art now displaying at the Central Concourse of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). It is produced by Tsang Cheung-shing, a ceramic art tutor and product designer.

Yuanyang II is modeled in a distinctive form with two figures indulged in kissing each other. Their heads support two elegant cups for drinking tea and coffee. The form and concept design fully complement the theme “Yuanyang” (a typical Hong Kong beverage of mixing tea and coffee), a symbol of marriage and love, with a touch of humour for artistic creation.

There are also other representative works by 18 noted Hong Kong artists from the collections of the Hong Kong Museum for a cultural display at the Departure Hall of HKIA.

Today's Words to Define

gauche
gerrymander
hegemony
hemoglobin
homogeneous

gauche: \gōsh\; lacking social polish; awkward and clumsy; lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; crude; tactless.
gerrymander: \jěr'ē-mān'dər, gěr'-\; to change the boundaries of legislative districts to favor one party over another. Typically, the dominant party in a state legislature (which is responsible for drawing the boundaries of congressional districts) will try to concentrate the opposing party's strength in as few districts as possible, while giving itself likely majorities in as many districts as possible.
hegemony: \hĭ-jěm'ə-nē, hěj'ə-mō'nē\; the dominance or leadership of one social group or nation over others.
hemoglobin: \hē'mə-glō'bĭn\; An iron-containing protein present in the blood of many animals that, in vertebrates, carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body and carries carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. Hemoglobin is contained in the red blood cells of vertebrates and gives these cells their characteristic color. Hemoglobin is also found in many invertebrates, where it circulates freely in the blood. It consists of four peptide units, each attached to a nonprotein compound called heme that binds to oxygen.
homogeneous: \hō'mə-jē'nē-əs, -jēn'yəs\; all of the same or similar kind or nature; uniform in structure or composition throughout, as of a chemical mixture.

Fascinating Stories: Daniel Tammet

The Boy with the Incredible Brain

This is the breathtaking story of Daniel Tammet. A twenty-something with extraordinary mental abilities, Daniel is one of the world’s few savants. He can do calculations to 100 decimal places in his head, and learn a language in a week. This documentary follows Daniel as he travels to America to meet the scientists who are convinced he may hold the key to unlocking similar abilities in everyone. He also meets the world’s most famous savant, the man who inspired Dustin Hoffman’s character in the Oscar winning film Rain Man. [2005, Length: 47:32]

Watch video free online: video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4913196365903075662
Daniel’s Web site: www.optimnem.co.uk/media.php

Laugh of the Day

Again from my friends Bill & Rob:

Get Out of the Car!

An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle. She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her lungs, “I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!” The four men didn’t wait for a second threat. They got out and ran like mad.

The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver’s seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition. She tried and tried, and then she realized why...it was for the same reason she had wondered why there was a football, a Frisbee and two 12 packs of beer in the front seat.

A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down. She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station to report her mistake. The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn’t stop laughing.

He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five-feet-tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun.

No charges were filed.

Moral of the story? If you’re going to have a Senior Moment, make it memorable.

Editing Tip(s) of the Day

The Apostrophe. The apostrophe has three uses:

1) to form possessives of nouns
2) to show the omission of letters
3) to indicate certain plurals of lowercase letters

Apostrophes are NOT used for possessive pronouns or for noun plurals, including acronyms.

The apostrophe should not be confused with the right closing single quotation mark (usually rendered identically but serving a quite different purpose).

’ or ’ notice the direction? ' You may use a straight single quote, but be consistent in your document. Never use ‘ or ‘ which is a left single quote.

Examples:

If you have one cat: The cat’s water bowl needs to be filled with clean water.
If you have more than one cat: The cats' water bowls are dirty.

To omit letters: Don’t (do not), ’cause (omitting ‘be’), should’ve (should have omitting an ‘ha’), it’s (it is), I’ll (I will).
To omit numbers: ’90s means the 1990s (omitting ‘19’) NOT 90’s (used for temperature) or ‘90s (notice you don’t use a left single quote, never!).

Plurals of lowercase letters: Mind your p’s & q’s.

Here are two references: owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_apost.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe

T-Shirt of the Day

Thanks to my friend Brian for this great find!

These t-shirts are only $18.00 + $2 Shipping. Click on the image to order. A portion of the proceeds help GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)!

No one saw it coming, but J.K. Rowling surprised the world by outing one of her characters in her highly popular Harry Potter fantasy series of books. The fictional character Dumbledore is the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

“My truthful answer to you...I always thought of Dumbledore as gay,” said Rowling.

After prolonged ovation Rowling repied, “If I’d known it would make you so happy, I would have announced it years ago!”

Show your wizardly pride, visit www.dumbledorepride.com and order your t-shirt today!

I have no affiliation with dumbledorepride.com.

Photo of the Day

Cloud Gate on the AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park, Chicago

According to www.millenniumpark.org:

Cloud Gate is British artist Anish Kapoor’s first public outdoor work installed in the United States. The 110-ton elliptical sculpture is forged of a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates, which reflect the city’s famous skyline and the clouds above. A 12-foot-high arch provides a “gate” to the concave chamber beneath the sculpture, inviting visitors to touch its mirror-like surface and see their image reflected back from a variety of perspectives.

Inspired by liquid mercury, the sculpture is among the largest of its kind in the world, measuring 66-feet long by 33-feet high. Cloud Gate sits upon the At&T Plaza, which was made possible by a gift from AT&T.

What I wanted to do in Millennium Park is make something that would engage the Chicago skyline…so that one will see the clouds kind of floating in, with those very tall buildings reflected in the work. And then, since it is in the form of a gate, the participant, the viewer, will be able to enter into this very deep chamber that does, in a way, the same thing to one’s reflection as the exterior of the piece is doing to the reflection of the city around.

~Anish Kapoor

The locals in Chicago call it The Bean. According to blogger, Cory Doctorow...after AT&T (now SBC) donated the sculpture, the city hired security guards to keep professional photographers from photographing the mirrored sculpture unless they first obtained a $350 permit. Well, the city has since reversed its position and anyone can photograph this beautiful piece of art.

Millennium Park is located in the heart of downtown Chicago. It is bordered by Michigan Avenue to the west, Columbus Drive to the east, Randolph Street to the North and Monroe Street to the South.

The park is open daily from 6 A.M.–11 P.M. Admission is always free.

Visitors to the Millennium Park are encouraged to make the Millennium Park Welcome Center their first stop. The Welcome Center is located at 201 E. Randolph Street in the Northwest Exelon Pavilion.

The Welcome Center has information about the park, including maps and program schedules or you could download a map of Millennium Park now. You could also click here to download the Millennium Park Brochure, which contains detailed information about the park’s art and architecture.

For more information about Millennium Park, you can also download the new Millennium Park audio tour AT NO CHARGE for your computer or MP3 player.

Next time you’re in Chicago take a picture and send it to me. I’ll post it here! Thanks.

Today's Words to Define

fatuous
feckless
fiduciary
filibuster
gamete

fatuous: \fāch'ōō-əs\; devoid of intelligence; foolish or silly, especially in a smug or self-satisfied way; inanely foolish and unintelligent; stupid.
feckless: \fěk'lĭs\; not fit to assume responsibility; generally incompetent and ineffectual; lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective; careless and irresponsible.
fiduciary: \fĭ-dōō'shē-ěr'ē, -shə-rē, -dyōō'-, fī-\; relating to or of the nature of a legal trust (i.e. the holding of something in trust for another); a person who holds assets in trust for a beneficiary.
filibuster: \fĭl'ə-bŭs'tər\; a legislator who gives long speeches in an effort to delay or obstruct legislation that he (or she) opposes; (law) a tactic for delaying or obstructing legislation by making long speeches.
gamete: \gām'ēt', gə-mēt'\; a mature sexual reproductive cell having a single set of unpaired chromosomes; a reproductive cell having a single set of chromosomes, especially a mature sperm or egg.

Laugh of the Day

From my bestest friend Michael:

A man escapes from a prison where he had been locked up for 15 years.

He breaks into a house to look for money and guns.

Inside, he finds a young couple in bed. He orders the guy out of bed and ties him to a chair.

While tying the homeowner’s wife to the bed, the convict gets on top of her, kisses her neck, then gets up and goes into the bathroom.

While he’s in there, the husband whispers over to his wife, “Listen, this guy is an escaped convict. Look at his clothes! He’s probably spent a lot of time in jail and hasn’t seen a woman in years.

I saw how he kissed your neck. If he wants sex, don’t resist, don’t complain...do whatever he tells you. Satisfy him no matter how much he nauseates you.

This guy is obviously very dangerous. If he gets angry, he’ll kill us both. Be strong, honey. Love you!”

His wife responds, “He wasn’t kissing my neck. He was whispering in my ear. He told me that he’s gay, thinks you’re cute, and asked if we had any Vaseline. I told him it was in the bathroom.

Be strong. I love you, too.”

Editing Tip(s) of the Day

Looking for mistakes. Don’t proof for every type of mistake at once—do one proof for spelling, another for missing/additional spaces (i.e. two spaces instead of one), consistency of word usage (i.e. past tense versus present tense), font sizes, etc. And don’t be afraid to read with your finger while proofreading—it’ll keep you focused on that word.

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