Homo sapiens is Latin for 'wise man'. It is
the scientific name for the human species. Homo is the human genus,
which also includes Neanderthals and many other extinct species of
hominid. H. sapiens is the only surviving species of the genus Homo.
Modern humans are the subspecies Homo sapiens sapiens.
German anthropologist Friedrich Blumenbach divided Homo sapiens into
five distinct races based on their physical characteristics. There
was the Mongolian, or yellow race, the red American race, the brown
Malayan race, the black Ethiopian race, and the white Caucasian
race.
He looked at many physical traits to carve out his categories and
thought characteristics of the skull, the size and angle of the
forehead, jawbone, teeth, eye sockets, etc. were especially
important.
He thought that the skulls of Georgians were exemplary of the
characteristics of his white race and named the group (Caucasian)
after the Caucasus Mountain Range that runs along Georgia’s northern
border.
Jul 26, 2013
Wordology, Bridegroom
This word comes from the Old English
“bridgome.” Gome was then a word for 'man'.
Spelling Bee
The “bee” in spelling bee means a gathering
or get together. The earliest documented case of this word appearing
with this meaning was in 1769, referring to a spinning bee, where
people would gather to protest purchasing goods from Britain due to
the high taxes on those items.
Any sort of major competition or work gathering, with a specific task in mind, was a 'bee'. Gatherings that were commonly labeled with 'bee' were: apple bee, logging bee, quilting bee, barn bee, hanging bee, sewing bee, field bee, and corn husking bee, among others.
The popular theory among etymologists today is that it is likely that the actual origin of bee, in the sense of gathering, derives from the Old English bēn (prayer / favor), or the Middle English 'bene'. Finally, this resulted in “bean” meaning “help given by neighbors”.
The first US National Spelling Bee was in 1925, sponsored by the Louisville Courier-Journal. Nine finalists competed in the first spelling bee in Washington D.C. The winning word that year was “gladiolus”, spelled by Frank Neuhauser.
In 1941, E.W. Scripps Company began sponsoring the National Spelling Bee and changed the name to Scripps National Spelling Bee.
It offers a study booklet to prospective contestants that contains between 1,000 and 4,000 words. It also currently offers a list of over 24,000 words that include all words used in the National Spelling Bee since 1950, sorted by frequency of use in the contest. The word that has been used the most in the National Spelling Bee is connoisseur.
The winner of the National Spelling Bee receives several prizes including: $30,000 cash prize from the National Spelling Bee; $5,000 cash prize from Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation; $2,500 savings bond; a complete reference library from Merriam-Webster; a lifetime membership to Britannica Online Premium Encyclopedia; $2,600 worth of reference works; and a trophy. The second place contestant receives $12,500.
To date, 45 girls have won the spelling bee vs. 41 boys. That is sure to create a buzz.
Any sort of major competition or work gathering, with a specific task in mind, was a 'bee'. Gatherings that were commonly labeled with 'bee' were: apple bee, logging bee, quilting bee, barn bee, hanging bee, sewing bee, field bee, and corn husking bee, among others.
The popular theory among etymologists today is that it is likely that the actual origin of bee, in the sense of gathering, derives from the Old English bēn (prayer / favor), or the Middle English 'bene'. Finally, this resulted in “bean” meaning “help given by neighbors”.
The first US National Spelling Bee was in 1925, sponsored by the Louisville Courier-Journal. Nine finalists competed in the first spelling bee in Washington D.C. The winning word that year was “gladiolus”, spelled by Frank Neuhauser.
In 1941, E.W. Scripps Company began sponsoring the National Spelling Bee and changed the name to Scripps National Spelling Bee.
It offers a study booklet to prospective contestants that contains between 1,000 and 4,000 words. It also currently offers a list of over 24,000 words that include all words used in the National Spelling Bee since 1950, sorted by frequency of use in the contest. The word that has been used the most in the National Spelling Bee is connoisseur.
The winner of the National Spelling Bee receives several prizes including: $30,000 cash prize from the National Spelling Bee; $5,000 cash prize from Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation; $2,500 savings bond; a complete reference library from Merriam-Webster; a lifetime membership to Britannica Online Premium Encyclopedia; $2,600 worth of reference works; and a trophy. The second place contestant receives $12,500.
To date, 45 girls have won the spelling bee vs. 41 boys. That is sure to create a buzz.
Jul 19, 2013
Happy Friday
When I wake up, my premature optimism is always rewarded,
especially when I have a Happy Friday!
Top Twelve Ice Cream Facts
Since July is National Ice Cream
Month (created by Ronald Reagan in 1984) and (third Sunday in July
(July 21) is National Ice Cream Day), thought I would dish up a few
frozen goodie facts.
Ice cream has the following composition by weight: greater than 10% milkfat by legal definition, 9 to 12% milk solids-not-fat, 12 to 16% sweeteners, 0.2 to 0.5% stabilizers and emulsifiers, 55% to 64% water which comes from the milk or other ingredients.
The history of ice cream dates back to the second century B.C.
The ice cream cone was invented in 1896 with a patent being issued in 1903 to Italo Marchiony.
The United States is the top ice cream consuming country in the world.
It takes 12 lbs. of milk to make a gallon of ice cream.
Vanilla is the number one selling flavor at 27.8%, followed by chocolate 14.3%, strawberry 3.3% (hot dog flavored ice-cream is made by Udder Delights in Arizona).
Chocolate syrup is the favorite topping to put on ice cream.
The major ingredient in ice cream is air.
Depending on conditions of storage, ice cream might last one year, or it might be two weeks or less.
PETA urged Ben & Jerry's to replace cow's milk in its ice cream with human breast milk.
In the late 19th century, America's soda shops bowed to pressure from local churches to not serve ice cream sodas on Sundays. They removed the soda from the recipe and invented the ice cream sundae.
Ice cream is made from milk fat and milk solids. Sorbet is non-dairy and usually high in sugar. Yogurt is usually tart with low or no fat milk substitute. Custard is rich and smooth with lots of egg in it.
An average dairy cow can produce enough milk in her lifetime to make a little over 9,000 gallons of ice cream.
July is also National Grilling Month.
Ice cream has the following composition by weight: greater than 10% milkfat by legal definition, 9 to 12% milk solids-not-fat, 12 to 16% sweeteners, 0.2 to 0.5% stabilizers and emulsifiers, 55% to 64% water which comes from the milk or other ingredients.
The history of ice cream dates back to the second century B.C.
The ice cream cone was invented in 1896 with a patent being issued in 1903 to Italo Marchiony.
The United States is the top ice cream consuming country in the world.
It takes 12 lbs. of milk to make a gallon of ice cream.
Vanilla is the number one selling flavor at 27.8%, followed by chocolate 14.3%, strawberry 3.3% (hot dog flavored ice-cream is made by Udder Delights in Arizona).
Chocolate syrup is the favorite topping to put on ice cream.
The major ingredient in ice cream is air.
Depending on conditions of storage, ice cream might last one year, or it might be two weeks or less.
PETA urged Ben & Jerry's to replace cow's milk in its ice cream with human breast milk.
In the late 19th century, America's soda shops bowed to pressure from local churches to not serve ice cream sodas on Sundays. They removed the soda from the recipe and invented the ice cream sundae.
Ice cream is made from milk fat and milk solids. Sorbet is non-dairy and usually high in sugar. Yogurt is usually tart with low or no fat milk substitute. Custard is rich and smooth with lots of egg in it.
An average dairy cow can produce enough milk in her lifetime to make a little over 9,000 gallons of ice cream.
July is also National Grilling Month.
Biggest and Smallest Eggs
The Ostrich lays the smallest egg
for its size. Although the Ostrich egg is the largest single cell in
nature, it is less than one and a half per cent of the weight of the
mother. A wren’s egg, by comparison, is 13 per cent of its weight.
The largest egg in comparison with the size of the bird is that of the Little Spotted Kiwi. Its egg accounts for 26 per cent of its own weight. That would be the equivalent of a woman giving birth to a six-year-old child.
An ostrich egg weighs as much as twenty-four hen’s eggs. Can you imagine how much bacon it would take to go with an Ostrich egg omelet?
The largest egg in comparison with the size of the bird is that of the Little Spotted Kiwi. Its egg accounts for 26 per cent of its own weight. That would be the equivalent of a woman giving birth to a six-year-old child.
An ostrich egg weighs as much as twenty-four hen’s eggs. Can you imagine how much bacon it would take to go with an Ostrich egg omelet?
World Record for World Records
Keith (Ashrita Furman)
Record-Winning Age: 51 Award Date: June 6, 2006 Fastest Time for a
Male to Hoola Hoop 10km.
Furman also holds the record for “most records held at one time by an individual” 160 as of 2012.
He has set records on seven continents and in more than 30 different countries
Since 1979, Furman has set 450 official Guinness Records, including juggling on a pogo stick the furthest distance (4 miles 30 feet) and quickest time for a mile-long piggy back (12 minutes, 47 seconds). He converted an indoor rower with wheels and brakes and rowed 1,500 miles (2,400 km) in 16 days in Bali in 1991. When not breaking records, he manages a health food store in Queens, New York.
Runner up is Suresh Joachim Arulanantham, a Canadian film actor and multiple-Guinness World Record holder who has broken 60 world records set in several countries in attempts to benefit underprivileged children around the world.
Furman also holds the record for “most records held at one time by an individual” 160 as of 2012.
He has set records on seven continents and in more than 30 different countries
Since 1979, Furman has set 450 official Guinness Records, including juggling on a pogo stick the furthest distance (4 miles 30 feet) and quickest time for a mile-long piggy back (12 minutes, 47 seconds). He converted an indoor rower with wheels and brakes and rowed 1,500 miles (2,400 km) in 16 days in Bali in 1991. When not breaking records, he manages a health food store in Queens, New York.
Runner up is Suresh Joachim Arulanantham, a Canadian film actor and multiple-Guinness World Record holder who has broken 60 world records set in several countries in attempts to benefit underprivileged children around the world.
Same and Opposite
Clip can mean "to bind together" or "to
separate." You clip sheets of paper to together or separate part of
a page by clipping something out.
Continue usually means to persist in doing something, but as a legal term it means stop a proceeding temporarily.
Fight with can be interpreted three ways. “He fought with his mother-in-law” could mean "They argued," "They served together in the war," or "He used her as a weapon."
Hold up can mean "to support" or "to hinder."
Out can mean "visible" or "invisible." For example, “It’s a good thing the full moon was out when the lights went out.”
Continue usually means to persist in doing something, but as a legal term it means stop a proceeding temporarily.
Fight with can be interpreted three ways. “He fought with his mother-in-law” could mean "They argued," "They served together in the war," or "He used her as a weapon."
Hold up can mean "to support" or "to hinder."
Out can mean "visible" or "invisible." For example, “It’s a good thing the full moon was out when the lights went out.”
Paper Bag Numbers
The number on the bag indicates its
capacity. Smaller units, called bags or grocers, have numbers from
1/2 to 25, signifying the approximate weight in pounds of sugar or
flour the bag can hold.
Larger varieties, known as sacks, are sized in fractions of a barrel, e.g., 1/6, the size most commonly found in supermarkets.
Larger varieties, known as sacks, are sized in fractions of a barrel, e.g., 1/6, the size most commonly found in supermarkets.
Wordology, Ultracrepidarian
A person who gives opinions and advice on matters outside of one's knowledge. See next post. . .
Lawyer Thoughts
Washington D.C. has about 277 lawyers for
every 10,000 residents. This is nearly 14 times more lawyers per
10,000 than any other state in the United States.
New York has the second most lawyers per capita.
The lowest lawyer rate per capita is North Dakota with about 4 lawyers per 10,000 people. I think we should move the capital to North Dakota.
New York has the second most lawyers per capita.
The lowest lawyer rate per capita is North Dakota with about 4 lawyers per 10,000 people. I think we should move the capital to North Dakota.
Seven Kitchen Tips
Microwave garlic cloves for 15 seconds
and the skins slip off.
When working with dough, coat your with olive oil to prevent sticking.
Wrap celery in aluminum foil and put it in the refrigerator to keep for weeks.
Let raw potatoes stand in cold water for at least half an hour before frying to improve the crispness of french-fried potatoes.
Microwave lemons, limes, or oranges for 15 seconds in the microwave before squeezing them and you get twice as much juice.
After you drain pasta, while it’s still hot, grate some fresh Parmesan on top before tossing it with your sauce, so the sauce has more to stick to
When working with dough, coat your with olive oil to prevent sticking.
Wrap celery in aluminum foil and put it in the refrigerator to keep for weeks.
Let raw potatoes stand in cold water for at least half an hour before frying to improve the crispness of french-fried potatoes.
Microwave lemons, limes, or oranges for 15 seconds in the microwave before squeezing them and you get twice as much juice.
After you drain pasta, while it’s still hot, grate some fresh Parmesan on top before tossing it with your sauce, so the sauce has more to stick to
Bertrand Russell Thoughts
"The Ten Commandments that, as a
teacher, I should wish to promulgate, might be set forth as follows:
- Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.
- Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.
- Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.
- When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavor to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
- Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.
- Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.
- Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
- Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.
- Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.
- Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool’s paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness."
NeverWet
This new spray from Rustoleum promises to make
any surface impervious to water and other liquids. It is called a
super hydrophobic coating, developed by Ross Nanotechnology and
marketed by Rustoleum.
Check this LINK for a demo and you will be impressed. I saw another demo that included a smart phone which was sprayed, placed in a bowl of water, and came out unharmed. A disclaimer says it is not intended for electronic devices or clothing, but ads show its use on these items.
This is not late night infomercial, but a real product you can get at Home Depot or Amazon (more stores coming soon). Oh, $19.95 for the two step spray on process, which covers about 15 square feet. Not a panacea as the ads portray and a coating does not last forever, but a very good product. Am thinking back yard seat cushions are a perfect application. Cool Stuff.
Check this LINK for a demo and you will be impressed. I saw another demo that included a smart phone which was sprayed, placed in a bowl of water, and came out unharmed. A disclaimer says it is not intended for electronic devices or clothing, but ads show its use on these items.
This is not late night infomercial, but a real product you can get at Home Depot or Amazon (more stores coming soon). Oh, $19.95 for the two step spray on process, which covers about 15 square feet. Not a panacea as the ads portray and a coating does not last forever, but a very good product. Am thinking back yard seat cushions are a perfect application. Cool Stuff.
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