Cool Fact of the Day
First Fax Machine
When was the fax machine invented?
If a fax machine is a device that transmits a two-dimensional image across electric wires, then
Alexander Bain patented the world's first fax machine in 1843, 33 years before Alexander
Graham Bell patented the voice telephone.
Bain's device used synchronized pendulums at both ends of a telegraph line to scan across the
image. A sensor at the transmitting end created a signal that caused the tip of the receiving
pendulum to make a pattern on chemically treated paper by sending an electric current
through it wherever the image was dark.
Bain's invention was improved by Giovanni Caselli, whose 1856 "pantelegraph" (all-purpose
telegraph) was used in 1860 for the first long-distance inter-city fax, between Paris and
Amiens (about 70 miles / 113 km). To minimize synchronization problems, the swinging
pendulums of the pantelegraph were eight feet (2.4 m) high.
More about Alexander Bain:
cinemedia.net
History of the fax machine:
ideafinder.com
cinemedia.net
deas.harvard.edu
lecture8/graphic%20telegraphs/graphic_tel.html
A 3-D fax machine is called a stereolithograph:
features.learningkingdom.com
Cool Word of the Day
vagary [n. VAY-guh-ree or vuh-GERR-ee]
A vagary is an erratic notion or capricious action. Near synonyms include whim, notion,
caprice, quirk, fantasy, and impulse. Example: "She couldn't understand how her husband
could take their son's college money and subject it to the vagaries of horse racing."
The Latin word vagari meant to wander. In the early 1600s, vagary came into English usage
to describe a wandering journey. Someone roaming about without following a set route was
on a vagary.
Person of the Day
Geoffrey Chaucer, 1340?-1400
English poet
Geoffrey Chaucer made considerable contributions to English's status as as a literary
language, and is responsible for introducing rhyme-royal (a rhyming seven-line stanza written
in iambic pentameter) to English poetry.
He began his life as the son of a British vintner, but little else is known of his early years.
Around age 20 he fought in the English forces invading France. He married the future
sister-in-law of John of Gaunt, who later became his staunch patron. Around 1372, Chaucer
traveled to Europe on diplomatic missions at the request of King Edward III; it's been
speculated that his literary career was inspired by Italian authors he met during those travels.
Among Chaucer's writings that have survived the centuries and still find popularity are the
poem "Troilus and Criseyde," the biographical sketches of famous females titled "The Legend
of Good Women," and his best-known work, "The Canterbury Tales."
More about Geoffrey Chaucer:
luminarium.org
okcom.net
sacklunch.net
Quotes of the Day
Interpreting Insults; Some thoughts about insults:
"The only gracious way to accept an insult is to ignore it; if you can't ignore it, top it; if you
can't top it, laugh at it; if you can't laugh at it, it's probably deserved."
-- J. Russel Lynes, American author and editor
"The first human being who hurled an insult instead of a stone was the founder of civilization."
-- Sigmund Freud, founder of psychoanalysis
"There are two insults no human being will endure: that he has no sense of humor, and that he
has never known trouble."
-- Sinclair Lewis, American novelist and playwright
Today in History
May 17th
1792: New York Stock Exchange Created
Twenty-four New York brokers signed an agreement to trade with one another and charge a
uniform commission rate to their customers. The New York Stock Exchange emerged from
that agreement. According to legend, in good weather the brokers met beneath a Buttonwood
tree, and in bad weather they met at a nearby coffee house.
More information about the NYSE:
nyse.com
1814: Norwegian Leaders Adopted National Constitution
Norwegian leaders adopted a national constitution after Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden.
Soon afterward, however, Sweden attacked and took control of Norway. Despite being a
Swedish territory, Norway retained its own constitution and parliament until 1905, when it
was finally granted full independence.
May 17th is considered Norway's National Day:
norway.origo.no
1875: First Kentucky Derby Took Place
The first Kentucky Derby took place in the presence of approximately 10,000 spectators.
The Kentucky Derby has since become the crown jewel of U.S. horse-racing. The race was
so named after the English Epson Derby, a horse competition sponsored by the Earl of
Derby.
Oliver Lewis won the first Kentucky Derby:
imh.org
1954: Brown v. the Board of Education Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously voted to end racial segregation in public schools. The
Court's decision came as a result of Brown v. the Board of Education case, in which the lead
plaintiff's daughter, Linda Brown, was denied entrance into an all-white elementary school
because she was African American.
1987: USS Stark Struck by Iraqi Missiles
An Iraqi warplane fired two Exocet missiles at the U.S. Navy frigate Stark in 1987.
Thirty-seven sailors lost their lives while another twenty-one were wounded. Saddam Hussein
issued a formal apology claiming the attack was a mistake due to pilot error.
Holidays & Events
May 17
National Folk Singing Festival, Fertility Rites
MALTA: NATIONAL FOLK SINGING FESTIVAL
This four-day Maltese festival celebrating traditional folk singing is held at Argotti Gardens in
Floriana. Over 70 folk singers and musicians from Malta perform along with guests from
foreign ethnic groups. In 2000, the festival bill was rounded out with performers from Croatia,
Sardinia and Egypt.
The Maltese archipelago consists of three islands:
visitmalta.com
About ghana, a type of traditional Maltese music:
maltese-ghana.ndirect.co.uk
PHILIPPINES: FERTILITY RITES
During the Obando Fertility Rites, childless couples join a dance procession in honor of the
three saints being honored: Santa Clara, San Pascual, and Virgin of Salambao. The barren
couples participate in the hopes of being blessed with a child. This is a three-day fiesta of
church going and street dancing. The Virgin of Salambao, the town's patroness, is also feted
with a parade on the river.
This festival is held in the Bulacan province of the Philippines:
geocities.com
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