Cool Fact of the Day [May 18th]
Deadly Octopus
What kind of octopus can kill a human with one bite?
Although it is only six inches (15 cm) across, the toxic blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena
lunulata / maculosa) is the only octopus whose bite can kill a human. The poison is similar to the
tetradotoxin produced by puffer fish, but acts much faster.
Unlike other octopuses, the blue-ringed does not squirt ink when disturbed. Instead, it inflicts a
tiny bite that is almost undetectable. Within minutes, a bitten human experiences progressive
paralysis, which within half an hour reaches the diaphragm muscle used for breathing. Death by
suffocation follows.
Found in shallow rock pools across Southeast Asia, the blue-ringed octopus eats crabs.
Normally it blends its colors with the surroundings, making it difficult to see. But when disturbed,
its blue ring pattern suddenly becomes vivid, as though glowing.
The blue-ringed octopus:
aqua.org
gulftel.com
The octopus Stauroteuthis syrtensis has light-emitting organs in place of suckers:
features.learningkingdom.com
Cool Word of the Day
dynamic [adj., n. die-NAM-ik]
Dynamic means full of energy or intensity, vigorously active. Near synonyms include galvanic
and vibrant. Example: "She was a dynamic storyteller."
In physics, dynamic means relating to motion and energy. In music, dynamic means relating to
changing intensity.
The noun dynamic is used in the context of social or political interactions, and means a basic
force or process. Example: "The main dynamic behind the twentieth-century buildup of big
government in the United States was the enaction of emergency measures during three
successive crises: World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II."
The word dynamic has been in use since the 1800s. It comes from the French dynamique, from
the Greek dynamikos (powerful), possibly via the New Latin dynamicus.
Person of the Day
Sappho, c. 610-c. 580 BC
Greek poet
Of the few female poets from ancient times that are remembered today, Sappho remains the
best-known and most celebrated among them. So exceptional a poet was she that Plato called
her the "Tenth Muse," and her image was represented on coins from the isle of Lesbos (now
Lesvos), then a cultural center. Her poetry focuses mainly on love, and is characterized by
sensual verse and intense emotions, particularly as felt towards other women.
A member of the upper class, she married a wealthy merchant, which allowed her the time and
means to develop her craft. She often traveled throughout Greece, though most of her time was
spent on Lesbos, studying the arts. She composed her own music and was one of the first
lyricists whose poetry was written from the first-person perspective, rather than from the
viewpoint of a muse or god.
Very few of her works are in existence today, and in fact, only two complete poems survive.
Most of what remain are fragments of papyruses found during excavations in ancient Egypt.
Today, however, her poetry continues to be analyzed, and speculation of her life is the subject of
several tales and research.
More about Sappho:
tufts.edu
perseus.tufts.edu
Quotes of the Day
Laughter; On the value of laughter:
"If we may believe our logicians, man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of
laughter."
-- Joseph Addison, English essayist, poet, and statesman
"So many tangles in life are ultimately hopeless that we have no appropriate sword other than
laughter."
-- Gordon William Allport, American psychologist
"You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything --
even poverty -- you can survive it."
-- Bill Cosby, comedian, actor, and author
"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face."
-- Victor Hugo, French poet, dramatist, and writer
Today in History
May 18th
1291: Acre Captured
Acre, the last major Christian stronghold in what is today Israel, was captured by Muslim troops.
Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil, son of Qalawun, led troops from Egypt and Syria to isolate Acre. After
several weeks of siege, the city was finally occupied by the sultan's troops.
1804: Bonaparte Declared Himself Emperor of France
French military commander Napoleon Bonaparte declared himself Emperor of France,
becoming Napoleon I. Months later, Pope Pius VIII ratified Napoleon's title. He remained
emperor until 1815 when Louis XVIII replaced him.
Both Napoleon I and his nephew Napoleon III were emperors of France:
france.com
1896: Plessy v. Ferguson Ruling
In Plessy v. Ferguson, the US Supreme Court upheld the "separate but equal" policy. The case
originated in 1892, when Homer Plessy, a shoemaker from Louisiana, was arrested for sitting in
a train coach reserved only for whites. The case eventually went to the US Supreme Court,
which upheld the decision of Judge John Ferguson who had found Plessy guilty.
Racial prejudice in 1896:
iberia.vassar.edu
1980: Mount St. Helens Erupted
The volcano Mount St. Helens in southwestern Washington erupted after an earthquake shook
the volcano. A part of the peak slid away in a gigantic rockslide, and steam and ash were blown
more than 11 miles (17.6 km) into the sky. Almost 60 people were killed.
1944: Crimean Tatars Accused of Nazism
In a brutal mass deportation, Soviet troops expelled from Crimea more than 200,000 Crimean
Tatars who were accused of Nazi collaborators. Due to famine and disease, about 50 percent of
the deportees died in Central Asia. While the decision was officially revoked in 1967, Crimean
Tatars were not allowed to return until the late 1980s, and the victims or their descendants were
never compensated.
Learn more about Crimean Tatars:
euronet.nl
Holidays & Events
May 18
World Series of Poker, Jumping Frog Jubilee
UNITED STATES: WORLD SERIES OF POKER
Today is the final day of playing in the World Series of Poker. The event, now in its 31st year, is
held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the largest and longest-running major poker
tournament in the world. Today will see the finalists compete in a game of "Texas Hold-em."
The buy-in is $10,000 and there is no-limit on bets in this winner take all tournament.
The 2000 winner took home $1 million:
lasvegastravelog.com
UNITED STATES: JUMPING FROG JUBILEE
The Grand Finals of the International Frog Jump are held at the Calaveras County Fair in
California. An estimated 45,000 people attend this annual event on the third weekend of May.
More than 3,000 frogs are entered in the contest. The event was inspired by a short story "The
Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" by Mark Twain.
Official site of the Jumping Frog Jubilee:
frogtown.org
Learn more about the Jumping Frog Jubilee:
visitcalaveras.org
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