Cool Fact of the Day
Largest Natural Crystals
Where are the largest natural crystals in the world?
In two caves near Chihuahua, Mexico, about 1200 feet below the surface (366 meters) are
the largest known natural crystals in the world. More than 20 feet long (6 m), they are
sword-shaped slabs made of selenite, a form of gypsum (calcium sulfate). These newly
discovered crystals are quite near the previous record-holders, in the nearby Cave Of The
Swords.
The caves are part of a silver and zinc mine. Because they are so far underground, the
temperature there is quite warm: 100 degrees F in the smaller cave and 150 degrees in the
large one (38 C and 66 C). The warmer of the two caves was described "as large as a
cathedral" by one of the discoverers.
In order to protect the rare find, the caves have been sealed and locked, but eventually the
mining company plans to slowly reduce the temperature in the caves and open them to public
tours. The slow temperature change is not expected to harm the gigantic crystals.
More about the amazing selenite crystals:
dsc.discovery.com
How diamonds are formed deep in the Earth:
features.learningkingdom.com
Cool Word of the Day
charisma [n. kuh-RIZ-muh]
Charisma means having a magnetic personality; it's a quality attributed to people who can lead
and inspire respect or devotion. Near synonyms include magnetism, presence, allure, and
charm. Example: "Michael Jordan had fantastic talent, but it was his natural charisma that
helped make him a global star."
Originally, the word was used in Christianity to mean the ability, given by the Holy Spirit, to
perform miracles. Charisma was first seen in English in the 17th century. It comes via Late
Latin from the Greek charisma (divine favor), from charizesthai (to favor), from charis (favor,
grace).
Person of the Day
Lydia Darragh, 1729-89
American patriot
Lydia Darragh was quietly instrumental in helping establish the United States of America. A
Quaker in occupied Philadelphia, she was required to open her house to British officers who
used it as a place to conduct meetings to establish strategy. From the officers' ranks, Darragh
suspected that one such meeting was particularly important. She crept downstairs from her
bedroom and listened at the door, and was able to overhear their conversation as they
discussed plans to destroy unprepared American forces.
The next morning, she left her home on the pretense of buying flour. Walking several miles
beyond British lines, she finally came upon a Continental Army officer and gave him details of
the British plans. She then turned back toward her home, stopping to fill her bag with flour on
the way. The risky operation may have saved Washington's army from being destroyed.
More about Lydia Darragh's story:
www2.whidbey.com
Quotes of the Day
Life and Living; There is more to life than mere existence:
"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."
-- Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900, Anglo-Irish playwright, author
"Don't be afraid of death so much as an inadequate life."
-- Bertolt Brecht, 1898-1956, German dramatist, poet
"It is quite true what Philosophy says: that Life must be understood backwards. But that
makes one forget the other saying: that it must be lived forwards."
-- Soren Kierkegaard, 1813-55, Danish philosopher
"I should have no objection to go over the same life from its beginning to the end: requesting
only the advantage authors have, of correcting in a second edition the faults of the first."
-- Benjamin Franklin, 1706-90, American statesman, inventor
Today in History
June 1st
1616: Tokugawa Ieyasu Died
Tokugawa Ieyasu, Japanese military leader and statesman who founded the Tokugawa
dynasty of shoguns, died. In 1603, he accepted the title of shogun from the emperor, and
implemented a stable government based on the feudal model. Shoguns belonged to the same
line of military governors that ruled Japan until 1867-1868.
The Tokugawa dynasty led to more than 260 years of peace:
unc.edu
1638: First Recorded Earthquake in U.S. History Occurred
The first recorded earthquake in U.S. history occurred in Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts.
The earthquake, which took place at 2 pm, did not cause significant damage.
Recreated images of 17th-century Plymouth Plantation:
pilgrims.net
1938: First Issue of "Superman" Appeared
The first issue of the comic book "Superman" appeared in news stands throughout the
country. Two teenagers, Jerome Siegel and Joseph Shuster, created "Superman." Originally a
newspaper comic strip, Superman was changed to a booklet format to immediate acclaim.
The first issue gave rise to the golden era of Superman:
fortress.am
1943: Leslie Howard Shot Down
During the return trip from an event sponsored by the British government in Portugal, German
raiders shot down a plane transporting British actor Leslie Howard. At the time, it was said
that Howard served as a spy for Great Britain. One of Howard's best known film roles was
that of Ashley Wilkes in "Gone with the Wind."
Howard has been one of the most beloved British actors:
home.earthlink.net
1968: "The Prisoner" Aired
The popular and enigmatic British mini-series, "The Prisoner," aired for the first time on
American television. Starring Patrick McGoohan as a secret agent held against his will in a
remote, controlled environment known as the Village, "The Prisoner" was one of TV's most
imaginative series.
In both the U.S. and England, The Prisoner quickly developed a cult following:
retroweb.com
Holidays & Events
June 1
King's Birthday, Hristo Botev Day
KENYA: MADARAKA DAY
Also known as Self-Rule Day, Madaraka Day is a national public holiday in Kenya; it marks
the day in 1964 when Kenya attained self government as a republic. On June 1, 1964, Jomo
Kenyatta became the republic's first president.
Kenya has more than 40 ethnic groups coexisting:
kenyatourism.org
kenyastatehouse.go.ke
A biography of Jomo Kenyatta:
students.mis.boun.edu.tr
CANADA: YUKON INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
At the Yukon International Storytelling Festival, storytellers from around the world are
encouraged to tell or sing their stories in their native tongue. An English summary or full
translation follows the story. Recent performers have shared tales from Norway, Finland,
Zimbabwe, Israel, Bolivia, Japan, and throughout Canada and the United States. The festival
is held this weekend in Whitehorse in the Yukon Territories.
The Storytelling Festival was founded in the mid 1980s:
yukonstory.com
Links to storytelling resources online:
seanet.com
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Copyright (c) 2001, The Learning Kingdom, Inc.
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