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Non-Tech : Binary Hodgepodge -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ~digs who wrote (102)	5/17/2001 11:27:21 PM
From: ~digs	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6763

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 ------------------- Copyright (c) 2001, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. learningkingdom.com