Cool Fact of the Day
Extended Wear
What is the secret of extended wear contact lenses?
The first contact lenses were made out of hard plastic. Because they did not cling well to the
eye, they could pop out unexpectedly. They were also quite uncomfortable because of their
relatively sharp rims and because they did not transmit enough oxygen to the cornea (outer
layer of the eyeball).
Today's extended wear contact lenses are more comfortable and do not pop out. The soft
lenses easily cling to the eyes, their thinner margins do not irritate the cornea, and they transmit
much more oxygen.
The special material used for extended wear contacts is a mixture of two plastics. One of
them absorbs and holds a large amount of water, while the other carries oxygen molecules
directly to the cornea. The lenses are made by depositing a drop of liquid between two glass
molds, then irradiating it with ultraviolet light, causing the liquid's molecules to join together.
More about contact lenses:
sciam.com
eyecarecontacts.com
Our eyes are constantly moving while we're awake:
features.learningkingdom.com
Cool Word of the Day
sanctimonious [adj. sank-ti-MOE-nee-us]
Sanctimonious means affecting moral superiority over others; hypocritically pious. Near
synonyms include holier-than-thou, self-righteous, and preachy. Example: "Ruth's roommate
always greeted her with a sanctimonious comment when she came back from a late night out
with friends."
The word sanctimonious didn't always have a negative connotation; it originally meant holy in
character. In the 1600s, sanctimonious was formed from the Latin sanctimonia (holiness),
from the Latin sanctus (holy). The same root gives us the words sanctity (holiness) and saint.
Person of the Day
Jackie Cooper, 1921-
Actor, writer, director
Jackie Cooper is perhaps the most durable of the child actors to have appeared in "Little
Rascals" episodes in the 1930s. His Hollywood career started when he acted as an extra at
age three, continued in the venerable "Our Gang" series, and endured for decades in motion
pictures and television.
His career had appeared to be slowing by the time of World War II, during which Cooper
joined the Navy. But he was rediscovered by Hollywood after the war, appearing in feature
films and, later, in television programs including "The People's Choice," which he also
directed.
In the 1970s, Cooper won Emmy awards as a director, one for an episode of M*A*S*H
and another for a TV pilot film. More recently, Cooper played Perry White, editor of the
Daily Planet (Clark Kent's newspaper), in several Superman movies. The title of his
autobiography, "Please Don't Shoot My Dog," harkens back to his early days as a child star.
More about Jackie Cooper:
ramseyltd.com
classicmoviekids.com
Quotes of the Day
Slang; On the character and value of slang:
"Slang is a language that rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands, and goes to work."
-- Carl Sandburg, 1878-1967, American poet
"I've found that there are only two kinds that are any good: slang that has established itself in
the language, and slang that you make up yourself. Everything else is apt to be passe before it
gets into print."
-- Raymond Chandler, 1888-1959, American author
"All slang is metaphor, and all metaphor is poetry."
-- G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936), British author
Today in History
June 5th
1873: Zanzibar Abolished Slavery
Under pressure by Great Britain, the sultan of Zanzibar, Barghash, abolished slavery.
Barghash had been greatly influenced by Sir John Kirk, the British consular representative at
Zanzibar. Although forbidden, slavery in Zanzibar continued until at least 1893.
More about Zanzibar:
zanzibar.net
1924: Alexanderson Transmitted First Fax Across Atlantic
Swedish engineer and inventor Ernst Alexanderson transmitted the first facsimile message
across the Atlantic Ocean, by sending a note to his father from New York to Sweden. A
prolific inventor, Alexanderson received more than 300 patents.
1968: Bobby Kennedy was Shot
Senator Robert "Bobby" Kennedy was shot while campaigning for the Democratic
presidential nomination in Los Angeles, California, and died the following day. A brother of
President John F. Kennedy, he had served as U.S. Attorney General during his brother's
administration. Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of the murder.
1972: UN Conference on the Human Environment First Organized
The United Nations (UN) Conference on the Human Environment was first organized in
Stockholm, Sweden. The conference led to the establishment of the UN Environment
Program, based in Nairobi, Kenya. June 5th was later designated as World Environment Day.
1988: Kay Cottee Circled the Globe
Australian solo yacht sailor Kay Cottee sailed into Sydney Harbor to become the first woman
to circle the globe alone and unassisted. She made the trip in her 36-ft (11-m) long "First
Lady" yacht. During her voyage, Cottee had to overcome 80-foot (24-m) waves, 100 knot
winds, and free-floating icebergs.
Holidays & Events
June 5
Constitution Day, Pineapple Festival
DENMARK: CONSTITUTION DAY
Constitution Day commemorates Denmark becoming a constitutional monarchy in 1849. It
also recognizes the acceptance of Denmark's constitution -- Danmarks Riges Grundlov -- on
June 5, 1953. Called Grundlovsdag locally, this is a half-day national holiday for the people of
Denmark.
The Constitution of Denmark enacted on this day in 1953:
users.cybercity.dk
More about Denmark's government and constitution:
um.dk
More about Denmark:
cia.gov
BAHAMAS: PINEAPPLE FESTIVAL
The island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas features acres and acres of pineapple plantations. For
four days in June the people celebrate this key fruit crop. There will be tours of pineapple
farms, a pineapple recipe contest, craft displays, dancing, and a Junkanoo parade as part of
the annual festivities, now in their 10th year. A sports competition known in other places as a
triathlon is here called the pineathlon.
Eleuthera means "Freedom" in Greek. More about the island:
interknowledge.com
History of the Bahamas:
keyshistory.org
Some pineapple recipes:
members.aol.com
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