Cool Fact of the Day
Unmarked Flag
What country's flag has no markings at all?
Every country in the world has a flag with markings except the African nation of Libya, whose
long, rectangular flag is a field of pure green. Libya's leader, Colonel Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi,
designed the flag in 1977 and made it all green as a symbol of the country's national religion,
Islam. It is said that an all-green banner was carried by the Prophet Mohammed, Islam's
greatest saint.
Libya's history is reflected in its flags. Before 1977, Libya was part of the Union of Arab
Republics, so its flag was the UAR's red, white, and black striped design with the stylized
"Hawk of the Quraish" representing the Tribe of Mohammed. Before Libya joined the UAR in
1970, the flag bore the same stripes of color, but without the hawk.
In past centuries the part of Africa that is now Libya has had various flags representing the
tribes and peoples that lived there. Today, Qadaffi's unification of Libya as an independent
Islamic state is reflected in its pure green flag.
History of Libya's flag and national anthem:
ourworld.compuserve.com
fotw.stm.it
More about Libya:
cia.gov
Thoughtful article about the meanings of flags:
www-hoover.stanford.edu
Cool Word of the Day
purview [n. PURR-vyoo]
Purview commonly means the scope of someone's authority or concern. Example:
"Technically her request fell outside of his purview, but he promised to see what he could do."
Purview is also a range of vision, insight, or understanding. Near synonyms of this sense
include overview, outlook, perspective, and viewpoint.
In legal terms, purview is the purpose or scope of a statute.
Purview was first seen in Middle English as the word purveu in the 1200s. It was a borrowing
from the Anglo-French where it was the past participle of the verb purveier (to purvey). It
appeared in statutes of the time period in the phrase purveu est (it is provided).
Person of the Day
Jack Kerouac, 1922-69
U.S. Author and poet
The Beat Generation refers to a group of writers and artists from the 1950s that rejected
conventional practices, and sought to express their individuality through their art. Jack
Kerouac is the best-known and most influential writer from this era. He even coined the term
"beat generation" in a conversation with novelist John Clellon Holmes, in which he remarked,
"Ah, this is nothing but a beat generation."
Although raised by a devout Roman Catholic mother, Kerouac became fascinated with
Buddhism in the early fifties. One of his best-known novels, "The Dharma Bums" (1958)
played an important role in the growth of Buddhism in the United States.
Kerouac's most famous work, "On the Road," describes the Beat experience in America. The
first manuscript was completed in 1951, and was promptly rejected by the publisher.
Kerouac grew increasingly frustrated until 1957, when "On the Road" was finally published,
and he gained the readership he sought.
However, with this recognition, so came criticism and overwhelming fame. Faced with these
circumstances, Kerouac found it hard to continue as a writer and eventually withdrew from
the Beat scene. He died at the age of 47 from alcoholism.
More about Jack Kerouac:
teenreads.com
More about the Beat Generation:
jackmagazine.com
Quotes of the Day
Gullibility; Thoughts on gullibility:
"There's a sucker born every minute."
-- P.T. Barnum, 1810-91, American showman
"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be
true."
-- Demosthenes, 384?-322 B.C., Greek orator
"Fame is proof that the people are gullible."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-82, American poet and essayist
"We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know because they have never deceived
us."
-- Samuel Johnson, 1709-84, English author
Today in History
June 11th
1184 B.C.: Greek Soldiers Destroyed Troy
Greek soldiers burned down the city of Troy after a ten-year siege. According to legend, the
Greeks were attempting to rescue Helen, the wife of Sparta's King Menelaus, whom Prince
Paris of Troy had kidnapped. Troy and the Trojan War were believed to be just a myth until
the 19th century. Then, the ruins of the actual Troy were found in Anatolia in 1871.
UNESCO included Troy as part of its World Heritage List of cultural sites:
unesco.org
1509: Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon Wed
Henry VIII of England and Catherine of Aragon married, and two weeks later were crowned
King and Queen of England. Prior to her marriage with Henry VIII, Catherine was married to
Arthur (son of Henry VII and older brother of Henry VIII), but he died six months after the
wedding.
1770: Cook Ran Aground Australia's Great Barrier Reef
English Captain James Cook ran aground Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The site where his
ship "Endeavour" was repaired was later named Cooktown. Captain Cook and his crew had
sighted the eastern coast of Australia less than two months earlier.
Captain Cook was one of Europe's greatest explorers:
www2.lucidcafe.com
1793: Haeterick Patented Stove
The first US patent for a stove was issued to Robert Haeterick. Stoves, however, were not
new in the US; cast-iron stoves of European design were found in many households across
the country. The introduction of stoves in the kitchen greatly changed cookery methods,
relieving people of trying chores such as lifting heavy iron cookware.
Photographs of 18th- and 19th-century cast iron stoves:
antiquestoves.com
1971: Coast Guard Evicted People from Alcatraz
The Coast Guard evicted indigenous people from Alcatraz island in the San Francisco Bay
after 19 months of occupation. Through the takeover of Alcatraz, occupied in late 1969, the
Native Americans sought to draw attention to their political, social, and cultural rights.
Holidays & Events
June 11
Queen's Birthday, Vienna Festival
AUSTRALIA: QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY
Today commemorates Queen Elizabeth's official birthday. This is not her actual date of birth
(that's April 21). In Australia, with the exception of Western Australia, this is an opportunity
to enjoy a long holiday weekend. This is also a day to recognize people who have performed
outstanding service in Australia.
More about Queen's Birthday:
norepublic.com.au
AUSTRIA: VIENNA FESTIVAL
The Vienna Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. This international cultural event
features opera, dance, theater, chamber, and symphonic music. The festival, known locally as
Wiener Festwochen, is known for its varied program included daring reinterpretations of
classics and premieres of avant-garde works.
Find out more at the homepage of the Vienna Festival:
festwochen.or.at
A site about Vienna, Austria's cultural capital:
tourist-net.co.at
The Vienna Philharmonic is one of the major guests at this festival:
austria-tourism.at
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