Category Archives: Thoughts for the Day

Random Thoughts, Today in History, Quotes, Vocabulary.

Quotes (January 2nd)

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” – Oprah Winfrey “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” – Lord Acton (John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton), historian (1834-1902) “No man should judge unless … Continue reading

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Pneumonic

PRONUNCIATION: (noo-MON-ik, nyoo-) http://wordsmith.org/words/pneumonic.mp3 MEANING: (adjective) 1. Of or relating to the lungs. 2. Relating to or affected by pneumonia. ETYMOLOGY: From Greek pneumon (lung). Ultimately from the Indo-European root pleu- (to flow), that is also the source of flow, … Continue reading

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Anthropocene

PRONUNCIATION: (AN-thruh-puh-seen) http://wordsmith.org/words/anthropocene.mp3 MEANING: (noun), The geological period marked by a significant human impact on climate and the environment. ETYMOLOGY: From Greek anthropo- (human) + -cene (denoting a geological period), from Greek kainos (new). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ken … Continue reading

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Today in History (January 1st)

New Year’s Day, First Foot Day, Today is the first day of the year. 0045 B.C.: New Year’s Day was celebrated on Jan. 1 for the first time as the Julian calendar took effect. 0404: The last known gladiator competition … Continue reading

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Escutcheon

PRONUNCIATION: (es-KEH-chehn) http://wordsmith.org/words/escutcheon.mp3 MEANING: (noun) 1. A shield or tablet bearing a coat of arms; 2. an ornamental protective plate surrounding a frequently used object, such as a keyhole or drawer pull. ETYMOLOGY: Today’s word came into Middle English as … Continue reading

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Google

PRONUNCIATION: (GOOG-uhl) http://wordsmith.org/words/google.mp3 MEANING: (verb tr., intr.), To search for information online using a search engine, especially Google. Interestingly, the verb google has been around for more than a hundred years, though in a different sense. In a game of … Continue reading

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Today in History (December 31st)

New Year’s Eve 0192: Deaths: Lucius AA Commodus Emperor of Rome (180-192), murdered at 31. 0406: 80,000 Vandals attacked the Rhine at Mainz. Deaths: Godagisel King of the Vandals, died in battle. 0765: Coffin of Ho-tse Shen-hui interred in a … Continue reading

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Quotes (December 31st)

The luck of having talent is not enough; one must also have a talent for luck. – Louis-Hector Berlioz, composer (1803-1869) It’s kind of fun to do the impossible. – Walt Disney I learned long ago that being Lewis Carroll … Continue reading

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Captcha

PRONUNCIATION: (KAP-chuh) http://wordsmith.org/words/captcha.mp3 MEANING: (noun), A test used to make sure that a human is using a system, not a computer program. The test typically involves reading distorted text. ETYMOLOGY: An acronym of Completely Automated Public Turing Test to tell … Continue reading

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Quotes (December 30th)

“In religion, faith is a virtue. In science, faith is a vice.” – Jerry Coyne, biology professor (b. 1949) “The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost, 1874-1963 “We can do anything we want to do if we … Continue reading

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