Word of the Week
COLD SWEAT
Function: noun
Date: 1582
: concurrent perspiration and chill usually associated with fear, pain, or shock
Interesting Fact
Silver is a chemical element with the symbol "Ag" (Latin: argentum, from the Ancient Greek: - argēntos, gen. of - argēeis, "white, shining" ) and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal.
Silver dissolves in mercury to make amalgams that are widely used for dental fillings.
Photography used 24% of the silver consumed in 2001 in the form of silver nitrate and silver halides.
Some electrical and electronic products use silver for its superior conductivity, even when tarnished. For example, printed circuits are made using silver paints, and computer keyboards use silver electrical contacts. Silver cadmium oxide is used in high voltage contacts because it can withstand arcing. Silver is also used to make solder and brazing alloys, electrical contacts, and high-capacity silver-zinc and silver-cadmium batteries.
Mirrors which need superior reflectivity for visible light are made with silver as the reflecting material in a process called silvering, though common mirrors are backed with aluminium.
Silver's catalytic properties make it ideal for use as a catalyst in oxidation reactions, for example, the production of formaldehyde from methanol and air by means of silver screens or crystallites containing a minimum 99.95 weight-percent silver. Silver (upon some suitable support) is probably the only catalyst available today to convert ethylene to ethylene oxide (later hydrolyzed to ethylene glycol, used for making polyesters)—a very important industrial reaction.
Silver ions and silver compounds show a toxic effect on some bacteria, viruses, algae and fungi, typical for heavy metals like lead or mercury, but without the high toxicity to humans that is normally associated with them. Its germicidal effects kill many microbial organisms in vitro. Its germicidal effects increase its value in utensils and as jewelery. The exact process of silver's germicidal effect is still not well understood, although theories exist.
Silver compounds were used successfully to prevent infection in World War I before the advent of antibiotics. The widespread use of silver went out of fashion with the development of modern antibiotics. However, recently there has been renewed interest in silver as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial. In particular, silver is being used with alginate, a naturally occurring biopolymer derived from seaweed, in a range of products designed to prevent infections as part of wound management procedures, particularly applicable to burn victims. In addition, Samsung has introduced washing machines with a final rinse containing silver ions to provide several days of antibacterial protection in the clothes. Kohler has introduced a line of toilet seats that have silver ions embedded to kill germs. Silver is widely used in topical gels and impregnated into bandages because of its wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity.
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What nation soberly reported treating 5,945 people in its hospitals for “trouser accidents” in 1999??
Entertainment:
What human informed the world: “I’m the Doggfather – nobody bites my style”?
News:
Who are the only two men in history to get more popular votes in a U.S. presedential election than George W. Bush, through 2001?
Written Word:
What did Time magazine call its “Man of the Year” award when it picked Corazon Aquino?
Life & Science: What nation’s Ministry of Public Security released “Internet Police 110”, software designed to block access to cults, sex or violence, in 2001?
Games & Sports:
What do hunters hope to attract by rattling and grunting like Hunter “The Gruntmaster” Powers?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What conflict that killed 55,000 U.S. soldiers finally got its own Washington D.C. memorial in 1995? The Korean War
Entertainment:
What did Deniece Williams want to “hear it for” in her 1984 number-one hit? The boy
News:
What U.S. state was home to the one-foot-square “Whitewater Micro-Acres” that rancher Carry Carpenter hawked on the Net for $35? Arkansas
Written Word:
What Pulitzer-winner gave readers a taste of his new Western series with Boone’s Lick? Larry McMurtry
Life & Science: What did University of Washington physicists discover weghs 5.972 sextillion metric tons, not 5.98 sextillion metric tons as was once thought? The Earth
Games & Sports:
What did Pacers hoopster Reggie Miller fling at a referee Ed Rush in 2001, to earn a suspension? Chewing Gum
Monday, March 31, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Word of the Week - 3-24-2008
Word of the Week
ZANY
Pronunciation: \ˈzā-nē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural zanies
Etymology: Italian zanni, a traditional masked clown, from Italian dialect Zanni, nickname for Italian Giovanni John
Date: 1588
1: a subordinate clown or acrobat in old comedies who mimics ludicrously the tricks of the principal : merry-andrew
2: a slavish follower : toady
3 a: one who acts the buffoon to amuse others b: nut, kook
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): za·ni·er; za·ni·est
Date: 1609
1 : being or having the characteristics of a zany
2 : fantastically or absurdly ludicrous
Interesting Fact
There is no firm agreement among neurologists as to the number of senses because of differing definitions of what constitutes a sense. One definition states that an exteroceptive sense is a faculty by which outside stimuli are perceived. The conventional five senses are sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste: a classification traditionally attributed to Aristotle. However, humans have at least nine different senses (including interoceptive senses), like: thermoception (heat, cold), nociception (pain), equilibrioception (balance, gravity), proprioception & kinesthesia (joint motion and acceleration) and sense of time. There are at least two other senses in other organisms (amongst them: electroreception, echolocation, magnetoception, pressure detection, polarized light detection).
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What conflict that killed 55,000 U.S. soldiers finally got its own Washington D.C. memorial in 1995?
Entertainment:
What did Deniece Williams want to “hear it for” in her 1984 number-one hit?
News:
What U.S. state was home to the one-foot-square “Whitewater Micro-Acres” that rancher Carry Carpenter hawked on the Net for $35?
Written Word:
What Pulitzer-winner gave readers a taste of his new Western series with Boone’s Lick?
Life & Science: What did University of Washington physicists discover weghs 5.972 sextillion metric tons, not 5.98 sextillion metric tons as was once thought?
Games & Sports:
What did Pacers hoopster Reggie Miller fling at a referee Ed Rush in 2001, to earn a suspension?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What president is clean-shaven and skinny as a rail, in a 30-foot-tall Springfield, Illinois statue? Abraham Lincoln
Entertainment:
What rapper boasts a tattoo on his tomach that reads, “KIM: ROT IN PIECES”? Eminem
News:
What military conflict inspired the U.S. Air Force to develop the deep-penetration air-to-ground missile dubbed “Bunker-Buster”? The Gulf War
Written Word:
Which X-Men member’s eye color is listed on Marvel Comics’ web site as: “glowing red”? Scott Summers or Cyclops
Life & Science: What percentage of folks told a Luntz poll in 2000 that gabbing on a cell phone during church was “totally appropriate” – 2, 12, or 22 percent? 2
Games & Sports:
What word was excised from the jerseys of major league baseball’s Tampa Bay franchise in 2001?”? Devil
ZANY
Pronunciation: \ˈzā-nē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural zanies
Etymology: Italian zanni, a traditional masked clown, from Italian dialect Zanni, nickname for Italian Giovanni John
Date: 1588
1: a subordinate clown or acrobat in old comedies who mimics ludicrously the tricks of the principal : merry-andrew
2: a slavish follower : toady
3 a: one who acts the buffoon to amuse others b: nut, kook
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): za·ni·er; za·ni·est
Date: 1609
1 : being or having the characteristics of a zany
2 : fantastically or absurdly ludicrous
Interesting Fact
There is no firm agreement among neurologists as to the number of senses because of differing definitions of what constitutes a sense. One definition states that an exteroceptive sense is a faculty by which outside stimuli are perceived. The conventional five senses are sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste: a classification traditionally attributed to Aristotle. However, humans have at least nine different senses (including interoceptive senses), like: thermoception (heat, cold), nociception (pain), equilibrioception (balance, gravity), proprioception & kinesthesia (joint motion and acceleration) and sense of time. There are at least two other senses in other organisms (amongst them: electroreception, echolocation, magnetoception, pressure detection, polarized light detection).
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What conflict that killed 55,000 U.S. soldiers finally got its own Washington D.C. memorial in 1995?
Entertainment:
What did Deniece Williams want to “hear it for” in her 1984 number-one hit?
News:
What U.S. state was home to the one-foot-square “Whitewater Micro-Acres” that rancher Carry Carpenter hawked on the Net for $35?
Written Word:
What Pulitzer-winner gave readers a taste of his new Western series with Boone’s Lick?
Life & Science: What did University of Washington physicists discover weghs 5.972 sextillion metric tons, not 5.98 sextillion metric tons as was once thought?
Games & Sports:
What did Pacers hoopster Reggie Miller fling at a referee Ed Rush in 2001, to earn a suspension?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What president is clean-shaven and skinny as a rail, in a 30-foot-tall Springfield, Illinois statue? Abraham Lincoln
Entertainment:
What rapper boasts a tattoo on his tomach that reads, “KIM: ROT IN PIECES”? Eminem
News:
What military conflict inspired the U.S. Air Force to develop the deep-penetration air-to-ground missile dubbed “Bunker-Buster”? The Gulf War
Written Word:
Which X-Men member’s eye color is listed on Marvel Comics’ web site as: “glowing red”? Scott Summers or Cyclops
Life & Science: What percentage of folks told a Luntz poll in 2000 that gabbing on a cell phone during church was “totally appropriate” – 2, 12, or 22 percent? 2
Games & Sports:
What word was excised from the jerseys of major league baseball’s Tampa Bay franchise in 2001?”? Devil
Monday, March 17, 2008
Word of the Week - 3-17-2008
Word of the Week
SELF-EVIDENT
Pronunciation: \-dənt, -ˌdent\
Function: adjective
Date: 1671
: requiring no proof or explanation
Interesting Fact
In the novel The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s shoes are not ruby red, but silver.
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What president is clean-shaven and skinny as a rail, in a 30-foot-tall Springfield, Illinois statue?
Entertainment:
What rapper boasts a tattoo on his tomach that reads, “KIM: ROT IN PIECES”?
News:
What military conflict inspired the U.S. Air Force to develop the deep-penetration air-to-ground missile dubbed “Bunker-Buster”??
Written Word:
Which X-Men member’s eye color is listed on Marvel Comics’ web site as: “glowing red”?
Life & Science: What percentage of folks told a Luntz poll in 2000 that gabbing on a cell phone during church was “totally appropriate” – 2, 12, or 22 percent?
Games & Sports:
What word was excised from the jerseys of major league baseball’s Tampa Bay franchise in 2001?”?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What museum began asking visitors for donations in 1993, for the first time in its 147-year history? The Smithsonian Institute
Entertainment:
What hip-hop hero was dubbed “the bard of spousal abuse” by Time magazine? Eminem
News:
What parlors did Cambodia’s prime minister declare war on in December 2001, warning he’d use tanks to flatten them if necessary? Karaoke parlors
Written Word:
What New Age pundit did Time magazine call “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine”? Deepak Chopra
Life & Science: What critter’s cells were used to create the first Bio-Artifical Liver, designed as a temporary organ for someone waiting for a transplant? rabbit
Games & Sports:
What Whose 1993 death from AIDS inspired Magic Johnson to note: “His loss is a loss for all of us”? Arthur Ashe
SELF-EVIDENT
Pronunciation: \-dənt, -ˌdent\
Function: adjective
Date: 1671
: requiring no proof or explanation
Interesting Fact
In the novel The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s shoes are not ruby red, but silver.
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What president is clean-shaven and skinny as a rail, in a 30-foot-tall Springfield, Illinois statue?
Entertainment:
What rapper boasts a tattoo on his tomach that reads, “KIM: ROT IN PIECES”?
News:
What military conflict inspired the U.S. Air Force to develop the deep-penetration air-to-ground missile dubbed “Bunker-Buster”??
Written Word:
Which X-Men member’s eye color is listed on Marvel Comics’ web site as: “glowing red”?
Life & Science: What percentage of folks told a Luntz poll in 2000 that gabbing on a cell phone during church was “totally appropriate” – 2, 12, or 22 percent?
Games & Sports:
What word was excised from the jerseys of major league baseball’s Tampa Bay franchise in 2001?”?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What museum began asking visitors for donations in 1993, for the first time in its 147-year history? The Smithsonian Institute
Entertainment:
What hip-hop hero was dubbed “the bard of spousal abuse” by Time magazine? Eminem
News:
What parlors did Cambodia’s prime minister declare war on in December 2001, warning he’d use tanks to flatten them if necessary? Karaoke parlors
Written Word:
What New Age pundit did Time magazine call “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine”? Deepak Chopra
Life & Science: What critter’s cells were used to create the first Bio-Artifical Liver, designed as a temporary organ for someone waiting for a transplant? rabbit
Games & Sports:
What Whose 1993 death from AIDS inspired Magic Johnson to note: “His loss is a loss for all of us”? Arthur Ashe
Monday, March 10, 2008
Word of the Week - 3-10-2008
Word of the Week
SURCEASE
Pronunciation: \suhr-ˈsēs, ˈsuhr-ˌ\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): sur•ceased; sur•ceas•ing
Etymology: Middle English sursesen, surcesen, from Anglo-French surceser, alteration of surseer, surseoir, from Latin supersedēre
Date: 15th century
intransitive verb: to desist from action; also : to come to an end : CEASE
transitive verb: to put an end to : DISCONTINUE
Function: noun
Date: 1586
: CESSATION; especially : a temporary respite or end
Interesting Fact
The first commercial sparkling wine was produced in the Limoux area of Languedoc about 1535. Around 1700, sparkling Champagne, as we know it today, was born. English scientist and physician Christopher Merret documented a second fermentation by the addition of sugar at least 30 years before the work of Dom Perignon who, contrary to legend and popular belief, did not invent sparkling wine. Merrett presented the Royal Society with a paper in which he detailed what is now called méthode champenoise in 1662.
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What museum began asking visitors for donations in 1993, for the first time in its 147-year history?
Entertainment:
What hip-hop hero was dubbed “the bard of spousal abuse” by Time magazine?
News:
What parlors did Cambodia’s prime minister declare war on in December 2001, warning he’d use tanks to flatten them if necessary?
Written Word:
What New Age pundit did Time magazine call “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine”?
Life & Science:
What critter’s cells were used to create the first Bio-Artifical Liver, designed as a temporary organ for someone waiting for a transplant?
Games & Sports:
What Whose 1993 death from AIDS inspired Magic Johnson to note: “His loss is a loss for all of us”?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What province’s Potala palace did China spruce up with one ton of gold in a $12 million renovation? Tibet
Entertainment:
What oft-imitated MTV series showcased the dumb stunts of Johnny Knoxville? Jackass
News:
Who told TV viewers to “read a newspaper” for more details after a 2001 presidential address, much to the dismay of CBSNews.com? Dan Rather
Written Word:
What comic strip is populated by legionnaires named Maggot, Figowitz and Captain Poulet? Crock
Life & Science:
Whose hits did Britain’s National Sea Life Center pipe into the pool, in their first attempt to put celibate tope sharks in the mood for love? Barry White
Games & Sports:
What storied ballpark’s last big-league pitch was hurled by Todd Jones, on September 27, 1999? Tiger Stadium
SURCEASE
Pronunciation: \suhr-ˈsēs, ˈsuhr-ˌ\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): sur•ceased; sur•ceas•ing
Etymology: Middle English sursesen, surcesen, from Anglo-French surceser, alteration of surseer, surseoir, from Latin supersedēre
Date: 15th century
intransitive verb: to desist from action; also : to come to an end : CEASE
transitive verb: to put an end to : DISCONTINUE
Function: noun
Date: 1586
: CESSATION; especially : a temporary respite or end
Interesting Fact
The first commercial sparkling wine was produced in the Limoux area of Languedoc about 1535. Around 1700, sparkling Champagne, as we know it today, was born. English scientist and physician Christopher Merret documented a second fermentation by the addition of sugar at least 30 years before the work of Dom Perignon who, contrary to legend and popular belief, did not invent sparkling wine. Merrett presented the Royal Society with a paper in which he detailed what is now called méthode champenoise in 1662.
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What museum began asking visitors for donations in 1993, for the first time in its 147-year history?
Entertainment:
What hip-hop hero was dubbed “the bard of spousal abuse” by Time magazine?
News:
What parlors did Cambodia’s prime minister declare war on in December 2001, warning he’d use tanks to flatten them if necessary?
Written Word:
What New Age pundit did Time magazine call “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine”?
Life & Science:
What critter’s cells were used to create the first Bio-Artifical Liver, designed as a temporary organ for someone waiting for a transplant?
Games & Sports:
What Whose 1993 death from AIDS inspired Magic Johnson to note: “His loss is a loss for all of us”?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What province’s Potala palace did China spruce up with one ton of gold in a $12 million renovation? Tibet
Entertainment:
What oft-imitated MTV series showcased the dumb stunts of Johnny Knoxville? Jackass
News:
Who told TV viewers to “read a newspaper” for more details after a 2001 presidential address, much to the dismay of CBSNews.com? Dan Rather
Written Word:
What comic strip is populated by legionnaires named Maggot, Figowitz and Captain Poulet? Crock
Life & Science:
Whose hits did Britain’s National Sea Life Center pipe into the pool, in their first attempt to put celibate tope sharks in the mood for love? Barry White
Games & Sports:
What storied ballpark’s last big-league pitch was hurled by Todd Jones, on September 27, 1999? Tiger Stadium
Monday, March 3, 2008
Word of the Week - 3-3-2008
Word of the Week
INEBRIANT
Pronunciation: \i-ˈnē-brē-ənt\
Function: noun
Date: 1819
: INTOXICANT
Interesting Fact
Antonio Meucci (Florence, April 13, 1808 – October 18, 1889) was an Italian-born inventor who developed a form of voice communication apparatus in 1857. Many believe that he is to be credited with the invention of the telephone. Antonio Meucci was recognized by the United States House of Representatives for doing important work on telephony, in House Resolution 269, dated 11 June, 2002.
Meucci set up a some form of voice communication link in his Staten Island home that connected the basement with the first floor but was unable to raise sufficient funds to pay his way through the patent application. He filed a patent caveat in 1871, which was forced to expire in 1874. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell patented the electro-magnetic transmission of vocal sound by undulatory electric current.
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What province’s Potala palace did China spruce up with one ton of gold in a $12 million renovation?
Entertainment:
What oft-imitated MTV series showcased the dumb stunts of Johnny Knoxville?
News:
Who told TV viewers to “read a newspaper” for more details after a 2001 presidential address, much to the dismay of CBSNews.com
Written Word:
What comic strip is populated by legionnaires named Maggot, Figowitz and Captain Poulet?
Life & Science:
Whose hits did Britain’s National Sea Life Center pipe into the pool, in their first attempt to put celibate tope sharks in the mood for love?
Games & Sports:
What storied ballpark’s last big-league pitch was hurled by Todd Jones, on September 27, 1999?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What Asian nation tempts locals with kare-kare oxtail stew cooked at a roadside turo-turo? The Phillipines
Entertainment:
Who starred in Dragon Lord, Dragons Forever and Twin Dragons? Jackie Chan
News:
What city’s new U.S. Embassy did diplomats refuse to enter in 1987, when it was found to be crawling with electronic bugs? Moscow
Written Word:
Who did author Mitch Albom spend Tuesdays with, according to his bestseller’s title? Morrie
Life & Science:
How many websites make up the “dark net” no browser can reach, according to Arbor Networks – 1 million, 10 million, or 100 million? 100 million
Games & Sports:
What famed sports trophy did an angry Maori activist bludgeon with a sledgehammer in 1997? The America’s Cup
INEBRIANT
Pronunciation: \i-ˈnē-brē-ənt\
Function: noun
Date: 1819
: INTOXICANT
Interesting Fact
Antonio Meucci (Florence, April 13, 1808 – October 18, 1889) was an Italian-born inventor who developed a form of voice communication apparatus in 1857. Many believe that he is to be credited with the invention of the telephone. Antonio Meucci was recognized by the United States House of Representatives for doing important work on telephony, in House Resolution 269, dated 11 June, 2002.
Meucci set up a some form of voice communication link in his Staten Island home that connected the basement with the first floor but was unable to raise sufficient funds to pay his way through the patent application. He filed a patent caveat in 1871, which was forced to expire in 1874. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell patented the electro-magnetic transmission of vocal sound by undulatory electric current.
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What province’s Potala palace did China spruce up with one ton of gold in a $12 million renovation?
Entertainment:
What oft-imitated MTV series showcased the dumb stunts of Johnny Knoxville?
News:
Who told TV viewers to “read a newspaper” for more details after a 2001 presidential address, much to the dismay of CBSNews.com
Written Word:
What comic strip is populated by legionnaires named Maggot, Figowitz and Captain Poulet?
Life & Science:
Whose hits did Britain’s National Sea Life Center pipe into the pool, in their first attempt to put celibate tope sharks in the mood for love?
Games & Sports:
What storied ballpark’s last big-league pitch was hurled by Todd Jones, on September 27, 1999?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What Asian nation tempts locals with kare-kare oxtail stew cooked at a roadside turo-turo? The Phillipines
Entertainment:
Who starred in Dragon Lord, Dragons Forever and Twin Dragons? Jackie Chan
News:
What city’s new U.S. Embassy did diplomats refuse to enter in 1987, when it was found to be crawling with electronic bugs? Moscow
Written Word:
Who did author Mitch Albom spend Tuesdays with, according to his bestseller’s title? Morrie
Life & Science:
How many websites make up the “dark net” no browser can reach, according to Arbor Networks – 1 million, 10 million, or 100 million? 100 million
Games & Sports:
What famed sports trophy did an angry Maori activist bludgeon with a sledgehammer in 1997? The America’s Cup
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
