Word of the Week
ANTINOME
Pronunciation: \an-tuh-nohmFunction: noun
Etymology: anti- + Greek nomos, law
:One that is contradictory or contrary to another; an opposite.
Interesting Fact
Camels do not store water in their humps as is commonly believed; they are actually a reservoir of fatty tissue.
When this tissue is metabolized, it acts as a source of energy, and would yield more than 1 g of water for each 1 g of fat converted through reaction with oxygen from air. Their ability to withstand long periods without water is due to a series of physiological adaptations. Their red blood cells have an oval shape, unlike those of other mammals, which are circular. This is to facilitate their flow in a dehydrated state.
Camels are also able to withstand changes in body temperature and water content that would kill most other animals. Their temperature ranges from 34 °C (93 °F) at night up to 41 °C (106 °F) during the day, and only above this threshold will they begin to sweat. The upper body temperature range is often not reached during the day in milder climatic conditions, and therefore, the camel may not sweat at all during the day. Evaporation of their sweat takes place at the skin level, not at the surface of their coat, thereby being very efficient at cooling the body compared to the amount of water lost through sweating.
A feature of their nostrils is that a large amount of water vapor in their exhalations is trapped and returned to their body fluids, thereby reducing the amount of water lost through respiration.
The kidneys and intestines of a camel are very efficient at retaining water. Urine comes out as a thick syrup, and their feces are so dry that they can fuel fires.
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
How much taller was the average Japanese 11-year-old in 2001, compared to 1950 – 2, 4, or 6 inches?
Entertainment:
What contrarian comic rants darkly on a 2001 CD entitled The White Album?
News:
What Shakespearean play did Crown Prince Dipendra quote from on Mother’s Day, shortly before he killed her along with the king?
Written Word:
What comic strip bird was named by creator Berke Breathed for a song by the band Kansas?
Life & Science: What large internet portal was accused in 2001 of denying access to millions of netizens using “alternate” browers like Opera and Mozilla?
Games & Sports:
Who was the only man besides Cal Ripkin Jr. to make baseball’s All-Century team at shortstop?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What 300 ton golden symbol caps Tokyo’s Asahi Beer Hall – a beer can, a flame, or a sheaf of wheat? A flame
Entertainment:
What portly prognosticator did rotund Al Roker replace on The Today Show? Willard Scott
News:
What Pennsylvania institution changed its name to Arcadia University in 2001, after web filters began blocking its old moniker? Beaver College
Written Word:
What novelist published his first book, The Boo, while still a student at the Citadel? Pat Conroy
Life & Science: What internet “personality” retired in 2001, asking to be remembered “wherever there’s a badly dressed celebrity or an over-inflated ego”? MrShowBiz.com
Games & Sports:
What nickname did John Thompson suggest in lieu of “Air Jordan” for the 38-year-old’s return? “Floor Jordan”
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Word of the Week - 5-19-2008
Word of the Week
SWARD
Pronunciation: \swohrd\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sweard, swearth skin, rind; akin to Middle High German swart skin, hide
Date: 15th century
1 : a portion of ground covered with grass
2 : the grassy surface of land
Interesting Fact
Duck sauce is another name for Plum Sauce. The name "duck sauce" comes from the fact that Western Chinese restaurants began serving it with the pancakes that go with Peking Duck, under the mistaken impression that this was an authentic practice. (In China, Peking Duck is traditionally served with hoisin sauce).
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What 300 ton golden symbol caps Tokyo’s Asahi Beer Hall – a beer can, a flame, or a sheaf of wheat?
Entertainment:
What portly prognosticator did rotund Al Roker replace on The Today Show?
News:
What Pennsylvania institution changed its name to Arcadia University in 2001, after web filters began blocking its old moniker?
Written Word:
What novelist published his first book, The Boo, while still a student at the Citadel?
Life & Science: What internet “personality” retired in 2001, asking to be remembered “wherever there’s a badly dressed celebrity or an over-inflated ego”?
Games & Sports:
What nickname did John Thompson suggest in lieu of “Air Jordan” for the 38-year-old’s return?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What international sports event is traditionally accompanied by a truce called the “ekecheiria”? The Olympics
Entertainment:
What boxer was nominated for a Grammy in 2001 for Best Latin Pop Album? Oscar De La Hoya
News:
Who ignored the Vatican’s celibacy vow by marrying Archbishop Emmanual Milingo to Maria Sung in a mass ceremony in New York? Sun Myung Moon
Written Word:
What late, great naval novelist wrote 20 novels about Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin? Patrick O’Brian
Life & Science: Who clicked the e-mail send button for the first time, to send Ecclesia in Oceania to followers around the world, in November 2001? Pope Joh Paul II
Games & Sports:
Who was the first NHL goalie to win over 200 regular-season games with two different teams? Patrick Roy
SWARD
Pronunciation: \swohrd\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sweard, swearth skin, rind; akin to Middle High German swart skin, hide
Date: 15th century
1 : a portion of ground covered with grass
2 : the grassy surface of land
Interesting Fact
Duck sauce is another name for Plum Sauce. The name "duck sauce" comes from the fact that Western Chinese restaurants began serving it with the pancakes that go with Peking Duck, under the mistaken impression that this was an authentic practice. (In China, Peking Duck is traditionally served with hoisin sauce).
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What 300 ton golden symbol caps Tokyo’s Asahi Beer Hall – a beer can, a flame, or a sheaf of wheat?
Entertainment:
What portly prognosticator did rotund Al Roker replace on The Today Show?
News:
What Pennsylvania institution changed its name to Arcadia University in 2001, after web filters began blocking its old moniker?
Written Word:
What novelist published his first book, The Boo, while still a student at the Citadel?
Life & Science: What internet “personality” retired in 2001, asking to be remembered “wherever there’s a badly dressed celebrity or an over-inflated ego”?
Games & Sports:
What nickname did John Thompson suggest in lieu of “Air Jordan” for the 38-year-old’s return?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What international sports event is traditionally accompanied by a truce called the “ekecheiria”? The Olympics
Entertainment:
What boxer was nominated for a Grammy in 2001 for Best Latin Pop Album? Oscar De La Hoya
News:
Who ignored the Vatican’s celibacy vow by marrying Archbishop Emmanual Milingo to Maria Sung in a mass ceremony in New York? Sun Myung Moon
Written Word:
What late, great naval novelist wrote 20 novels about Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin? Patrick O’Brian
Life & Science: Who clicked the e-mail send button for the first time, to send Ecclesia in Oceania to followers around the world, in November 2001? Pope Joh Paul II
Games & Sports:
Who was the first NHL goalie to win over 200 regular-season games with two different teams? Patrick Roy
Monday, May 12, 2008
Word of the Week - 5-12-2008
Word of the Week
VIRTU
Pronunciation: \vuhr-tü, vihr-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian virtù, literally, virtue, from Latin virtut-, virtus
Date: 1722
1 : a love of or taste for curios or objects of art
2 : productions of art especially of a curious or antique nature
Interesting Fact
The Number of the Beast is a concept from the Book of Revelation of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The Number is 666 in most manuscripts of the New Testament, and in modern translations and critical editions of the Greek text. However, there is some doubt about the original reading; modern studies have shown that the earliest known manuscript of the Book of Revelation (from the 3rd century) used 616. This topic is a source of contention for many church groups and theologians. Some scholars contend that the number is a code for the Roman Emperor Nero.
In May 2005, it was reported that scholars at Oxford University using advanced imaging techniques had been able to read previously illegible portions of the earliest known record of the Book of Revelation, from the Oxyrhynchus site, Papyrus 115 or P115, dating to the mid to late third century. The fragment gives the Number of the Beast as 616 (chi, iota, stigma), rather than the majority text 666 (chi, xi, stigma). The other early witness Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C) has it written in full: hexakosiai deka hex (lit. six hundred sixteen). Significantly, P115 aligns with Codex Alexandrinus (A) and Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C) which are generally regarded as providing the best testimony to Revelation. Thus, P115 has superior testimony to that of P47 which aligns with Codex Sinaiticus and together form the second-best witness to the Book of Revelation. This has led some scholars to conclude that 616 is the original number of the beast.
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What international sports event is traditionally accompanied by a truce called the “ekecheiria”?
Entertainment:
What boxer was nominated for a Grammy in 2001 for Best Latin Pop Album?
News:
Who ignored the Vatican’s celibacy vow by marrying Archbishop Emmanual Milingo to Maria Sung in a mass ceremony in New York?
Written Word:
What late, great naval novelist wrote 20 novels about Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin?
Life & Science: Who clicked the e-mail send button for the first time, to send Ecclesia in Oceania to followers around the world, in November 2001?
Games & Sports:
Who was the first NHL goalie to win over 200 regular-season games with two different teams?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What sleepy Spanish fishing village did Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe turn into a jet-set mecca? Marbella
Entertainment:
What was the first album in history to reach number one in 34 nations? Beatles 1
News:
What 32-year-old did AOL’s board briefly remove as CEO in 1992 because they thought investors might consider him too young? Steve Case
Written Word:
What East European nation’s hot sci-fi magazine of the 1980s was called Fantastyka? Poland
Life & Science: What percent of men taking anti-depressants experienced sexual dysfunction, in Dr. Anita Clayton’s 2001 study – 17, 37, or 57 percent? 37
Games & Sports:
What nation’s baseball hall of fame includes Zoilo Versalles, Minnie Minoso and Tony Oliva? Cuba
VIRTU
Pronunciation: \vuhr-tü, vihr-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian virtù, literally, virtue, from Latin virtut-, virtus
Date: 1722
1 : a love of or taste for curios or objects of art
2 : productions of art especially of a curious or antique nature
Interesting Fact
The Number of the Beast is a concept from the Book of Revelation of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The Number is 666 in most manuscripts of the New Testament, and in modern translations and critical editions of the Greek text. However, there is some doubt about the original reading; modern studies have shown that the earliest known manuscript of the Book of Revelation (from the 3rd century) used 616. This topic is a source of contention for many church groups and theologians. Some scholars contend that the number is a code for the Roman Emperor Nero.
In May 2005, it was reported that scholars at Oxford University using advanced imaging techniques had been able to read previously illegible portions of the earliest known record of the Book of Revelation, from the Oxyrhynchus site, Papyrus 115 or P115, dating to the mid to late third century. The fragment gives the Number of the Beast as 616 (chi, iota, stigma), rather than the majority text 666 (chi, xi, stigma). The other early witness Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C) has it written in full: hexakosiai deka hex (lit. six hundred sixteen). Significantly, P115 aligns with Codex Alexandrinus (A) and Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C) which are generally regarded as providing the best testimony to Revelation. Thus, P115 has superior testimony to that of P47 which aligns with Codex Sinaiticus and together form the second-best witness to the Book of Revelation. This has led some scholars to conclude that 616 is the original number of the beast.
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What international sports event is traditionally accompanied by a truce called the “ekecheiria”?
Entertainment:
What boxer was nominated for a Grammy in 2001 for Best Latin Pop Album?
News:
Who ignored the Vatican’s celibacy vow by marrying Archbishop Emmanual Milingo to Maria Sung in a mass ceremony in New York?
Written Word:
What late, great naval novelist wrote 20 novels about Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin?
Life & Science: Who clicked the e-mail send button for the first time, to send Ecclesia in Oceania to followers around the world, in November 2001?
Games & Sports:
Who was the first NHL goalie to win over 200 regular-season games with two different teams?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What sleepy Spanish fishing village did Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe turn into a jet-set mecca? Marbella
Entertainment:
What was the first album in history to reach number one in 34 nations? Beatles 1
News:
What 32-year-old did AOL’s board briefly remove as CEO in 1992 because they thought investors might consider him too young? Steve Case
Written Word:
What East European nation’s hot sci-fi magazine of the 1980s was called Fantastyka? Poland
Life & Science: What percent of men taking anti-depressants experienced sexual dysfunction, in Dr. Anita Clayton’s 2001 study – 17, 37, or 57 percent? 37
Games & Sports:
What nation’s baseball hall of fame includes Zoilo Versalles, Minnie Minoso and Tony Oliva? Cuba
Monday, May 5, 2008
Word of the Week - 5-6-2008
Word of the Week
ACUITY
Pronunciation: \uh-kyu-uh-tee, a-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural acu·ities
Etymology: Middle English acuite acridity, from Middle French acuité, from Medieval Latin acuitat-, acuitas, from Latin acuere
Date: 1543
: keenness of perception : sharpness
Interesting Fact
Clarence Hailey Long, a ranch foreman in the Texas Panhandle, was the inspiration for the original Marlboro Man advertising campaign by Philip Morris
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What sleepy Spanish fishing village did Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe turn into a jet-set mecca?
Entertainment:
What was the first album in history to reach number one in 34 nations?
News:
What 32-year-old did AOL’s board briefly remove as CEO in 1992 because they thought investors might consider him too young?
Written Word:
What East European nation’s hot sci-fi magazine of the 1980s was called Fantastyka?
Life & Science: What percent of men taking anti-depressants experienced sexual dysfunction, in Dr. Anita Clayton’s 2001 study – 17, 37, or 57 percent?
Games & Sports:
What nation’s baseball hall of fame includes Zoilo Versalles, Minnie Minoso and Tony Oliva?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What Asian nation passed the U.S. in the 1990s as the world’s biggest consumer of gold jewelry? China
Entertainment:
Who got to ad-lib ad nauseam as the voice of the genie in Aladdin? Robin Williams
News:
What religeous leader was the only U.S. resident to appear on every Gallup Poll of Most Admired Men in the 1980s and 1990s? Billy Graham
Written Word:
Whose story Gertrude McFuzz did Robert Kapilow turn into a children’s musical work? Dr. Suess
Life & Science: What European automaker rolled out 60,000 of its A2 model in 1999, billing it as the world’s first volume production aluminum car? Audi
Games & Sports:
Who became the oldest man in major league history to blast an All-Star Game homer, in 2001? Cal Ripkin Jr.
ACUITY
Pronunciation: \uh-kyu-uh-tee, a-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural acu·ities
Etymology: Middle English acuite acridity, from Middle French acuité, from Medieval Latin acuitat-, acuitas, from Latin acuere
Date: 1543
: keenness of perception : sharpness
Interesting Fact
Clarence Hailey Long, a ranch foreman in the Texas Panhandle, was the inspiration for the original Marlboro Man advertising campaign by Philip Morris
Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What sleepy Spanish fishing village did Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe turn into a jet-set mecca?
Entertainment:
What was the first album in history to reach number one in 34 nations?
News:
What 32-year-old did AOL’s board briefly remove as CEO in 1992 because they thought investors might consider him too young?
Written Word:
What East European nation’s hot sci-fi magazine of the 1980s was called Fantastyka?
Life & Science: What percent of men taking anti-depressants experienced sexual dysfunction, in Dr. Anita Clayton’s 2001 study – 17, 37, or 57 percent?
Games & Sports:
What nation’s baseball hall of fame includes Zoilo Versalles, Minnie Minoso and Tony Oliva?
Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What Asian nation passed the U.S. in the 1990s as the world’s biggest consumer of gold jewelry? China
Entertainment:
Who got to ad-lib ad nauseam as the voice of the genie in Aladdin? Robin Williams
News:
What religeous leader was the only U.S. resident to appear on every Gallup Poll of Most Admired Men in the 1980s and 1990s? Billy Graham
Written Word:
Whose story Gertrude McFuzz did Robert Kapilow turn into a children’s musical work? Dr. Suess
Life & Science: What European automaker rolled out 60,000 of its A2 model in 1999, billing it as the world’s first volume production aluminum car? Audi
Games & Sports:
Who became the oldest man in major league history to blast an All-Star Game homer, in 2001? Cal Ripkin Jr.
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