Word of the Week - 11-24-2008

Word of the Week
HELLION
Pronunciation: \ˈhel-yuhn\
Function: noun
Etymology: probably alteration (influenced by hell) of hallion scamp
Date: 1787
: a troublesome or mischievous person


Interesting Fact
An ostrich does not bury its head in the sand.

Here are some ostrich facts:
It has the ability to run at speeds of about 74 km/h (46 mph), the top land speed of any bird and the fastest two legged animal. The ostrich is the largest living species of bird and lays the largest egg of any bird species. Lacking teeth, they swallow pebbles that help as gastroliths to grind the swallowed foodstuff in the gizzard. An adult ostrich typically carries about 1 kg of stones in its stomach. The life span of an ostrich is from 30 to 70 years, with 50 being typical. The ostrich feather is durable, soft and flexible, which accounts for the success of the ostrich feather duster over the last 100 years. Because the feather does not zipper together it is prone to developing a static charge which actually attracts and holds dust which can then be shaken out or washed off. Because of its similar makeup to human hair, care of the ostrich feather requires only an occasional shampoo and towel or air dry. The first ostrich feather duster company in the United States was formed in 1913 by Harry S. Beckner and his brother George Beckner in Athol, Massachusetts, and has survived till this day as the Beckner Feather Duster Company under the care of George Beckner's great granddaughter, Margret Fish Rempher.

Trivial Pursuit
Here are this week’s questions:
Global View (Geography):
What Florida locale attracts visitors with a life-sized model of the 363-foot-tall Saturn V?

Entertainment:
What disease killed off Mark Harmon’s character on St. Elsewhere?

News:
What Texan promised, if elected president: “I will cut the grass, I will take out the trash, I will sleep under a bridge”?

Written Word:
What nation was home to six of the world’s top ten best-selling newspapers, by 1998??

Life and Science:
What crippling disease, once targeted for eradication by 2000, did vaccine-maker Aventis donate 50 million doses to fight, in 2001?

Games and Sports:
What pro sports league crowned the Dusseldorf Rhein Fire as its “world” champion, in 2000?


Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What West Cost U.S. city attracts the faithful to pay homage to Eric Clapton’s guitar, Brownie? Seattle

Entertainment:
What Mystery! Sleuth finally revealed his first name to be Endeavour? Inspector Morse

News:
What Edvard Munch painting was stolen from Oslo’s National Art Museum in 1994, on the first day of the Lillehammer Olympics? The Scream

Written Word:
What Intel boss penned Swimming Across, about escaping the Iron Curtain for America? Andy Grove

Life and Science:
What European nation admitted to vaccinating children with the livestock vaccine Tribovax instead of it human equivalent Trivax? Ireland

Games and Sports:
What much-traveled sportscaster once earned a $25,000 signing bonus to regrow his moustache? Keith Olbermann