Friday, June 8, 2012
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Online Reference Dictionary, Encyclopedia & more | ||
Word:
| ||
Look in: | Dictionary & thesaurus
Medical Dictionary
Legal Dictionary
Financial Dictionary
Acronyms
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
Periodicals
Literature | |
by: |
half-staff discuss | |
Definition: | (noun) A position some distance below the top of a mast to which a flag is lowered in mourning or to signal distress. |
Synonyms: | half-mast |
Usage: | Out of respect for the fallen police officer, all government buildings flew their flags at half-staff for a week. |
![]() ![]() The Amboyna MassacreThe Amboyna massacre involved the torture and killing of 20 men—including 10 British East India Company employees—by agents of the Dutch East India Company in 1623. The companies were intense rivals who competed for dominance in the Maluku Islands spice trade. When the Dutch at the Amboyna trading post began to suspect the British of planning an attack, they tortured several men until they obtained confessions and then beheaded the accused for treason. What torture methods did the Dutch employ? More... Discuss |
KamoseThe final king in a succession of rulers with increasing power, Kamose was the last king of Egypt's seventeenth dynasty. During his brief reign in the middle of the 16th century BCE, Kamose sought to extend his rule beyond Upper Egypt and Middle Egypt into Lower Egypt, which was then controlled by the Hyksos. Kamose launched military campaigns against the Hyksos, the Kushites, and the Nubians, but died in the fifth year of his reign. What happened to Kamose's mummy? More... Discuss |
![]() Star Trek Premieres (1966)Though the original Star Trek series was cancelled in its third season, the groundbreaking show—in which William Shatner's memorable Captain Kirk leads the crew of the starship Enterprise—developed a cult following of "Trekkies." Over the next four decades, the influential science-fiction franchise spawned five more Star Trek series, more than 10 feature films, and myriad conventions. Its motto, "to boldly go where no man has gone before," may have been partially copied from what source? More... Discuss |
Original Apple Macintosh Computer Released (1984)Named after the McIntosh variety of apple, the original Macintosh computer was released by Apple Inc. in 1984. Using a graphical user interface and mouse instead of the then-standard command line interface, the "Mac" garnered an immediate, enthusiastic following. However, many software developers shied away from the challenge of rewriting command-driven programs, and there was little software initially available for the new system. How did Apple officially announce the Mac's launch? More... Discuss |
![]() ![]() Alfred Jarry (1873)Jarry was a French writer. After exhausting the inheritance that had allowed him to move to Paris at 18, he led a life of calculated buffoonery. His 1896 farce, Ubu Roi, is considered a forerunner of theatre of the absurd and of Surrealism. It featured the grotesque Père Ubu, a repulsive and cowardly hero based on one of his former teachers. The brilliant imagery and wit of his works usually lapse into unintelligible symbolism. A heavy drinker, he died at 34. What was his last request? More... Discuss |
Frederick II of Prussia (1712)Frederick the Great was the Hohenzollern King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786 and is regarded as one of the "enlightened despots" of 18th-century Europe. He built his government as a model of efficiency and developed his state into a modern bureaucracy. Frederick was also an excellent military commander and tactician under whose leadership Prussia became a recognized power in Europe. He was well educated and maintained a turbulent friendship with what controversial philosopher and author? More... Discuss |
Reducing Salt Could Save LivesExcessive salt intake is linked to high blood pressure, which can damage arteries and lead to heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. According to researchers, reducing people's salt intake by just 3 grams-or half a teaspoon-a day could prevent as many as 66,000 strokes, 99,000 heart attacks, and 92,000 deaths in the US each year. Furthermore, this salt reduction could save some $24 billion in health costs per year. Policies that would pressure companies to reduce the amount of salt in their processed foods are believed to be vital to reducing consumption, since much of the salt people consume each day is found in these products. More ... Discuss |
![]() ![]() John Milton (1608-1674) Discuss |
No comments:
Post a Comment