Word
of the Day
quinine
Definition: (noun) A bitter, colorless alkaloid powder, derived from
cinchona bark and used in medicine to treat malaria.
Synonyms: antimalarial, Peruvian bark
Usage: Since quinine is used in tonic water to give it a bitter taste,
gin and tonics were once consumed to prevent malaria.
This Day in History
The European Union Is Founded (1992)
The pacifist Victor Hugo proposed peaceful European unification as
early as 1851, but it was not until the devastation wrought by WWI
and WWII that steps were taken to unify the states of Europe. The
European Coal and Steel Company was established in 1951 and the European
Economic Community, the first full customs union, in 1957. The latter
was renamed the European Community and now serves as the "first
pillar" of the European Union (EU). How many member states does
the EU have? More...
Today's
Birthday
Sir Thomas More (1478)
More was an English lawyer, writer, and politician who earned a reputation
as a leading humanist scholar. He held many public offices, including
that of Lord Chancellor, during Henry VIII's reign. He is remembered
for his book, Utopia, which describes the perfect society, and for
his principled refusal to accept the King as the head of the Church
of England--a decision that ended his political career and led to
his execution for treason. More later became the patron saint for
statesmen, lawyers, and politicians. More...
Quotation
of the Day
Imagination grows by exercise and contrary to common belief is more
powerful in the mature than in the young.
W. Somerset Maugham
(1874-1965)