In the Know #22

January 26, 2008


Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

caterwaul \KAT-uhr-wawl\, intransitive verb:
1. To make a harsh cry.
2. To have a noisy argument.

noun:
1. A shrill, discordant sound.


In the news:

- President Bush and Congress agree on an economic stimulus package.

- A car bomb blast in a Christian suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut has killed at least six people, including a top security official.


Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1564 - The Council of Trent issues its conclusions in the Tridentinum, which established the distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.

1837 - Michigan is admitted as the 26th U.S. state.

1905 - The Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered at 3106.75 carats, is found near Pretoria, South Africa.

1988 - Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera (pictured) debuts at Broadway's Majestic Theatre.

1998 - U.S. President Bill Clinton announces on American television that he had no "sexual relations" with intern Monica Lewinsky.

2005 - Condoleezza Rice is sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State, becoming the first African-American woman to hold the post.


Today's Famous Births:

1880 - Douglas MacArthur (pictured), American general and Medal of Honor recipient

1904 - Seán MacBride, Irish statesman, founding member of Amnesty International and Nobel Peace Prize winner

1925 - Paul Newman, American actor and race car driver, Cool Hand Luke

1935 - Bob Uecker, American baseball player and broadcaster

1946 - Gene Siskel, American film critic

1955 - Eddie Van Halen, Dutch musician, Van Halen

1958 - Ellen DeGeneres, American actress and comedian, Finding Nemo and "The Ellen Show"

1961 - Wayne Gretzky (pictured), Canadian hockey player, "The Great One", 18 All Star game appearances

1970 - Kirk Franklin, American singer

1977 - Vince Carter, American basketball player, 8-time All Star


Trivia
Today's Category - per request, Venus...the planet, not the statue or the tennis player

~ Venus is the second planet from the sun.

~ Earth's circumference is 1.05 times bigger than Venus' and Earth is 1.23 times as massive.

~ It's similarities to Earth give Venus the nickname "Our sister planet".

~ A year on Venus lasts 224.7 earth days.

~ A day on Venus lasts 116.75 earth days (the sidereal day - the time it takes to complete one full rotation - on Venus is 243 days, which is longer than its year!).

~ The mean temperature on Venus' surface is 735K (863.3F).

~ The atmosphere of Venus is comprised of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

~ The apparent magnitude of Venus can be as bright as -4.6, gaining the titles "The Evening Star" and "The Morning Star"


I always wondered...
...how golf balls works...

The earliest golf balls were smooth and made of wood. Early in the 17th century, the 'featherie' ball was introduced and was constructed of tightly compacted goose down inside a cowhide casing. Later, tree sap was heated and formed into a ball, which flew truer because of imperfections in the ball. This led golf ball makers toward the distinctive dimples we know today. The 20th century contributed core technology, introducing a solid inside the ball allowing designers to fine tune the length, spin and feel of golf ball characteristics. Today, golf balls have titanium or other metal cores and may be composed of up to four layers.

The diameter of a golf ball cannot be smaller than 1.68 inches. 250 feet per second is the maximum velocity for the ball. Maximum weight of the ball cannot exceed 1.62 ounces. Most golf balls have between 300-450 dimples.

The millisecond-long impact of club and ball determines velocity, launch angle and spin rate. In its flight, the ball will experience drag and lift. The dimples on the ball work in two ways which affect these aerodynamic forces: (1) as the ball moves through the air, the dimples reduce drag by reducing turbulence (pictured), and (2) backspin induced by the angle of the club creates lift which is magnified by the dimples.

["How golf balls work.." turbulence picture reference]
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]