Archive for June, 2009
Yemen Facts
A tragic plane crash in the Indian Ocean was recently reported, with 153 passengers on board a plane that departed from Yemen. Amazingly, a 5-year-old child was found alive among the wreckage. Before you start spreading the word about the story, you should know a few things about Yemen. Located directly south of Saudi Arabia, [...]
“See For Yourself” about Autopsies
With Michael Jackson’s surprising death and now the shocking news about the death of TV-pitchman Billy Mays (the guy with the loud voice, a penchant for cleaning products, and the blackest beard and hair you’ll ever see), autopsies are being performed to determine the causes of death. For the general public, an autopsy (loosely translated [...]
Manatees – Like a Swimming Elephant
What weighs over a ton, is the closest living relative to an elephant, and may be as smart as dolphins? The much lesser known manatee. Mostly found in Florida or other warm water habitats such as the Antilles, manatees can live for up to 60 years in the wild, and, surprisingly, they continue to grow [...]
Don’t Be “Shia” About Saying His Name
The new Transformers movie is out (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) starring up-and-comer Shia LeBeouf. With prominent roles in some big blockbuster movies over the past few years and an early career as a Disney actor, you have undoubtedly seen him many times. What you might not know is how to pronounce his name correctly. [...]
What is Happening With the British House of Commons?
“There’s something rotten in the [House of Parliament]. . .” – William Shakespeare: Hamlet Act I, Scene 4. There currently is a scandal going down in the British House of Commons. It was discovered that Members of Parliament (“MPs”) had been misusing public funds (appropriated to them for living expenses in their “second homes” they [...]
Who is Perez Hilton?
Perez Hilton is this guy whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira. Strange, isn’t it, because what I am remembering from high school Spanish class is that this last name sounds suspiciously like the Spanish word for laundromat — “lavandaria”? So, does he work in the laundry field? No, he just dishes news: gossip, more [...]
FIFA Confederations Cup
In the United States, soccer is rarely headline news unless the subject is the outfit David Beckham’s wife was last seen in. Wednesday, however, the U.S. made history by beating top ranked Spain in a semifinal game of the FIFA Confederations Cup. You can read all about how large the upset was here, but first [...]
Argentina and Appalachian Trail Significantly Different Destinations
You may have heard that South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford went “missing” on Thursday. Rest assured, he is safe, and we now know his whereabouts. So what happened to the Governor? The facts are these: The Governor left the governor’s mansion on Thursday in a black SUV. Apparently he skillfully evaded the watchful eyes of [...]
