The Odds of Drawing a Bingo Out of the Bag to Start a Game of Scrabble are 12.63%

That means you have a 1 in 8 chance of playing a double word scoring bingo when you get the first turn!

*Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis

U.S. Schools Account For 54% Of Total Flavored Milk Sales

8 oz of flavored milk has 7 teaspoons of sugar.  

8 oz. of soda has 8 teaspoons of sugar.  

NATURAL WHITE MILK HAS ONLY 3 TEASPOONS OF SUGAR PER 8 OZ!
http://www.jamieoliver.com/jfr-beta/toolkit/tool_kit-milk.pdf

Teddy Roosevelt Was Applauded For 50 Minutes At The Republican Convention Which Nominated Taft

Some wanted the outgoing president to run for a 3rd term, but he had promised not to.  Taft was applauded for only 25 minutes.

The Democrats made sure to give William Jennings Bryan as much applause as Roosevelt got at their convention.

Pensacola Is The Home Of The Blue Angels

http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/

*Learned while listening to Piper Reed Navy Brat on CD with the girls.
http://www.kimberlywillisholt.com/piperreed.html

Bill Gates Is The Only Private Person To Own One Of Leonardo da Vinci's Notebooks

The Codex Leicester was purchased in 1995 for 30 million dollars.  Its contents detail Leonardo's ideas about water and its movement, including an illustration of what looks like a toilet.

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/codex/


*From Leonardo da Vinci by Kathleen Krull

Leonardo da Vinci Was Arrested & Tried For Homosexuality

In1476 Florence (when Leonardo was 24) an anonymous accusation was all it took to be investigated for this "crime".  After over 2 months of trials, the charges against Leonardo were dropped.

Over 70 years the department which exclusively investigated these types of charges investigated 17,000 men.  Only 3,000 were convicted.

http://www.bnl.gov/bera/activities/globe/leonardo_da_vinci.htm

*Learned while reading Leonardo da Vinci by Kathleen Krull

Andrew Jackson Was The First American President On Whom An Assassination Attempt Was Made

Though his attacker had two pistols, both misfired and Jackson was unharmed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_presidential_assassination_attempts_and_plots

*Learned while watching Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency on PBS.

How to Pronounce Ague

http://mw4.m-w.com/cgi-bin/audio.pl?ague0001=ague

I have always pronounced it "awg". :(

*Learned from Little House on the Prairie on CD

How Everyday Behaviors Can Produce Clean Energy

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/146/supertiny-power-plants.html

Fascinating!

We Can Heal What We Have Destroyed

From TED

Talk & Photography by Brian Skerry

This 16 minute talk by underwater photographer Brian Skerry doesn't really present new information.  It does present a visually graphic reminder of the problems man has caused in the oceans of the world.  I like that he ends on a hopeful note.  We can change the way we use our natural resources.

Ralph Macchio Still Looks Great

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Macchio

He's also pretty funny!
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c8ad4aa802/wax-on-f-ck-off-with-ralph-macchio

Stay cool, Pony Boy!

Sempstress Is A Synonym of Seamstress

The Sempstress by Richard Redgrave

Definitions of sempstress on the Web:

• dressmaker: someone who makes or mends dresses
  wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
• A seamstress, a woman employed to sew
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sempstress

*I don't remember where I read this!

Teddy Roosevelt's Mother & Wife Died On the Same Day

His mother died of typhoid while his first wife, Alice, died of Bright's Disease and childbirth complications.  It was Valentine's Day 1884.

*More from the enjoyable & very well written book I am reading.

Anderson Cooper is Gloria Vanderbilt's Son

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Vanderbilt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson_Cooper

*My mom told me he was the son of  "someone famous"  a long time ago.  I finally got around to looking it up!

An Ounce of Gold Can Be Stretched Into a Strand 35 Miles Long

Learn more about gold!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold

*From a program on the History Channel.

Eleanor and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Were Related Before Marriage

http://www.nps.gov/archive/elro/who-is-er/q-and-a/q6.htm

*Learned while studying the family tree of Alice Roosevelt in Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker

Coco Chanel Popularized Sun Tans in the 1920's

Prior to that sun tans had gone in and out of fashion, but were generally considered low class.  Only those who labored out of doors were tan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_tanning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coco_Chanel

*Learned from Dr. Dean Edell

Japan's High Speed Rail System Is 45 Years Old

Over the past 45 years, the average delay is less than one minute - and that includes stoppages because of floods, earthquakes, accidents and natural disasters. Rail officials also note their safety record: There's never been a passenger fatality on the Shinkansen.


*From an SFGate.com story. http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-05-09/news/20890794_1_chronicle-rail-exclusive 

Alice Roosevelt Was A Fascinating Character

Teddy Roosevelt's oldest child was also homeschooled.













*I read this book http://www.readkiddoread.com/uploads/books/256_0.jpg
with the girls yesterday.  It was fun, fact-filled and captivating.  I think I'll try a grown up version next!

William Shatner is 79!

Wow,  he looks good!

*Learned while accidentally watching the beginning of Boston Legal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shatner

Corythosaurus Could Make Sounds Through The Chambers In Its Crest

Scientists believe vocalization would travel through these elaborate chambers, and probably get amplified.


*Learned while watching Dinosaur Train with the girls this morning.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corythosaurus

Two Things About the Wampanoags

First, a story...

According to legend, the giant Maushop created the colorful cliffs of Gay Head, Massachusetts.  He was living there when the Wampanoags first settled in the area.

Maushop made friends with the Wampanoags and showed them how to live in peace and harmony.  He protected them until the Europeans came.  Then he disappeared.  He left smoke from his pipe (the coastal fog) as a reminder of the happy time when he lived among them.

Second, a tradition...

Some Wampanoag families set out extra plates at dinner time, just in case unexpected guests come along.

*Both tidbits from this beautiful and rich culture learned from A True Book - The Wampanoags by Alice K. Flanagan.

http://www.american-native-art.com/publication/wampanoag/wampanoag.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wampanoag

A Dishtowel Makes A Fine Diaper In A Pinch

http://eroticvulture.blogspot.com/2010/04/momgyver.html

I Have Really Missed Hanging Laundry Out To Dry

Monday was the first good day in a long time to hang laundry outside.  I've been doing it inside, but it's just not the same.

http://eroticvulture.blogspot.com/2008/07/laundry.html

Suguaro Cactus Are Only Found In The Sonoran Desert

http://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/oz/long-fact-sheets/Saguaro%20Cactus.php

*Learned while watching The Geography of Mexico with Lydia and Rowan.

Earthworms Migrate

They migrate vertically from near the surface to deep in the soil.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/coloring/migrate.shtml

*Learned while discussing animal migration with Lydia.

Losing Your Purse REALLY Stinks

I think I left my purse in a Target cart on Friday.  Didn't notice it was gone until today.  I am so mad/sad/frustrated!  Grrr...

You Can Blog From A Wii!

Syllabub Is A Traditional English Dessert

It is usually made from rich milk or cream seasoned with sugar and lightly curdled with wine.
://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllabub
http://www.historicfood.com/Syllabub%20Recipes.htm

*A word from The King's Taster by Kenneth Oppel.
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2009/06/17/globe-trotting-gastronomy-the-kings-taster/

Plymouth Was A Colony From 1620 - 1691

In 1691, Plymouth Colony was annexed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Colony

*Learned while helping Lydia complete her Life in Plymouth Colony project.

I ♥ Evelyn Waugh

I just finished my second book by Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited.  It was so very good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Waugh

How To Thread A Sewing Machine

All by myself!  I finally did it!  :) Without the manual even!

*Learned with lots & lots of frustrating practice.
http://gotoes.org/sales/Singer_SewingMachineManuals/index.pl

Those Yellow Bumps On Sidewalks Are Called Truncated Domes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truncated_domes

*Related by my mom who learned the name at a planning board meeting.

Add Salt To Water After It Boils To Prevent Pitting On Stainless Steel

 http://www.bdmarketing.com/cleaning.htm

*From the insert in my new set of Ikea stainless steel pots.

Mother Owls Do Not Regurgitate Food For Their Owlets

Instead they tear strips from the carcass a feed it to the baby.

http://mollysbox.wordpress.com/baby-owls-faqs/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_Owl

*Learned while watching Molly the Barn Owl.
http://eroticvulture.blogspot.com/2010/03/molly-barn-owl.html

Prometheus Had A Brother Named Epimetheus

Epimetheus was married to Pandora

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epimetheus_(mythology)

*Learned while watching Greek Mythology for Students - Defying the Gods.

Wikiversity Is a Place for Free Learning Resources

http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Main_Page

*Found while browsing Wikipedia

Great White Sharks Have Never Been Observed While Mating or Giving Birth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_white_shark

*From something I watched on PBS.  Nova maybe?

Calvin Coolidge Was President in 1928

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Coolidge

He was president from 1923 - 1929.

*Learned while watching Changeling.

Sheep Have Only Two Teats

http://classes.ansci.illinois.edu/ansc438/mamstructure/comparanat_4.html

This can cause problems if the ewe has more than 2 babies!

*Learned in conversation with Loana.