FrontPage Archive - September 2008
Created | Updated Oct 5, 2008
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1 September 2008
The Second Amendment to the US Constitution - 26 words have dictated the regulation of firearms in the US for over 200 years.Horologium, 'the Pendulum Clock' - There are no Messier objects in this southern constellation, but there is a globular star cluster.
® The Art of the Martini - An attempt at explaining the secrets and mysteries of a drink that is often mixed but rarely perfected.
QOTD: There's adders, and hornets...and stinging nettles! Who says there's nothing dangerous in the UK?
2 September 2008
Tips for Backpackers: Planning and Packing - How to prepare the groundwork for a relatively pain-free expedition.Carina, 'the Keel' - This southern hemisphere constellation boasts the second brightest star viewable from Earth (excluding the Sun).
® Organic Coffee - It's a consumer-conscious alternative to 'conventional' coffee, but how do you know when you're really buying 'green beans'?
QOTD: You're forgetting the left-handed and right-handed haggis of the highlands, differentiated by the left or right feet being longer than the other.
3 September 2008
Angels And Their Classification - The celestial beings envisioned by religious prophets differ markedly from those portrayed in films.Musca, 'the Fly' - The main stars of this small southern constellation have an arm of the Milky Way as a backdrop.
® Kate Bush - This singer-songwriter managed to appeal to the broader-minded members of both the warring tribes in late 1970s British rock.
QOTD: Surely it's everywhere? Just drill to a depth of 65 million years ...
4 September 2008
How to Use a Speed Peeler - Be careful, as the blades on this are very sharp and will peel human skin just as fast as vegetables.Dorado - the Dorado fish - This constellation is not visible from Europe or the Middle East due to its southerly location.
® Diana Wynne Jones: Author - A British writer of fantasy novels and short stories that appeal to both children and adults.
QOTD: They're trained attack moustaches …
5 September 2008
Noses - Drying the Sniffles - Some of us seem to suffer on a regular basis with a runny nose or fits of sneezing. It's not nice.Serpens, 'the Serpent' - This is the only constellation to occupy two separate portions of the sky.
® Helene Hanff: Author - She became a celebrated author thanks to letters she wrote to a bookshop at 84 Charing Cross Road.
QOTD: My paternal family tree consists of a long line of coal miners and village idiots,whilst my half-sisters paternal line can be traced all the way back to Sir Isaac Newton.
8 September 2008
Devilled Eggs - These highly-spiced appetisers are cut in half lengthwise, and the yolk area replaced with a pâté filling.Sagitta, 'the Arrow' - This northern star grouping was featured in Ptolemy's Almagest and so is classed as 'ancient'.
® Columbo: Television Detective - Played by Peter Falk, he is a brilliant yet dishevelled icon of the small screen.
QOTD: Maybe I should change my sign to read "I don;t mind being dug up by archaeologists" or something to prevent future ethical debates.
9 September 2008
The German Apple Front - Die Front Deutscher Apfel are anti-right-wing and 'foreign' (non-German) apples give them the pip.The Gay Bomb Proposal - Astonishing account of a US Military proposal to 'ingeniously' incite homosexual behaviour in the enemy.
® The East End of London, UK - A vibrant place long imbued with a 'mythical spirit of togetherness' after the ravages of World War II.
QOTD: If you say "John has a lovely bunch of coconuts" … "John" is the subject and "has a lovely bunch of coconuts" is the rest.
10 September 2008
Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, Lincolnshire - This tourist attraction is enjoyed by around 150,000 passengers every year.Telescopium, 'the Telescope' - The main feature of this constellation is the 'L' shape formed by the stars epsilon, alpha and zeta Telescopii.
® Being a Blood Donor in the UK - Though the idea of donating scares some people, it really doesn't hurt that much.
QOTD: In short, Gordon the Gopher was a legend. It's a mystery how his sidekick Philip Schofield is still going.
11 September 2008
The Headington Shark - An ordinary Oxfordshire semi-detached house, except for a whacking great big shark sticking out of its roof.Quick Cinnamon Nut Buns - Easy to make and tasty for breakfast, these little buns may have a positive effect on your life.
® The Standard Model of Particle Physics - The best theory currently available to answer the question 'What is the world made of?'
QOTD: So, the world failed to come to an end this morning. Still, I had a nice dinner. Smoked eel salad and roasted monkfish with chorizo, since you asked...foloowed by a good selection of French & English cheeses.
12 September 2008
Brown Sauce - It's an important ingredient in the Great British Breakfast. Why not try to make your own?Tips for Backpackers: Avoiding Pitfalls - You'll get lost. Repeatedly. Here's how best to cope with any setbacks.
® Chibuku: 'Shake Shake' - An intoxicating African beverage made by adding yeast to a thin grey-pink, gruel-like maize porridge.
QOTD: how cool would it be to be sucked into a black hole though???
15 September 2008
The Columbia Shuttle Disaster - Excellent account of the tragedy and subsequent investigation which halted the shuttle programme.Gregory Lemarchal - Hugely talented and inspiring French rock 'n' roll singer and dancer who also suffered from cystic fibrosis.
® Hives - Hives is the more commonly-known word for urticaria and is an allergic skin rash which is sometimes known as 'nettle rash'.
QOTD: Voice wreck ignition soft where … Can it ever suck seed?
16 September 2008
English Chartered Markets: The South Midlands, East Anglia and Wales - Many historic market towns were established by Royal Charter.Ellis Peters, Author - This Shropshire author's most famous creation is Brother Cadfael, the mystery-solving monk.
® Wartime Use of Conkers - During the First World War, the government regarded the collection of conkers as 'invaluable war work.'
QOTD: Nothing much to add, sorry - but I just wanted to be the first to get to say 'nictitating membrane'.
17 September 2008
Winnie the Pooh - Hugely enjoyable Entry that explores the source and inspiration for AA Milne's endurable classic literary creation.James Madison: Fourth President of the United States - A great thinker, Madison did not always show good judgment in office.
® Baking Soda - It is not widely known that one of the most wonderful culinary products in the world is baking soda.
QOTD: Hmmm one should always strive to be ept, and full of gorm.
18 September 2008
How To Find A New Flat In A Hurry - Sometimes you don't get much notice when you need to move home. This Entry is here to help you.Indus - This constellation was named after the four tribes of people who originally lived in the Americas.
® Columbus, Ohio - This US city, known as 'cow town' by residents, was named after Christopher Columbus and founded in 1797.
QOTD: Seems a little odd since the Earth and all the characters were destroyed in every possible reality. How do you follow that up?
19 September 2008
Tips for Backpackers - More well great advice from a seasoned traveller; you'll be digging your rucksack out before you know it.Corona Australis 'the Southern Crown' - Laurel crowns were a sign of victory, and this curved line of stars forms a similar shape.
® A Guide to Icelandic Pronunciation - Icelandic has a simple phonetic pronunciation system, so it's actually quite easy to pronounce.
QOTD: Who am I kidding? I hang around in front of the computer so much the salt and pepper shakers now live on my desk rather than the kitchen table.
22 September 2008
Colin Jackson CBE - This former hurdler has remained in the media spotlight as a television presenter.'Shark Summer': New Jersey, 1916 - 100 years ago the prevailing wisdom was that sharks never preyed in shallow water.
® Wicca - This is a 'do-it-yourself' religion: Wiccans have no clergy who claim to speak for the Gods.
QOTD: Armageddon outta here!!!
23 September 2008
William Hall VC - A salutary tale of loyalty and bravery concerning a man described herein as a 'hero from a different time'.Crater 'the Cup' - Romans referred to the cup constellation as Gratus Iaccho Crater, in honour of their god of wine, Bacchus.
® How New Orleans Became the Birthplace of Jazz - Just what is it about New Orleans that makes it the undisputed birthplace of jazz?
QOTD: incidentally, I'm getting tired of Le Monde calling the Hadron Collider 'La machine à expliquer l'univers' … in their headlines
24 September 2008
Tucana, 'the Toucan' - Explorers Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman identified this constellation.Somewhere in Time: The Soundtrack - John Barry based his score on Rachmaninov's Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini.
® Building a Debris Shelter in the Style of a Squirrel - Squirrel homes are cosy, snug, well-insulated and rain-resistant.
QOTD: I did once tell my children that a gasometer beside the M8 in Glasgow was Disneyland.
25 September 2008
Sextans 'the Sextant' - Johannes Hevelius delineated Sextans Uranise to honour his sextant which he used to measure the position of stars.Tensegrity: And How To Use It To Make A Thing That Goes 'Boink' - Compression, tension and convergent and divergent forces explained.
® The Lascaux Grotto - Located in France's Massif Central mountain range, these are home to some of the world's best Stone Age cave art.
QOTD: You need to be listening to some Bach, young man, to move your soul
26 September 2008
Paul Newman, Actor and Charity Entrepreneur - He starred in over 50 films in a career which spanned five decades.Professor Bernice Summerfield - The Science Fiction Series - 'Benny' is a fictional archaeologist born in the 26th Century.
® Evolutionary Advantages of Faith - Neurobiologists think they have identified the brain regions responsible for spiritual experiences.
QOTD: I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous
29 September 2008
Understanding Literary Plots - It has often been claimed that there are only seven basic plots from which all literary works are derived.Pyxis, 'the Mariner's Compass' - This constellation lies completely within the Southern Hemisphere of the celestial globe.
® The Broadmoor Siren - Every Monday morning at ten o'clock an air-raid siren disturbs the peace over a large area of leafy Berkshire.
QOTD: And God said "Let there be light" … And there was still nothing - but you could see it.
30 September 2008
The North West 200 - Motorbike road race held on the northern coast of Ireland, one of the prettiest race courses in the world.The Metal Gear Solid Philanthropy Movie Project - Fascinating story about a non-profit spin-off film produced by amateurs.
® Sherlock Holmes - Known the world over as the greatest living detective, he's one of literature's most popular characters.
QOTD: mens fasion lost a lot when we stopped wearing hats, and has lost even more since we started wearing baseball caps
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