SPOTLIGHT February 16 Answer of the Day Is there a common emergency telephone number that can be used worldwide? Most countries have a three-digit emergency phone number: 101 (in Argentina, Belarus, Belgium, India, and Israel), 112 (in most European countries and all GSM mobile phones), 911 (in the US) and 999 (in countries including the UK, Poland, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Macao, Bahrain and Qatar) are a few of the numbers that are frequently used as emergency numbers. There is no one universal number. However, most cell phones are set up with a built-in list of emergency phone numbers, so that if a caller dials the number familiar to him, it will automatically be forwarded to the local emergency phone service. London had the first emergency phone number, 999, set up in 1937; the dialing of the number prompted a buzzer to sound and a red light to flash in the exchange. In the US, Alabamas speaker of the house made the first 911 call on this date in 1968, in Haleyville. Quote Operator! Give me the number for 911. — Homer Simpson Word of the day Star Chamber (star CHAYM-buhr) noun: A court or group marked by arbitrary, oppressive, and secretive procedures. Etymology After the Star Chamber in the Palace of Westminster in London. It was the site of a closed-door court appointed by King Henry VII of England in the 15th century. Notorious for its abuse of power -- rulings made in secret, no appeal -- it was abolished by the Long Parliament in 1641. The chamber was so named because its ceiling was decorated with stars. Usage This is the most incredible Star Chamber proceeding, the most incredible lack of due process Ive ever heard of, Mitchelson said. Im the alleged perpetrator, and I was not even invited. — Edward J. Boyer; Mitchelson Angry, Vows to Block Aid for Two Women; The Los Angeles Times; Jan 25, 1989. Weekly theme Words with London connections (© Wordsmith.org) Previous words: billingsgate, nonesuch, maquillage Todays History From Tutankhamens Tomb From Tutankhamens Tomb Tutankhamens tomb: Egyptian kings burial chamber was opened, mesmerizing the world with the wealth inside; among the treasures found were a gold throne, a gold sarcophagus and the kings mummified body (1923) nylon: the high-strength synthetic polymer was patented by industrial chemist Wallace Hume Carothers (1937) Fidel Castro: became leader of Cuba after ousting Fulgencio Batista; he stepped down in 2008 due to ill health, and his brother Raúl took office (1959) Todays Birthdays Edgar Bergen (1903-1978): ventriliquist who gave voice to Charlie McCarthy Sonny Bono (1935-1998): singer, mayor, congressman Richard Ford (66): novelist, The Sportswriter; writers Nikolay Semyonovich Leskov (1831-1895) and Henry Adams (1838-1918) shared this birth date Ice-T (52): gangsta rapper/actor, O.G. Original Gangster, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit; also, actors Jeremy Bulloch and Pete Postlethwaite (both 64), William Katt (59), LeVar Burton (53) and Lisa Loring (52) John McEnroe (51): tennis superstar Valentino Rossi (31): Italian-born world champ of motorcycle racing Read more: answers/topic/tuesday-february-16-2010-from-today-s-highlights-archive#ixzz2tUPRAgSm
Posted on: Sun, 16 Feb 2014 12:59:49 +0000
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