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Faraaz Damji | 1 Jul 2007 02:39
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July 1: Islam

   Islam is a monotheistic religion originating with the teachings of
   Muhammad, a 7th-century Arab religious and political figure.  The word
   Islam means "submission," or the total surrender of one's self to God.
   Islam's adherents are known as Muslims, meaning "one who submits (to
   God)".  There are between 0.9 and 1.3 billion Muslims, making Islam the
   second-largest religion in the world, after Christianity.  Muslims
   believe that God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad, God's final prophet,
   and regard the Qur'an and the Sunnah (the words and deeds of Muhammad)
   as the fundamental sources of Islam.  They do not regard Muhammad as
   the founder of a new religion, but as the restorer of the original
   monotheistic faith of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets.
   Islamic tradition holds that Judaism and Christianity distorted the
   messages of these prophets over time either in interpretation, in
   text, or both.  Adherents are generally required to observe the Five
   Pillars of Islam, five duties that unite Muslims into a community.  In
   addition to the Five Pillars, Islamic law (Sharia) has developed a
   tradition of rulings that touch on virtually all aspects of life and
   society.  Almost all Muslims belong to one of two major denominations,
   the Sunni and Shi'a.  The schism developed in the late 7th century
   following disagreements over the religious and political leadership of
   the Muslim community.  Roughly 85 percent of Muslims are Sunni and 15
   percent are Shi'a.

Read the rest of this article:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1520:
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Faraaz Damji | 5 Jul 2007 05:38
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July 5: Battle of Savo Island

   The Battle of Savo Island took place August 8–August 9, 1942, and was
   a naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II, between the
   Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval forces.  The battle was the
   first of five major naval engagements of the Guadalcanal campaign.  In
   the battle, a Japanese warship task force surprised and routed the
   Allied naval force, sinking one Australian and three American
   cruisers, while taking only moderate damage in return.  The Japanese
   force consisted of seven cruisers and one destroyer, commanded by Vice
   Admiral Gunichi Mikawa.  In response to Allied amphibious landings in
   the eastern Solomon Islands, Mikawa brought his task force down "the
   Slot" to attack the Allied amphibious fleet and its screening force.
   The screening force consisted of eight cruisers and fifteen
   destroyers, commanded by British Rear Admiral Victor Crutchley, but
   only five cruisers and seven destroyers were actually involved in the
   battle.  As a result of the defeat, the remaining Allied warships and
   the amphibious force withdrew from the Solomon Islands.  This
   temporarily conceded control of the seas around Guadalcanal to the
   Japanese.  Allied ground forces had landed on Guadalcanal and nearby
   islands only the day before.  The withdrawal of the fleet left them in
   a precarious situation, with barely enough supplies, equipment, and
   food to hold their beachhead.

Read the rest of this article:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Savo_Island

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1687:
   Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica by Isaac Newton
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Faraaz Damji | 2 Jul 2007 07:47
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July 2: Search engine optimization

   Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the
   volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via
   "natural" search results.  Usually, the earlier a site is presented in
   the search results, or the higher it "ranks," the more searchers will
   visit that site.  SEO can also target different kinds of search,
   including image search, local search, and industry-specific vertical
   search engines.  As a marketing strategy for increasing a site's
   relevancy, SEO considers how search algorithms work and what people
   search for.  SEO efforts may involve a site's coding, presentation, and
   structure, as well as fixing problems that could prevent search engine
   indexing programs from fully spidering a site.  Other, more noticeable
   efforts may include adding unique content to a site, and making sure
   that the content is easily indexed by search engines and also appeals
   to human visitors.  The acronym "SEO" can also refer to "search engine
   optimizers," a term adopted by an industry of consultants who carry
   out optimization projects on behalf of clients, and by employees who
   perform SEO services in-house.

Read the rest of this article:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_optimization

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1644:
   The Battle of Marston Moor, one of the decisive encounters of the
   English Civil War, was fought near York.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Marston_Moor)

1839:
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Faraaz Damji | 7 Jul 2007 02:01
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July 6: 2012 Summer Olympics bids

   The 2012 Summer Olympics bids comprised bids by nine cities to host
   the 2012 Summer Olympics.  The International Olympic Committee
   shortlisted five of them — London, Madrid, Moscow, New York City, and
   Paris — and London eventually prevailed, becoming the first city to
   host the Olympic Games three times.  The bidding process for the 2012
   Olympics was considered one of the most hotly contested in the history
   of the IOC.  Paris was seen as the front-runner for most of the
   campaign, but last-minute lobbying by London's supporters was one
   factor that led to the success of its bid.  Madrid was regarded as one
   of the favourites, but the city did not receive enough votes to
   surpass Paris and London.  After a technical evaluation of the nine
   original bids, the top five were shortlisted on May 18, 2004, becoming
   official candidates.  The remaining applicant cities — Havana,
   Istanbul, Leipzig and Rio de Janeiro — were eliminated.  On July 6,
   2005, in a four-round voting of the IOC (gathered at the 117th IOC
   Session in Singapore), Moscow, New York City, and Madrid were
   eliminated in the first three rounds.  By a margin of four votes over
   Paris, London won the final round and secured the right to host the
   2012 Olympics.

Read the rest of this article:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Summer_Olympics_bids

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1415:
   Jan Hus, founder of the Christian Hussite reform movement, was burned
   at the stake for committing heresy.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Hus)
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Faraaz Damji | 9 Jul 2007 02:01
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July 8: Ion Heliade Rădulescu

   Ion Heliade Rădulescu was a Wallachian-born Romanian academic,
   Romantic and Classicist poet, essayist, memoirist, short story writer,
   newspaper editor and politician, as well as prolific translator of
   foreign literature into Romanian and the author of books on
   linguistics and history.  For much of his life, he was a teacher at the
   Saint Sava College in Bucharest, which he helped reopen.  He was a
   founding member of the Romanian Academy, and the first President
   thereof.  Heliade Rădulescu is considered one of the foremost
   representatives of Romanian culture from the first half of the 19th
   century, having first become noted for his association with Gheorghe
   Lazăr and the latter's support for discontinuing education in Greek.
   Over the following decades, he had a major contribution in shaping the
   modern Romanian language, but raised controversy when he came to
   advocate the massive introduction of Italian neologisms to the
   Romanian lexis.  A Romantic nationalist landowner siding with moderate
   liberals, he was among the leaders of the 1848 Wallachian revolution,
   after which he was forced to spend several years in exile.  Adopting an
   original form of conservatism, which emphasized the role of boyars in
   Romanian history, Heliade Rădulescu was rewarded for supporting the
   Ottoman Empire, and came to clash with the radical wing of the 1848
   generation.

Read the rest of this article:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_Heliade_R%C4%83dulescu

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1357:
   The foundation stone of Charles Bridge in Prague was laid by Holy
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Faraaz Damji | 12 Jul 2007 06:24
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July 11: Daylight saving time

   Daylight saving time is the convention of advancing clocks so that
   afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less.  Typically clocks
   are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and are
   adjusted backward in autumn; the ancients lengthened summer hours
   instead.  Presaged by a 1784 satire, modern DST was first proposed in
   1907 by William Willett, and 1916 saw its first widespread use as a
   wartime measure aimed at conserving coal.  Despite controversy, many
   countries have used it since then; details vary by location and change
   occasionally.  Adding daylight to afternoons benefits retailing,
   sports, and other activities that exploit sunlight after working
   hours, but causes problems for farmers and other workers whose hours
   depend on the sun.  Extra afternoon daylight cuts traffic fatalities;
   its effect on health and crime is less clear.  DST is said to save
   electricity by reducing the need for artificial evening lighting, but
   the evidence for this is weak and DST can boomerang by boosting peak
   demand, increasing overall electricity costs.  DST's clock shifts
   complicate timekeeping and can disrupt meetings, travel, billing,
   medical devices, and heavy equipment.

Read the rest of this article:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1302:
   Flemish infantry successfully halted a French invasion near Kortrijk
   in the Battle of the Golden Spurs.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Golden_Spurs)
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Faraaz Damji | 12 Jul 2007 19:55
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July 12: Mourning Dove

   The Mourning Dove is a member of the dove family, Columbidae.  It
   ranges from Central America to southern Canada, including offshore
   islands.  Many individuals in northern areas migrate south to winter
   within the breeding range where January temperatures are greater than
   minus 12 Celsius (10 F).  Habitats include various open and semi-open
   environments, including agricultural and urban areas.  The species has
   adapted well to areas altered by humans.  The bird is abundant, with an
   estimated population of 130 million birds.  In many areas, the Mourning
   Dove is hunted as a game bird for both sport and its flesh.  Its
   plaintive woo-oo-oo-oo call is common throughout its range, as is the
   whistling of its wings as it takes flight.  The species is a strong
   flier, capable of speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mi/h).  Mourning Doves are
   light gray and brownish and generally muted in color.  Males and
   females are similar in appearance.  The species is generally
   monogamous, with two squabs (young) per brood.  Both parents care for
   the young for a time.  Mourning Doves eat mainly seeds, including those
   of both native and introduced plants.

Read the rest of this article:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_Dove

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1543:
   King Henry VIII of England married Catherine Parr, his sixth and
   last wife, at Hampton Court Palace.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Parr)

1580:
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Faraaz Damji | 13 Jul 2007 05:18
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July 13: The Wire (TV series)

   The Wire is an American television drama set and produced in
   Baltimore, Maryland.  Created by writer/producer and former police
   reporter David Simon, the series is broadcast by the
   premium cable network HBO in the United States.  The Wire premiered on
   June 2, 2002, with 50 episodes airing over the course of its first
   four seasons.  HBO has ordered a fifth season, which Simon has said
   will be the show's last.  The plot of the first season centers on the
   ongoing struggles between police units and drug-dealing gangs on the
   west side of the city, and is told from both points of view.
   Subsequent seasons have focused on other facets of the city.  The large
   cast consists mainly of character actors who are little known for
   their other roles.  The Wire has received critical acclaim for its
   realistic portrayal of urban life and uncommonly deep exploration of
   sociological themes, and has been called the best show on television
   by TIME, Entertainment Weekly, The Guardian, the Chicago Tribune, the
   San Francisco Chronicle, and the Philadelphia Daily News.  Despite the
   positive reviews, the show has failed to draw a large audience.

Read the rest of this article:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire_%28TV_series%29

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1772:
   HMS Resolution set sail from Plymouth, England, under the command of
   Captain James Cook.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Resolution_%28Cook%29)

1793:
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Faraaz Damji | 14 Jul 2007 05:11
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July 14: Climate of India

   The climate of India comprises a wide range of weather conditions
   across a vast geographic scale and varied topography, making
   generalisations difficult.  Based on the Köppen system, India hosts six
   major climatic subtypes, ranging from arid desert in the west, alpine
   tundra and glaciers in the north, and humid tropical regions
   supporting rainforests in the southwest and the island territories.
   Many regions have starkly different microclimates.  The nation has four
   seasons: winter (January and February), summer (March to May), a
   monsoon (rainy) season (June–September), and a post-monsoon period
   (October–December).  India's unique geography and geology strongly
   influence its climate; this is particularly true of the Himalayas in
   the north and the Thar Desert in the northwest.  The Himalayas act as a
   barrier to the frigid katabatic winds flowing down from Central Asia.
   Thus, North India is kept warm or only mildly cooled during winter; in
   summer, the same phenomenon makes India relatively hot.  Although the
   Tropic of Cancer—the boundary between the tropics and
   subtropics—passes through the middle of India, the whole country is
   considered to be tropical.  As in much of the tropics, monsoonal and
   other weather conditions in India are unstable: major droughts,
   floods, cyclones and other natural disasters are sporadic, but have
   killed or displaced millions.

Read the rest of this article:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_India

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1789:
   French Revolution: Parisians stormed the Bastille, freeing its
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Faraaz Damji | 15 Jul 2007 03:16
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July 15: Johannes Kepler

   Johannes Kepler was a German Lutheran mathematician, astronomer and
   astrologer, and a key figure in the 17th century astronomical
   revolution.  He is best known for his eponymous laws of planetary
   motion, codified by later astronomers based on his works Astronomia
   nova, Harmonices Mundi, and Epitome of Copernican Astronomy.  Before
   Kepler, planets' paths were computed by combinations of the circular
   motions of the celestial orbs.  After Kepler, astronomers shifted their
   attention from orbs to orbits—paths that could be represented
   mathematically as an ellipse.  Kepler's laws also provided one of the
   foundations for Isaac Newton's theory of universal gravitation.  During
   his career Kepler was a mathematics teacher at a Graz seminary school,
   an assistant to Tycho Brahe, the court mathematician to Emperor Rudolf
   II, a mathematics teacher in Linz, Austria, and an adviser to General
   Wallenstein.  He also did fundamental work in the field of optics and
   helped to legitimize the telescopic discoveries of his contemporary
   Galileo Galilei.

Read the rest of this article:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Kepler

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1410:
   The Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania defeated the
   Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights in the Battle of Grunwald, the
   decisive engagement of the Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Grunwald)

1685:
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