Thursday, February 10, 2005

Spotlight
Scientists have been monitoring two volcanoes in Alaska. Mount Spurr is rated Code Yellow, indicating that an eruption can occur at any moment. Mount Veniaminof has been upgraded to Code Orange, indicating that the volcano is "in eruption." (story)

Quote
"All civilization has from time to time become a thin crust over a volcano of revolution." -- Henry Havelock Ellis

Word of the day
Strombolian -- continuous, but mild discharges of a viscous lava, accompanied by ash plumes. It is named for an Italian volcano that appears to have been erupting for about 2,500 years. Mt. Veniaminof is currently in the middle of a Strombolian eruption. (© )

Today's News

• Jimmy Smith -- Jazz Organ pioneer dies at 79 (story)
• cloning -- CA lawmaker to issue bill against sales of cloned pets (story)
• Ronald Reagan -- new post office stamp issued (story)

Today's History

• French and Indian War -- ended with signing of Treaty of Paris (1763)
• "Chattanooga Choo Choo" -- Glenn Miller received the first ever gold record (1942)
• Deep Blue -- IBM computer lost to Gary Kasparov at chess (1996)

Today's Birthdays

• stars -- Jimmy Durante (1893-1980), Dame Judith Anderson (1898-1992), and Robert Wagner (75)
• songsters -- Leontyne Price (78) and Roberta Flack (66)
• Mark Spitz -- Olympic champion swimmer (55)