Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Spotlight
Water makes up about 60% of the human body; it covers some 70% of the earth's surface, with only 3% being from fresh water sources. In the US it is estimated that the average person uses about 50 gallons (190 l.) of water a day. With the world population growing, and the increasing pollution of our natural resources, we are facing a water crisis. The World Health Organization has estimated that over 1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and about 4000 children die every day from water borne disease. The United Nations has declared today the World Day for Water.

Quote
"When the well is dry, they know the worth of water." – Benjamin Franklin

Word of the day
eutrophication: aging of a lake by the addition of nutrients; water pollution accelerates eutrophication. (© )

Today's News

• E.T.A.: Basque separatist group declares permanent cease-fire in Spain (story)
• North Korea: flaunts its nuclear capability (story)
• IRS: warns of tax-related phishers (story)
• energy drinks: Pepsi's Gatorade sues Coke's Powerade over ad campaign (story)

Today's History

• Equal Rights Amendment: was approved by US Congress; it was never ratified by the states (1972)
• Flying Wallendas: patriarch Karl Wallenda fell to his death from a tightrope between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico (1978)
• Hale-Bopp: comet passed closest to Earth till the year 4397 (1997)

Today's Birthdays

• William Shatner: actor, Star Trek, Boston Legal (75)
• Andrew Lloyd Webber: composer, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera (58)
• Reese Witherspoon: Oscar winner for Walk the Line (30)