Monday, February 20, 2017


Greetings Infomaniacs,

Today is Presidents' Day, an American holiday that is celebrated every year on the third Monday in February.

This day was originally established in 1885 to honor George Washington, and is still officially called "Washington's Birthday" by the federal government.

It was traditionally celebrated on Washington's actual birthday - February 22, but became known as Presidents' Day after it was moved as part of 1971's Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation's workers.

Enjoy!

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WHO SAID IT?
QUOTE: "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"

HINT: (1801-1870) U.S. Admiral who fought in both the War of 1812 and the American Civil War. Won a decisive and famous victory at the battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama, 5 August 1864.

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RANDOM TIDBITS
Fathom derives from the Ango-Saxon word "faetm" meaning to embrace. In those days, most measurements were based on average size of parts. A fathom is the average distance from fingertip to fingertip of the outstretched arms of a man - about six feet.

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The Battle of Surigao Strait, fought in 1944 in Philippines between Allied naval forces and naval forces of the Empire of Japan, was the last battle-line action in history. Yamashiro and her American opponents were the last battleships to engage another battleship in combat.

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The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought in 1942, was was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged each other. The battle is considered a tactical victory for Japan since the United States carrier USS Lexington was lost, while Japan only lost the light carrier Shoho in the battle.

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No self-respecting boatswain's mate would dare admit he couldn't blow his pipe in a manner above reproach. This pipe, which is the emblem of the boatswain and his mates, has an ancient and interesting history. On the ancient row-galleys, the boatswain used his pipe to call the stroke. Later because its shrill tune could be heard above most of the activity on board, it was used to signal various happenings such as knock-off and the boarding of officials. So essential was this signaling device to the well-being of the ship, that it became a badge of office and honor in the British and American Navy of the sailing ships.

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The word scuttlebutt is a Navy term for rumor. Comes from a combination of the word "scuttle" to make a hole in the ship's side, causing her to sink, and "butt", a cask used to hold drinking water. Scuttlebutt literally means a cask with a hole in it. Scuttle describes what most rumors accomplish if not to the ship, at least to morale. Butt describes the water cask where men naturally congregated, and that's where most rumors get started.

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Port and starboard are shipboard terms for left and right, respectively. Confusing those two could cause a ship wreck. In Old England, the starboard was the steering paddle or rudder, and ships were always steered from the right side on the back of the vessel. Larboard referred to the left side, the side on which the ship was loaded. So how did larboard become port? Shouted over the noise of the wind and the waves, larboard and starboard sounded too much alike. The word port means the opening in the "left" side of the ship from which cargo was unloaded. Sailors eventually started using the term to refer to that side of the ship.




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*** Weekly Mind-Scrambler ***
Take one out and scratch my head,
I am now black but once was red.

What am I?

Submit your answer by clicking: TheDailyTease

Answer will be posted in Friday's Trivia Today. Good Luck!
If your name appears in Friday's newsletter, EMAIL MICHELE
your complete name and address to be shipped your prize.

Be sure to put "Winner" in the subject line.

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WHO SAID IT?
QUOTE: "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"

ANSWER: U.S. Admiral David Glasgow Farragut.