Jan. 29

WORD OF THE DAY

palisade [pal-uh-seyd] (noun) a fence of pales or stakes set firmly in the ground, as for enclosure or defense.

FILM FACTS

Which legendary college football coach does Forrest Gump play for?

A. Knute Rockne

B. Bear Bryant

C. George Halas

D. Vince Lombardi

(Answer at bottom of column)

NUMBER TO KNOW

75 percent: A 2017 study found that the fax machine accounts for 75 percent of the U.S.’s medical communications.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Jan. 29, 1936: The U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame elects its first members in Cooperstown, New York: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson.

FEATURED BIRTHDAY

TV show host Oprah Winfrey (64)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“A happy life is one spent in learning, earning, and yearning.” — Lillian Gish

TRIVIA ANSWER

B. Bear Bryant

Jan. 30

WORD OF THE DAY

ecesis [ih-see-sis] (noun) the establishment of an immigrant plant in a new environment.

FILM FACTS

In which movie does Ricky Baker have his life cut short before he can receive a scholarship for playing football?

A. “Boyz n the Hood”

B. “New Jack City”

C. “Poetic Justice”

D. “School Daze”

(Answer at bottom of column)

NUMBER TO KNOW

1 centimeter: A person is about 1 centimeter taller in the morning than in the evening.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Jan. 30, 1933: With the stirring notes of the “William Tell Overture” and a shout of “Hi-yo, Silver! Away!,” “The Lone Ranger” debuts on Detroit’s WXYZ radio station.

FEATURED BIRTHDAY

Movie actor Christian Bale (44)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The price of greatness is responsibility.” — Winston Churchill

TRIVIA ANSWER

A. “Boyz n the Hood”

Jan. 31

WORD OF THE DAY

remotion [ri-moh-shuh n] (noun) the act of removing; removal.

FILM FACTS

Who stars in “Heaven Can Wait”?

A. Tom Selleck

B. Richard Gere

C. Warren Beatty

D. Burt Reynolds

(Answer at bottom of column)

NUMBER TO KNOW

1,250 miles: Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is 1,250 miles long.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Jan. 31, 1865: The U.S. House of Representatives passes the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery in America.

FEATURED BIRTHDAY

Pop singer Justin Timberlake (37)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose, the next best.” — William Makepeace Thackeray

TRIVIA ANSWER

C. Warren Beatty

Feb. 1

WORD OF THE DAY

kamik [kah-mik] (noun) a mukluk made of sealskin.

FILM FACTS

What is the mascot of Adams College in “Revenge of the Nerds”?

A. Zombies

B. Rangers

C. Atoms

D. Wildcats

(Answer at bottom of column)

NUMBER TO KNOW

92: There are 92 known cases of nuclear bombs lost at sea.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Feb. 1, 1884: The first portion, or fascicle, of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is published.

FEATURED BIRTHDAY

MMA fighter Ronda Rousey (31)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable.” — Mark Twain

TRIVIA ANSWER

C. Atoms

Feb. 2

WORD OF THE DAY

yaff [yaf] (verb) to bark; yelp.

FILM FACTS

Which boxer was unjustly incarcerated in the movie “The Hurricane”?

A. Charley Davis

B. Jake LaMotta

C. Rubin Carter

D. Rocky Graziano

(Answer at bottom of column)

NUMBER TO KNOW

200,000: A cow gives nearly 200,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Feb. 2, 1876: The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, which comes to be more commonly known as the National League (NL), is formed.

FEATURED BIRTHDAY

Pop singer Shakira (41)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.” — Maya Angelou

TRIVIA ANSWER

C. Rubin Carter

Feb. 3

WORD OF THE DAY

tactual (tak-choo-uh l] (adjective) of or relating to the sense of touch.

FILM FACTS

Which sport is featured in the movies “Miracle,” “Slap Shot” and “The Mighty Ducks”?

A. Bowling

B. Swimming

C. Cycling

D. Hockey

(Answer at bottom of column)

NUMBER TO KNOW

50: The average office worker spends 50 minutes a day looking for lost files and other items.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Feb. 3, 1959: American rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson are killed when their chartered Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashes in Iowa a few minutes after takeoff

FEATURED BIRTHDAY

Movie actress Morgan Fairchild (68)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.” — Bernard Baruch

TRIVIA ANSWER

D. Hockey

Feb. 4

WORD OF THE DAY

debouch [dih-boosh] (verb) to march out from a narrow or confined place into open country, as a body of troops.

FILM FACTS

Which actor played Roy Hobbs in the movie “The Natural”?

A. Tom Selleck

B. Matt Dillon

C. Paul Newman

D. Robert Redford

(Answer at bottom of column)

NUMBER TO KNOW

1,000: It takes a drop of ocean water more than 1,000 years to circulate around the world.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Feb. 4, 1789: George Washington, the commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, is unanimously elected the first president of the United States by all 69 presidential electors who cast their votes.

FEATURED BIRTHDAY

Rock singer Alice Cooper (70)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela

TRIVIA ANSWER

D. Robert Redford