Lost In Solitude: 2011

Article of the Day

AK-47s

Designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1947, the AK-47 is an assault rifle that was used in most Eastern bloc countries during the Cold War. Due to its durability and ease of use, it remains the most widely used assault rifle in the world. Although only one factory holds the patent, nearly one million AK-47s are manufactured illegally each year, and many are smuggled and sold to governments, rebels, criminals, and civilians. An AK-47 appears on what country's flag and coat of arms? More... Discuss

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This Day in History

College Board Administers the First SAT Exam (1926)

The SAT is a standardized test used in college admissions in the US. Developed by Carl Brigham, a Princeton psychologist who worked on the US Army's IQ test, the first Scholastic Aptitude Test was administered in 1926 to over 8,000 test-takers—60% of whom were male. Criticized as being biased toward whites, males, and the middle class, the exam has been modified over the years to improve fairness. Still, its value as a predictor of success in college is debated. What does "SAT" stand for today? More... Discuss

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Today's Birthday

Alan Mathison Turing (1912)

Turing was a groundbreaking English mathematician and logician who worked on artificial intelligence (AI), among other things. He created the Turing test to determine whether a computer is capable of humanlike thought. His papers on the subject are widely acknowledged as the foundation of research in AI. He also did valuable work in cryptography during WWII, helping to break the German Enigma code. In the midst of his pioneering work, Turing committed suicide after being convicted of what crime? More... Discuss

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In the News

Play rascal discuss
Definition:	(noun) One who is playfully mischievous..
Synonyms:	scamp, imp, rapscallion, scallywag
Usage:	The young rascal, being expert at a variety of feints and dodges, of which my aunt had no conception, soon went whooping away.

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Quote of the Day

To retire is not to flee, and there is no wisdom in waiting when danger outweighs hope, and it is the part of wise men to preserve themselves to-day for to-morrow, and not risk all in one day.
Miguel de Cervantes
(1547-1616) Discuss

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