THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
This week is full of notable events in a number of different categories. Increase your knowledge by reading along. • December 15 is Bill of Rights Day, commemorating the day this group of freedoms became law in the United States in 1791. The term Bill of Rights refers to the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and details those freedoms not specifically designated in the main body of that document. These include freedom of religion and speech, the right to bear arms, freedom from unreasonable search and seizure and from a warrant issued without probable cause. The prohibition of double jeopardy is also part of the Bill of Rights, as is the guarantee of a speedy, public trial with an impartial jury.
• Besides being former U.S. presidents, what do George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams have in common? As adults, they all • In 1950, a patent was issued collected and played marbles for a fork that automatically avidly. spins to wind spaghetti onto it. *** • You might be surprised to learn that painter and sculptor Michelangelo was also a wellknown poet in his day. © 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
Thought for the Day: "I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters." -- Frank Lloyd Wright
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Answer
• It wasn't until 1933 that an act of Congress made the dime legal tender for all transactions. Before that, it could be used only if the item or items being purchased totaled less than $10.
Weekly SUDOKU
• You've doubtless heard the term "bigwig" to refer to a person of importance, but you've probably never learned where the word originated. In the 18th century, King Louis XIV of France began wearing large wigs, and the fashion became a trend among the upper classes. At the time, wigs were made from human hair, which was very expensive to obtain; therefore, the larger the wig, the more hair was required and the more money the wearer had to spend to purchase it.
• Medieval times, it seems, were suspicious times. When nobles gathered for social events, each person would pour a little bit of wine from his or her own cup into the cups of others -- this was a way to ensure that no one was poisoning the drinks. The tradition continues today (with less suspicion, one would hope) when people clink glasses after toast.
Answer
• It was American industrialist Jean Paul Getty who made the following sage observation: "If you can count your money, you don't have a billion dollars."
King CROSSWORD
by Samantha Weaver
• December 17 is a big day in the history of aviation. On this day in 1903, the Wright Brothers made their historic flight of the first powered airplane on a beach at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The first flight of their Wright Flyer lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet, 20 feet above the ground. Three more flights followed that day. While Orville made the first flight, Wilbur piloted the record flight that lasted 59 seconds and covered a distance of 852 feet. On the same day 32 years later, the Douglas DC-3 airliner had its maiden flight, a plane that was to revolutionize air travel in the United States. With three refueling stops, the DC-3 was able to cross the U.S. in about 15 hours. On December 17, 1947, the Boeing B-47 Stratojet strategic bomber made its first flight. The country’s first multiengine, jet-powered bomber was designed to fly at high altitudes and at supersonic speeds. In 1949, the jet broke the record for crossing the United States, accomplishing it in under four hours, with an average speed of 608 mph.