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December 28, 2015

Leading & Lesser Languages List

There are roughly 6,500 spoken languages in the world today. However, about 2,000 of those languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers.

The most popular language in the world is Mandarin Chinese, with over 1.2 billion people who speak that language.

In 2008, The International Civil Aviation Organisation decreed that all Air Traffic Controllers and Flight Crew Members engaged in or in contact with international flights must be proficient in the English language as a general spoken medium and not simply have a proficiency in standard ICAO Radio Telephony Phraseology.

Some languages are nearly extinct and are spoken by only a few older people.

Top 10 Rarest Languages Still Spoken in the World

The origins of many languages aren't clear to historians and researchers, but many people believe the Biblical tale of the Tower of Babel.



The Christmas Song - Alvin & The Chipmunks

Debuting on this date in 1958, this song aka The Chipmunk Song (Don't Be Late) it was the only song to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart. The song was also a hit with the entertainment establishment, garnering three awards at the 1958 Grammys: Best Comedy Performance, Best Children’s Recording, and Best Engineered Record (non-classical).

December 27, 2015

abdominous



abdominous adjective [ab-dom-uh-nuh s]

1. having a large belly; potbellied



While I could stand to lose a few pounds, I'm glad I don't have a potbelly...or a beer belly.


December 26, 2015

World's Oldest Goldfish

A goldfish named Tish lived to be 43 years old, making it the oldest goldfish known.


December 24, 2015

Making A Murderer


While I couldn't say I binge-watched Making a Murderer, it's probably closer to say I "power-watched" it in a couple of days.  The ten-part series, made over the course of ten years, tells the  story of a Manitowoc County, Wisconsin man named Steve Avery who was convicted of rape and attempted murder, serving 18 yrs. in prison before DNA evidence exonerated him.  Avery was out only two years and was about to file a civil rights lawsuit for millions of dollars when he was charged with the brutal rape and death of a young woman.

As with any review of a current work, I won't give spoilers or say much more about the series or case;  in fact, I avoided reading anything about him or this documentary series until after I finished up the last episode. Like many writing about it online, though, I am torn as to his guilt or innocence on the murder conviction. It's obvious that the local police department coerced witnesses, mishandled the crime scene and while I'm of the mind that evidence definitely was planted and tampered with, I'm still not convinced he's innocent.   Avery's learning disabled nephew was also involved and was charged for his participation in the murder and subsequent cover up...but if you watch the series, you'll most likely be confused as to his own part in the crime - IF he even took part in it.

Maybe it's because the series left me so unsettled and is why I can't give a little bit higher grade, but I'd still strongly recommend watching. It's available on Netflix and when getting the following trailer, I noticed the first episode had been uploaded to YouTube.  Like most other movies or TV programs, you can also find it online with a little bit of ingenuity and Google skills. 

Here's one of the better reviews I read online:


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