Alfred Nobel

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010

I intend to leave after my death a large fund for the promotion of the peace idea, but I am skeptical as to its results. The savants will write excellent volumes. There will be laureates. But wars will continue just the same until the force of circumstances renders them impossible.

 - Alfred Nobel

Alfred Bernhard Nobel, Swedish inventor and founder of the Nobel Prize was born in Stockholm on October 21, 1833. Nobel was a chemist and an engineer. It was he who invented dynamite, intending it to be used for construction. Ironically, however, the founder of the Nobel Peace Prize was also the owner of Bofors, a major Swedish armaments manufacturer.

Alfred Nobel died on December 10, 1896 of a brain hemorrhage at his villa in San Remo, Italy. He was 63 years old. Nobel amassed a great fortune during his lifetime. In his last will, he used his substantial wealth to institute the humanitarian, literary and scientific prizes which bear his name.


LANGUAGE CORNER

Alfred Nobel himself coined the word “dynamite” from the Greek “dunamis” meaning “power.” The term was coined in Swedish in the form of “dynamit,” The Swedish suffix “it” corresponds to the English suffix “ite” used in scientific fields.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WHITEY FORD

I don't care what the situation was, how high the stakes were - the bases could be loaded.and the pennant riding on every pitch.  It never bothered Whitey Ford.  He pitched his game.  Cool.  Craft.  Nerves of steel.

- Mickey Mantle
(as quoted by Baseball Almanac and on the National Baseball Hall of Fame website)

Edward Charles “Whitey” Ford was born in New York City on October 21, 1928. He is 82 years old today. The left-handed pitcher made his debut with the New York Yankees in 1950 and played his entire career with them. He was nicknamed “Whitey” because of his blond, almost white hair. In 1961, Ford won 25 games and was honoured with the Cy Young Award. His record that year was a magnificent 25-4.

Whitey Ford retired in 1967 with 236 career wins. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown in 1974.  To watch a brief video on the career of Whitey Ford, click on the link below.

http://baseballhall.org/media/video/1974-hall-fame-inductee-bio-whitey-ford


SPORTS

Baseball

The New York Yankees managed to stay alive yesterday. They staved off elimination by defeating the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series in the Bronx yesterday.  CC Sabathia was on the mound for the Yankees.  He went six innings and allowed two runs.  The Rangers still lead the series 3-2 as the two teams head to Texas for Game 6.  The Rangers have two chances to finish off the Yanks.  If they fail to win one of those game in their own ballpark, they don't deserve to be in the October Classic. 

- Joanne