Today’s WOTD – 11 September 2012
enervate
[en-er-veyt; adj. ih-nur-vit]
verb, en·er·vat·ed, en·er·vat·ing, adjective
verb (used with object)
1. to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken.
For example:
‘The tropical heat, oppressive humidity and thick rainforest, enervated the troop of Australian soldiers as they conducted jungle warfare exercises near Tully. In the area was a team of RAAF airmen undertaking combat survival training. It was clear the airmen were fitter and more adept at handling the gruelling conditions. The fatigued soldiers were glaring at the energetic airman who had barely raised a sweat, so the RAAF Squadron Leader barked at them ‘suck it up, princesses! You pongos are all pong and no go!’.
Today’s quote
‘If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first’
– Mark Twain
On this day
11 September 1297 – William Wallace leads Scottish forces to victory against the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
11 September 1941 – construction of the Pentagon commences in Washington DC. (Completed on 15 January 1943).
11 September 1948 – death of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the father of Pakistan. Leader of the Muslim League calling for the creation of Pakistan. Served as Pakistan’s first Governor-General from 15 August 1947 until his death.
11 September 1972 – Democratically elected President Salvador Allende of Chilé, is overthrown in a U.S. sponsored coup which brings to power General Augusto Pinochet. The Church Committee, commissioned by the U.S. Department of State to investigate covert C.I.A. operations in Chilé, found that Henry Kissinger had directed the C.I.A. to prevent the socialist Allende from being elected, then to undermine his presidency, before supplying arms to a military junta which succeeded in overthrowing Allendé.
11 September 2001 – 9/11 Terrorist Attacks in which four commercial airliners were hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists. Two planes hit the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City, one plane hit the Pentagon in Washington DC and one crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought with the hijackers. Approximately, 3,000 people died in the attacks.