A Ton of Crap (37 page)

BRAILLE

Derivation
Braille was derived from the Latin alphabet, and the points were positioned according to the positions of letters in the alphabet. For example
a
has one dot,
b
has two dots, etc. The numbers also follow this pattern. Braille is the first binary encoding scheme that represents the characters of a system of writing.

ANGLES

Different Types of Angles
As angles increase, their names change. Acute angles have values that are greater than zero but less than 90 degrees. A right angle is exactly 90 degrees. An obtuse angle is any angle greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees. A reflex angle is larger than an obtuse angle, and it is any angle that is more than 180 but less than 360. A perigon is a full rotation that equals 360 degrees exactly.

THE SOLAR SYSTEM

The Planets
There are eight planets in the solar system. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are known as rocky inner planets. These are smaller and denser, contain less gas, and are primarily composed of rock or metals. In fact, Mercury and Mars do not even have atmosphers. The other four planets, known as outer planets, are larger, with dense atmospheres and small cores.

DUTCH

Dialects
Dialects in Dutch are extremely diverse, and there is said to be about twenty-eight distinct dialects.
Flemish
is the term used for the type of Dutch spoken in Belgium, and in Flanders there are four types of Flemish: West Flemish, East Flemish, Brabantian, and Limburgish. Flemish is considered a softer dialect, and it favors older words. Netherlandish Dutch, in contrast, is considered to be harsh and even hostile sounding. In the east of the country, Dutch Low Saxon is spoken, and in Holland, Hollandic is spoken.

THE MING DYNASTY

The Golden Age of the Ming Dynasty
Emperor Chengzu’s reign was known as the Yongle Period, and is considered the Golden Age of the Ming Dynasty. Emperor Chengzu launched a series of five wars against Mongolia, and most notably, it is during this time that the Forbidden City was constructed. Relations with minorities and different nationalities were strengthened, and Chengzu was the first to make Beijing the capital, a title it would hold for 500 years.

BRAILLE

How Braille Works
There are a total of six dots that can represent a letter or number. The first ten letters of the alphabet only use the top four dots. The next ten letters are identical to the first ten, except an additional dot is added. Letters
u
,
v
,
x
,
y
, and
z
are like letters
a
through
e
, only different dots are added. The
w
is the only letter that is not in an order like this because the language was originally written in French, which didn’t have a
w
.

ANGLES

Complementary and Supplementary Angles
Complementary and supplementary angles involve combining two angles. Complementary angles are any two angles that when added up, the sum is equal to 90 degrees. This means that if you put them together, they will form a right angle. A supplementary angle is the sum of any two angles that equals 180 degrees. This means that when they are added together, they make a straight line.

THE SOLAR SYSTEM

The Sun
The Sun is the center of the solar system, the closest star, and the largest object in the solar system. It makes up 99.8 percent of the mass of the solar system. The power of the Sun is produced through nuclear fusion reactions. The energy from the nuclear fusion travels into space in the form of light and heat. The surface of the Sun has a temperature of 5800 Kelvin.

DUTCH

Changes to the Language
Pronunciation has changed over the past century in Dutch. Voiceless pronunciation with some letters — meaning saying hard sounds instead of using one’s voice — has started to become the standard for the language. This change mirrors a movement to make the spelling of Dutch words as phonological as possible. Another change that has not been declared an official change to the standard language, but rather has begun appearing in the younger generation is known as Polder Dutch.

THE MING DYNASTY