Did You Know? - Hors d'oeuvre means literally "apart from the main work"), also known as appetizers, starters, or the first course, are food items served before the main courses of a meal. The French (singular and plural) is hors d'œuvre; in English, the œ ligature is usually replaced by the digraph "oe" with the plural often written as "hors d'oeuvres".

Did You Know? - A halo (Greek: ἅλως; also known as a nimbus, aureole, glory, or gloriole) is a ring of light that surrounds a person in art. They have been used in the iconography of many religions to indicate holy or sacred figures, and have at various periods also been used in images of rulers or heroes. In, among other religions, Hellenistic Greek, Roman, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian sacred art, sacred persons may be depicted with a halo in the form of a circular glow, or in Asian art flames, around the head, or around the whole body, this last often called a mandorla. Halos may be shown as almost any colour, but as they represent light are most often depicted as golden, yellow, white, or red when flames are depicted.

Did You Know? - A roar is a deep, bellowing outburst of sound forced through an open mouth. It is produced by animals of certain species. A powerful and intimidating sound, the roar is usually made through the use of the hyoid, a small bone which is not completely rigid in adults. Animals may roar for various reasons, including territorial proclamation, communication with other members, and anger.

Did You Know? - Nicholas John Peper has been a professional singer and pianist since the age of ten. While studying at the Julliard School of Music, he was a guest soloist with the NBC Opera Company and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

During his early teens in New York, Nick had his own weekly radio show featuring live music from his quintet. After moving to California in 1967 he continued to be a featured performer for celebrity events in the Hollywood entertainment community. In the early 1970’s Nick worked with Roy Clark, Alan King, Perry Como, Bob Hope, Jack Benny and others while a member of the Doodletown Pipers.

In the late 1970’s three albums from his group 100% Whole Wheat received national radio air play and were reviewed in Billboard Magazine, all while remaining the house band for the Reubens Steak House chain. For the last decade Nick has been touring nationally with Triple Gold, consisting of the original lead singers from The Four Preps, The Diamonds, and The Association. Memorable events with Triple Gold include the Legend Of Rock & Roll concerts at The Greek Theatre and The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.

Did You Know? - View from the Window at Le Gras (La cour du domaine du Gras) was the first successful permanent photograph, created by Nicéphore Niépce in 1826 at Saint-Loup-de-Varennes.

Nicéphore Niépce captured the photo with a camera obscura focused onto a sheet of 20 × 25 cm oil-treated bitumen. As a result of the 8-hour exposure, sunlight illuminates the buildings on both sides.

After an unsuccessful trip to Britain to attempt to interest the Royal Society in the process, Niépce gave the photo to the botanist Francis Bauer. It was last publicly exhibited in 1898, and was thereafter forgotten. Helmut Gernsheim brought the photo to prominence again in 1952 and the Eastman Kodak Company made a copy.

In 1973, the University of Texas acquired the plate from Helmut Gernsheim.

Today, the plate is on display at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center.

Did You Know? - Written on the Wind is a 1956 American drama film directed by Douglas Sirk. It stars Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack and Dorothy Malone. The screenplay by George Zuckerman was based on Robert Wilder's 1945 novel of the same name, a thinly disguised account of the real-life scandal involving torch singer Libby Holman and her husband, tobacco heir Zachary Smith Reynolds. Zuckerman shifted the locale from North Carolina to Texas, made the source of the family wealth oil rather than tobacco, and changed all the character names.