high profile

A presence or stance that is deliberately conspicuous and prominent socially. Watch the video

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Harold "Kim" Philby

Initially a journalist, Philby became a high-ranking member of British intelligence and is believed to have provided the USSR with classified information that caused the deaths of scores of American and British agents. Always in danger of having his cover blown by Soviet defectors, Philby himself defected to the USSR in 1963, after he was exposed as a member of the Cambridge Five spy ring. Philby died in Moscow in 1988. What killed him? Discuss


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New Year's Eve (Spain)

In Spain, it is customary for families to gather on New Year's Eve in small groups to celebrate the coming of the New Year. Grapes are distributed, and, when midnight arrives, everyone eats one grape for each stroke of the clock. Eating all 12 grapes before the clock is finished striking ensures good luck in the New Year. The grapes are usually washed down with muscatel wine. So firmly entrenched is the custom that in theaters and cinemas, the show is often interrupted at midnight on New Year's Eve so that the audience can eat the grapes and drink the wine they've brought with them. Discuss


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Arthur Guinness Signs a 9,000-Year Lease on His Brewery (1759)

Guinness is a celebrated Irish dry stout that originated in the Dublin brewery of Arthur Guinness. When Guinness acquired his brewery, he famously signed a 9,000-year lease that fixed his annual rent at 45 pounds. From 1799, the brewery produced only its distinctive, dark, creamy Guinness stout, which became known as the national beer of Ireland. Although Guinness stout may appear to be black, it is officially a very dark shade of what? Discuss


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quixotic

Definition: (adjective) Caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals; idealistic without regard to practicality.
Synonyms: wild-eyed, romantic.
Usage: She is ready prey to any man who knows how to play adroitly either on her affectionate ardor or her quixotic enthusiasm.
Discuss

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Elizabeth Arden (1884)

Born in Canada as Florence Nightingale Graham, Arden moved to New York City in 1907 and under her new name opened a beauty salon. Her business became an international empire based on salons, hundreds of "scientifically formulated" beauty products, and an exclusive image—all packaged in her trademark pink. Arden made makeup acceptable to "respectable" American women, introducing them to eye shadow, mascara, and lipstick tinted to match their outfits. What poem inspired her business name? Discuss


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Picture of the day for December 31, 2016

Besides New Year's Eve fireworks are often used to celebrate many important events.. Learn more.

Bo Diddley (1928)

Diddley was a pioneering African-American rock-and-roll singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He was known for his pounding signature beat, guitar effects, and jive talk, and he was a powerful influence on generations of rockers, including Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, and the Rolling Stones. Nicknamed after the single-stringed folk instrument called a diddley bow, he studied the violin at his Baptist Church in Chicago and began performing in South Side clubs, playing what unique type of guitar? Discuss


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Acheulean Tools

Acheulean tools are the stone hand axes, cleavers, and other core tools created by prehistoric hominins across Africa, Asia, and Europe during the Lower Paleolithic Period. These tools date from around 1.5 million to 150,000 years ago, and some believe their development represents the genesis of human art, economy, and social organization. Curiously, some sites contain hundreds of hand-axes that are impractically large and apparently unused. What are some theories about their function? Discuss


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Saddam Hussein Is Executed (2006)

During his presidency of Iraq from 1979 to 2003, Hussein instituted a brutal dictatorship, launching wars against Iran and Kuwait and directing campaigns against Iraqi minorities, particularly the Kurds. After an Anglo-American force invaded Iraq in 2003 and drove him from power, he spent several months in hiding but was captured by US forces. In 2006, the Iraqi High Tribunal sentenced him to death for crimes against humanity. What hobby did Hussein take up while in prison awaiting execution? Discuss


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end (something) on a high note

To finish, complete, or leave (something) at a successful, impressive, or climactic point. Watch the video

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Rizal Day

A national holiday in the Philippines, Rizal Day commemorates the execution of the national hero Dr. José Rizal on this day in 1896. Flags fly at half-staff throughout the country, and special rites are led by the president at the 500-foot Rizal Monument in Manila. Writing from Europe and denouncing the corrupt ruling of the Philippines by Spanish friars, Rizal became known as a leader of the Philippine reform movement. He had no direct role in the nationalist insurrection; nevertheless, he was arrested, tried for sedition, and executed by a firing squad. Discuss


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aver

Definition: (verb) To assert formally as a fact.
Synonyms: allege, say.
Usage: For as my conscience does not accuse me, I aver that I am not a criminal.
Discuss

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Picture of the day for December 30, 2016

Ceiling frescos in Sonntagberg Basilica (Lower Austria) by Daniel Gran (1738–43). Learn more.

tumulus

Definition: (noun) A heap of earth placed over prehistoric tombs.
Synonyms: burial mound, grave mound, barrow.
Usage: The tumulus marked the spot where his ancestor was buried.
Discuss

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Mary Tyler Moore (1936)

Although she began her career as a dancer, Moore's success came from her TV roles, first as the secretary on Richard Diamond, Private Detective and then as Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show. She is best known, however, as the star of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, the most popular sitcom of the 1970s and the first show to center on a happily unmarried career woman. Over the years, she has won multiple Emmys and Golden Globes. What film role earned her an Oscar nomination? Discuss


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The Treaty of New Echota Is Signed (1835)

In 1835, a minority faction of the Cherokee tribe signed the Treaty of New Echota, which bound the entire tribe to move beyond the Mississippi River within three years. Although the Cherokee overwhelmingly repudiated the document and the US Supreme Court upheld the nation's autonomy, the state of Georgia forced their removal through military action. President Andrew Jackson refused to intervene, and thousands died on the march, known as the "Trail of Tears." To where did they march? Discuss


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highbrowed

Of or pertaining to heightened intellectualism or superior learning or culture; especially erudite or sophisticated; appealing or suited to highbrows. Watch the video

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Exit Polling

Instead of asking who voters plan to support in a future election, as is done in opinion polling, pollsters involved in exit polling ask people who they actually voted for as they leave polling stations. Exit polls are usually conducted by firms providing media outlets with an early indication of an election's outcome, though they have also been used to deter election fraud. Critics, however, maintain that the results of these surveys can be distorted. How might exit polls influence an election? Discuss


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Cali Fair

The rich cultural identity of Santiago de Cali, Colombia, has been celebrated each year since 1957 at the Cali Fair. The Fair is a major event that draws thousands of local residents and tourists from around the world. There are numerous artisans selling their crafts, street performers, and other forms of entertainment. A Bullfighting Festival is also part of the celebration, and a salsa marathon is one of many dance events held each year. It is said that during Fair time, Cali is the home of the best salsa dancing in the world. Discuss


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Picture of the day for December 29, 2016

Lighthouse “Memmertfeuer” at the harbor, island Juist, Lower Saxony, Germany.. Learn more.

Fifth Night of Hanukkah

Hanukkah commemorates the successful rebellion of the Jews against the Syrians in the Maccabean War of 162 BCE, but the military associations are played down. What is really being celebrated is the survival of Judaism. Jewish families today celebrate this holiday by lighting a special Hanukkah menorah, a candelabrum with holders for eight candles, one for each day of celebration, plus a ninth, the shammash, used to light the others. A special prayer is recited during the lighting, and, while the candles burn, it is a time for songs and games, including the four-sided toy called the dreidel. Discuss


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hide and seek

A situation in which one party is constantly evading or avoiding another. (A reference to the children's game "hide and go seek.") Often used with the verb "play." Watch the video

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Henry David Thoreau

If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go; perchance it will wear smooth—certainly the machine will wear out. Discuss


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demeanor

Definition: (noun) The way a person behaves toward other people.
Synonyms: deportment, conduct, behavior.
Usage: She had a charming demeanor that endeared her to her many friends.
Discuss

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Lumière Brothers' First Film Screening for a Paying Public Audience (1895)

In 1882, French inventor Louis Lumière developed a method of making photographic plates. By 1894, he and his brother August were producing 15 million plates a year. They worked on improving Edison's kinetoscope, and, in 1895, patented their combination movie camera and projector, the Cinématographe. Their 46-second film La Sortie des ouvriers de l'usine Lumière is considered the first motion picture and was one of 10 included in their first public film screening. What is its subject? Discuss


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John von Neumann (1903)

Neumann was a Hungarian-born American mathematician. He emigrated to the US in 1930 to teach at Princeton University and was among the original faculty of its Institute for Advanced Study. He solved one of David Hilbert's 23 theoretical problems, collaborated on an algebraic ring with profound applications in quantum physics, and helped develop the atomic bomb. He later made major contributions to the development of computers. What branch of applied mathematics did he help found? Discuss


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The Didgeridoo

The didgeridoo, developed by the Australian Aborigines, is perhaps the world's oldest wind instrument. Though the exact age of the didgeridoo is unknown, studies of rock art in northern Australia suggest that the Aboriginal people have been using it for approximately 1,500 years. Didgeridoos measure about 4 ft (1.5 m) in length and are made from branches that have been hollowed out by termites. A 2005 study found that practicing the didgeridoo can help reduce what sleep-related conditions? Discuss


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Picture of the day for December 28, 2016

Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare), the Pantanal, Brazil. On 28 December 1973, the Endangered Species Act became law in the USA. The Yacare Caiman was reclassified to threatened status on 5 April 2000.. Learn more.

tetragon

Definition: (noun) A four-sided polygon.
Synonyms: quadrangle, quadrilateral.
Usage: Long after the teacher had moved on from the geometry lesson, Alice found herself absentmindedly sketching tetragons in her notebook.
Discuss

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The Hagia Sophia Is Completed (537 CE)

Distinguished by its size and rising succession of domes, the Hagia Sophia is the supreme masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. First a church, later a mosque, and now a museum, it was designed under Justinian I by Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus and completed in less than six years. Its combination of a longitudinal basilica with a main building was wholly original in the sixth century, as was its use of pendentives. The Hagia Sophia stands on the site of what earlier structure? Discuss


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Marlene Dietrich (1901)

Dietrich was a German actress and singer. Abandoning an early ambition to be a violinist, she turned to acting and gained international attention as a femme fatale in The Blue Angel (1930). She then moved to Hollywood, where she starred in a series of films that established her glamorous and sophisticated persona. Resisting Nazi pressure to return to Germany, she became a US citizen in 1939. During WWII, she regularly entertained Allied troops, appearing before them how many times? Discuss


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Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Why is it that when you awake to the world of realities you nearly always feel, sometimes very vividly, that the vanished dream has carried with it some enigma which you have failed to solve? Discuss


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here you are

Here is what you needed or asked for; I present this to you. Watch the video

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High-Speed Photography

High-speed photography allows fast moving phenomena to be recorded with precision and clarity. While in 1948 high-speed photography was defined as a set of at least 3 photographs taken by a camera capable of recording a minimum of 128 frames per second, today's equipment can shoot as many as 1 million frames per second. High-speed photography was first put to practical use in 1878 to investigate whether or not a trotting horse ever has all 4 feet off the ground at once. What did the images show? Discuss


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Dian Fossey Day

American conservationist Dian Fossey (1932-1985) conducted groundbreaking research on Rwanda's mountain gorillas, a species long victimized by wide-scale poaching, and helped ensure their preservation. Fossey was murdered in her cabin at a research center in the Virunga Mountains on December 27, 1985. Ceremonies for the anniversary of her death take place in Volcanoes National Park, which contains a permanent memorial to the zoologist. Individuals typically perform traditional dances, while government officials deliver speeches and lay wreaths on her gravesite. Discuss


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Picture of the day for December 27, 2016

Romanesque Chapel of St. John in Pürgg, Styria, Austria. The frescos date from the 12th century, probably around 1160, the crucifix from the 11th century.. Learn more.

Robert Louis Stevenson

This simple accident of falling in love is as beneficial as it is astonishing. Discuss


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comedo

Definition: (noun) A plug of keratin and sebum within a hair follicle that is blackened at the surface.
Synonyms: blackhead.
Usage: On the morning of the school dance, she was dismayed to discover a large comedo on her chin.
Discuss

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Boston Red Sox Sell Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees (1919)

Between 1914 and 1919, Ruth compiled an outstanding pitching record, but because pitchers do not play in every game, he was shifted to the outfield so that his powerful hitting could be used consistently. The following season, he was sold to the New York Yankees, and his batting feats and public personality helped salvage baseball's popularity, which had been damaged by the Black Sox scandal. According to legend, Ruth was sold by the owner of the Red Sox in order to finance what? Discuss


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Mechanical Puzzles

These puzzles are comprised of mechanically interlinked pieces that must be manipulated in a certain way in order for them to be assembled, disassembled, and otherwise solved. The oldest known example, from the 3rd century BCE, consists of a square divided into 14 parts that fit together to form other shapes. Mechanical puzzles have since taken on myriad forms, including dexterity and disentanglement puzzles, trick vessels, and impossible objects. What is the most well-known impossible object? Discuss


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H-E-double-hockey-sticks

A euphemistic spelling of "hell," referring to each L resembling a hockey stick in shape. Watch the video

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George Dewey (1837)

Dewey was an American admiral and a hero of the Battle of Manila. He graduated from the US Naval Academy and served with Union naval forces in the American Civil War. In the Spanish-American War (1898), his Asiatic Squadron sailed to the Philippines and defeated the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay, destroying eight Spanish ships in six hours and suffering only one American fatality. His victory led to the US acquisition of the Philippines. What rank did Congress create for him in 1899? Discuss


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Fiesta de Sumamao

The Argentine ritual drama known as sumamao ("beautiful river") is named after the location in which it is traditionally performed—near the Rio Dulce. On San Esteban's (St. Stephen's) Day, December 26, an avenue of arcos, or arches, tied together by cords hung with ichas (cakes in the form of puppets), leads up to the altar. The drama begins at dawn with trumpets and fireworks, followed by a slow procession through the arches. The rest of the drama unfolds throughout the day, culminating in the demolition of the arcos and the eating of the ichas. Discuss


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Picture of the day for December 26, 2016

Winter landscape in Kuznetsk Alatau, South Siberia, Russia. Learn more.

polymorphism

Definition: (noun) Crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms.
Synonyms: pleomorphism.
Usage: Calcium carbonate possesses the characteristic of polymorphism, since it crystallizes as calcite or aragonite.
Discuss

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Louis Chevrolet (1878)

Born in Switzerland, Chevrolet was an auto mechanic who emigrated to the US in 1900 to race cars. In 1905, he drove a mile in a record 52.8 seconds. In 1911, he founded the Chevrolet Motor Company with support from General Motors founder William C. Durant and designed its first car. He sold his interest in 1915 but continued making racecars. His cars won the Indy 500 in 1920 and 1921. He later formed an aircraft company with his brother, but the venture failed. Who drove his winning car in 1920? Discuss


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heavy-hearted

Sorrowful; melancholy; depressed. Watch the video

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Axolotl

Found in lakes near Mexico City, axolotls are salamanders affected by a phenomenon called neoteny, which means that adults of the species often fail to undergo metamorphosis and reach reproductive maturity without losing their larval characteristics. They are able to regenerate most body parts and are used extensively in scientific research. Axolotls are also commonly kept as pets in several countries and are considered a delicacy in Mexico. What prevents axolotls from undergoing metamorphosis? Discuss


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Charlemagne Crowned Emperor (800 CE)

Charlemagne was king of the Franks (768–814) and emperor of the West (800–814). With the exception of the British Isles and parts of Italy and Spain, he united in one vast state almost all the Christian lands of Western Europe. After restoring Leo III to the papacy, he was crowned emperor in Rome on Christmas Day, 800 CE, finalizing the split between the Byzantine and Roman empires and marking the revival of the empire that was the forerunner of the Holy Roman Empire. What language did he speak? Discuss


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William Shakespeare

Love comforteth like sunshine after rain. Discuss


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Christmas (Greece)

According to Greek folklore, supernatural beings with unusual powers are present upon earth during the 12 days between Christmas Eve and Epiphany. The name for these spirits is kallikantzari, and they wander about during the Christmas season causing mischief. They are ugly and unkempt, and their favorite way of getting into the house is through the chimney, much like the traditional Santa Claus. Christmas masqueraders often dress in animal skins to represent these demons, and their jangling bells are supposed to drive the spirits away. Discuss


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Picture of the day for December 25, 2016

Image of Grace Our Lady with six Fingers at the parish- and pilgrimage church Maria Laach am Jauerling, Lower Austria. Anonymous master, 2nd half of 15th century.. Learn more.

The Ku Klux Klan Is Formed (1865)

The Ku Klux Klan is the name of two distinct secret societies that played a part in American history. The first Klan was an organization that thrived in the South during the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. The second was a nationwide organization that flourished after World War I. Subsequent groups calling themselves the Ku Klux Klan sprang up in much of the South after World War II and in response to civil-rights activity during the 1960s. How did the Ku Klux Klan gets its name? Discuss


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heavy lifting

Any serious, difficult, or arduous work or activities. Watch the video

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Aztec Warfare

Warfare was a fundamental part of Aztec society and was the driving force behind its economy and religion. The Aztecs used warfare to achieve two main objectives: the subjugation of city states to exact tribute and expand political influence and the taking of captives for religious sacrifice. Members of warrior societies were even ranked according to the number of captives they had taken in battle. Which warrior society's members swore not to take a step backward during battle on pain of death? Discuss


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Joseph Conrad

It is very difficult to be wholly joyous or wholly sad on this earth. The comic, when it is human, soon takes upon itself a face of pain; and some of our griefs...have their source in weaknesses which must be recognized with smiling compassion as the common inheritance of us all. Discuss


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furbelow

Definition: (noun) A strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim.
Synonyms: ruffle, flounce, frill.
Usage: Those dresses are good, sensible, serviceable dresses, without any frills or furbelows about them, and they're all you'll get this summer.
Discuss

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Isidor Feinstein Stone (1907)

Stone worked on several newspapers in his native Philadelphia and in New York before starting his own investigative newsletter, I. F. Stone's Weekly. It was believed to have an influence far greater than the size of its readership, which included some of the nation's most prominent politicians, academicians, and journalists. The sole author, Stone created a unique blend of wit and pointed political commentary. After his death, Stone was alleged to have been a secret agent for what nation? Discuss


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"Silent Night, Holy Night" Celebration

"Silent Night, Holy Night" was written and composed by Franz Gruber and Father Josef Mohr. The carol was first performed on Christmas Eve, 1818, at St. Nickola Church in Oberndorf, Austria. This event is commemorated in Oberndorf, Hallein, Wagrain, Salzburg, and other towns in the state of Salzburg by holding a candlelight procession on December 24. Everyone sings the carol as they march to the church and again when they are inside. It is usually sung in various languages to honor the many nations where the birth of the Christ child is celebrated. Discuss


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Picture of the day for December 24, 2016

Interior of a chapel at the Vordere Niedere alp in the mountains near Andelsbuch, Vorarlberg, Austria. The chapel was designed by architects Cukrowicz Nachbaur and built in 2008.. Learn more.

cicatrix

Definition: (noun) A scar left by the formation of new connective tissue over a healing sore or wound.
Synonyms: scar.
Usage: It was clear from the cicatrix on his back that he had been punished at one time, but, whether as a slave or as a thief, we could not tell.
Discuss

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Night of the Radishes

Night of the Radishes is a festival dating from the 19th century that combines art, agriculture, and religion. It is held in the zócalo, or main square, in Oaxaca, Mexico. The radishes grow to yam-size here and are each uniquely shaped by growing through the rocky soil. Families harvest these vegetables, and combine and sculpt them into elaborate forms depicting biblical scenes, especially the nativity of Jesus. Historical and Aztec themes are also represented. After the awarding of cash prizes and ribbons, a fireworks display caps the night. Discuss


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Rutan Voyager Completes First Nonstop Flight around the World without Refueling (1986)

Piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, who first conceived of the craft and sketched it on the back of a napkin in 1981, the Rutan Voyager was the first aircraft to fly around the world without stopping or refueling. It took off from Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert on December 14, 1986, and landed there nine days later. The aircraft more than doubled the previous record of un-refueled flight set by a US Air Force B-52 in 1962. How much does the Rutan Voyager weigh? Discuss


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heave into view

To move or rise into sight, especially from a distance. Watch the video

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Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805)

Smith was the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In 1827, he claimed that an angel directed him to buried golden plates containing God's revelation, which he translated as the Book of Mormon. He led converts to Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, and introduced the custom of polygamy. When in 1844 he announced his candidacy for the presidency of the US, he and his brother were thrown in jail, where they were killed by a lynch mob. What happened to the church after his death? Discuss


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Edgar Allan Poe

The eye, like a shattered mirror, multiplies the images of sorrow. Discuss


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The Song Dynasty

The first government in history to issue paper money, the Song dynasty was the ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279. A culturally rich period for the arts, philosophy, and social life, the dynasty also bolstered naval strength and developed revolutionary new military technology—augmented by the use of gunpowder—to repel invaders. Nevertheless, the Song dynasty was conquered in 1279 by the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan. What nautical tool was invented during the era? Discuss


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