Herman Melville

Let us speak, though we show all our faults and weaknesses,—for it is a sign of strength to be weak, to know it, and out with it. Discuss


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Lady Margaret Beaufort (1443)

Beaufort was an English noblewoman, wife of Edmund Tudor, and the mother of Henry VII, founder of the Tudor Dynasty. She gave birth to Henry at 13, shortly after being widowed, and developed a close bond with her only child. Renowned for her philanthropy, she endowed professorships of divinity at Oxford and Cambridge and with the help of her confessor, John Fisher, founded Christ's College and St. John's College, Cambridge. She later acted as regent for Henry VIII. How many times did she marry? Discuss


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Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day

The formation of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces took place on May 31, 1961, and is commemorated each year. Brunei had been a British protectorate since 1888, dependent on the British armed forces for its defense. In 1961, Brunei recruits began training as part of a transition period toward independence for the country, which occurred in 1984. Around the country, there may be parades and military displays put on by various units of the armed forces. In the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, it is usually commemorated at the Taman Haji Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien in the city center. Discuss


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prostration

Definition: (noun) An abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion.
Synonyms: collapse.
Usage: The weakness of the young missionary became so extreme that they had to lay him again on the bed, where a prostration, lasting for several hours, held him like a dead man.
Discuss

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Copyright Act of 1790 Signed into US Law (1790)

After the US Constitution was ratified in 1788, one of the first issues that the fledgling government faced was the lack of a copyright law. Without it, Congress would be swamped with individual petitions for protection from piracy. Modeled on Britain's Statute of Anne, the Copyright Act of 1790 was soon signed into law by President Washington. Instituted to encourage learning by securing US authors the sole rights to their work for 14-year periods, it drew what complaint from Charles Dickens? Discuss


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drag (someone) kicking and screaming

To force someone to go somewhere or do something against his or her will, especially when he or she protests against it vehemently and/or at great length. Watch the video

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Frogmen

An allusion to the appearance of divers clad in shiny wetsuits and wearing large fins on their feet, the term "frogman" was first used to describe scuba divers around 1940. Although scuba users prefer to be called "divers," the word "frogman" is often used, especially by the media, to refer to professional divers, such as soldiers, who carry out amphibious assaults, sabotage operations, and clandestine surveys. What types of tools and weapons can frogmen carry underwater? Discuss


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Dominican Republic Dictator Rafael Trujillo Is Assassinated (1961)

Trujillo was a military strongman who seized control of the Dominican Republic in 1930 and ruled it as a dictator for the next 30 years. He renamed the capital after himself and forced all citizens to join his political party. He brutally suppressed dissent and ordered the infamous 1937 Parsley Massacre, in which up to 30,000 Haitians living near the Dominican border were murdered. In 1961, Trujillo was ambushed and shot to death by seven men. Why was the CIA said to be involved? Discuss


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motley

Definition: (adjective) Consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds.
Synonyms: assorted, miscellaneous, mixed, sundry.
Usage: The other occupants of the room, five in number, were all females, and they were still sleeping, piled high with a motley array of silks and furs.
Discuss

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be kicked upstairs

To be promoted to a higher role or position in a company that has little actual responsibility or authority. Watch the video

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Mel Blanc (1908)

One of the most prolific voice actors of all time, Blanc began his career in radio. In 1933, he began to work for a daily radio program, for which he created several voices. In 1937, he joined the cartoon department of Warner Brothers. During his 50-year career, he supplied voices in more than 3,000 animated cartoons for hundreds of characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Woody Woodpecker. What nod to Blanc's career is inscribed on his tombstone? Discuss


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Kaamatan Festival

Kaamatan is a festival and public holiday in the state of Sabah in Malaysia. The festival is celebrated by the Kadazandusun people, the largest indigenous ethnic group in Sabah. Irrigated rice is their principal crop, and the harvest is a ritual dedicated to the Bambaazon, or rice spirit. If the harvest has been good, this is a thanksgiving; if it has been poor, the ritual is an appeasement of the spirit. This festival is celebrated during the month of May with carnivals, special exhibits, sports competitions, and a regatta, all leading up to the harvest rituals on May 30-31 in Penampang. Discuss


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The Cheka

Established by Vladimir Lenin in 1917, the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution, Speculation, and Sabotage, also known as the Cheka, was the first in a succession of Soviet state security organizations. Its troops policed labor camps, ran the Gulag system, put down worker riots, and orchestrated the campaign of repression that came to be known as the "Red Terror." Early Chekists made wearing what apparel fashionable among Western Communists? Discuss


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War Cycles

Although the theory that wars are fought in cycles was once met with widespread skepticism—primarily because the topic tends to attract those interested in paranormal issues—the advent of computer algorithms has renewed interest in the scientific analysis of conflict. Quantitative studies of the bellicosity of both Western and Chinese civilizations over time have found that China once experienced a period of peace lasting far longer than that in the West. What do researchers believe caused this? Discuss


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Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling

In Gloucestershire, England, cheese rolling is believed to have been a popular annual sport for at least 500 years. Cooper's Hill, which is located near Brockworth and is a thousand feet high, is famous for its fine pasture lands. Rolling the cheese down the hill traditionally reminded villagers of their right to graze sheep there. Early in the evening, the event leader, in a white smock and top hat, rolls the "cheese" discs (nowadays, three or four large wooden discs) down the hill. People chase after them, and the first to capture one of the discs receives a small prize. Discuss


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Jane Austen

No man is offended by another man's admiration of the woman he loves; it is the woman only who can make it a torment. Discuss


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Bob Hope (1903)

Famous for his "ski-jump" nose, superb timing, and irreverent attitude, Hope was an immensely popular American comedian. He debuted in vaudeville in the 1920s and later performed on radio, television, stage, and in more than 50 films. He hosted the Oscars a record-breaking 17 times over 38 years. A master of comic monologues and mildly bawdy one-liners, he was a tireless entertainer of US troops overseas. When asked on his deathbed at age 100 where he wanted to be buried, how did he respond? Discuss


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Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring Sparks a Riot (1913)

The Rite of Spring is a landmark ballet by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky that provoked a riot when it premiered at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris. Expecting the demure conventions of classical ballet, the audience was caught off-guard by Stravinsky's dissonant score and Vaslav Nijinsky's violently untraditional choreography depicting fertility rites. Fistfights broke out between detractors and supporters, and chaos ensued. What Disney film popularized the ballet? Discuss


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a kick at the can

An opportunity to do, try, or achieve something. Primarily heard in Canada. Watch the video

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dissociate

Definition: (verb) To remove from association; separate.
Synonyms: disjoint, disunite, divorce.
Usage: The senator dissociated herself from the organization when she found out that its president had been involved in an embezzlement scheme.
Discuss

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Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz (1807)

Agassiz was a Swiss-born naturalist and geologist. Noticing the presence of huge alpine boulders in areas of Switzerland where there are no glaciers, he hypothesized that glaciers had, at one time, been widespread in the area and had dragged the boulders there. This lent credence to his theory of a recent ice age. He was also a renowned teacher and did notable work with fossils. Agassiz was a lifelong opponent, on religious grounds, of what now-accepted scientific theory? Discuss


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NASA Announces Discovery of Ice Deposits on Mars (2002)

Launched in April 2001, the Mars Odyssey spacecraft was sent by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to look for evidence of water on Mars. A little over a year later, NASA announced that water had been detected there in the form of ice, suggesting the possibility of microbial life on the Red Planet. The Phoenix lander confirmed the presence of water in 2008. The presence of what element led NASA researchers to conclude that there was indeed water on Mars? Discuss


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be a different kettle of fish

To be entirely different in scope or description from someone or something that was just being discussed. Watch the video

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nerveless

Definition: (adjective) Lacking strength or energy; spiritless; weak.
Synonyms: feeble.
Usage: He was a weak, nerveless fool, devoid of energy and promptitude.
Discuss

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Deep Brain Stimulation

Deep brain stimulation is a medical treatment that involves the use of a device called a brain pacemaker, which sends high-frequency electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain via implanted electrodes. The technique has provided remarkable therapeutic benefits for otherwise treatment-resistant disorders such as chronic pain and Parkinson's disease, however, its underlying principles and mechanisms are still not clear, and there is potential for serious side effects, including what? Discuss


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Charlotte Perkins Gilman

But reason has no power against feeling, and feeling older than history is no light matter. Discuss


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Big Singing

Big Singing in Benton, Kentucky, brings together more than 100 singers trained in the tradition of shape-note singing. Together they enjoy a communal picnic lunch and spend the day singing hymns written in an almost-extinct style of musical notation called shape notes. A book titled The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion increased the popularity of this kind of singing in 19th-century America. The Big Singing in Benton dates back to 1884; it is currently sponsored by the Society for the Preservation of Southern Harmony Singing. Discuss


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Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794)

Cornelius was the patriarch of the famous Vanderbilt family. As a youth, he ferried freight and passengers in New York Harbor. As an adult, he gained control of most of the ferry lines around New York City and quickly expanded up and down the coast. He had similar success in the railroad business and died with an estate worth more than $100 million, the largest personal fortune accumulated in the US to that date. Why did Vanderbilt, who had 13 children, leave nearly everything to just one son? Discuss


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Body Farms

Body farms are used in the field of forensic anthropology to help law enforcement officials, medical examiners, and crime scene investigators study human decomposition. The original body farm, the University of Tennessee Forensic Anthropology Facility, is simply a wooded area where bodies are exposed to the elements in different ways and left to decompose. These experiments help researchers understand how various conditions affect decomposition. How do body farms acquire their cadavers? Discuss


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Ramadan

The month of Ramadan traditionally begins with the actual sighting of the new moon, marking the start of the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar. This holiest season in the Islamic year commemorates the time when the Qur'an, the Islamic holy book, is said to have been revealed to Muhammad. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars (fundamental religious duties) of Islam. It is a time for self-examination and increased religious devotion. The Fast of Ramadan ends when the new moon is again sighted and the new lunar month begins. Discuss


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a kernel of truth

A singular element of truth or wisdom within a greater story, narrative, speech, or claim, especially when most or all other elements are fictitious or of questionable veracity. Watch the video

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Thomas Hardy

The sky was clear—remarkably clear—and the twinkling of all the stars seemed to be but throbs of one body, timed by a common pulse. Discuss


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Christopher Reeve Is Paralyzed (1995)

Having starred in four Superman movies beginning in 1978, Reeve was an immensely popular actor by the 1990s. He was also an avid athlete and equestrian. During an event in 1995, his horse spooked before a jump, throwing Reeve. He landed on his head and was paralyzed from the neck down. He briefly considered suicide, but instead spent the rest of his life campaigning for spinal injury research. His friend Robin Williams was the first person to make Reeve laugh after the accident. How? Discuss


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facile

Definition: (adjective) Working, acting, or speaking with effortless ease and fluency.
Synonyms: eloquent, silver-tongued, smooth-spoken, fluent, silver.
Usage: Those facile and brilliant phrases and ideas struck me as the finest things I had yet known in literature, and I borrowed the book and read it through.
Discuss

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The Blombos Cave

Located in a limestone cliff on the coast of South Africa, Blombos Cave is an archaeological site made famous in the 1990s, when excavators uncovered 75,000-year-old beads, 80,000-year-old bone tools, and some of the earliest evidence of fishing, dating back approximately 140,000 years. The finds suggest the existence of cognitive behaviors not previously associated with Middle Stone Age people. What other items have been found at the site? Discuss


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Vauxhall Bridge Opens in London (1906)

Vauxhall Bridge is an arch bridge over the River Thames in central London. Despite its public garden and location, the Vauxhall area was sparsely populated before the 19th century, and a plan for a bridge there was hatched in 1809 to help develop the area. The resulting bridge was in terrible shape by the end of the century, however, and construction on a new, richly decorated, steel-and-granite replacement began in 1898. A major transport artery today, the bridge is adorned with what statues? Discuss


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invertebrate

Definition: (adjective) Lacking a backbone or spinal column; not vertebrate.
Synonyms: spineless.
Usage: The sixth grade class groaned in unison as the students learned that they would be dissecting worms during their study of invertebrates.
Discuss

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Guyana Independence Day

This public holiday marks Guyana's independence from Britain on this day in 1966. Republic Day, or Mashramani, is another national holiday, commemorating February 23, 1970, when Guyana became a republic. Discuss


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be on track

To progress or develop as planned, scheduled, or expected. Watch the video

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Oscar Wilde

As long as war is regarded as wicked it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular. Discuss


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Al Jolson (1886)

Jolson was one of the most popular entertainers in the US in the 1930s. The son of a rabbi, he had planned to be a cantor but instead became a singer and comedian. By the age of 15, he was touring in vaudeville and minstrel shows. His 1909 blackface performance of "Mammy" was a hit, and he performed on Broadway and the radio. In 1927, he starred in the first feature-length "talkie," The Jazz Singer. How do scholars differ in their analysis of Jolson's use of blackface in his performances? Discuss


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floorwalker

Definition: (noun) An employee of a department store who supervises sales personnel and assists customers.
Synonyms: shopwalker.
Usage: Although Bill thoroughly enjoyed the raise associated with his promotion to floorwalker, he disliked answering customer complaints and sometimes wished he had remained a cashier.
Discuss

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Beverly Sills (1929)

Sills was an American operatic soprano. She sang on the radio as a child and made her operatic debut in 1946. Her 1966 performance in Julius Caesar made her an opera star, not just for her voice, but also for her acting. After 25 years of singing with the New York City Opera, she became its director, and she also served as chairman of the board of New York's Lincoln Center and of the Metropolitan Opera. In 2006, she claimed to have stopped singing, even in the shower, for what reason? Discuss


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Millions Participate in Hands Across America (1986)

Hands Across America was a massive, heavily publicized fundraiser during which millions of people, including scores of celebrities and politicians, lined up in the hopes of forming a human chain stretching from New York to California. Though they did not succeed in this regard—there were many gaps along the way—the event raised $20 million. Had all of the participants actually given the $10 required donation, it would have reached its $50-million goal. For what cause was the money raised? Discuss


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Iris Recognition

Iris recognition, not to be confused with retinal scanning, is a type of biometric authentication that uses pattern recognition techniques to analyze the irises of an individual's eyes. Iris recognition is rarely impeded by glasses or contact lenses and has a staggering accuracy rate when it comes to yielding unambiguous identifications. In fact, the eyes have been described as the ideal human body part for biometric identification. What advantages does iris recognition have over fingerprinting? Discuss


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Jordan Independence Day

A treaty signed on this day in 1946 established the constitutional monarchy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and secured the nation's independence from Great Britain. Parades through the capital city of Amman mark the celebrations of this national holiday. Discuss


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keep (one's) socks on

To remain patient and calm, especially when beginning to become angry or upset with impatience. Usually said as an imperative. Watch the video

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impermanent

Definition: (adjective) Not lasting or durable; not permanent.
Synonyms: temporary.
Usage: After weeks of carefully constructing the beautiful sand mandala, the Tibetan monks quietly swept it away in a ceremony emphasizing the impermanent nature of existence.
Discuss

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Squatting

Squatting is the act of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building that one does not own, rent, or have permission to use. Many of the slums and shanty towns found in the world's poorest countries began as squats established on illegally occupied land. Commonly seen in urban areas the world over, squats function as residences as well as social centers. According to one source, there may be as many as one billion squatters globally. What is the international squatters' symbol? Discuss


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Joseph Brodsky (1940)

Soon after Brodsky began writing poetry in the USSR in the 1950s, he was accused by the government of "social parasitism" and sentenced to hard labor. Exiled in 1972, he settled in New York and began writing in English. He was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1987 and was poet laureate of the US for a time. His poetry, with its themes of loss and exile, is highly regarded for its intensity, depth, and wit. What was his retort when a Soviet judge once asked him, "Who enrolled you in the ranks of poets?" Discuss


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Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day)

Jerusalem Day commemorates the capture and reunification of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War (on 28 Iyyar 5727 on the Jewish calendar—June 7, 1967), after which Israel gained possession of the Old City of Jerusalem and other Arab lands. Although there are no specific rituals connected with this holiday, it is common to recite the Hallel (Psalms 115-118), Psalm 107, and the Aleinu, or concluding prayer. Because this day falls during the Lag ba-Omer period, the mourning customs traditionally observed during this time are suspended for the day. Discuss


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Jerome K. Jerome

I can see the humorous side of things and enjoy the fun when it comes; but look where I will, there seems to me always more sadness than joy in life. Discuss


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USSR Begins Drilling World's Deepest Hole (1970)

The Kola Superdeep Borehole project was an attempt to dig as far as possible into the Earth's crust. It began when, in 1970, following setbacks in the Space Race, Soviet scientists looked downward. Digging on the remote Kola Peninsula for some 20 years, they reached a depth of 40,230 feet (12,262 m)—about a third of the way through the Earth's crust—before being forced to stop due to higher-than-expected temperatures of 350° F (180° C). Surprisingly, water was found at what depth? Discuss


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keep (one's) slate clean

To maintain an impeccable record; to refrain from committing any mistakes or wrongdoings. Watch the video

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Ayyavazhi

Ayyavazhi is a belief system that originated in South India in the 19th century. Many consider it a Hindu sect—including the majority of its followers—however, academics often define it as an independent monistic religion. While its ideology is quite similar to that of Hinduism, some Ayyavazhi beliefs and practices differ from the Hindu tradition, especially those relating to the concepts of good and evil as well as dharma. On whose teachings is Ayyavazhi based? Discuss


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Declaration of the Bab

Declaration of the Bab is a joyous Baha'i festival to celebrate the Bab's announcement in 1844 in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), that he was the "gate" (which is the meaning of Bab) to the coming of the promised one of all religions. This proclamation is considered the beginning of the Baha'i faith, although the religion was founded after the Bab's death. This day is holy to Baha'is and a day on which work is suspended. Its observation begins at about two hours after sunset on May 22. Discuss


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Rosemary Clooney (1928)

Clooney was an American singer popular in the 1950s with hits such as "Come On-a My House." She also appeared in several movies, including White Christmas (1954), which co-starred Bing Crosby. In the 1960s, mental illness and drug addiction took a toll on her career, but she made a comeback in the mid-1970s and performed until her death in 2002. Her 1968 mental breakdown was precipitated by the assassination—as she stood nearby—of what personal friend? Discuss


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New York Public Library Dedicated (1911)

When former New York governor Samuel J. Tilden died in 1886, he left $2.4 million in his will for the creation of a grand public library. At that time, there were two other important libraries in New York City—the Astor and the Lenox—but they were struggling. With Tilden's gift, they were merged in 1895. The new library's cornerstone was laid in 1902 at the old Croton Reservoir on Fifth Avenue, and it finally opened to the public in 1911. By 1910, how many miles of shelves had been installed? Discuss


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cathexis

Definition: (noun) Concentration of emotional energy on an object or idea.
Synonyms: charge.
Usage: Freud thought of cathexis as a psychic analog of an electrical charge.
Discuss

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fingers crossed

An expression of hope that something one desires will come to pass or turn out to be true. A truncated version of the phrase "keep your fingers crossed." Watch the video

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Farmer Discovers Howe Caverns (1842)

Howe Caverns is a cave system in east-central New York that lies 156 ft (48 m) below ground. It was discovered in 1842, when farmer Lester Howe began to wonder why his cows all seemed to gather near one particular hill on hot summer days. Upon investigating, he felt a cool breeze blowing from a hole in the hill. He and a neighbor began to dig out the hole and uncovered the entrance to a cave. They explored it extensively and opened it for tours the next year. Why are there boats in the cave? Discuss


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keep (up) (one's) end of the bargain

To do as was promised in an agreement or bargain; to carry through with what one agreed to do. Also worded as "keep one's end of the bargain up." Watch the video

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degage

Definition: (adjective) Showing lack of emotional involvement.
Synonyms: detached, uninvolved.
Usage: Mrs. Smith was not easily impressed by excuses, and she adopted a degage pose on the arm of the easy chair as her son tried to explain why he missed dinner.
Discuss

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International Day for Biological Diversity

In 1994 the United Nations declared December 29 International Day for Biological Diversity. In the year 2000 they changed the date to May 22 in order to draw more attention to the observance. They also wished to honor the May 22, 2000, signing of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Discuss


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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859)

Conan Doyle was a Scottish writer noted for his tales about fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. Originally a doctor, Conan Doyle studied under the sharp-eyed Dr. Joseph Bell, who was noted for his ability to draw accurate conclusions about people through observation. Bell was thus the model for Holmes, who appeared for the first time in 1887. Conan Doyle "killed off" Holmes in 1893 but was forced by public demand to resurrect him. What famous unsolved hoax might the author have perpetrated? Discuss


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Green Man

A legendary pagan spirit later adopted by the Christian church, the Green Man is often depicted as a male figure covered in foliage or as a face surrounded by, made of, or sprouting leaves. He is represented in a variety of English church carvings made between the 11th and 20th centuries. From the Renaissance onward, elaborate variations on the Green Man theme began to appear in many other media. Which popular folklore characters are associated with the Green Man? Discuss


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Charles Darwin

To kill an error is as good a service as, and sometimes even better than, the establishing of a new truth or fact. Discuss


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World's Tallest Roller Coaster Opens in New Jersey (2005)

Reaching a height of 456 feet (139 m) and with a top speed of 128 mph (206 km/h), the Kingda Ka roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in Jackson, New Jersey, became the tallest and the fastest roller coaster in the world when it opened in 2005. It took both titles from Cedar Point park's Top Thrill Dragster, which was designed by the same company and is nearly identical. Kingda Ka lost its title as the world's fastest roller coaster in 2010 to what attraction? Discuss


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Rube Goldberg Machines

A Rube Goldberg machine is an exceedingly complex apparatus that performs a very simple task in an incredibly indirect and convoluted way. Named for cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who was known for illustrating such contraptions, the machines are now the subject several competitions in which teams are judged on their machine's ability to complete a certain task using as many steps as possible. What is an example of a simple task performed by one of Goldberg's illustrated mechanisms? Discuss


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craven

Definition: (adjective) Characterized by abject fear; cowardly.
Synonyms: recreant.
Usage: The cowardly shopkeeper angered the revolutionaries with his craven proposal to raise the white flag and surrender.
Discuss

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Kingsburg Swedish Festival

This festival pays tribute to the Swedish heritage of Kingsburg, California. The event began in 1924 as a luncheon to commemorate the midsummer celebration of the harvest in Sweden. Today it's a full-fledged festival running from Thursday through Sunday of the third weekend in May and attracts about 25,000 visitors. Traditional Swedish costumes are worn, and Swedish food is eaten—Swedish pancakes, Swedish pea soup, a smorgasbord. Events include a Parade of Trolls, raising of the May Pole, folk dancing, arts and crafts displays, a horse trot, and live entertainment. Discuss


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