Gilbert Chesterton

The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder. Discuss


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Taklamakan

One of the largest sandy deserts in the world, the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China is approximately 600 miles (965 km) across, with an area of 105,000 square miles (272,000 sq km). It is crossed at its northern and southern edges by two branches of the Silk Road, whose travelers sought to avoid the arid wasteland. Archeological digs in the Taklamakan's sand cover, which is 1,000 feet (300 m) thick in some places, have revealed what 4,000-year-old discoveries? Discuss


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unmindful

Definition: (adjective) Failing to give due care or attention; inattentive.
Synonyms: forgetful, mindless.
Usage: And here he lived, unmindful of the world and by the world forgotten.
Discuss

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Botswana Gains Independence from Britain (1966)

The 1867 discovery of gold in Botswana excited interest from several European powers. In 1885, the British created the Bechuanaland Protectorate there as a defense against the Boers. Although this spawned no nationalist movement, Britain granted it internal self-government in 1965 and full independence as Botswana the next year. Seretse Khama became its first president. Botswana's economy has developed rapidly since independence. Why is a member of the main tribe of Botswana called a Motswana? Discuss


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let (someone) loose (on something)

To allow someone to do something as they please, without supervision or control. Watch the video

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Jacques Necker (1732)

French financier and statesman Jacques Necker retired in the early 1780s. Returning to Paris in 1787, Necker was soon exiled from the city for engaging in public controversy over financial policy. In 1788, Louis XVI recalled Necker as director-general of finances and minister of state. Supporting reforms, he was acclaimed by the populace. When his enemies at court again secured his dismissal in 1789, the populace stormed the Bastille on July 14. What happened to Necker? Discuss


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Feast of the Hunters' Moon

October was traditionally the time when the voyageurs, or traders, came to Fort Ouiatenon (in what is now Lafayette, Indiana) to trade their goods, gossip with the local French settlers, and generally relax and enjoy themselves before setting out on their next journey. The Feast of the Hunter's Moon, which was first held in 1968, begins with the arrival of the voyageurs by canoe on the Wabash River. Events include Indian chants, French folk songs, demonstrations of traditional crafts, and the cooking of typical French and Indian foods over an open fire. Discuss


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Picture of the day for September 30, 2017

Ceiling of the Sioni Cathedral, a Georgian Orthodox cathedral in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. The cathedral is situated in historic Sionis Kucha (Sioni Street) in downtown Tbilisi. It was initially built in the 6th and 7th centuries. Since then, it has been destroyed by foreign invaders and reconstructed several times. The current church is based on a 13th-century version with some changes from the 17th to 19th centuries. The Sioni Cathedral was the main Georgian Orthodox Cathedral and the seat of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia until the Holy Trinity Cathedral was consecrated in 2004.. Learn more.

Picture of the day for September 29, 2017

Fresco in the dome of Maria Taferl Basilica (Lower Austria) by Antonio Beduzzi (1714-1718): Life and assumption of Mary. Learn more.

Picture of the day for September 28, 2017

Black-headed weaver (Ploceus cucullatus bohndorffi) male, in his breeding plumage, building a nest in Uganda. Females choose a mate based on their nest-weaving skills.. Learn more.

Cosimo de' Medici (1389)

The son of a Florentine banker, Cosimo de' Medici was an able financier who vastly expanded the family's banking business. In 1433, he was banished from the city by a rival family but returned a year later. With the support of the people, he became the first of the Medici family to rule Florence. He sought a balance of power among the Italian states and made his power as little felt as possible. He was also a noted patron of scholarship and the arts. What celebrated sculptor did he support? Discuss


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Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot (1888)

Eliot was an American-British poet and critic and an immensely distinguished literary figure who, from the 1920s on, was the most influential English-language modernist poet. His early poems, such as "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and "The Waste Land," express the anguish and barrenness of modern life and the isolation of the individual. In his later poetry, he turned from spiritual desolation to hope for human salvation. What book by Eliot is the basis for the musical Cats?


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Shel Silverstein (1932)

Silverstein was an American cartoonist, children's author, poet, songwriter, and playwright. Often compared to Dr. Seuss, he wrote and illustrated innovative books of verse for children, including Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and The Giving Tree. His quirky verse, which touches on common childhood anxieties and wishes, is credited with helping youngsters develop an appreciation for poetry. What hit song, performed by Johnny Cash, was written by Silverstein?


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Tonight Hosted by Steve Allen Premieres on NBC (1954)

In 1954, Tonight debuted with 32-year-old Steve Allen hosting. The humorous late-night talk show came to occupy a prominent place in American television and has aired for more than 50 years, usually on weeknights. Some of its longer-running hosts have included Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, and Jay Leno, each backed by house musicians. In 1960, Paar walked off stage in the middle of a show, angry that censors had cut one of his jokes. He returned weeks later. What was the joke? Discuss


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Steamship RMS Queen Mary Is Launched (1934)

Construction on the Queen Mary ocean liner began in Scotland in 1930. In 1934, British King George V's consort, Queen Mary, christened the ship in her own name. Operated by the Cunard Line, the glamorous luxury ship carried passengers between New York and England for decades—except during World War II, when it was painted grey and converted to carry troops. In the 1960s, air travel rendered transatlantic passenger ships obsolete, and the Queen Mary was retired. Where is it now?


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The Maze Prison Escape (1983)

Maze Prison was a high-security prison in Northern Ireland that housed incarcerated members of the Irish Republican Army during the Troubles. In 1983, the Maze suffered the biggest jailbreak in British history. Using smuggled guns and knives, 38 prisoners overpowered prison guards and hijacked a food truck. One prison officer died during the escape and several others were wounded. Although half of the escapees were soon recaptured, the remaining 19 got away. What happened to them?


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Nubian Pyramids

In the 8th century BCE, Egypt was conquered by Kushites from Napata—a city located to the south of Egypt in the area known today as Sudan. Although Napatan pharaohs ruled Egypt, it was Egypt that had an enormous cultural impact on Napata, prompting a period of vigorous pyramid-building that continued even in Napata's successor kingdom, Meroë. Approximately 220 pyramids were eventually built as tombs for Kushite kings and queens. These pyramids differ from their Egyptian counterparts in what way? Discuss


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Prokudin-Gorsky: The Empire That Was Russia

Educated as a chemist, Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky devoted himself to the development of early color photography. By taking rapid sequences of monochrome photos through different colored filters and overlaying them, he was able to reconstruct original color scenes. Around 1905, he set out to document the Russian Empire and went on to capture vivid portraits of a lost world—the nation on the eve of World War I and the coming Russian revolution. What did Tsar Nicholas II give him to aid in the project?


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The P-51 Mustang

A single-seat, single-engine monoplane produced for Britain's Royal Air Force and later adopted by the US Air Force, the P-51 Mustang was a fighter aircraft that played a significant part in defeating the German Luftwaffe during World War II. Originally equipped with eight machine guns and a camera for reconnaissance, the P-51 was a superb long-range fighter with a maximum speed of 390 mph (630 km/h). Though eventually replaced by jet fighters, P-51s were used in some air forces until when?


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Feast Day of the French Community

Each of the autonomous regions of Belgium observes its own feast day. Feast Day of the French Community (La fête de la Communauté française de Belgique) is a celebration of linguistic heritage and national independence. It largely takes place in the Walloon cities of Namur, Liege, Huy, and Charleroi, and is a public assertion of the linguistic and ethnic rights of French speakers. All schools and administrative buildings are closed for the feast day. Discuss


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Birthday of Johnny Appleseed

John Chapman—better known as Johnny Appleseed for his lifelong dedication to planting apple seedlings all over the American Midwest—was born on this day in 1774. While some frontier settlers thought he was a saint, or at the very least a religious fanatic, with his tin pot hat and coffee-sack tunic, the Native Americans regarded him as a great medicine man since he planted herbs as well as apples.


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Marshall Islands Lutok Kobban Alele

The inhabitants of the Marshall Islands have long kept a tradition centered on the alele, a soft-sided basket handmade from the native pandanus plant. "Lutok Kobban Alele" is a weeklong festival that honors the basket as a national symbol and celebrates Marshallese culture in general, concluding with an official ceremony on Manit Day, a public holiday observed on the last Friday of September. Activities take place in the capital city of Majuro and include performances by Marshallese singers and dancers, feasts, traditional storytelling, and demonstrations of basket weaving and cooking.


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let down (one's) hair

To cease acting formally or conservatively; to let go of one's inhibitions or reservations. Watch the video

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l'esprit de l'escalier

A French phrase meaning "the wit of the staircase"; a perfect witty remark, retort, or rejoinder that occurs to one after the fact or too late to be used. (Also written as "l'esprit d'escalier.") Watch the video

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lemon law

A law requiring an automobile manufacturer or dealer to replace, repair, or refund the cost of an automobile that proves to be defective after purchase. Watch the video

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Henry James

To read between the lines was easier than to follow the text. Discuss


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Virginia Woolf

Why are women...so much more interesting to men than men are to women?


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Ambrose Bierce

Enthusiasm, n.: A distemper of youth, curable by small doses of repentance in connection with outward applications of experience.


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Picture of the day for September 27, 2017

A sports car Lamborghini Gallardo during a race of Lamborghini Super Trofeo.. Learn more.

Prokudin-Gorsky: The Empire That Was Russia

Educated as a chemist, Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky devoted himself to the development of early color photography. By taking rapid sequences of monochrome photos through different colored filters and overlaying them, he was able to reconstruct original color scenes. Around 1905, he set out to document the Russian Empire and went on to capture vivid portraits of a lost world—the nation on the eve of World War I and the coming Russian revolution. What did Tsar Nicholas II give him to aid in the project? Discuss


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Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot (1888)

Eliot was an American-British poet and critic and an immensely distinguished literary figure who, from the 1920s on, was the most influential English-language modernist poet. His early poems, such as "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and "The Waste Land," express the anguish and barrenness of modern life and the isolation of the individual. In his later poetry, he turned from spiritual desolation to hope for human salvation. What book by Eliot is the basis for the musical Cats? Discuss


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Picture of the day for September 26, 2017

A new Type A36 tram on Lidingöbanan crossing Lidingöbron (the Lidingö bridge), Stockholm, Sweden on 24th October 2015. Lidingöbanan (the Lidingö line) was reopened on 24 October after being closed since summer 2013 for engineering works, modernisation and installation of new equipment.. Learn more.

The Maze Prison Escape (1983)

Maze Prison was a high-security prison in Northern Ireland that housed incarcerated members of the Irish Republican Army during the Troubles. In 1983, the Maze suffered the biggest jailbreak in British history. Using smuggled guns and knives, 38 prisoners overpowered prison guards and hijacked a food truck. One prison officer died during the escape and several others were wounded. Although half of the escapees were soon recaptured, the remaining 19 got away. What happened to them? Discuss


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The P-51 Mustang

A single-seat, single-engine monoplane produced for Britain's Royal Air Force and later adopted by the US Air Force, the P-51 Mustang was a fighter aircraft that played a significant part in defeating the German Luftwaffe during World War II. Originally equipped with eight machine guns and a camera for reconnaissance, the P-51 was a superb long-range fighter with a maximum speed of 390 mph (630 km/h). Though eventually replaced by jet fighters, P-51s were used in some air forces until when? Discuss


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cosmopolitan

Definition: (adjective) Pertinent or common to the whole world.
Synonyms: ecumenical, general, universal, worldwide.
Usage: World peace is an issue of cosmopolitan import.
Discuss

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Ambrose Bierce

Enthusiasm, n.: A distemper of youth, curable by small doses of repentance in connection with outward applications of experience. Discuss


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Marshall Islands Lutok Kobban Alele

The inhabitants of the Marshall Islands have long kept a tradition centered on the alele, a soft-sided basket handmade from the native pandanus plant. "Lutok Kobban Alele" is a weeklong festival that honors the basket as a national symbol and celebrates Marshallese culture in general, concluding with an official ceremony on Manit Day, a public holiday observed on the last Friday of September. Activities take place in the capital city of Majuro and include performances by Marshallese singers and dancers, feasts, traditional storytelling, and demonstrations of basket weaving and cooking. Discuss


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Shel Silverstein (1932)

Silverstein was an American cartoonist, children's author, poet, songwriter, and playwright. Often compared to Dr. Seuss, he wrote and illustrated innovative books of verse for children, including Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and The Giving Tree. His quirky verse, which touches on common childhood anxieties and wishes, is credited with helping youngsters develop an appreciation for poetry. What hit song, performed by Johnny Cash, was written by Silverstein? Discuss


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lemon law

A law requiring an automobile manufacturer or dealer to replace, repair, or refund the cost of an automobile that proves to be defective after purchase. Watch the video

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Picture of the day for September 25, 2017

Night view of the World Clock (Urania-Weltzeituhr), Alexanderplatz, Berlin, Germany. The 10 metres (33 ft)-high clock shows the time in 148 cities worldwide and was inaugurated in 1969. The clock has become one of the symbols of Berlin and is a popular meeting point for the people in the capital.. Learn more.

Black Friday (1869)

In 1869, American financial speculators Jay Gould and James Fisk attempted to corner the gold market by trying to prevent the sale of government gold, which they hoped to achieve by influencing President Ulysses Grant. The plan backfired when Grant discovered the plot and released $4 million of government gold for sale. On a day that came to be known as Black Friday, the price of gold plummeted, panic ensued, and thousands were ruined—though not Gould or Fisk. How did they gain access to Grant? Discuss


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The Tunguska Event

In 1908, a massive aerial explosion near Siberia's Stony Tunguska River flattened 500,000 acres (2,000 sq km) of forest—felling an estimated 80 million trees over 830 sq mi (2,150 sq km) and producing a shockwave that shattered windows hundreds of miles away. Known as the Tunguska event, the explosion is thought to have measured 5.0 on the Richter scale, with an estimated energy 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. What do most scientists believe caused the event? Discuss


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cerebral

Definition: (adjective) Involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct.
Synonyms: intellectual.
Usage: She preferred to take a cerebral approach to the problem and sat for hours in deep contemplation.
Discuss

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F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896)

An American novelist and short-story writer, Fitzgerald was the literary spokesman of the "jazz age" of the 1920s. The characters in his books—which include This Side of Paradise, The Beautiful and the Damned, and his masterpiece, The Great Gatsby—lead madcap, gin-drenched, spiritually bankrupt lives that closely resemble his own. In his later years, Fitzgerald was plagued by financial worries and his wife's insanity. Why might he have lied about having tuberculosis? Discuss


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a legend in (one's) own mind

A person who affects or believes him- or herself to be of greater importance or notoriety than is actually the case. A humorous, ironic twist on the phrase "a legend in one's own lifetime." Watch the video

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Whole Enchilada Fiesta

The Whole Enchilada Fiesta is marked by lots of red chili, lots of corn meal, lots of cheese, and lots of people. This festival in Las Cruces, New Mexico, draws about 100,000 people who scramble to get a taste of the world's biggest enchilada. It's 10 feet long and is made of 750 pounds of stone ground corn for the dough, 75 gallons of red chili sauce, and 175 pounds of cheese. The enchilada is prepared as the climactic Sunday afternoon event. Before this grand moment, there will have been a parade, street dances, arts and crafts exhibits, and a fun run. Discuss


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Herman Melville

There, then, he sat, the sign and symbol of a man without faith, hopelessly holding up hope in the midst of despair. Discuss


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Picture of the day for September 24, 2017

Female cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa. To celebrate Heritage Day in South Africa (24 September).. Learn more.

Namaste

One of the few Sanskrit words commonly recognized by non-Hindi speakers, namaste is an Indian gesture, greeting, and parting phrase. Derived from a Sanskrit phrase literally meaning "I bow to you," namaste is universally accepted in India and Nepal by Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians. When said to another person, it is commonly accompanied by a slight bow made with the hands held together in front of the chest. What is indicated by placing one's hands entirely above the head? Discuss


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Candy Dance Arts and Crafts Faire

In 1919, the Candy Dance began in the town of Genoa, in northern Nevada, as a way to raise funds to install street lights. This soon became a popular event, attracting dancers from Reno and Carson City to join the fun. More than two tons of candy are now consumed during the dance weekend. In the 1970s, an arts and crafts fair was added to the two-day event. Activities for children include candle-making, face-painting, and tattoos. The Candy Dance Arts and Crafts Faire, as it is now officially known, provides a substantial part of Genoa's annual operating budget. Discuss


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John Coltrane (1926)

Coltrane was an influential American jazz saxophonist and composer. He worked with numerous big bands before emerging in the 1950s as a major stylist while playing with Miles Davis. His playing exhibited a dazzling technical brilliance as well as ardent emotion. Coltrane made a number of influential recordings, among them the 1960s classics My Favorite Things and A Love Supreme. He was deeply spiritual and interested in all religions. What church made him a saint after his death? Discuss


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The Lewis and Clark Expedition Returns (1806)

In May 1804, about 40 men left St. Louis, Missouri, and headed west on an expedition initiated by US President Thomas Jefferson to search out an overland route to the Pacific Ocean, make contact with indigenous peoples, and survey the new Louisiana Purchase. More than two years later, the party returned to great acclaim. Their journey had an incalculable effect on the history of the American West. Who accompanied the explorers and helped them negotiate with the Native Americans they encountered? Discuss


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a legend in (one's) own lifetime

A person who has an extraordinary level of fame or reputation while he or she is still alive. Watch the video

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arbiter

Definition: (noun) One chosen or appointed to judge or decide a disputed issue.
Synonyms: arbitrator, umpire.
Usage: In peace, from their want of confidence in each other, they will entrust the guardianship of the state to mercenaries and their general, who will be an arbiter between them.
Discuss

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Picture of the day for September 23, 2017

Maresenspitze (2,915 metres (9,564 ft)) in the High Tauern National Park near Mallnitz, Carinthia, Austria.. Learn more.

legal eagle

An especially clever, aggressive, or skillful attorney. Watch the video

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Picture of the day for September 22, 2017

Autumn in the hamlet Börnste, Kirchspiel, Dülmen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Learn more.

scrub

Definition: (noun) Dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes.
Synonyms: chaparral, bush.
Usage: The hikers slowly made their way through the dense scrub and reached the campsite by nightfall.
Discuss

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Picture of the day for September 21, 2017

Panoramic view of the Geghard Monastery and its surroundings, Kotayk province, Armenia. The monastery, recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site, was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator at the site of a sacred spring inside a cave, whereas the chapel was built in 1215.. Learn more.

Maxwell Perkins (1884)

After joining the publishing firm of Charles Scribner's Sons, Perkins became an enormously well-regarded editor with a genius for recognizing and fostering new talent. Though best known for the intensive editorial work that shaped Thomas Wolfe's sprawling manuscripts into publishable form, he also edited and published early works by then-unknown writers such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Erskine Caldwell. How many words did Perkins persuade Wolfe to cut from his first novel? Discuss


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be left (out) in the cold

To be ignored, forgotten, or excluded, as from a group, activity, benefit, etc. Watch the video

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Picture of the day for September 20, 2017

Dawn. A pond on the Tomashpilka river in the village of Komargorod. The first beams of the sun and fog over water. Tomashpil Raion of Vinnytsia Oblast. Ukraine.. Learn more.

St. Kitts and Nevis Independence Day

Saint Kitts and Nevis is an island nation in the West Indies in the Leeward Islands. In 1782, the British took permanent control over the islands; the islands, along with nearby Anguilla, were united in 1882. Anguilla seceded in 1980, and Saint Kitts and Nevis gained independence on September 19, 1983. Every year, the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis celebrate Independence Day on September 19. Various celebrations take place across the islands on this day, including a cultural program of dance, live music, local food, and traditional displays. Discuss


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Ötzi the Iceman Is Discovered by German Tourists (1991)

In 1991, two hikers discovered a well-preserved corpse trapped in ice near the border between Austria and Italy. It proved to be that of a man who lived about 5,300 years ago—making it the oldest natural mummy ever found. He was nicknamed Ötzi, for the Ötztal Alps where he was found. Also recovered were clothes, shoes, tools, weapons, fire-starting materials, and medicine. Scientists have since determined that Ötzi ate about eight hours before his death. What did he eat, and how did he die? Discuss


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