Butch Cassidy (1866)

Born Robert LeRoy Parker, Butch Cassidy was a notorious outlaw who began robbing trains and cattle rustling in the mid-1880s. By 1900, he had partnered with Harry Longabaugh—the “Sundance Kid,” whose nickname was derived from the name of a town where he had once been imprisoned. They became the foremost members of the Wild Bunch, a notorious group of bank and train robbers. The two evaded US authorities by escaping to South America, where they continued their criminal pursuits. How did they die? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Amazon.com

Amazon.com is the largest and one of the most widely known e-commerce shopping sites on the Web. The company was founded as an online bookstore by Jeff Bezos in 1995. It soon diversified its product lines, adding DVDs, electronics, furniture, and more. Its initial “slow growth” business plan was effective: when the Internet “bubble” burst and many e-companies went out of business, Amazon persevered. Why was the company sued by Barnes & Noble and Walmart in the late 1990s? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Record-Setting Wind Gust Recorded on Mt. Washington (1934)

The highest peak in the northeastern US, New Hampshire’s Mount Washington is famous for its erratic weather, caused partly by the convergence of storm tracks from the South Atlantic, Gulf region, and Pacific Northwest. Winds exceeding hurricane force occur there an average of 110 days a year. It is also where the highest directly measured surface wind speed—not including tornadoes or hurricanes—was recorded: 231 mph (372 km/h). What broke the world’s wind speed record? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Halifax Day

Also known as Halifax Resolves Day, Halifax Resolutions Day, Halifax Independence Day, or Halifax Resolutions of Independence Day, this is the day on which, in the spring of 1776, North Carolina‘s delegates to the Second Continental Congress were given permission to join with representatives from other colonies in declaring their independence from British rule. The Halifax Resolutions helped lay the groundwork for the American Revolution. Halifax Day observances take place in Halifax, North Carolina, with reenactments and living history camps. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Tom Clancy (1947)

Before beginning his writing career, American novelist Tom Clancy worked as an insurance agent. His first novel was the hit The Hunt for Red October, one of the defining works of the “techno-thriller” genre—suspenseful narratives in which military technology and espionage play a prominent part. He has 17 other bestsellers to his name, including Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger, the latter the bestselling novel of the 1980s. What are some of his nonfiction titles? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Mentmore Towers

Mentmore Towers is a large Neo-Renaissance English country house built in the 1850s for Baron Mayer de Rothschild. It was passed down to members of his family until the 1970s, when the government refused to accept the contents of the house in lieu of inheritance taxes, at which point the property was sold at public auction. The house has been featured in what recent films? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Attempted Overthrow of Venezuelan President Chavez (2002)

In 2002, anger over Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s reform plans led to an attempted coup d’état. On April 11, Chavez was detained and Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce President Pedro Carmona was installed as interim president. Carmona quickly dissolved the National Assembly and the Supreme Court and voided Venezuela’s constitution, but within 48 hours, the Presidential Guard retook the presidential palace, and Chavez was reinstalled as president. What happened to Carmona? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Masters Golf Tournament

Known to golf fans everywhere as The Masters, this annual tournament has been held at the exclusive Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia since it was first started there in 1934. The qualifying rounds are held on Thursday and Friday of the four-day tournament, and the top 44 finishers participate in the final round. In addition to the cash prize, the winner receives a trophy and a green blazer. On the Tuesday night before the tournament, there is a Champions Dinner attended by past winners and hosted by the defending champion—all of them wearing their distinctive green jackets. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary