Month: August 2015

Columbus Sets Sail for the New World (1492)

By his early 30s, Columbus had become a master mariner in the Portuguese merchant service. Convinced that he could reach land by sailing west, he requested ships to attempt such a voyage from both John II of Portugal and Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain but was repeatedly rebuffed. Finally, after eight years of supplication by Columbus, the Spanish monarchs decided to risk the enterprise. He sailed from Spain with three small ships and, after sailing for more than two months, reached what island? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Crop Over

This harvest festival in Barbados was originally celebrated in the 1800s by slaves at the end of the sugar-cane harvest. Today, Crop Over is a civic celebration which takes place during the last three weeks of July and usually ends on the first Monday in August. There are historical displays, craft shows, fairs, open-air concerts, calypso music and dancing, and “stick licking”—a self-defense sport similar to fencing. The first Monday of August is the finale, known as the Kadooment, which includes the judging of costumed bands at the National Stadium and a grand calypso procession. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Joseph Paxton (1803)

Paxton was an English architect noted for his use of glass and iron in a manner that anticipated modern methods. He began his career as a landscape gardener and built two innovative greenhouses for the duke of Devonshire. These “glass houses” later served as a model for the Crystal Palace, made of iron and glass, which Paxton designed and built for the Great Exhibition of 1851. He was knighted for the success of his design. One of Paxton’s greenhouses was designed solely to house what plant? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine is the treatment and prevention of disease using practices that do not follow generally accepted medical methods and may not have a scientific explanation for their effectiveness; acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation, biofeedback, massage, and chiropractic therapies are just a few examples. The scientifically oriented, modern medical establishment has typically been skeptical about, and often opposed to, these treatments. What is the appeal to nature fallacy? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Sinking of PT-109 (1943)

While on patrol in the Pacific during WWII, USS PT-109 was run down by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri. The much smaller American boat was torn apart by the impact, and two seamen perished. The surviving crew, commanded by future US President John F. Kennedy, swam to safety on a nearby island and survived on coconuts for days before Solomon Islanders scouting the area found them. Kennedy’s actions made him a war hero. What did he use to send a message to Allies requesting a rescue? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Festas Gualterianas

The Festivals of St. Walter take place in Guimarães, the 12th-century capital of Portugal. The celebrations, which date back to 1452, include magnificent processions, fireworks, animal fairs, and displays of food and merchandise. Music, ranging from brass bands to modern jazz, can be heard all over the town. During the Sunday night procession known as the Procissão Gualteriana, the image of Saint Walter is carried from the church through the decorated streets of Guimarães while thousands of spectators gather to watch. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Peter O’Toole (1932)

O’Toole, a classical stage actor, debuted in London in 1956 and has since played a variety of Shakespearean roles. Tall and handsome, he catapulted to stardom in 1962 with his portrayal of British Army officer T. E. Lawrence in the desert epic Lawrence of Arabia. He went on to win praise for performances in films ranging from historical drama to high comedy and, though he never won, has been nominated for an Academy Award eight times. Despite this record, he received what award in 2003? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Bobby Hull

Bobby Hull, a retired Canadian ice hockey player, is considered the best left wing in the sport’s history. He began skating at the age of 3 and began playing with the National Hockey League’s Chicago Black Hawks in the 1957–58 season. Dissatisfied with his NHL salary, Hull responded to overtures from the upstart World Hockey Association’s Winnipeg Jets in 1972 by joking that he would sign with them for a million dollar contract; how did the Jets respond? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary