Month: August 2015

First Documented Meeting of Narcotics Anonymous (1953)

Modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is an organization dedicated to the treatment of drug addiction. Since its first meeting in 1953, NA has spread to more than 100 countries, with tens of thousands of meetings held regularly. Its 12-step program of recovery begins with the member’s admission that his or her life has become unmanageable due to powerlessness over addiction. What controversies have arisen over the group’s official literature? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Indonesia Independence Day

Indonesia had been a Dutch colony for 300 years when a group of revolutionaries declared independence on August 17, 1945. Indonesians endured four more years of struggle before their independence was formally granted by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. This national holiday is celebrated throughout Indonesia with parades, athletic events, and a multitude of cultural and performing arts festivals. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Samuel Goldwyn (1879)

Goldwyn was a Polish-born American film producer. He founded a film company that later merged with others to form Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). He produced Wuthering Heights, Guys and Dolls, and Porgy and Bess, among others. In 1946, he received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. Goldwyn is said to have had an explosive temper that left him with few close friends. He also became known for his “Goldwynisms”—odd sayings like “Include me out.” What are some other Goldwynisms? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Ukulele

The ukulele is a Hawaiian musical instrument developed from the Portuguese guitar. It has a fretted fingerboard and four strings that are plucked or strummed. A similar instrument is the banjolele, which has a banjo body. The ukulele became popular in the US through a 1915 exposition held in San Francisco, at which the Hawaiian Pavilion featured a guitar and ukulele ensemble. Vaudeville performers took it up, and its popularity spread. “Ukulele” is Hawaiian for what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Ray Chapman Fatally Injured by Pitch to the Head (1920)

For the entirety of his Major League Baseball career, Ray Chapman was a shortstop for Cleveland. He set a team record for stolen bases that would stand for decades, but his career was tragically cut short when he was hit in the head by a pitch thrown by Yankees hurler Carl Mays. According to eyewitnesses, Chapman likely never even saw the ball. He is the only Major League Baseball player to have died as a result of an injury received in a game. His death led the league to establish what rule? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

St. Roch’s Day

Also known as Roque or Rock, St. Roch (c. 1295-c. 1327) was a Frenchman who went on a pilgrimage to Rome. The plague struck while he was there, and, legend has it, he spent his time healing the afflicted by miraculous means. Known as the patron saint of the sick and the plague-stricken, St. Roch is honored annually throughout Italy. In Florence, there is a flower festival that includes a 14th-century historical costume parade, races, and competitions. In Realmonte, Sicily, the saint’s poverty is recalled with a procession of people dressed in rags who carry a shabby picture of the saint. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Wilhelm Wundt (1832)

Wundt was a German physiologist and psychologist who stressed the use of scientific methods in psychology. Regarded as one of the fathers of psychology and the founder of experimental psychology, Wundt is credited with many firsts in the field: he gave the first course in scientific psychology in 1862, established the first psychological laboratory in 1879, and founded the first journal of psychology in 1881. What famous expression is attributed to Wundt? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Salmonella

Salmonella is a certain type of bacteria, several species of which are responsible for typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, and food poisoning in humans. It is usually contracted from poultry, meat, or raw eggs and from food that has been cooked or frozen and not eaten right away. Salmonella poisoning could also result from handling reptiles, such as iguanas or terrapins, which commonly host the bacteria. According to the US government, what percentage of chickens is contaminated with salmonella? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary