Leon Czolgosz Assassinates William McKinley (1901)

In 1901, anarchist Leon Czolgosz shot US President William McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition, a World’s Fair in Buffalo, New York. McKinley died a week later, and Czolgosz was convicted of his murder and executed that same year. Though judged sane during the trial, Czolgosz is believed by some to have been mentally unstable after suffering a breakdown years earlier. What Broadway musical incorporates the story of Czolgosz with those of eight other presidential assassins? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Great Montana Sheep Drive

Called “The World’s Largest Small Town Parade,” the Great Montana Sheep Drive, founded in 1989, features hundreds of Montana-bred sheep herded down the six blocks of Main Street in downtown Reed Point, Montana. There is also a parade, a shoot-out between two gunfighters, carnival games, and an evening street dance. The event has raised money for community projects in the small town, including a new fire truck and the refurbishing of the town library. Some 12,000 people attend the annual event, making Reed Point one of Montana’s largest towns on the weekend of the sheep drive. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt (1817)

Galt was a British-Canadian statesman. Born in London, he immigrated to Canada in his teens and began his political career there in 1849, eventually serving several terms as minister of finance. Although he signed the 1849 manifesto favoring the annexation of Canada by the US, he became one of the most persistent and influential leaders of the movement for confederation of the provinces and later advocated Canadian independence. He was a founding member of what company that still exists today? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Silly Putty

When scientists tried to find a rubber substitute for the US during WWII, they stumbled upon a product that would entertain children for generations. Silly Putty is silicone plastic “clay” sold in an egg-shaped plastic container and marketed as a children’s toy. As an inorganic polymer, it can pick up ink when pressed against a newspaper; the imprint can then be stretched in any direction. It also bounces, breaks, and “melts” into a puddle. What causes these unusual flow characteristics? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

First Continental Congress Assembles in Philadelphia (1774)

Indignation against England’s colonial policy reached fever pitch in the British North American colonies after the passage of the so-called Intolerable Acts. The First Continental Congress, made up of delegates from every colony except Georgia, was convened in Philadelphia to address grievances against British policy. At that time, only a few radical members considered the possibility of breaking with England. What course of action did the delegates elect to pursue instead? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Watermelon-Eating and Seed-Spitting Contest

The only event of its kind sanctioned by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Watermelon-Eating and Seed-Spitting Contest in Pardeeville, Wisconsin, is attended by up to 9,000 people. Rules for the spitting contest are strictly enforced: professional tobacco spitters are not eligible; denture wearers must abide by the judge’s decision if their teeth go further than the seed; and no one is allowed to propel their seeds through a pipe or tube. The festival also includes a watermelon volleyball competition, carving contests, and a parade. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Werner Herzog (1942)

One of the leading filmmakers in contemporary German cinema, Herzog is a prolific director, screenwriter, and producer known for his vivid and poetic films. During the 1960s, he mostly made short films but completed his first feature, Signs of Life, in 1968. He went on to make a number of films noted for their acutely observed detail and tales of danger and escape. More recently, he has made several acclaimed documentaries. What criminal act started Herzog on his filmmaking career? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

L. Frank Baum was an American journalist, playwright, and author. In 1900, he published his most famous work, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a story about a girl named Dorothy who is carried by a tornado to the magical land of Oz. Baum’s fame rests largely on his 14 stories of Oz, all of which emphasize the virtues of practicality, self-reliance, tolerance, and egalitarianism. In 1938, the story was made into an extraordinarily popular motion picture. Who played the role of Dorothy? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary