Month: September 2015

September Massacres Break Out in Paris (1792)

After an abortive insurrection in June 1792, French revolutionaries followed it with a decisive one in August. Under pressure from the insurrection, the Assembly suspended Louis XVI and ordered elections for a National Convention to draw up a new constitution. Mass arrests of royalist sympathizers were followed by the September massacres, in which frenzied mobs entered jails throughout Paris and killed approximately 2,000 prisoners, many in grisly fashion. Who was targeted during the massacres? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Feast of San Estevan

The Feast of San Estevan (St. Stephen) is a harvest dance and annual feast day in the Native American pueblo of Acoma in New Mexico. Acoma was established in the 12th century and is the oldest continuously inhabited community in America, though only about 50 people now live there year-round. A mass and procession begin the feast day. The statue of the patron saint is taken from the church to the plaza, where the dances are performed from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There are 15 or so different dances—Bear, Butterfly, and Rainbow are some of them. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Romare Bearden (1911)

Regarded as one of the most important African-American artists of the 20th century, Bearden first achieved recognition for his complex, semiabstract collages of photographs and painted paper on canvas in Europe following WWII. By the 1960s, he was the preeminent collagist in the US. A prolific artist, he created some 2,000 works, many of which focus on aspects of African-American culture, including music and family. A Bearden mural in a subway station in what city was once valued at $15 million? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Apple Cider

Apple cider is a non-alcoholic drink made from pressing apples, and differs from conventional apple juice in its tart taste and cloudy appearance. It is made from a blend of apples, and each mill keeps its blend secret. Especially popular in the US and Canada, cider is typically best in late autumn. In the US, fermented apple cider is known as hard cider. Hot, or mulled, cider is a popular cider variation, and consists of heated cider and spices. What is the risk of drinking unpasteurized cider? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope Ends in Ontario (1980)

In 1977, 18-year-old Terry Fox was diagnosed with a malignant bone tumor, and his right leg was amputated above the knee. Three years later, the Canadian began his Marathon of Hope, a coast-to-coast run with the goal of raising $1 for each Canadian citizen—totaling about $24 million—for cancer research. Running roughly the distance of a marathon each day, Fox covered 3,339 mi (5,373 km) before learning that the cancer had spread to his lungs. He died several months later. How much did he raise? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Eritrean Start of the Armed Struggle Day

Between 1961 and 1991, the small country of Eritrea in eastern Africa waged a war of independence against Ethiopia. An important holiday that recognizes Eritrean sacrifices during this prolonged campaign is the Start of the Armed Struggle Day, also known as Bahti Meskerem, commemorating the first shot fired in 1961 at Mount Adal. The day’s festivities take place in the country and in Eritrean communities throughout the world. Observances typically include a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs, the singing of the Eritrean national anthem, and public statements by dignitaries. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875)

After working numerous odd jobs, Burroughs tried his hand at writing, publishing his first story under the pen name Normal Bean in 1912. Two years later, he published Tarzan of the Apes, a story about an English boy raised by apes in Africa. Wildly successful, the book was the first in a series of 27 Tarzan titles. Burroughs later moved to Hollywood to supervise the filming of the first of the extremely successful Tarzan films. What city is named after his most famous character? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Lou Gehrig’s Disease

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a degenerative disease that affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, preventing them from sending impulses to the muscles. Though the intellect remains intact, the muscles soon atrophy, causing weakness, paralysis, and eventual death. National attention was brought to the disease when Lou Gehrig died of it in 1941. What percentage of ALS cases is hereditary? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary