US researchers say they have developed a technique that can significantly improve the efficiency of the traditional incandescent lightbulb. These older bulbs have been phased out in many countries because they waste huge amounts of energy as heat. But … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
In 1967, the burgeoning counterculture movement took center stage in San Francisco as a number of figures who would become its icons gathered for a “happening” in Golden Gate Park. Announced as a “Human Be-In” in the San Francisco Oracle newspaper, the event was attended by tens of thousands of people and featured speakers Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg, as well as performances by The Grateful Dead, among many others. What famous phrase did Leary introduce in his speech at the Be-In? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783, and was ratified on January 14, 1784, ending the American Revolution. The Old Senate Chamber in the Maryland State House at Annapolis has been preserved exactly as it was when the ratification took place, and on its anniversary, the flag of 1784—with 12 stars in a circle and the 13th in the center—flies over the State House and many other buildings in Annapolis. The ceremony that takes place inside varies from year to year, but it often revolves around a particular aspect of the original event. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Morisot was a French impressionist painter best known for her loose brushwork and the sensitivity she brought to her female subjects. She studied with many gifted painters, including Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, and was highly influenced by Édouard Manet, whose brother she later married. She exhibited regularly with the Impressionists, and although none of her exhibits proved commercially successful, she outsold Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. What are some of her best known paintings? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
In 1896, a banquet was planned in Moscow’s Khodynka Field to celebrate the crowning of Nicholas II as Tsar of Russia. When rumors spread of lavish gifts to be bestowed by the new leader, hoards of people began gathering at the coronation square. Suddenly, rumors of a gift shortage began circulating through the crowd. In the resulting disorder and panic, 1,389 people were trampled to death and another 1,300 were injured. What were the coronation gifts that inadvertently led to this disaster? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) A place where an extensive variety of woody plants are cultivated for scientific, educational, and ornamental purposes.
Synonyms: botanical garden.
Usage: The botany class took a field trip to the arboretum to examine its extensive collection of rare plants.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are up around 30 percent compared with 20 years ago. These days, if a 2-year-old won’t sit still for circle time in preschool, she’s liable to be referred for evaluation, which can put her on track … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
One of Australia’s worst natural disasters took place in January 1939, when bushfires broke out in the state of Victoria. Over the course of several days, fires burned nearly 5 million acres of land, killing 71 people, destroying thousands of homes and businesses, and ravaging entire towns. An extremely hot and dry summer had preceded the fires, and the day they broke out, temperatures in Melbourne soared to a record 114.1 °F (45.6 °C). How long was it before the city had a hotter day than that? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
On January 13, 1967, Togo president Nicolas Grunitzky was overthrown by Gnassingbé Eyadema, who remained president of Togo until 2005. He was succeeded by his son, Faure Gnassingbé. To celebrate National Liberation Day, the Togo military joins with civilian bands to mount several colorful parades in the city of Lomé. Dissident groups have long opposed the celebrations, noting that January 13, 1963, saw the assassination of the nation’s first president, Sylvanus Olympio. In 2008, President Gnassingbé called for an end to the public celebrations on National Liberation Day. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Tucker was a Russian-born American singer and entertainer who began performing vaudeville as a child, singing ragtime melodies in blackface. She later abandoned the makeup but continued in the African-American style, helping popularize the songs of black composers. Known for her racy songs, she enjoyed great success on tour and went on to appear in several stage and movie musicals but was best known as a nightclub torch singer. In her later years, she was billed under what moniker? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary