László Moholy-Nagy

Moholy-Nagy was a Hungarian painter, photographer, and designer. His experiments with photograms and kinetic “light space modulators” reflect the way in which his art was influenced by constructivism, an abstractionist movement characterized by the use of industrial materials to create nonrepresentational, often geometric objects. One of his greatest contributions to modern art was his teaching, which deeply influenced American commercial and industrial design. Where did he teach in the 1920s? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Captain James Cook Crosses Antarctic Circle (1773)

An explorer, navigator, and map maker, Cook sailed the Pacific Ocean between 1768 and 1779 and, with the help of new timekeeping instruments, drew the first accurate navigational maps of the area. He became the one of the first people to cross the Antarctic Circle as well as the first European to land on the Hawaiian islands, where he may have been identified by native Hawaiians as the representation of their god Lono. How did this misunderstanding contribute to his death? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Underwater Tug-of-War Festival

It’s not the Polar Bear Swim, but the annual tug-of-war in Mihama, Fukui Prefecture, does involve people jumping into cold waters in the middle of winter. Legend has it that a huge snake once menaced the waters of Hiruga Lake, which opens out into the Sea of Japan. The people drove the snake away by taking a huge rope into the water. Today, young men struggle in a tug-of-war while standing in the lake. The rope symbolizes the snake, and the tug-of-war continues until the rope is pulled apart or cut in two. The event also serves as a ritual appealing for a good fishing season. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Benjamin Franklin (1706)

Regarded as one of the most extraordinary public servants in American history, Franklin was also a printer, publisher, author, scientist, and inventor. After gaining popularity as the publisher of Poor Richard’s Almanack, he promoted public services in Philadelphia, including a library and a fire department. In 1776, he went to France to seek aid for the American Revolution, and in 1787 he was instrumental in the adoption of the US Constitution. What musical instrument did he invent? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Rubik’s Cube: The World’s Best-Selling Toy

Invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor Erno Rubik, the Rubik’s Cube is now said to be the world’s best-selling toy. More than 300 million of these colorful, square puzzles have been sold worldwide. The standard Rubik’s Cube has 54 square faces—nine on each side—covered by stickers in six solid colors. When the puzzle is solved, each side of the cube is a single solid color. What is the current world record for solving a Rubik’s Cube? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Council of Nablus (1120)

The Council of Nablus was convened to establish the first written laws for the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Christian kingdom established in 1099 by the First Crusade. The council included both ecclesiastic and secular lords who established 25 canons that addressed both religious and secular issues like tithing, adultery, bigamy, false accusations, legal attire for Muslim residents, and theft. Why, according to the canons, was it necessary for the Christian leadership to organize this council? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary