The Death Drive

In his observations of World War I veterans, Sigmund Freud noticed that the men had a strange proclivity toward reenacting traumatic experiences. He also observed this tendency in young children who often play games that simulate unpleasant situations. To explain this, he introduced and later developed the concept of the death drive: a primitive impulse for destruction, decay, and death, manifested by a turning away from pleasure. What Freudian principle does the death drive violate? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Could This “Mars Base Camp” Really Send Astronauts to the Red Planet in 2028?

When are we going to Mars? The aerospace giant Lockheed Martin’s answer is 2028 — but that date comes with an asterisk. The company last week unveiled its vision of a “Mars Base Camp.” This is a 256-foot segmented spacecraft that would carry astronauts … Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Battle of Legnano (1176)

In 1160, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa was excommunicated for his support of a series of antipopes against Pope Alexander III. In 1167, the communes of Lombardy in northern Italy formed an alliance to resist Frederick. The Lombard League soundly defeated Frederick’s forces in the Battle of Legnano, after which Frederick reconciled with the pope and made peace with the Lombard cities. Why, if he survived, did Frederick’s wife go into mourning for her husband following the battle? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Coca-Cola 600

The Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race of the four big races of the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) Sprint Cup series. The race is held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. The track is a mile-and-a-half long, and the 600-mile race covers 400 laps. The Speedway is also the home track for NASCAR, and many racing teams are based nearby. The 2009 event was the 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600, which has become a Memorial Day tradition. In the week preceding the race, the Charlotte 600 Festival offers a variety of downtown events, including a parade. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874)

A British man of letters, Chesterton was a journalist, scholar, novelist, short-story writer, and poet. He wrote essays on Christianity and works of social and literary criticism on subjects such as Charles Dickens. His fiction includes the popular allegorical novel The Man Who Was Thursday, and his most successful creation, the series of detective novels featuring the priest-sleuth Father Brown. Chesterton was also known for collaborating with what author? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Mind Your Manners

The use of the fork is a basic concern of Western table etiquette. The utensil’s origin is disputed; certain passages in the book of I Samuel suggest that forks were used during priestly sacrifice, and it is commonly accepted that the Greeks used serving forks long before the Middle Ages. Before the fork made its 10th century debut at tables across Europe, people commonly used their hands to eat. Why did the Roman Catholic Church initially consider the use of a fork an insult to God? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Last Supper Back on Display after Two-Decade Restoration (1999)

By the 1970s, Leonardo da Vinci’s 15th-century mural masterpiece, The Last Supper, was badly deteriorated. Italian officials then undertook a major restoration project to permanently stabilize the painting and reverse the damage. The painting’s original form was determined using original sketches and scientific tests, including infrared reflectoscopy and microscopic core-samples. The restoration took 21 years, and the painting was put back on display in 1999. Where is it located? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary