Edward Elgar (1857)

Elgar was an English composer whose oratorio The Dream of Gerontius is considered one of the finest examples of English choral music in history. He received his training from his father and succeeded him as organist of St. George’s Church, Worcester, in 1885. He earned recognition for his Imperial March, composed in 1897 for Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, and for his Enigma Variations. His most popular works are his five marches, the first of which is what famous song? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

In a Flash

As storm clouds develop, the temperature at the top of the clouds becomes much cooler than that at the bottom. For reasons that scientists still do not understand, this temperature difference results in the accumulation of negatively charged particles near the base and positively charged particles near the top of the storm cloud. This buildup of electrical charge causes a high-voltage discharge in the form of lightning. What is sheet lightning, and how does it differ from forked lightning? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Farhud Begins (1941)

During the Farhud, the pogrom carried out against the Jewish population of Baghdad after the fall of the short-lived pro-Nazi government of Rashid Ali, rioters killed about 200 Jews and injured hundreds more. It took place during the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, and, according to some, marked a turning point for Iraq’s 150,000 Jews, who were thereafter targeted for persecution. Jews had lived in Iraq since about 600 BCE, but by 1951, 80% had left. How many Jews are thought to live in Baghdad now? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Kenya Madaraka Day

June 1 is a public holiday set aside to commemorate the day that Kenya became a self-ruling nation. On this day, the main event takes place at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi. The President addresses the nation, and the uniformed military, singers, and traditional dancers from around the country provide entertainment for the crowds. The day is full of festive activities, including family picnics and games in the public parks. Many people take this opportunity to go back to their hometowns for the occasion, and often a big meal of goat or chicken is prepared for the special day. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

John Marshall Harlan (1833)

After commanding a Union regiment in the American Civil War, Harlan served as a state attorney general before being appointed to the Supreme Court by President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1877. During his tenure, which lasted until his death in 1911, he became the court’s outstanding liberal justice and one of the most forceful dissenters in its history. His best-known dissenting opinion came in Plessy v. Ferguson, in which the Supreme Court established what infamous doctrine? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Labyrinths

A labyrinth is an intricate building of chambers and interconnecting passages often constructed so as to perplex and confuse a person inside. The most celebrated structure of this sort was designed, according to Greek mythology, by the Athenian artisan Daedalus to confine the Minotaur, a monster with a bull’s head and a man’s body. Theseus, an Athenian hero, entered the beast’s labyrinth to slay it. How did he find his way out of the maze after killing the Minotaur? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary