A cylinder seal is a roller-like object made from hard stone, glass, or ceramics and engraved with a “picture story.” Used in ancient times to roll an impression onto wet clay, seals incorporated sociological or religious images and were used to mark graves, doors, storage jars, amulets, and cloth. Later, they were even used to notarize clay documents. What ancient ruler is featured on a famous cylinder that depicts him aiming his bow at a lion? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) A strong yellow color.
Synonyms: lemon yellow, maize, lemon.
Usage: His blood may be gamboge yellow with green spots, for all anybody knows.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
A distant, Neptune-size planet 500 light-years from Earth appears to be the youngest fully formed exoplanet ever found crossing its star, raising questions about how it formed so close, so quickly. Researchers first found the planet, which whisks around … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The Glassboro Summit Conference was a meeting between US President Lyndon Johnson and Soviet Premier Aleksei Kosygin that took place at Hollybush mansion at Glassboro State College in New Jersey. Although the two leaders failed to reach agreement on anything important, the generally friendly atmosphere of the summit became known as the “Spirit of Glassboro” and is believed to have somewhat improved Soviet-US relations. What two wars were major subjects of discussion at the conference? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
On the eve of this national holiday, Dudelange hosts a torchlight procession, and the castle at Wiltz hosts a fête in the courtyard. Fireworks, parades, special religious services, public concerts, and dancing comprise the elaborate celebration in the capital city of Luxembourg. On National Day, people assemble in the capital not only to celebrate their independence, but also to observe the official birthday of the Grand Duke. The people there identify strongly with their country and speak their own language, known as Luxembourgeois. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Born into a vaudeville family, Fosse began dancing professionally at age 13. He won his first Tony Award for choreographing the Broadway musical The Pajama Game in 1954 and went on to win six more Tonys for his choreography, which was known for its sensuality, precision, and jazz sensibility. His later hit shows included Damn Yankees and Sweet Charity—both starring his wife, Gwen Verdon. Fosse was the first person to win what three awards in the same year? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
If you had a recent conversation with ELIZA, PARRY, A.L.I.C.E., or ELLA, you were talking to a chatterbot, a computer program designed to simulate an intelligent conversation with human users through auditory or textual prompts. Though many appear to be interpreting human input before providing a response, most chatterbots simply scan for keywords and pull a similar reply from a database. Some people find these sorts of conversations engaging. What book was allegedly written by a chatterbot? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (verb) To destroy totally.
Synonyms: eradicate, exterminate, uproot.
Usage: The tyrant's first order of business upon assuming power was to extirpate the vestiges of political democracy.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Chameleons have powerful, speedy tongues. If one of these colorful lizards decides it wants a snack, the unsuspecting prey is in the animal’s mouth within seconds. The chameleon simply fires its long, elastic tongue out of its mouth at high speed and whips it … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
_William_Frederick_Mitchell.jpg)
The HMS Victoria was a Royal Navy battleship that collided with another Royal Navy battleship, the HMS Camperdown, near Tripoli, Lebanon, during maneuvers. The Victoria capsized and quickly sank, killing 358 crew members, including the commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet, Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon. In 2004, after a decade-long search, a Lebanese diver located the wreckage in 492 ft (150 m) of water. What is unusual about the orientation of the wreck? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary