Jean Piaget (1896)

Regarded as the foremost developmental psychologist of the 20th century, Piaget developed a theory of “genetic epistemology,” a natural timetable for the development of the child’s ability to think, in which he traced four stages—the sensorimotor (ages 0–2), preoperational or symbolic (2–7), concrete operational (7–12), and formal operational (12 and up)—each marked by increased cognitive sophistication and ability to use symbols. What specific developments occur in each stage? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Yerba Mate

Yerba mate is a plant whose leaves are used to make a beverage called mate, the national drink of Argentina and Uruguay. Mate is a caffeinated infusion, much like a cross between green tee and coffee, that is prepared by steeping dried leaves in hot water. It is traditionally served in a hollow gourd with a metal straw and is usually enjoyed in a social setting. Uruguay enacted a national law that prohibits drinking mate while performing what other activity? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Dinosaur Arthritis Joins Baseball, Boardwalks as Another New Jersey First

A dinosaur that roamed what’s now New Jersey about 70 million years ago is believed to have suffered from a crippling form of arthritis. Likely a duck-billed dinosaur, or hadrosaur, it’s the first-known dinosaur to suffer from septic arthritis, … Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

8888 Popular Uprising (1988)

In the early 1970s, various insurgent groups controlled about one third of Burma. Economic strife and ethnic tensions throughout the 1970s and 80s led to antigovernment riots that began on August 8, 1988—08-08-88—and led to the resignation of President Ne Win. Succeeding governments failed to restore order, and the military seized control under the name of the State Law and Order Restoration Council. Burma was renamed Myanmar three years later. What 1995 film is set during the 8888 uprising? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Victory Day (Rhode Island)

V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day) commemorates the anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allies in 1945, ending World War II. The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6 and Nagasaki on Aug. 9, and the Soviet Union’s invasion of Manchuria in the previous week made the surrender inevitable. V-J Day is a legal holiday only in the state of Rhode Island, where it is called Victory Day. It is celebrated on the second Monday of August. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Esther Hobart Morris (1814)

Morris was the first female justice of the peace in the US. A mother of three, she began her tenure as justice in 1870, after the previous justice resigned in protest of Wyoming’s passage of the women’s suffrage amendment. She attracted national attention and tried some 70 cases, becoming a legendary figure in the suffrage movement. The state of Wyoming officially commemorated her role as a leading suffragist in 1890. Why then is the extent of her contribution to the suffrage movement debated? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Internet Flaming

Whether it takes the form of a long-term “holy war” or a brief “pie fight,” Internet flaming, a form of hostile interaction that occurs between users of a public electronic forum, can be devastating to an online community. Flames are often malicious, offensive attacks on points of view that differ from the flamer’s. Many believe the phenomenon is perpetuated by the anonymity of online interaction, which allows flamers to avoid real-life consequences. What are some famous examples of flaming? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Pregnancy Myths that Are True: Women Are More Fertile after Tonsils and Appendixes Are Removed, Stud

One of the many myths regarding pregnancy and conception has recently been busted. For years, there has been a lot of confusion on whether having tonsils and appendixes removed reduced a woman’s chances of getting pregnant. Now, finally, the myth has … Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary