Survivalism

In the 1970s, widespread fear of imminent natural and artificial disasters and societal collapse led to the development of survivalism, a subculture based on the anticipation of catastrophic events and the preparations involved in surviving disaster. The movement is still popular today. Survivalists stockpile food and water, build shelters, and learn skills that they believe will help them live through apocalyptic chaos. In survivalist terminology, what is a “BOB”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Battle of Bosworth Field (1485)

The Battle of Bosworth Field was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses in which Henry Tudor defeated the royal forces of Richard III, the last king of the House of York. Richard was killed in battle, and Henry advanced to London and was crowned as Henry VII. In 1486, Henry married Edward IV’s daughter, Elizabeth, thus uniting the houses of York and Lancaster, ending the Wars of the Roses and founding the Tudor royal dynasty. This battle is featured in which of Shakespeare’s plays? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Deng Xiaoping (1904)

Deng was a Chinese revolutionary and government leader. A veteran of the Long March, he became deputy premier in 1952 and soon joined the Politburo Standing Committee. He was ousted and reinstated several times and at one point was assigned to work in a tractor factory. From the late 1970s until his death in 1997, he was China’s most powerful leader. He promoted a wide-reaching reform program that introduced free-enterprise elements into the economy. What was Deng’s famous saying about a cat? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Atomic Force Microscope

With a demonstrated resolution of fractions of a nanometer, the atomic force microscope (AFM) is one of the foremost tools for imaging, measuring, and manipulating matter at the nanoscale. Unlike the electron microscope, which provides a two-dimensional image of a sample, the AFM provides a true 3-D surface profile. Though the term “microscope” suggests the visual study of minute samples, this high-tech device functions in an entirely different manner. How does the AFM gather information? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

If You Dump Your Pet Goldfish into a Lake, It Will Grow into an Enormous Pest

Consider this your annual reminder: Don’t dump your pet goldfish into a lake. Invasive species are, generally speaking, not so great. When an organism moves into a territory where it lacks natural predators, it can interrupt the entire ecosystem by … Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Crow Fair

The Crow Fair is one of the biggest powwows in the US, held since 1918 at Crow Agency, Montana, about 65 miles southeast of Billings. The fair is hosted by the Crow tribe but attracts thousands of other Native Americans, who set up more than 1,000 tepees on the camp grounds. Dancing at the fair includes not only traditional Plains Indian dances but also the Crow Hop, which is similar to a war dance and is unique to the Crows. There are also rodeos with cash prizes, horse races, art exhibits, and demonstrations of such crafts as pipe carving and jewelry designing. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Christopher Robin Milne (1920)

Christopher Robin Milne was the son of author A.A. Milne. When Christopher was a young child, his father wrote poetry for him, which grew into the collections When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six. Later, Christopher and his toy animals were incorporated into stories about the adventures of the now-classic characters Christopher Robin, Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore in Winnie-the-Pooh. How did Christopher feel about his name being used in his father’s stories? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary