The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh (1547)

The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh was part of the War of Rough Wooing, the ruthless war launched by Henry VIII against Scotland to force a marriage between Mary Queen of Scots and his son, the future Edward VI. The first “modern” battle to be fought in the British Isles and the last pitched battle between the English and Scottish royal armies, it resulted in a catastrophic defeat for the Scots, who came to call it Black Saturday. After the battle, what happened to the infant Queen Mary? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

La Partita a Scacchi Viventi (Living Chess Game)

Every two years, the main piazza in Marostica, Italy, is transformed into a giant chessboard. More than 500 townspeople wearing elaborate medieval costumes portray chessmen and act out a living game. Thousands of spectators watch from bleachers, cheering loudly when a castle is lost and moaning when there is an impending checkmate. The local players begin rehearsing in March; some start out as pawns and over the years work their way up to become knights, kings, and queens. The moves in the game are spoken in an ancient dialect, including the final scácco matto! (checkmate). Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Thomas Sydenham (1624)

Known as “the English Hippocrates,” Sydenham was a physician who advocated direct observation instead of theorizing to determine the nature of disease. His conceptions of the causes and treatments of epidemics and his classic descriptions of gout, smallpox, malaria, and other maladies established him as a founder of modern clinical medicine and epidemiology. He introduced laudanum as a medication, helped popularize the use of quinine in treating malaria, and described what “dancing” disease? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Infrasound

Long thought to cause feelings of fear or awe, infrasound is sound that is able to cover long distances with little dissipation at a frequency too low to be detected by the human ear. It is created by natural phenomena such as ocean waves and earthquakes and can be artificially produced by explosions or machines. Infrasound is used by some animals to communicate over long distances and by predators to “freeze” their prey. Why do some scientists believe infrasound is related to ghost sightings? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Elvis Presley Appears on The Ed Sullivan Show (1956)

Presley was one of the 20th century’s most popular American singers. His first national television appearance was in 1955 on Jackie Gleason’s Stage Show, but it was his 1956 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show that made him a national sensation. His pelvic gyrations caused a scandal but earned him thousands of adoring, often female, fans. That same year he released his first million-selling single, “Heartbreak Hotel,” and starred in the first of his 33 movies, which was what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Independence Day

The founding of North Korea on September 9, 1948, is observed throughout the country as a national holiday. Much of the observance of North Korea’s founding day centers on adulating Kim Il-Sung, the founding leader. The main public celebrations take place in the capital city, Pyongyang, and can include such events as government banquets in the late Kim’s honor, political meetings, concerts, and displays of song and dance. Officials and citizens also lay flowers before the monuments to Kim in the capital. Similar displays also take place in towns and cities throughout North Korea. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Harland David “Colonel” Sanders (1890)

In 1929, Sanders opened a gas station and small restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky. His cooking grew so popular that he soon closed the gas station. By 1939, he had developed a secret blend of herbs and spices and a process for cooking chicken more quickly than conventional methods. He sold his restaurant in 1956 and took to the road franchising his fried chicken recipe. By 1964, when he sold the Kentucky Fried Chicken corporation, he had sold more than 600 franchises. How did Sanders get his title? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Tracer Ammunition

Used in machine guns since World War I, tracer ammunition contains modified bullets packed with a pyrotechnic charge that ignites upon firing, illuminating the bullets. This technology enables a shooter to check a bullet’s trajectory and adjust his or her aim accordingly. Since the tracer path can also betray a shooter’s position, many modern tracers are designed to become visible only once they have traveled a set distance. Why were tracers especially useful against Zeppelins in World War I? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary