Month: December 2016

Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate Reopens (1989)

The only remaining town gate of Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate was modeled after the propylaeum of the Athenian Acropolis. Originally topped with the “Quadriga of Victory,” a statue of a chariot drawn by four horses, it was heavily damaged in World War II but was later restored. In 1961, the Berlin Wall blocked access to it for both eastern and western Germans, but it was reopened in 1989 with the reunification of East and West Berlin. The gate was the backdrop for what historic speeches? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Toji

The earliest mention of Winter Solstice celebrations in Japan dates back at least to 725 CE and comes from records left by Emperor Shomu. It is an especially happy time for farmers, because it marks the time of year when the days begin to grow longer and the sun nearer. Many of the customs associated with Toji are still observed in rural areas—they include enjoying citrus baths, eating foods made from pumpkins (which is believed to bring good luck), and offering gifts to one’s ancestors. Servants and workers are often given a day off, and many shrines sponsor bonfires. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887)

Ramanujan was an Indian mathematician. Extremely poor, he was largely self-taught from age 15. In 1913, he began a correspondence with English mathematician Godfrey H. Hardy that took him to England, where he made advances, especially in the theory of numbers, the partition of numbers, and the theory of continued fractions. He died of tuberculosis at age 32, generally unknown but recognized by mathematicians as a phenomenal genius. What anecdote exists about Ramanujan and the number 1,729? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Mad Baron

Known as both the “Mad” and “Bloody” Baron, Baron Roman Ungern von Sternberg was a military commander who became an independent warlord after the Russian Civil War. A mystic who believed he was the reincarnation of Genghis Khan, he aimed to unite the Far-Eastern nations under one monarch. In 1921, he achieved this goal, becoming dictator of Mongolia before being captured by his own troops and executed by the Red Army. How did he trick the Chinese into abandoning Mongolia’s capital city, Urga? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Humpback Whales’ ‘Humanitarian’ Tendencies Might Not Be as Selfless

In spring 2015, marine biologist Nancy Black was out on her boat watching a group of killer whales hunt a group of sea lions. As soon as the killer whales surrounded one of the sea lions, some humpback whales charged the attack, “trumpets blowing,” recalled Black. That … Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Premieres (1937)

Snow White was the first full-length animated feature film in history. It was animated entirely by hand and took Walt Disney and his studio three years to complete. It was exponentially more expensive than the animated shorts the studio had produced until that time and met with considerable opposition. Disney eventually had to mortgage his house to help finance the project, which was derisively nicknamed “Disney’s Folly” by those in the film industry. How much did the film go on to earn? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary