Battle of the Alamo Begins (1836)

In the 1835 Texas Revolution, the predominantly American settlers of Texas sought independence from the Mexican government. In December, they took the Alamo, an old chapel in San Antonio. When Mexican forces arrived in February, the Texians were outnumbered and unprepared to withstand the 13-day siege. Nearly all of them were killed. The loss became a rallying point for Texians, who went on to win the war. What short-lived independent nation did they establish that year? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Karl Theodor Jaspers (1883)

Jaspers was a German philosopher and psychopathologist often identified as an exponent of existentialism, although he rejected this classification. In his magnum opus, Philosophy, he argued that the aim of philosophy is practical and that its purpose is the fulfillment of human existence. He believed illumination is achieved through the experience of “limit situations” like conflict, guilt, and suffering, which define the human condition. What forced him to give up his teaching career? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a common health problem, second in prevalence only to the common cold. About 75% of all people have had their first cavity by the age of 5. Decay is caused by 3 factors: plaque bacteria, sugar, and a vulnerable tooth surface. Although several microorganisms can cause tooth decay, the primary disease agent appears to be Streptococcus mutans. If left untreated, decay can lead to tooth loss, infection, and, in severe cases, death. What drugs can lead to rampant tooth decay? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Adams-Onís Treaty: Spain Sells Florida to the US (1819)

In the early 1800s, tensions between the US and Spain were increasing over border disputes in North America. With Spanish power in the New World declining, it was widely believed that Spain would lose land to the US. The Adams-Onís Treaty settled the dispute by attempting to draw clearer borders, roughly granting Florida and Louisiana to the US while giving everything west of Louisiana to Spain. The US did not pay Spain directly for the new land. Instead, it compensated Spain in what way? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell (1857)

Powell was a British army officer and founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, later the Girl Scouts. He was a hero of the South African War and author of Aids to Scouting, a military textbook. Upon learning that his book was being used to train boys in woodcraft, he wrote Scouting for Boys and established the Boy Scout movement in 1908. In 1910, with his sister and wife, he founded the Girl Guides. What disguise did Powell use while gathering information in war? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Meerkat Mobs

Meerkats are members of the mongoose family that inhabit the Kalahari Desert in Botswana and South Africa. They are highly social creatures and live in groups called “mobs,” “gangs,” or “clans,” which have a dominant breeding pair and up to 23 helpers to assist with rearing the young. Mob members regularly groom each other, and some even babysit or stand guard while others forage for food. They have also been known to engage in what playful social activities? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary