Howard Carter (1874)

An experienced archaeologist and Egyptologist, Carter began searching for the long lost tomb of the ancient Egyptian king Tutankhamun in the early 1900s, excavating Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt, through funding by his financial backer, Lord Carnarvon. In 1922, Carnarvon gave Carter one last season to make a discovery. He did, unearthing the pristine, treasure-filled tomb that became world famous. What fact about Carter’s life is often used to refute the so-called Curse of the Pharaohs? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Banoffee Pie

A portmanteau of “banana” and “toffee,” banoffee pie is an English dessert made from bananas, cream, toffee, and a pastry or biscuit base. Though Ian Dowding and Nigel Mackenzie of The Hungry Monk restaurant in East Sussex, England, claim to have invented the dish in 1972, other tales of its origins eventually spread. The men responded by offering a £10,000 prize to anyone who could disprove their claim. How is the toffee for the pie made? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

First Female Cadet Graduates from The Citadel (1999)

For more than 150 years, only male cadets were allowed to attend the Citadel, an elite military college in South Carolina. The first female cadet gained the right to enroll after a legal battle in 1995, but she left after less than a week. The next year, Nancy Mace, the daughter of US Army Brigadier General Emory Mace, enrolled, along with three other women. Mace graduated in three years, becoming the first female graduate of the Citadel. What happened to the women who matriculated with her? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Harry S. Truman (1884)

In 1945, when US president Franklin D. Roosevelt died—just 82 days into his fourth term—Truman, his vice president, assumed the office. Presiding over the end of World War II and the transition to peacetime, he made unexpectedly bold decisions. He dropped the first atomic bombs on Japan, proposed the “Truman Doctrine” of Communist containment, authorized the Berlin Airlift, and initiated US involvement in the Korean War. For most of his second term, Truman did not live in the White House. Why? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Golden Hour

Achieving the perfect lighting for outdoor shots can be a challenge for even the most experienced photographer. In the middle of the day, the harsh overhead sun can cause overly bright highlights and dark shadows. To get the best shot, photographers often wait for the “golden” or “magic” hour—the first and last periods of sunlight during the day. The low sun creates a warm light that is ideal for landscape photos and enhances the colors of a scene. How long does the “golden hour” usually last? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Eat Insects and Fake Meat to Cut Impact of Livestock on the Planet – Study

Insects and imitation meat are the best alternatives to real meat in tackling the huge and growing environmental impact of livestock on the planet, new research has shown. The world’s appetite for meat is rising fast as incomes grow but the resulting greenhouse gas … Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

West German Chancellor Willy Brandt Resigns (1974)

Brandt fled his native Germany for Norway after the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s. Returning after the war, he became involved in politics and, in 1969, was elected chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. As chancellor, he greatly improved relations with East Germany, the Soviet Union, and Poland, and in 1971 he received the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1974, he was forced to resign after an embarrassing scandal in which one of his close aides was exposed as what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary