Slovenia National Day (1991)

Following WWI, Slovenia formed a federation with Serbia and Croatia that in 1929 became Yugoslavia. In 1991, Slovenia declared its independence from Yugoslavia on the same day as Croatia—after elections in 1990 showed that 88 percent of the people wished to secede. Yugoslavia immediately took military action, but the resulting Ten-Day War had few casualties, and the Slovenian victory solidified the new nation’s independence. In 2008, Slovenia became the first post-communist country to do what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Idaho Regatta

This full-throttle event is held on the Snake River at Burley, Idaho. Burley’s population of 9,000 is doubled for the regatta, which is a qualifying race for the American Power Boat Association Western Divisional Championship. A hundred speedboats in 11 inboard limited classes compete for a share of $35,000 in cash prizes—and a mink coat. The regatta has been held since the 1970s, and boats are entered from throughout the country. They include seven-liter, hydroplanes, super-stock, pro-stock, KRR flat-bottoms, Comp Jets, and stock hydros. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Robert Henri (1865)

Henri was an American painter and teacher and a leading figure in the Ashcan school, a realist movement in American art best known for its scenes of ordinary city life. He studied in Paris and taught and worked in Philadelphia and New York. He rebelled against academic art and impressionism and encouraged his students to shun the formalization of style and view art as a medium through which to express life and humanity. What exhibition did he organize in New York in 1908 that became a sensation? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Freeganism

Freeganism is an anti-consumerism lifestyle that grew out of the anti-globalization and environmentalist movements. Freegans, whose name is a combination of the words “free” and “vegan,” embrace alternative strategies for living that oppose those of a society they believe is marked by materialism, greed, and waste. They often salvage unspoiled food discarded by supermarkets to limit their participation in the capitalist system. Some freegans consume non-vegan food as long as it is what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Moscow Victory Parade of 1945 (1945)

A month and a half after Nazi Germany surrendered to the USSR, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin ordered a celebratory parade through Moscow’s Red Square. Thousands of troops from different regiments and fronts participated, accompanied by tanks and other military equipment. At one point, war veterans memorably threw down hundreds of Nazi banners at the foot of Lenin’s mausoleum. According to legend, Stalin had initially planned to participate in the parade but changed his mind after what accident? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Juhannus

Juhannus is a celebration in Finland of the Summer Solstice and of the feast of St. John. People celebrate at the lake shores where they build bonfires and dance all night. Since this is near the longest day of the year, special late performances are held at open-air theaters in many towns. There are also dances at hotels. Many customs are remnants of pagan times. Birch tree branches are brought into the homes to insure future happiness. Even buses and office buildings are adorned with birch branches. As Finland’s Flag Day, Juhannus is also a national holiday. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Saint John of the Cross (1542)

Saint John of the Cross was a Spanish mystic, poet, and monastic reformer. A Carmelite monk, he was ordained a priest in 1567. The following year, he joined St. Teresa of Ávila in her effort to restore the Carmelites to their original austerity, cofounding the Discalced Carmelite order. He opened the first Discalced Carmelite monastery in 1569 and was imprisoned in 1577 for causing friction within the order. He escaped and later won high office in the order. What did he write while in prison? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Automatic Number Plate Recognition

Automatic number plate recognition, or ANPR, is a mass surveillance method that utilizes optical character recognition to “read” vehicle license plates in images taken by designated cameras. Used by law enforcement and for electronic toll collection, ANPR systems can store images, license plate text, and, sometimes, photographs of drivers, leading to public concerns about government tracking and misidentification. Modern ANPR systems are capable of scanning plates on cars traveling how fast? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary