The Great Book of Saint Cyprian

Purported to have been taken from a manuscript written by early Christian martyr Saint Cyprian of Antioch, The Great Book of Saint Cyprian is an occult work that first appeared in 1849 and has since spawned several editions with varying titles. Written in Portuguese and Spanish, the book contains a mixture of Christian prayers and pagan spells, and many consider it a sin to possess or even touch it. Some even believe that reading the book from back to front will do what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Bugs Bunny Makes His Debut (1940)

Though an unnamed bunny appeared in Merrie Melodies cartoons in the 1930s, the true Bugs Bunny was born with the 1940 release of “A Wild Hare,” in which a clever, mischievous Bugs plays pranks on his hapless nemesis, a hunter named Elmer Fudd. Bugs went on to become one of the most well-known and beloved cartoon characters of all time, perhaps second only to Mickey Mouse. “A Wild Hare” was nominated for an Oscar the same year that another cartoon introduced what pair of cartoon rivals? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Days of ’76

This celebration held each year in Deadwood, South Dakota, is an attempt to revive the spirit of the gold rush days. The festivities begin with a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo. Then there is a three-mile-long historical parade that includes floats portraying the various stages of, and characters in, Deadwood’s history—from the earliest settlers to the coming of industry and tourism. A kids’ carnival is in town during the festival, and street dances featuring country music take place Thursday through Saturday night. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko (1853)

Korolenko was a Ukrainian-Russian writer. Arrested for revolutionary activities in 1879, he was sent to various places of exile where he wrote many of his lyrical short stories, notable for their descriptions of desolate nature and the lives of the poor. After 1895, he devoted himself to liberal journalism. Greatly honored in Russia, he reservedly welcomed the 1917 revolution but later opposed the Bolsheviks. His most famous story, “Makar’s Dream,” describes a dying peasant’s dream—of what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Headhunting

Headhunting, the act of removing, displaying, and, in some cases, preserving human heads, has been practiced worldwide and may date to Paleolithic times. Though the practice was sometimes linked to certain forms of cannibalism and human sacrifice, its primary function was often ceremonial and was part of the process of reinforcing hierarchical relationships between communities and individuals. Which troops were said to regularly collect the skulls of enemy soldiers during World War II? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

US President Truman Signs Executive Order Desegregating Military (1948)

Expanding on 1941’s Executive Order 8802, which prohibited discrimination in the defense industry, Order 9981 required that all persons in the armed forces be treated equally without regard to race or other factors. It also called for the establishment of an advisory committee to facilitate the implementation of this policy. The order eliminated segregation in the armed forces within years, though racism was another matter entirely. What historically black boot camp was eliminated by Order 9981? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary