Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (1922)

An influential American writer, Vonnegut used wry, black humor to highlight the horrors of 20th-century civilization. His novels, which include Breakfast of Champions and Player Piano, are frequently satirical and pessimistic, yet morally urgent. The best-selling Slaughterhouse-Five was based on Vonnegut’s experience of surviving the firebombing of Dresden. Which of Vonnegut’s novels was accepted by the University of Chicago as his thesis for an anthropology degree? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Yuezhi

Yuezhi is the Chinese name—literally translated as “Moon Clan”—for the ancient Central Asian people who originally settled in the arid grasslands of the eastern Tarim Basin area in China. Often described as a nation of nomads, the Yuezhi migrated often before moving east during the 1st century CE to found the Kushan Empire. They later expanded northward and occupied parts of their original Tarim Basin territory, gaining a strategic position along what historic trade route? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Sheep learned to recognize photos of Obama and other celebrities, neuroscientists say

Of the roughly 1.1 billion sheep on Earth, roughly 1.1 billion have no idea who Barack Obama is. But there are at least eight sheep who can recognize the former president by his face. After a few days of training at the University of Cambridge in … Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Sesame Street Premieres (1969)

Today, Sesame Street is an American institution. However, at the time of its debut, the show was revolutionary. Developed by the Children’s Television Workshop, Sesame Street was the first educational children’s show to base its content on laboratory research. Much of that research went into determining what would capture the attention spans of young viewers, and Muppets—such as Elmo and Oscar the Grouch—were found to be particularly effective. Which US state once banned the show? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Bhairava Ashtami

Among Hindus, Bhairava means “frightful” or “terrible.” He is a manifestation of Shiva, a terrifying character who is worshipped to obtain success, prosperity, the removal of obstacles, and recovery from illness. He is often depicted accompanied by a dog or riding on one. On Bhairava Ashtami, Hindus worship Bhairava with sweets and flowers. Dogs everywhere are treated to milk, sweets, and other delicacies. At night, worshippers keep a vigil and spend the time telling stories about Bhairava. They also offer libations to their dead ancestors. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Vachel Lindsay (1879)

Lindsay was an American poet who, in an attempt to revive poetry as an oral art form of the common people, traveled the country reciting his poems in return for food and shelter. He first received wider recognition for 1913’s “General William Booth Enters into Heaven,” about the founder of the Salvation Army. His works are known for their strong, musical rhythms and vivid imagery. Despite his popularity, he was crushed by personal and financial worries and committed suicide by drinking what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Artificial Heart

A synthetic heart remains one of the long-sought holy grails of modern medicine. Although the heart is conceptually simple—it is, in essence, a muscle that acts as a pump—it contains subtleties that defy straightforward reproduction. Though artificial hearts have been successfully implanted, they are suitable only as temporary replacements in patients awaiting transplants; no device has yet been developed for total replacement of the heart. What is the longest an artificial heart has been used? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary