The Gossamer Albatross

The Gossamer Albatross was a human-powered aircraft built by American aeronautical engineer Paul B. MacCready. Constructed using a carbon fiber frame with polystyrene wings, the aircraft was powered using pedals to drive a large, two-bladed propeller. On June 12, 1979, amateur cyclist Bryan Allen successfully piloted it across the English Channel, completing the 22-mile (36-km) crossing in less than three hours and achieving a top speed of 18 mph (29 km/h). What was its average altitude? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Three-Year-Old Madeleine McCann Goes Missing (2007)

A few weeks before her fourth birthday, Madeleine McCann disappeared from an apartment in Portugal, where she, her parents, and her twin siblings were on vacation. Her disappearance received international press coverage, but despite numerous investigations by several different agencies, young Madeleine remains missing and no arrests have been made in the case. However, Portuguese authorities at different times categorized several individuals as having arguido status, which means what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

James Brown, the Godfather of Soul (1933)

One of the original inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and one of the most influential entertainers of the 20th century, “Godfather of Soul” James Brown evolved a highly personal style that combined gospel and blues elements with a spectacular stage presence. During his five-decade career, “the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business” had numerous chart-topping singles and albums. What trademark feature of Brown’s stage shows was inspired by professional wrestler Gorgeous George? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Hacktivism

A portmanteau of “hack” and “activism,” hacktivism is the nonviolent use of illegal or legally ambiguous digital tools such as website defacement or parodies, redirects, information theft, and virtual sit-ins to achieve political ends. Acts of hacktivism are often conducted in the belief that they will have effects similar to that of regular activism or civil disobedience, but critics contend that cyber-attacks are a destructive form of protest. What is the earliest known instance of hacktivism? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary