The Marquis de Sade (1740)

Described by French poet Guillaume Apollinaire as “the freest spirit that has yet existed,” the Marquis de Sade was a French novelist and philosopher infamous for his wildly liberal lifestyle and erotic writings. The term “sadism” derives from his depictions of violent behavior, and he spent decades in prisons and insane asylums for his scandalous actions. How did he try to incite a riot at the Bastille, where he was imprisoned just days before it was stormed by French revolutionaries? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Hackers: White Hat and Black Hat

Though the term hacker has become synonymous with someone who illegally exploits computer system vulnerabilities, the different aims and approaches of members of the hacking subculture create certain distinctions. White hat hackers, for example, breach security ethically and for altruistic reasons, while black hat hackers engage in malicious criminal attacks. The colorful terms derive from cowboy films in which villains often wear black hats and heroes wear white ones. What is a blue hat hacker? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

A rare great ape, a 130-foot-tall tree and an extinct marsupial lion make the Top 10 New Species lis

The highest branches of a Brazilian forest. The permanent darkness of a cave in China. The deepest place on Earth. Life has carved niches for itself in the most extreme and stunning habitats. As a result, it has taken on surprising — and just plain … Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Former Slave Isabella Baumfree Becomes Sojourner Truth (1843)

Born into slavery in New York, Baumfree had four different masters before escaping with her infant daughter in 1826, one year before the state abolished slavery. She traveled and championed abolition, changing her name in 1843. Her dictated memoirs were published as The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave. In 1851, she delivered what is now known as the “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at the Women’s Rights Convention. How did the first report of the speech differ from later accounts? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Dr. Henry Faulds (1843)

Faulds was a Scottish doctor and scientist who pioneered the study of fingerprints as forensic evidence. He first became interested in fingerprints after noticing the imprints left by craftsmen’s fingertips in ancient pottery. Convinced that fingerprints could be a valuable investigative tool, Faulds unsuccessfully tried to convince Scotland Yard to employ his methods. His findings went largely unnoticed during his lifetime. How does Darwin’s cousin factor into a controversy over Faulds’s work? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Troy Town

Many of England’s historic turf mazes—labyrinthine paths formed by cutting complex patterns into grass—were given names that incorporate the word “Troy,” such as Troy Town, The City of Troy, or Troy’s Walls. Such names were presumably used because, according to popular legend, the walls of the city of Troy were constructed in such a confusing and complex manner that any enemy who entered would be unable to find his way out. What is thought to have been the original purpose of these turf mazes? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary