Blister beetles are born with a mission: Infiltrate a bee’s nest. And they waste no time getting to work. The larvae emerge from their eggs by the hundreds, climb the nearest blade of grass and coalesce into a wriggling ball of bodies and faux bee … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
In the early years of space exploration, the US and USSR launched numerous probes in their race to explore outer space and the Moon in particular. The first probes were intended either to pass very close to the Moon—performing a flyby—or crash directly into it—a maneuver known as a hard landing. The Soviets were the first to succeed in the latter objective. Luna 2 impacted the lunar surface on September 14, 1959. What did Premier Nikita Khrushchev present to the US president the next day? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Masaryk, a diplomat and politician in newly independent Czechoslovakia, was named ambassador to Britain in 1925. Following the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, he became foreign minister of the Czech government in exile in London. He supported cooperation with the Soviet Union and maintained his post after the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948. Two weeks later, Masaryk was found dead outside his window in the Foreign Ministry. What are the conflicting explanations for his death? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Written in 1933 by Hungarian composer Rezso Seress, the song “Gloomy Sunday” has been the subject of several urban legends. Recorded and performed by numerous artists, notably Paul Robeson and Billie Holiday, the song was once called the “Hungarian suicide song” due to claims that it inspired hundreds of suicides in Hungary and in the US. Further legends claimed that performances and radio broadcasts of the song were banned as a result. What fact about Seress likely fueled some of the legends? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) The act of damaging something or someone.
Synonyms: damage, harm, hurt.
Usage: It is true also that I did lay my hands upon this jack-fool of a brother Ambrose, though, as you can see, I did him little scathe.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The water bottle could be from Los Angeles, the food container from Manila, and the plastic bag from Shanghai…. But whatever its specific source, almost all of the trash in the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from countries around the … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Over two decades in the making, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was finally adopted in 2007 despite opposition from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US. The non-binding declaration prohibits discrimination against the world’s estimated 370 million indigenous people and outlines their rights, among them the rights to culture, identity, language, employment, and education. What were some of the key issues that delayed the drafting and adoption of the declaration? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The Pendleton Round-Up is one of the best-known rodeos in the West, held since 1910 in the small ranch town of Pendleton, Oregon. Happy Canyon was inaugurated four years later and evolved into the present-day Happy Canyon Pageant, a presentation by Northwest Indian tribes that features a teepee encampment and ceremonial dancing. In between, the rodeo features the standard competitions—bronco riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, and calf and steer roping. Additionally, there are wild horse and stagecoach races and wild-cow milking. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
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After serving briefly in the Spanish-American War, Anderson became a successful advertising man and then manager of a paint factory before suffering a nervous breakdown. Dissatisfied with his life, he abandoned both his family and his job to devote himself to writing. His best-known work is the short story collection Winesburg, Ohio, and his prose style, based on everyday speech, influenced writers Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner. He died after accidentally swallowing what object? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Renaissance fairs, outdoor gatherings in which historical periods—generally the Elizabethan Era—are recreated, were initially intended to be accurate historical reenactments but have since taken on a more theme park-like quality, particularly in the US. At these fairs, visitors may test their archery or axe-throwing skills, interact with costumed entertainers, and take in musical and theatrical acts, including jousting competitions. What debates exist within the Renaissance fair community? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary