Otis Redding (1941)

Redding, an American soul singer known for his emotive style, began his career with Johnny Jenkins and the Pinetoppers and recorded his first hit, “These Arms of Mine,” during time left over at the end of a Johnny Jenkins session. His biggest hit, “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay,” was recorded just days before he died in a plane crash at age 26. It became the first posthumous number-one single. What are some different explanations for why Redding whistles at the end of the song? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Robot Jockeys

Camel racing has been a popular sport in the Arab world for thousands of years, however, this “Sport of Sheiks” has recently earned condemnation from human rights groups for its almost exclusive use of child jockeys, usually boys around the age of four, who are sold to race organizers or camel owners and starved to reduce their weight. In response, nations such as Qatar have banned the use of child jockeys and replaced them with robots developed by a Swiss robotics firm. How do they work? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Delano Grape Strike Begins (1965)

In late 1965, California grape workers went on strike to protest poor pay and labor conditions. Labor leader César Chávez soon took up their cause, and in 1966, he and his followers began a 340-mi (547-km) trek from Delano to the state capitol to raise awareness of the farm workers’ plight. The march began with 75 people and ended in a rally of 10,000 people on the capitol steps. Many Americans rallied to their cause and boycotted table grapes. The strike lasted five years and accomplished what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Our Lady of Nazare Festival

The Church of Our Lady of Nazareth in Nazaré was built near the place where the Virgin Mary is said to have saved the life of Fuas Roupinho, who was pursuing a deer when a sudden sea mist arose and caused him to lose his bearings. The Virgin halted his horse in its tracks—a hoof-print is still visible—and Roupinho discovered that he was on the brink of a cliff. The annual festival that takes place in the town’s main square begins on September 8, the anniversary of the miracle, and includes bullfights, musical concerts, and folk dancing. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Marie Thérèse Louise de Savoie-Carignan, Princesse de Lamballe (1749)

Marie Thérèse was a French aristocrat and confidant of Queen Marie Antoinette, who met with members of the National Assembly in Thérèse’s salon. As the French Revolution escalated, Thérèse attempted to stir English support for the monarchy but was soon imprisoned with the queen. After refusing to oppose the monarchy, she was delivered to a bloodthirsty mob that murdered and mutilated her in the September Massacres of 1792. After her head was cut off, it was placed on a pike and brought where? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

First-Person Shooters

First-person shooters are action video games in which players use handheld weapons to shoot targets in game worlds rendered from the visual perspective of the player characters. These types of games were the first to make extensive use of multiplayer gaming. Among the most popular video games on the market today, first-person shooters are also the subject of controversy due to their graphic depictions of violence and killing. What games are landmarks of the genre? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary