Researchers from Monterey bay Aquarium and Stanford University have discovered, between California and Hawaii, an area the size of Colorado that appears to be a “White Shark Café” — but it is unclear if the sharks are there for food or sex. The San … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
A holy grail of marine salvage, the wreck of the Merchant Royal, one of the most valuable of all time, has eluded treasure hunters for centuries. When the leaky, 17th-century English merchant ship sank in rough weather in the vicinity of the Isles of Scilly and southwestern England, she took with her a fabled cargo of gold, silver, and precious gems worth over a billion dollars today. Among the riches lost in the wreck was the money to pay whom? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
After a fall from the trapeze ended her career as a circus acrobat, Valadon modeled for many of the major impressionists. Encouraged by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and Edgar Degas, she began painting and became known for her intensely personal works, including landscapes, nudes, and portraits featuring vibrant colors with heavy black outlines. Valadon was the mother of painter Maurice Utrillo. Somewhat eccentric, she kept a goat at her studio, claiming that it served what practical purpose? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Euripides was a Greek playwright recognized, along with Aeschylus and Sophocles, as one of Athens’s three great tragic dramatists. Unlike his contemporaries, who concerned themselves with grandiose themes and deities, Euripides wrote about ordinary people and social issues. He began competing in the dramatic festival of Dionysus in 455 BCE and won his first victory in 441 BCE. Of his 92 plays, only about 19 survive. Many of his plays are resolved by a deus ex machina, which is what? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (verb) Make impersonal or present as an object.
Synonyms: depersonalize.
Usage: Pornography objectifies women.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Mars explorers could live in an igloo-like structure near the Red Planet’s frigid north pole, to take advantage of the seasonally abundant solar energy in that region, a new study suggests. The Martian poles are famous among scientists for their … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
A skilled warrior, Shaka established himself as head of the Zulu circa 1816 and soon made them the dominant power in southeastern Africa. He was ruthless before his mother’s death in 1827, but after, he became positively savage. He had at least 7,000 people executed for being insufficiently grief-stricken, put to death any couple found to have conceived during the mourning period, and even slaughtered cows so that their calves would know the loss of a mother. Who ultimately assassinated Shaka? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Kiwanis International first came up with the idea of setting aside a day to focus on children and their welfare in 1949. On the fourth Saturday in September, local Kiwanis clubs sponsor activities designed to show the community’s appreciation of and pride in its children. The program for the day varies from one club to the next, but some of the more popular activities include parades, picnics and field days, talent shows, and youth recognition banquets. The idea is to show youngsters that they are an important part of the community and that the community wants them to be good citizens. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Neglected by her husband, French King Louis XIII, Anne of Austria stirred up controversy with flirtatious indiscretions. After her seemingly treasonous correspondence with Spain, her husband’s principal minister, Cardinal Richelieu, attempted to limit her influence. When Louis died, Anne was declared sole regent of their son, Louis XIV—contrary to her husband’s wishes—and strove to ensure his absolute power. What did she do that was hailed at the time as “a marvel when it was least expected”? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Dating from the 19th century, jump rope is traditionally a sidewalk or playground game in which players hold a rope at each end and twirl it in a circle, while one or more players jump over it. There are many variations, including “double Dutch,” in which two ropes are twirled in opposite directions. Single-rope jumping is a popular workout, especially with boxers, to develop the lungs and improve footwork. Ten minutes of jumping rope is roughly equivalent to running a mile in how many minutes? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary