Bomb Disposal

Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe in both military and civilian scenarios. It became a formalized practice during WWI, when the mass production of munitions led to a large proportion of “duds” being manufactured and fired. These unexploded ordinances were extremely hazardous, so units dedicated to their disposal were created. Today, bomb disposal technicians use remote-controlled robots to neutralize bombs from a distance. What is a “pigstick”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Imperial Japanese Navy Sinks Two British Warships (1941)

Japanese aggression in late 1941 prompted Britain to send two of their largest warships—HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse—to the Pacific as a deterrent. However, war in the Pacific escalated with the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7. Three days later, Japanese forces destroyed the Prince of Wales and Repulse near Singapore. The warships were the first sunk by aircraft while at sea. How did British Prime Minister Winston Churchill react to the sinkings? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Thailand Constitution Day

In 1932, Thailand‘s absolute monarchy was replaced with a constitutional monarchy. King Rama VII oversaw the transfer of power. Under the newly instituted constitution of that time, the monarchy remained in place and the king was designated the head of state. Thailand has had a series of 18 constitutions or charters since 1932, the latest one being adopted in 2007. Each has allowed for a constitutional monarchy with greater or lesser power. Celebrations on Constitution Day involve the people thanking the monarchy for granting them a chance to take part in running the country. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet (1787)

A promising student with varied interests, Gallaudet earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yale, after which he attended seminary and became a preacher. However, upon meeting 9-year-old Alice Cogswell, the deaf daughter of a neighbor, his interests turned to education of the deaf. He traveled to Europe to study the latest methods, including sign language, and returned to found the first American free school for the deaf. Who founded the university for the deaf named for Gallaudet? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The English Peasants’ Revolt of 1381

The first major popular rebellion in English history, the Peasants’ Revolt was the result of economic, social, and political discontent that came to a head when a new poll tax angered workers already resentful of legally fixed wage limits. Under the leadership of Wat Tyler, the rebels marched to London, captured the Tower of London, and beheaded officials responsible for the tax. King Richard II promised reforms, but instead Tyler was killed at the negotiations. What did the rebel army then do? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Subsequent Nuremberg Trials: Doctors’ Trial Begins (1946)

The Doctors’ Trial was the first of 12 post-World War II trials collectively called the “Subsequent Nuremberg Trials,” which the US held in its occupation zone in Nuremberg, Germany. Of the 23 defendants, 20 were medical doctors, and they faced charges for war crimes that included experimenting on human subjects without their consent. The Nuremberg Code was thus established to protect the rights of humans participating in medical research. How many of the defendants received death sentences? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary