Month: December 2018

Last Recorded Eruption of Mount Fuji Begins (1707)

Majestic Mount Fuji, located about 60 mi (100 km) from Tokyo, is the tallest mountain in Japan. The beauty of the snowcapped symmetrical cone, ringed by lakes and virgin forests, has inspired Japanese poets and painters throughout the centuries. Though the volcano is classified as active, its last major eruption began on December 16, 1707, and ended in early 1708. As a sacred mountain, Mount Fuji is a traditional pilgrimage site, but the Aokigahara forest at its base is a popular site for what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Posadas

This nine-day Christmas celebration in Mexico commemorates the journey Mary and Joseph (the parents of Jesus) took to Bethlehem. Reenacting their search for shelter (posada in Spanish) in which Jesus might be born, a group of “pilgrims” will knock on someone’s door and ask the owner to let them in. The master of the house finally invites them to enter and the Posadas party begins. The children are blindfolded and given a chance to break the piñata by swinging at it with a stick. The posadas are repeated for nine evenings, the last occurring on Christmas Eve. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Margaret Mead (1901)

A prolific writer and avid speaker, anthropologist Margaret Mead was instrumental in popularizing the anthropological concept of culture in the US. Though many later anthropologists have questioned both the accuracy of her observations and the soundness of her conclusions, she remains highly regarded for her many contributions to the field. Over the course of her career, Mead made numerous field trips to observe the peoples of Oceania. What honor was awarded to her posthumously? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Manes

The mane is the long coarse hair that grows from the crest of the neck of certain mammals, including the lion, horse, gnu, cheetah, and giraffe. In horses, it grows from the poll—the area between the ears—down to the withers—the area between the shoulder blades—and includes the forelock, the lock of hair that grows from or falls on the forehead. Grooms may leave manes looking natural or they may thin, braid, band, or shave off this hair. What purpose is the mane thought to serve? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Billionaire’s Grandson Found Alive—But Maimed—after Kidnapping (1973)

In 1973, 16-year-old John Paul Getty III—grandson of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty—was kidnapped in Rome. His family initially dismissed a $17-million ransom demand as a joke by the rebellious teen, but a second note convinced his father to ask J. Paul to pay it. He refused. The frustrated kidnappers then cut off John’s ear and sent it along with a note saying he would “arrive in little pieces” if their demands were not met. At this, the elder Getty relented, paying over $2 million on what condition? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Ludwig Lazarus “L. L.” Zamenhof (1859)

Born and raised in Bialystok, a city on the Polish-Russian border populated by Poles, Germans, and Belarusians, Zamenhof was profoundly affected by the ethnic conflict he witnessed all around him. In his estimation, the primary cause of such conflict was mutual misunderstanding. Thus, he reasoned, removing communication barriers would foster peace. To this end, the young doctor and linguist devoted himself to developing an international language called “Esperanto,” which means what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Matchlock

Invented in the 15th century, the matchlock was the first mechanical device for igniting gunpowder and a major advance in small-arms manufacture. It consisted of an S-shaped arm designed to hold a lit match and a trigger that would lower it into a flash pan and ignite the priming powder that would then ignite the main charge. Though slow and rather clumsy, the matchlock allowed users to keep both hands on the weapon and both eyes on the target when firing. What eventually replaced the matchlock? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary