Month: March 2019

The Fauxhawk

In the early 1980s, the hairstyle known as the mohawk—named after the Native American tribe of the same name–became popular among young people in the punk subculture. The look is achieved by shaving both sides of the head and leaving a strip of hair on the crest of the scalp. Decades later, the fauxhawk was introduced. A portmanteau of faux—meaning fake—and mohawk, the hairstyle is created without shaving the hair on the sides of the head. What celebrities helped to popularize the fauxhawk? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Commonwealth Day

From 1903 until 1957, this holiday in honor of the British Empire was known as Empire Day and celebrated on May 24, Queen Victoria‘s birthday. Between 1958 and 1966, it was called British Commonwealth Day. Then it was switched to Queen Elizabeth II‘s official birthday in June, and the name was shortened to Commonwealth Day. It is now observed annually on the second Monday in March. In Canada it is still celebrated on May 24 (or the Monday before) and referred to as Victoria Day. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

“Boss” Tweed

William Tweed was a US politician, now famous for his corruption, who in the 1850s gained influence in the Democratic political machine known as Tammany Hall and used it to obtain leading positions in New York City government. He appointed political cronies to key posts and gained control of the city’s treasury, from which he plundered as much as $200 million. Exposure by the press eventually led to his conviction and imprisonment, but he escaped and fled to Spain. What led to his recapture? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Chalk Sunday (First Sunday of Lent)

In rural Ireland it was at one time customary to brush chalk on single men and women as they entered the church on the first Sunday of Lent. Because Roman Catholics were not permitted to hold weddings during Lent, those who were still unmarried at the beginning of the Lenten season had to remain so until Easter—if not longer. Back when it was less common for young people to stay single well into their 20s and 30s, marking them with chalk was a way of chiding them for their unmarried status. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Nüwa

In Chinese mythology, Nüwa is a figure variously described as a creator deity or a repairer of heaven and Earth, especially after a calamity. Nüwa is said to have created mankind by fashioning individuals out of clay. When the process became too arduous, she began to simply flick bits of clay off the end of a rope. These differing methods of creation have been used to explain the distinction between nobles and commoners. How did Nüwa prevent the sky’s collapse after a pillar supporting it broke? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a disorder of the trigeminal nerve—the fifth cranial nerve—which is divided into three branches and is responsible for chewing, producing saliva and tears, and sending facial sensations to the brain. The disorder causes episodes of sharp, stabbing pain in the cheek, lips, gums, or chin on one side of the face. The pain, while brief, is so severe that the sufferer often cannot do anything else while the attack lasts. How is trigeminal neuralgia treated? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary