Month: April 2019

The Beach Pneumatic Transit

The first to attempt to build an underground public transit system in New York City was undertaken by inventor Alfred Ely Beach in 1869. Though it was operational within a year, the Beach Pneumatic Transit Company’s 312-ft- (95-m-) long pneumatic subway line beneath Broadway remained little more than a curiosity and soon closed. Now a popular element of urban legend and subway lore, the line has been referenced in several literary works. What 1989 movie incorporates Beach’s subway into its plot? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Chinhae (Jinhae) Cherry Blossom Festival

The Cherry Blossom Festival is held in Jinhae (Chinhae), South Kyongsang, Korea, the headquarters of the Korean Navy. The purpose of the festival is to enjoy the thousands of blossoming cherry trees and also to honor Korea’s illustrious Admiral Yi Sun-shin. Admiral Yi defeated the Japanese in several sea battles during the latter’s invasions of the late 16th century. While the cherries bloom, there are daily events—a memorial service, parades, sports contests, music and dance performances, and folk games. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Boffins

In British slang, a boffin is a scientist, especially one engaged in research, who possesses extensive skill or knowledge in a particular field, often to the exclusion of all non-academic interests. The word “boffin” was originally used as military slang for a technician or research scientist, but since WWII, the affectionate nickname has taken on a negative connotation. However, its etymology is otherwise obscure. What is its closest American slang equivalent? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Ziusudra

According to some ancient sources, Ziusudra was the last king of Sumer prior to the deluge described in the Sumerian flood myth. The earliest version of this myth, recorded in cuneiform on a tablet in the 17th century BCE, recounts how the hero, Ziusudra, survives the flood and is rewarded with immortality. His story is quite similar to biblical accounts of Noah and to the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, which features a hero named Utnapishtim. What is the meaning of the name “Ziusudra”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Supermodels

A supermodel is a highly-paid elite fashion model who usually has earned a worldwide reputation and often has a background in haute couture and commercial modeling. Although the term has roots earlier in the 20th century, it became especially popular during the 1980s and 1990s, when the names­—and not just the faces—of particular models began to be internationally recognized. What supermodel once said that models of her caliber “don’t wake up for less than $10,000 a day”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary