Month: August 2019

Giordano Bruno

Bruno was a 16th-century Italian philosopher who theorized that the universe is infinite. He entered a Dominican convent as a teen but abandoned the order after being accused of heresy and began traveling Europe lecturing and teaching. His cosmological theories anticipated modern conceptions of the universe but led to his excommunication by the Roman Catholic, Calvinist, and Lutheran churches. Arrested by the Inquisition in 1593, he was burned at the stake after a trial lasting how many years? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Meyboom

One of the oldest folk traditions in Belgium, Meyboom is an amalgamation of Belgian folklore and neighborhood rivalry. The first celebration took place in 1208. The event is marked with a procession of giant puppets and the planting of a meyboom (may tree) on the corner of Rue des Sables and Rue du Marais in Brussels. Before the planting, a procession of trumpeters and costumed giants accompanies the tree from the Place des Sablons to its final destination. According to custom, if the meyboom is not planted by 5:00 p.m., the city’s good fortune will go to the people of Leuven. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Bisha’a

Also known as “ordeal by fire,” Bisha’a is a ritual practiced by some Bedouin tribes for the purpose of lie detection. In cases where no evidence of an alleged transgression exists, the accused is asked to lick a hot metal object, such as a spoon or ladle. His tongue is subsequently inspected by the official who presides over the ceremony. If his tongue is burnt, he is deemed to have been lying. What physiological response might make liars more susceptible to burns during this ritual? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair

Although craft fairs can be found all over New England during the summer months, the Craftsmen’s Fair at Mt. Sunapee Resort in Newbury, New Hampshire, is considered to be the oldest that is continuously held, dating back to 1934. The fair features more than 200 craftspeople who sell their work and display their skills through demonstrations in such diverse areas as decoy carving, printmaking, weaving and spinning, basket making, embroidering, pipe making, and blacksmithing. Visitors to the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair can buy just about any other craft they can imagine. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Nereus

Nereus is a remotely operated underwater vehicle built by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. It was designed to operate at depths of up to 36,000 feet (11,000 m), primarily so that it could explore the Challenger Deep, the deepest point in the Mariana Trench, which itself is the deepest known depression on the surface of the Earth. The craft reached the bottom of Challenger Deep in May 2009, having descended approximately 6.8 miles (11 km). After what mythological figure was Nereus named? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Purple Heart Day

Purple Heart Day is observed in the United States and commemorates the establishment in 1782 of the Badge of Military Merit, an award created by George Washington to honor soldiers for their distinguished action in battle. On August 7 throughout the country, local chapters of the Military Order of the Purple Heart sponsor services to remember and honor medal recipients from their communities. These ceremonies often feature prayers, military music, reminiscences by award recipients, and speeches by government and military officials. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Mottainai

When Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Wangari Maathai visited Japan in 2005, she encountered a word that has no direct English translation: mottainai. Although the meaning of term has evolved throughout Japanese history, it is used today to indicate a sense of regret over the waste of anything useful. Maathai has since promoted the use of the word to raise awareness about conservation issues. What English expression is closest in meaning to that of mottainai? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary