Month: August 2020

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes is a book in the Jewish and Christian biblical canon. Its author—traditionally held to be Solomon—is occupied with the notion that wickedness and death seem to mock all effort to find purpose in life. The book opens with the assertion that because life on Earth has no meaning, it should be enjoyed. It goes on to emphasize the universality of death. The apparent cynicism of the book is said to have distressed ancient rabbis. What memorable verse decries the pointlessness of life? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Gokarna Aunsi

A Hindu festival unique to Nepal, Gokarna Aunsi honors fathers living and dead. It is celebrated during the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada (between August or early September). In Nepalese culture, fathers are highly regarded as the pillars of the family and the community. Children show their appreciation by giving presents and sweets. After the presentation of gifts, it is customary for sons to touch their fathers’ feet with their foreheads, while daughters will touch their hands. This gesture is known as “looking upon father’s face.” Those whose fathers are deceased also pay tribute. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Human Mail

Traveling by mail is both dangerous and illegal, yet several people throughout history braved the risks anyway. One famous case was that of Henry “Box” Brown, who escaped slavery in 1849 by shipping himself to an area of the US where slavery had been outlawed. Just a few years ago, a man escaped a German prison by mail. Though it is fairly rare in actuality, scenarios involving human mail frequently appear in works of fiction. What children’s book features a protagonist who travels by mail? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

San Martín Day (Argentina)

This national holiday in Argentina honors José Francisco de San Martín, who died on this day in 1850. Born in 1778 in a town called Yapeyú, San Martín, formerly a soldier in the Spanish army in Europe, came home in 1812 to fight in the revolution against Spain. He led forces across the Andes to defeat the Spanish in Chile and Peru. The victories he led assured independence from Spain for much of the region. After passing the torch to Simón Bolívar, San Martín resigned in 1822. He left Argentina in 1824, and lived out his life in exile in France. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Median Lethal Dose

In toxicology, a median lethal dose is the quantity of an agent that will kill, within a specified time period, 50 percent of the individuals in a given population. The median lethal dose of a substance is often cited as a measure of how acutely toxic a substance is and is expressed as the amount of substance per kilogram of bodyweight. For instance, the median lethal dose of dioxin is .02 milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight in rats. How much table sugar is considered a median lethal dose? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Blessing of the Grapes

In ancient times people in Armenia dedicated their grape harvest to Astrik, the goddess of the hearth, in a New Year celebration called Navasard. Nowadays the festival is associated with the Feast of the Assumption, and is celebrated on the Sunday nearest August 15, which is the feast day. No one is supposed to eat grapes until this day, when a tray filled with them is blessed in the church. Each member of the congregation is given a bunch of grapes as he or she leaves, and parties are held after the church ceremony in homes and in the vineyards.

Source: The Free Dictionary

Sword Swallowing

Dating to ancient times, sword swallowing is a performance art in which an entertainer passes a sword through the mouth and down the esophagus to the stomach. It is not an illusion. Because real swords are used, it is a dangerous practice that can take years of mental and physical training to safely master. Sword swallowers can suffer potentially fatal injuries, such as perforated organs, while performing. How have their unique abilities made them historically useful in medical research?

Source: The Free Dictionary