Month: August 2020

Elvis International Tribute Week

This week-long event pays tribute to rock and roll singer Elvis Presley. The tribute takes place in Memphis, Tennessee, largely at Graceland, his 15,000-square-foot mansion that is now his gravesite, museum, and a rock and roll shrine. A candlelight vigil is held on the evening of Aug. 15 at Graceland, when thousands of Elvis’s fans pour through the gates and walk to the gravesite. Other events include a Nostalgia Concert by those who worked with Presley; a Sock Hop Ball, in which Elvis songs and other classics of the 1950s and 1960s are played; and an art exhibit and contest.

Source: The Free Dictionary

Gliese 581 d

Discovered in 2007, Gliese 581 d is a planet that scientists have speculated could be habitable. It is approximately 20 light years away from Earth and is classified as a super-Earth because it is about 6 to 13 times more massive. It appears to be on the outskirts of, but still within, its star’s habitable zone, meaning that it could have liquid water oceans. In 2009, messages were sent in the direction of Gliese 581 d. What is the minimum amount of time it would take for a response to arrive?

Source: The Free Dictionary

Marian Days

In 1975, the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix, a Vietnamese religious order, established a new campus in Carthage, Missouri. Marian Days, which the small town of Carthage has hosted since 1977, is a time for Vietnamese Catholics to honor the Mother of Jesus and recognize the protection she offered to refugees. The weekend’s events, which include daily Masses, penance ceremonies, benedictions, and religious lectures, lead up to the Saturday celebration, which consists of a parade for the Virgin Mary as well as a fireworks and balloon ceremony. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Three Gorges Dam

The largest hydroelectric dam in the world, China’s Three Gorges Dam stretches 1.4 miles (2.3 km) across the Yangtze River. Begun in 1993 and largely completed by 2006, the controversial project displaced more than a million people and inundated huge tracts of land. However, it increased the river’s shipping capacity, reduced the threat of flooding, and will eventually generate nearly 85 billion kilowatts a year. How much electricity will the dam have to generate to recoup building costs? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Qigong

Considered by some to be an important form of alternative medicine, qigong is an ancient Chinese system of postures, exercises, breathing techniques, and meditations. Its central idea is the control and manipulation of qi—also known as chi—believed by practitioners to be the fundamental life energy responsible for health and vitality. In China, qigong is used in conjunction with other medical therapies for many chronic conditions. How is qigong related to the practice of martial arts?

Source: The Free Dictionary

Busan Sea Festival

Every August since 1999, the municipal government of the seaside town of Busan in South Korea has sponsored a nine-day Sea Festival on its main beaches. The festival kicks off with an opening ceremony featuring performances by popular singers and other entertainers and culminates that night in a spectacular fireworks display. Over the course of the festival, a variety of water sports are offered, as well as the Hanbada Festival for the Disabled and championship competitions in windsurfing and beach volleyball. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary