Month: November 2020

Hither Green Rail Crash (1967)

The Sunday evening express train from Hastings to London was traveling 70 miles per hour (113 km/h) when it struck a stressed and fractured rail not far from London’s Hither Green depot. The packed train derailed and partially overturned, killing 49 people in one of the worst rail disasters in British history. Several other trains may have successfully passed over the broken rail earlier. What safety feature, present on the particular train that derailed, may have triggered the accident? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Return Day

In the early 19th century, the rural residents of Sussex County, Delaware, had to travel to Georgetown to cast their ballots on Election Day, and the results were read two days later from the courthouse. Farmers in the surrounding areas would travel to Georgetown with their families to hear the announcement and to join in the festivities. Residents continue the tradition today, which includes a formal announcement of the results, parades, picnics, and military displays. Street vendors sell roast oxen, and there is a parade down Market Street. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Mahmud Ghazan (1271)

One of the most prominent Mongol leaders of Persia, Ghazan was raised Buddhist but converted to Islam in 1295 before inheriting his father’s throne. Well educated and fluent in several languages, he tasked his vizier with composing a history of the Mongols. In Syria, he successfully fought his family’s enemy, the Mamluks, but they reoccupied the area upon his departure. What European nation became so fascinated with Mongol culture in the 13th century that many children were named for Ghazan? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Hammock

A hammock is a length of canvas or heavy netting suspended between two trees or other supports and used as a seat or bed. The hammock and its name were introduced to Europeans by Christopher Columbus, who encountered them in the New World. Hammocks have been used to save space on naval vessels and as a means of conveyance—similar to a stretcher—in tropical areas. They are symbolic of relaxation and are popular with hikers. A spreader bar can make a hammock wider but comes with what drawback? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin Is Assassinated (1995)

Rabin was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for his role in the historic Oslo Accords—widely considered a major milestone in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process—but not everyone supported the treaty, which stipulated that Israel would withdraw from certain contested Palestinian territories. Following a Tel Aviv peace rally, Rabin was shot and killed by Yigal Amir, an extremist Israeli law student who opposed Rabin’s peace efforts. What Jewish law did Amir claim justified the assassination? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Carlos Polestico Garcia (1896)

After graduating from law school, Garcia became a schoolteacher, poet, and public official in his native Philippines. Elected vice president in 1953, he became president upon his predecessor’s unexpected death in 1957. Though he maintained ties with the US, he was known for his “Filipino First” policy, which emphasized the sovereignty and economic interests of the Filipino people over those of outsiders. He retired from public life in 1961. However, in 1971, he died just days after doing what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Siku Quanshu

Compiled at the height of the Qing dynasty in the 18th century, the Siku Quanshu, or Complete Library of the Four Treasuries, is a collection of more than 3,400 works of Chinese literature in more than 36,000 volumes. Over 10,000 works had been considered for inclusion, but many were rejected as anti-Manchu and destroyed. Of the seven original copies, which were painstakingly transcribed by hand, four have survived. How were the collection’s many scribes compensated for their work? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Laika the Dog Launched into Outer Space (1957)

Soviet scientists found her wandering the streets of Moscow. Nicknamed Laika, or “Barker,” the little stray dog was recruited because she had already learned to withstand hunger and cold—two things she might experience in space. After intensive training, Laika became the first animal to be launched into orbit. Though she survived the launch—and even ate some food while in orbit—her capsule was not designed for a return trip. Within hours, she overheated and died. How long did the capsule orbit? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary