Month: December 2020

science fiction

droid – A robot in science fiction, it is a shortening of android. More…

death ray – Was a staple of (pulp) science fiction in the mid-20th century. More…

time warp – A concept that arose in the 1950s and originally applied to science fiction. More…

warp speed – Alludes to the use in science fiction, especially the speed used for interstellar travel in the science fiction television series Star Trek. More…

National Finals Rodeo

Rodeo’s premier event, sometimes called the Super Bowl of rodeos, is a 10-day affair that has been held since 1985 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is reserved for the top 15 contestants in each of seven events: bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, women’s barrel racing, and bull riding. The winners are considered the world champions in their event. Events during the 10 days of rodeo include a convention and trade show, horsemanship competitions, a hoedown, cowboy poetry gatherings, fashion shows, and dances. Discuss

Quillwork

Before the introduction of glass beads to North America, porcupine quills were widely used as decorative elements in Native American textiles. The art of quillwork is still practiced today, though not nearly as widely as it once was. Techniques like embroidery and weaving are used to work colorfully dyed quills into intricate geometric designs on clothes, moccasins, cradleboards, and other items. During the 19th century, what quillwork item was popularly produced for sale to European-Americans? Discuss

country

emancipate – Means “to free from legal, political, social control or restraint by others,” and “to free from bondage.” The word’s Latin elements are manus, “hand,” and capere, “to take,” and first meant “to release or set free.” More…

assassin – Thought by some to derive from an Arabic word meaning “hashish user,” as members of an Islamic sect in various countries during the time of the Crusades (13th century) ate hashish to intoxicate themselves before setting out to assasinate enemy leaders. More…

patriot – Greek pater, “father,” led to Latin patriota, “fellow countryman,” which was the original meaning of patriot when it came into English in the late 1500s. More…

country, nation – Both came into English c. 1330 and tend to be used interchangeably.  Country comes from Latin contrata (terra), “the landscape in front of one, the landscape lying opposite to the view.” Nation is from Latin nation-/natio, “race, class of person.” More…

United Arab Emirates National Day

This national holiday commemorates the December 2, 1971, expiration of a British treaty that inhibited self-rule for the sheikhdoms on the Persian Gulf in the eastern Arabian peninsula, and the union of seven of the sheikhdoms in the former Trucial States to become the United Arab Emirates. The Emirates’ major cities celebrate National Day December 2-3. Discuss