The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power. Discuss
Month: February 2021
sailing
aloof – Comes from sailing, in which ships keep clear of coastal rocks by holding the vessel “luff”—”to the windward”; so, to hold “a-luff” means to “keep clear.” More…
jibe – Meaning “be compatible, consistent,” it may come from the earlier jibe, “to shift a sail from side to side while sailing in the wind.” More…
plain sailing – Probably comes from plane sailing, a way of determining a ship’s position based on its moving on a plane (flat surface). More…
aback – Originated in sailing, as a ship was taken aback when a strong gust of wind suddenly blew the sails back against the mast, causing the ship to stop momentarily. More…
Royal Hobart Regatta
The Royal Hobart Regatta is an aquatic carnival that includes sailing, rowing, and swimming events, as well as fireworks and parades. It is a holiday in Tasmania, Australia, and is held on the Derwint River in early February during Australia’s summer season. Hobart is the capital of Tasmania, Australia’s southernmost state. A similar holiday in northern Tasmania is observed on the first Monday in November and is called Recreation Day. Discuss
know-nothing
A completely ignorant, uninformed, or unknowledgeable person. Watch the video
Phonofilm
Phonofilm was an early system of synchronizing sound with film. It was used in the 1920s as one of the first methods for playing sound with movies, but it never caught on, particularly in the face of competing formats such as Vitaphone and Movietone. The Phonofilm system recorded photographic sound waves directly onto film—parallel to the picture—then translated them back into sound when the film was played. Thanks to Phonofilm, who became the first US president to appear in a non-silent film? Discuss
confection
herd
cutting horse – One trained to cut cattle out of a herd. More…
pointer, point man – A pointer or point man was first a cowboy riding at the front of a herd of cattle. More…
egregious – First meant “remarkably good” and “standing out or apart from the flock or herd; eminent”; its later derogatory sense is probably an ironical use. More…
herd – As a verb, it first meant “keep safe, shelter.” More…
Grenada Independence Day
This is a national holiday commemorating Grenada‘s independence from Britain on this day in 1974. Britain had held the island since the 18th century, when France ceded it under the Treaty of Paris. Discuss
know full well
To know or be aware of something without any possible doubt. Watch the video
The Regime of the Colonels
On April 21, 1967, a group of right-wing colonels seized control of the Greek government, taking control of Athens with tanks and initiating an era of military rule that would last for seven years. The king of Greece made an attempt to overthrow the generals but failed and fled into exile. The Regime of the Colonels was marked by economic woes, oppression, and an unexpected flourishing of rock music. In 1973, a single Greek naval commander took what bold action in protest against the government? Discuss