Established by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, this month-long event centers attention on the contributions and accomplishments of American poets. It is celebrated primarily by educational institutions, libraries, bookstores, and nonprofit organizations throughout the United States and Canada, and its activities include poetry readings, poetry festivals, displays and exhibits, workshops, and other events designed to help Americans of all ages learn more about poetry and its place in our contemporary culture. Discuss
Month: April 2021
bottom of the ninth
The final and critical moment or moments of a tense, important, or desperate situation. It refers to the ninth inning of baseball, the “bottom” of which is batted by the home team as their last chance to win the game. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. Watch the video
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket
The only complete novel written by Edgar Allen Poe, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket describes the fantastic adventures—and misadventures—of the eponymous character, who stows away on a whaling ship. Though the 1838 novel influenced writers such as Melville and Verne, Poe—who is best known for his short tales of the macabre—called the novel “a silly book.” Contemporary reviews were likewise unfavorable, and readers disliked the book’s abrupt ending, in which what happens? Discuss
environ
poison
alexipharmic – Another word for an antidote, from Greek alexein, “ward off,” and pharmakon, “poison.” More…
toxic – Comes from Greek toxikon pharmakon, “poison for arrows,” from toxon, “bow.” More…
venom – Comes from Latin venenum, the love potion Venus used to attract people to each other—but later came to describe “poison.” More…
virus – A Latin word meaning “poison” or “slimy liquid,” it first meant “venom of a snake.” More…
a shiver down (one's) spine
A shudder felt down one’s back, due to either fear, anticipation, nervousness, or excitement. Watch the video
Human Multitasking
Though some people might appear or claim to be able to comfortably handle several tasks simultaneously, research has largely shown that multitasking is an illusion. Studies have revealed that, at most, the brain can fully concentrate on two tasks at a time—one for each lobe. Behavior that appears to be multitasking is instead most likely either a form of continuous partial attention or a rapid switching between tasks. What makes driving particularly incompatible with cell phone use? Discuss
intermingle
kick
coup de savate – A kick with the flat of the foot. More…
Gaelic football – A rough, football-like game mainly played in Ireland with 15 players to each side with the object of punching, dribbling, or kicking the ball into a goal. More…
punt, bunt – Punt, as in “kick,” may be from bunt, “push,” used in baseball to mean “hit the ball softly.” More…
kick, punt – The dent in the bottom of a wine or champagne bottle is the kick or punt. More…
Zimbabwe Independence Day
Like much of Africa, the area that is now Zimbabwe was long controlled by Europeans. In 1922, the 34,000 European settlers chose to become a self-governing British colony, Southern Rhodesia; in 1923, Southern Rhodesia was annexed by the British Crown. A fight for independence took place in the 1970s. An independent constitution was written for Zimbabwe in London in 1979, and independence followed on April 18, 1980. Independence Day is celebrated in every city and district of the nation with political rallies, parades, traditional dances, singing, and fireworks. Discuss