These three consecutive days in May mark the feasts of St. Mammertus, St. Pancras, and St. Servatus. In the wine-growing districts of France, a severe cold spell occasionally strikes at this time of year, inflicting serious damage on the grapevines; some in rural France have believed that it is the result of their having offended one of the three saints, who for this reason are called the “frost saints.” French farmers have been known to show their displeasure over a cold snap at this time of year by flogging the statues and defacing the pictures of Mammertus, Pancras, and Servatus. Discuss
Month: May 2021
a stab in the back
A betrayal; an act of treachery. Watch the video
Continuity Editing
Editing is a key part of the filmmaking process, as it involves cutting together different shots and scenes to form a cohesive narrative. The classical style of Hollywood cinema relies heavily on continuity editing, a style of editing that emphasizes smooth transitions in time and space in order to advance the plot in a logical, unobtrusive way. A number of techniques are typically used to achieve this, including match on action, eyeline match, and the 180° rule. What are some others? Discuss
addendum
Definition: (noun) Textual matter that is added onto a publication, usually at the end.
Synonyms: supplement, postscript.
Usage: In his pocket was a bottle, carefully corked, empty save for a little roll of paper, which proved to be the addendum to the log.
Discuss
spends
cabbage pounder – An inept golfer who spends a lot of time in the rough. More…
carpet knight – A knight who spends his time in luxury and idleness—knighted on the carpet at court rather than on the field of battle. More…
mouse potato – A person who spends too much time on the computer, patterned on couch potato. More…
spendthrift – One who spends the “thrift” or earnings/wealth of another. More…
Golden Spike Anniversary
This reenactment of the completion of America’s transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah, has been held since 1952. Reproductions of the Central Pacific’s “Jupiter” and Union Pacific’s “119” meet at the site of the ceremony. Then, the Golden Spike and three other spikes are tapped into a special railroad tie; at 12:47 PM, an ordinary iron “last spike” is driven into the last tie, and the message “D-O-N-E” is sent by ham radio to the California State Railway Museum in Sacramento. Discuss
be in for a treat
To be guaranteed to receive or experience something unexpectedly pleasant or beneficial. Watch the video
Fort Gadsden
Florida’s Fort Gadsden was the site of two successive forts. The first was built by the British during the War of 1812, when the area was under Spanish control. When the British left in 1815, they handed control of the fort over to the local population of Seminoles and escaped slaves, and it became known as “Negro Fort.” The next year, US forces attacked the fort, hitting an ammunition stockpile and killing more than 250 of the 300 there. Who joined the US forces in the attack? Discuss
somatic
rhetoric
rhetor – A teacher of rhetoric or a master of it. More…
climax – First described propositions in rhetoric, one rising above the other in effectiveness; it comes from Greek klimax, “ladder.” More…
demagoguery, demagogy – Demagoguery and demagogy are the practices or rhetoric of a demagogue. More…
scheme – From Greek skhema, “figure, form,” it first referred to a figure of speech, especially a figure of rhetoric, denoting a way of deviating from the ordinary use and order of words to create special effect. More…