Thoroughbred racehorse Secretariat was the first US Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting records in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes that still stand today. In fact, in the 40 years since, only one Derby winner has even come close to matching Secretariat’s time of 1:59.40. Secretariat advanced from last to first to win the Preakness and won the Belmont Stakes by an unprecedented 31 lengths. What controversy arose regarding the time calculations of the 1973 Preakness? Discuss
Month: June 2021
Black Music Month
Black Music Month is observed in June each year in the United States. Created by music executives Kenny Gable and Ed Wright as a way to celebrate and promote black music, the special designation has been proclaimed each year since 1979 by the president. At the White House in Washington, D.C., a concert and reception is held each year that features various genres of African-American music, including R&B, jazz, blues, and hip hop. Throughout the country, public and private organizations host numerous educational programs and cultural festivals recognizing the achievements of black musicians. Discuss
let's not and say (that) we did
A sarcastic expression indicating that one would really rather not do what has been proposed. Watch the video
Musk
Used as a popular perfume fixative since ancient times, musk is an odorous substance obtained from a gland of the male musk deer. Its strong odor comes from the organic compound muscone. Musklike substances are also obtained from the muskrat and the civet, and even some plants yield oils that resemble musk. Since musk deer are often killed to extract the gland, ethical concerns—as well as economic ones—have led to the production of synthetic musk. Why has this also come under scrutiny recently? Discuss
panacea
W. Somerset Maugham
There is nothing so degrading as the constant anxiety about one’s means of livelihood. Discuss
sent
coals to Newcastle – Something brought or sent to a place where it is already plentiful; it is a reference to the English town of Newcastle upon Tyne, historically a major coal exporter. More…
envoy – Pronounced EN-voy, it literally means “sent on one’s way.” More…
epistle – From Greek epistole, “something sent to someone.” More…
India ink – Originally applied to Chinese and Japanese pigments made into solid blocks and sent to Europe through India. More…
St. Médardus's Day
St. Médardus, or Médard, who lived from about 470 to 560 CE, was the bishop of Vermandois, Noyon, and Tournai in France. Because he was the patron saint of farmers and good weather, he has come to play a role in weather lore similar to that of the English St. Swithin. In Belgium he is known as the rain saint, and there is an old folk rhyme that says, “If it rains on St. Médard’s Day, it will rain for 40 days.” Discuss
let's get something straight
set phrase Let’s clear up any possible confusion, misunderstanding, or uncertainty (about something); let me make this perfectly clear. Watch the video
Binaural Beats
When two tones at slightly different frequencies are played separately and heard through stereo headphones or speakers, the brain perceives a third sound: a binaural beat. Though discovered by German scientist Heinrich Wilhelm Dove in 1839, the phenomenon was largely ignored until the 1970s. The beats are now a source of interest for some who think they have the potential to induce relaxation and increase memory and learning ability. How are binaural beats related to the “cocktail party effect”? Discuss