Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS), also known as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome or Rip Van Winkle disease, is a neurological disorder characterized by periods of ravenous appetite alternating with prolonged sleep of up to 18 hours and behavioral disturbances, confusion, and hallucinations upon waking. The pattern can last several weeks, and there is no specific treatment. It occurs most often in young males aged 10 to 25. The exact cause of the disease is unknown. What theories have researchers proposed? Discuss
Month: June 2021
demagogue
Definition: (noun) A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.
Synonyms: rabble-rouser.
Usage: The seditious harangues of demagogues in Faneuil Hall have made rebels of a loyal people and deprived me of my country.
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hatch
booby hatch – First a kind of wooden hood over a hatch, readily removable. More…
covey – Comes from French couver for the act of sitting on eggs (“covering” them) to hatch them. More…
down the hatch – A drinking toast of nautical origin. More…
St. John's Eve and Day (Jans vakars) (Latvia)
This Midsummer festival is Latvia‘s greatest feast of the year. It begins on St. John’s Eve, when boys and girls meet in the village squares; the young people gather flowers, herbs, and grasses to make wreaths that will be used in ceremonies the following day. They also practice Ligo songs, which are based on the traditional Latvian daina, a short, unrhymed song in which epic and lyric elements are mixed. Lighting bonfires is also a tradition on St. John’s Night; young people jump over the fires in the belief that it will ensure a good harvest. Discuss
live on a shoestring
To live within a very tight or limited financial budget. Watch the video
Balaam
Balaam is an Old Testament diviner whose story appears in the Book of Numbers. He was asked by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites as they approached Moab near the end of their 40 years of wandering. The Israelites had already defeated two kings in their travels, and Balak feared he would be next. According to the account, when Balaam opened his mouth, he was only able to bless the Israelites. In one part of the narrative, Balaam’s donkey speaks to him. What does it say? Discuss
despotism
Definition: (noun) Rule by or as if by a despot; absolute power or authority.
Synonyms: authoritarianism, Caesarism, dictatorship, monocracy, one-man rule, totalitarianism, tyranny, absolutism.
Usage: The despotism of heaven is the one absolutely perfect government.
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offer
bid – Derives from Old English beodan, “to offer or command.” More…
carrot-and-stick – Refers to an offer of reward countered by the threat of punishment. More…
blind fold – Worn by the Greek statue for justice so she cannot see the bribes being offered to her, hence, blind justice. More…
cast pearls before swine – To offer something valuable to someone who does not appreciate it. More…
Croatia Anti-Fascist Resistance Day
This holiday in Croatia, also called Anti-Fascism Day, dates back to the Second World War. After Nazi Germany invaded and conquered Yugoslavia in 1941, Croatia became a German puppet state under a government of Croatian fascists, called the UstaĊĦe. One of the resistance groups that sprang up to oppose the fascist government was the Partisans, headed by half-Croatian Communist leader Josip Broz Tito. Anti-Fascist Resistance Day is a national holiday in Croatia. Like most warm-weather holidays in the country, it is celebrated with outdoor barbeques and fireworks. Discuss
a living legend
A person who has an extraordinary reputation or level of fame while he or she is still alive. Watch the video