Boyd was an American explorer of Greenland and the Arctic and the first woman to fly over the North Pole. After the deaths of her parents and brothers, she inherited the family fortune and chartered the ship of famed explorer Roald Amundsen for a trip to the Arctic. She gained notoriety for hunting polar bears and was called “The Girl Who Tamed the Arctic.” She later canceled another expedition, stating, “How could I go on a pleasure trip when those 22 lives were at stake?” What had happened? Discuss
Month: September 2021
man the fort
To mind or take charge of a location during the time in which it is unattended by another. Watch the video
Selective Mutism
Most common in children, selective mutism is a psychological disorder in which a person who is fully capable of speech is silent in certain situations. A child who is talkative at home may not speak at school or around strangers. The refusal to speak is typically associated with social anxiety. One course of treatment is stimulus fading, during which another person is introduced while the child talks to someone with whom he or she is comfortable. What was selective mutism formerly called? Discuss
obdurate
snap
chop – A snap with the jaws or mouth is a chop. More…
crepitation, crepitate, crepitant – Crepitation is the sounds of Rice Krispies cereal (snap, crackle, pop); crepitate or crepitant is “making a crackling sound.” More…
oh snap – Also simply “snap”; an exclamation of dismay or disbelief, surprise, or joy. More…
snack – First meant “bite, snap (of a dog),” from a Dutch word meaning “to bite.” More…
Battle of Britain Day
In England, September 15, 1940, is remembered as the day of the biggest daylight bombing raid of Britain by the German Luftwaffe. The German air attacks had begun in June 1940, and beginning September 7, bombs rained on London for 57 consecutive nights. The Royal Air Force (RAF) had a secret advantage—radar—and the early warning gave RAF pilots a half-hour’s notice of German planes taking off from France. The Luftwaffe was finally defeated in April 1941. Today, the RAF and civilian aviation organizations commemorate Battle of Britain Day with air displays of various kinds. Discuss
a woman of her word
A woman who can be expected to keep or follow through with her promises or intentions; a truthful, trustworthy, or reliable person. (Masculine: “man of his word.”) Watch the video
Art Films
An art film is a motion picture made as a serious artistic work—not primarily for mass appeal. Unlike big-budget, escapist Hollywood blockbusters, art films are often low-budget and experiment with unusual narrative techniques. Traditionally, makers of art films have struggled to get financial backing, but today, major motion picture studios have divisions devoted to non-mainstream fare, which sparks debate over whether such films are truly “independent.” What are some famous art films? Discuss
scrawl
pursuit
dachshund – German for “badger hound,” from its original breeding purpose to pursue a badger (etc.) that has taken refuge in a burrow. More…
invite – Comes from Latin invitare, from an Indo-European root meaning “to go after something, pursue with vigor, desire.” More…
logology – The pursuit of word puzzles; also the science of words. More…
sue – From Latin sequi, “follow,” it first meant “follow, go in pursuit of.” More…