Siddhartha Gautama, the man who would come to be revered as Buddha, was a prince who lived a sheltered life of luxury until he left his palace and witnessed real-world suffering. Renouncing his wealth, he became a wandering ascetic and is said to have gained enlightenment while meditating under a bodhi tree. A few hundred years later, around 250 BCE, Mahabodhi Temple, or “Great Awakening Temple,” was built on the site. Who initiated the restoration of the Bodh Gaya, India, temple in the 1880s? Discuss
Month: October 2021
jejune
steal
embezzle – Originally, it simply meant “steal.” More…
purloin – Meaning to steal, it is from Latin pur/pro, “forth,” and loign, “far.” More…
scrounge – First meant to live off or sponge off someone else; it is a variant of scrunge, “steal.” More…
snoop – From Dutch snoepen, “eat on the sly,” it first meant “steal and eat in a clandestine manner.” More…
Alaska Day
Alaska Day commemorates the formal transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States on October 18, 1867. The event, which took place at Sitka, was a sad one for the Russian colonists who had already made Alaska their home. After the transfer, Alaska was eventually organized as a territory and maintained this status until it became a state on January 3, 1959. Today, the lowering of the Russian flag and the raising of the Stars and Stripes is reenacted every year as part of this festival in Sitka. Other events include a parade and a period costume ball. Discuss
mush (something) up
To mash or crush something into a thick, soft pulp. Watch the video
The British Overseas Territories
At the height of its power in the late 19th century, the British Empire had acquired about one quarter of the world’s land area, including territories with large indigenous populations in Asia and Africa. Some colonies have since gained independence, but Britain continues to control the administration and legislature of 14 colonies known as the British Overseas Territories. As they are found on or near every continent, the sun still never sets on the British Empire. What are the 14 colonies? Discuss
inured
physical
Black Poetry Day
To honor the contributions African Americans have made to American life and culture, Stanley A. Ransom, of Long Island, New York, proposed Black Poetry Day in 1970. October 17 is the birthdate of Jupiter Hammon, the first African-American poet to publish his own verse. Although it is celebrated all over the state of New York, it has yet to be formally proclaimed a state holiday. Oregon has declared October 17 Black Poetry Day, and schools elsewhere take advantage of the opportunity to encourage African-American students to express their thoughts and feelings through poetry. Discuss
high muckety-muck
slang An especially important, influential, and authoritative person, especially someone who is overbearingly or arrogantly so. Watch the video