One becomes seized by an acute and intense sensation of fear, panic, horror, or dread. Watch the video
Month: January 2022
The Siachen Glacier
Located 18,875 feet (5,753 m) above sea level in the Himalayan Mountains—between the boundary separating India and Pakistan—the Siachen Glacier is considered the world’s highest battlefield. Since India launched a successful military operation there in 1984, thousands of Indian and Pakistani troops have populated the otherwise uninhabited area. However, more soldiers have died from the harsh weather conditions than from combat. What effects has the human presence had on the glacier? Discuss
vacuous
monkeys
macaque – Based on Bantu kaku, “monkey,” and ma, denoting a plural, translating to “some monkeys.” More…
monkey business – A transfer of the tricks of monkeys to human behavior. More…
barrel of monkeys – Monkeys are usually a source of merriment, so if one had a barrelful of them, one supposes this to be quite hilarious; a group of monkeys is actually called a troop. More…
see monkeys – To be overcome by the heat while working. More…
First Kiwanis Club Is Chartered (1915)
In 1914, Allen S. Browne and Joseph G. Prance created the Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order Brothers, a networking group for businessmen. Their club was officially chartered one year later with its now famous name “Kiwanis.” The club’s purpose has changed since then, but its popularity has only grown. Kiwanis Clubs today have both male and female members—roughly 600,000 of them—and focus on community service, sponsoring about 150,000 service projects each year. What does “Kiwanis” mean? Discuss
Jack Henry Abbott (1944)
While imprisoned in the 1970s—for various crimes, including the murder of a fellow inmate—Abbott began a correspondence with author Norman Mailer, hoping to help him write about prison life more authentically. Mailer was so impressed with Abbott’s writing that he helped him compile his letters into the acclaimed book In the Belly of the Beast and advocated for Abbott’s parole. However, just weeks after his release, Abbott fatally stabbed a man and was rearrested. Why had he done it? Discuss
one card shy of a (full) deck
A pejorative phrase meaning not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity. This expression can appear in many different forms and variations (e.g., “a few sandwiches short of a picnic,” “one brick short of a load.,” etc.). Watch the video
The Merman
The male counterpart of the mermaid, the merman is a legendary creature that is human from the waist up but fish-like from the waist down. The most well-known merman is likely Triton, son of Poseidon and Amphitrite in Greek mythology. Triton lived in a golden palace in the ocean’s depths and controlled the waves with a conch shell. Mermen are now a pop culture staple—with Triton famously appearing in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Where can you see a supposedly “real” merman on display? Discuss
vitreous
literary
cenacle – A discussion group or literary clique—also, a small dining room where a literary or philosophic group eats and talks (from Latin cena, “dinner”), such as the room in which the Last Supper was held. More…
literary – A painting or sculpture that depicts a story can be described as “literary.” More…
opuscule – A diminutive of opus, meaning a minor or small work, literary or musical. More…
copyright – Literally, “the right to reproduce” one’s own work or authorize others to do so; copyright protects original artistic, literary, dramatic, musical, and intellectual work in a tangible medium. More…