American science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard founded the Church of Scientology in the early 1950s. The church’s teachings are based on Hubbard’s philosophy of Dianetics, which promotes a process called “auditing” to free a person’s spirit from the psychological burdens that interfere with happiness and self-realization. Both the religion and Hubbard remain the subjects of controversy and investigation. Scientology was seen as harmless until 1965 when what happened to change public opinion? Discuss
Month: March 2022
rip-snorting mad
Extremely angry and agitated; infuriated. Watch the video
Ballroom Dance
Ballroom dance is a partner dance which originated in the western world and is now enjoyed socially and competitively around the globe. Ballroom dancing used to be associated with the privileged classes, but, today, is much more inclusive. What famous dances are associated with Ballroom? Discuss
bombast
pierce
sashimi – Thinly sliced raw fish with a sauce, it is a compound formed from sashi, “pierce,” and mi, “flesh.” More…
point – “Sharp end” is the etymological notion underlying point, from Latin pungere, “pierce, prick.” More…
stake – Meaning “post,” it comes from a Germanic base meaning “pierce, prick.” More…
stick – Comes from Germanic meaning “be sharp, pierce, prick”; the piercing notion led to “becoming fixed in something” and then “adhering.” More…
Anschluss: German Troops Occupy Austria (1938)
Though the union of Austria and Germany was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain in 1919, the Nazis annexed Austria in 1938. The German term Anschluss—”annexation”—is most frequently used in reference to this event. When the Nazis entered Austria to enforce the Anschluss, they encountered no military opposition and quickly took control. The US, USSR, and UK signed a declaration proclaiming the Anschluss null and void in 1943, yet Austria did not regain its sovereignty until what year? Discuss
Girl Scout Day
This observance marks the anniversary of the founding of the American Girl Scouts by Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927) in Savannah, Georgia, in 1912. The day is the focal point of Girl Scout Week, which begins on the Sunday before March 12 and is observed by Girl Scout troops nationwide in various ways—with community service projects, anniversary parties, and plays. The 80th anniversary in 1992 was celebrated with various events, including the kick-off of a national service project on the environment. Discuss
Gustav Kirchhoff (1824)
German physicist Gustav Kirchhoff was a pioneering scientist who contributed to the fundamental understanding of electrical circuits, spectroscopy, and the emission of black-body radiation by heated objects. He formulated several eponymous laws related to electrical circuits and thermodynamic reactions. Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen—of Bunsen burner fame—began a new era in astronomy when they applied spectrum analysis to the Sun. Which two chemical elements did they discover in the 1860s? Discuss
ripen up
To grow ripe; to become mature enough to harvest or pick. Watch the video
Eton College
Eton College is an exclusive boy’s public school located in England. It is one of the most illustrious and renowned schools in the world. Eton is famous for its alumni, known as Old Etonians, and the traditions it maintains, including a formal uniform. Who are some of the best known Old Etonians? Discuss