cheval glass – A tall mirror swung on an upright frame that takes its name from French cheval, “horse”—a synonym for “supporting framework,” which describes this mirror. More…
catoptric – Means pertaining to a mirror, reflection, or reflector. More…
mirage – From French se mirer, “be reflected,” from Latin mirare, “look at”—the same root used in mirror. More…
heliography – Using a mirror to send a signal. More…
During a multi-day blizzard in February 1910, a passenger train and a mail train got stuck in Wellington, Washington, high in the Cascade Mountains. Once the snow finally let up, it changed to rain—with tragic consequences. Early on March 1, an avalanche threw the two trains off the tracks and into a valley below, killing 96 people. It was not the only deadly avalanche in the area that year—one struck British Columbia three days later. How did the disaster change railroading in the Cascades? Discuss
On March 1 every year, Lanark‘s parish church bell rings exactly at 6 p.m., after a four-month silence. As the bell begins to ring, children in this Scottish town parade three times round the church, dangling pieces of string with paper balls attached at the other end. Then they start striking one another with the paper balls in a play fight. Once pennies are tossed to the ground, the children rush to collect them. One explanation for the origin of this festival is that it can be traced back to pagan times, when people believed that making a great deal of noise would scare away evil spirits. Discuss
Ellison moved to New York City in 1936 to study art but took up writing after meeting authors Langston Hughes and Richard Wright. Ellison spent seven years writing what would be his only completed novel, Invisible Man, about a nameless black man struggling to live in a hostile society. The work brought Ellison eminence as a writer and remains one of the central texts of the African-American experience. What is the title of his second, uncompleted novel, published posthumously in 1999? Discuss
One is in an angry, aggressive, or violent mood; one is looking or ready for a fight. Watch the video
The lingam is a Hindu symbol of the god Shiva and of generative power. Fashioned from wood, gems, metal, or stone, lingams are common in family shrines throughout India. Historically, the lingam was a representation of the phallus, and a sexual dimension is apparent today as the yoni—symbol of the female sex organ—often forms the base of the lingam to emphasize the male and female aspects of existence. What did British missionary William Ward say about lingams in his 1815 book? Discuss
Definition: (noun) Anything that precedes something similar in time.
Synonyms: forerunner.
Usage: This era is one of heedless consumption, but perhaps you can blame that on its antecedent.
Discuss