pick-up, pick-up dinner – A pick-up or pick-up dinner is one made up of leftovers. More…
ort, orts – An ort is a morsel or remaining scrap; orts is another name for leftovers. More…
leftover, relic, relief – Before leftovers were called leftovers, they were called relics, and, before that, relief. More…
gallimaufry – A medley or confused jumble, especially a dish made of leftovers, from French gallimaufry, “ragout, hash.” More…
In the early 1980s, south London’s Brixton neighborhood was plagued by severe social and economic problems, including high rates of unemployment and crime and poor housing conditions. In 1981, in an effort to reduce street crime, police began stopping and searching anyone they deemed suspicious—a policy that many residents of the predominantly black community found discriminatory and heavy-handed. Eventually, the angry residents rioted. How many people were injured during the clash? Discuss
Rosten was an American teacher, screenwriter, and humorist. He is best remembered for his stories about a night-school “prodigy” named Hyman Kaplan, which debuted in The New Yorker in the 1930s and were later published in book form under a pseudonym. His The Joys of Yiddish is a humorous guide to the Yiddish language and Jewish culture. Rosten is quoted as having once said that “any man who hates dogs and babies can’t be all bad!” To whom was he referring when he made this remark? Discuss
A happy, energetic, and excited mood or manner, as indicated by the carefree way one walks. Watch the video
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, claiming to have 800,000 members worldwide. PETA’s main objectives include fighting factory farming, animal testing/vivisection, and fur farming. The organization, however, has been widely criticized for immorality, deception, and the targeting of vulnerable groups in its advertising campaigns, as well as for the use of shock tactics to elicit reactions and attract attention to its cause. Discuss
excise – As in tax, it is from Middle Dutch excijs, from Latin accensum, “to tax.” More…
tax – From Latin taxare, “censure, charge, or compute.” More…
toll – Traces back to Greek telos, “tax.” More…
disposable income, surplus income – Disposable income or surplus income is what you have left after taxes and other government obligations—i.e. what you have left to live on. More…
The Belfast Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement, was a major step in the Northern Ireland (NI) peace process. Signed by the British and Irish governments and endorsed by most of NI’s political parties, it secured the commitment of all parties to “exclusively democratic and peaceful means of resolving differences on political issues” and provided for extensive Home Rule in the province. How did vague wording in some of the agreement’s provisions help ensure its acceptance? Discuss
Max von Sydow is an internationally acclaimed Swedish actor who is known in particular for a number of film collaborations with his mentor, director Ingmar Bergman, including his iconic chess match with Death in The Seventh Seal. Von Sydow honed his acting skills on both stage and screen in Scandinavia before starring in many Hollywood films, such as The Exorcist. He has twice been nominated for an Academy Award but has yet to win one. What are some of his most recent film roles? Discuss
A feeling of often restless excitement or exuberance coinciding with the onset of warmer spring weather. Watch the video