Tracy began his acting career in the theater, but he is now recognized as a Hollywood icon and one of the most versatile performers in motion picture history. He earned his first film role in 1930, and within five years, he had appeared in more than 25 films. A two-time Academy Award winner, Tracy earned nine Oscar nominations throughout his illustrious career. He and Katharine Hepburn were a frequent on-screen team. How many films did the pair make together? Discuss
Month: April 2022
snow on the mountain
Silver, grey, or white hair on one’s head, as due to aging. Watch the video
Pyrite: "Fool's Gold"
Widely known in the English-speaking world as “fool’s gold” because it has often been mistaken for the precious metal but is vastly less valuable, pyrite is a gold-colored mineral made of iron and sulfur. Despite its nickname and reputation, it does sometimes contain small amounts of real gold. Pyrite is useful in electronics because of its semiconducting properties, but its chief use is as a source of sulfur in the manufacture of sulfuric acid. What are the hazards of mining pyrite? Discuss
thither
ink
atrament – A synonym for ink. More…
calamari – The term for Deep-fried squid comes from Latin calamarius, meaning “pen case”—because of its long tapering shell and its ink; it is also spelled calamary. More…
ink – First spelled inke and enke—from Greek enkauston, the purple ink used by Roman emperors. More…
Senegal Independence Day
For many years, Senegal was controlled by various European powers, and France gradually began gaining control over the area in the 17th century. On April 4, 1960, Senegal won its independence from France. Today, April 4 is a national holiday celebrated all over the country, but festivities are particularly grand in the capital city of Dakar. Discuss
Maya Angelou (1928)
Angelou is an African-American writer and performer and the author of several volumes of poetry. Her seven autobiographical volumes, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, recount her traumatic youth and explore themes of economic, racial, and sexual oppression. In 1993, she was given the honor of reciting her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at Bill Clinton’s presidential inauguration. Angelou was not always so vocal; she endured several years of mutism in childhood. What triggered it? Discuss
be smashed to smithereens
To be broken apart or otherwise destroyed into tiny, fragmentary pieces. “Smithereens,” first appearing in English in 1829 as “smiddereens,” is likely derived from the Irish word “smidirín” or “smidiríní,” meaning “fragment.” Watch the video
Makeup: From Kohl to Cosmeceuticals
Cosmetics have been used for millennia to simulate or enhance the appearance of youthfulness, health, and beauty—eye makeup and scented creams were used by the ancient Egyptians as early as the 4th millennium BCE—but they have not always been viewed favorably. In the 19th century, for example, Queen Victoria publicly declared the use of makeup by anyone other than actors to be improper and vulgar. Today, however, the cosmetics industry is thriving. How much is spent on cosmetics each year? Discuss