Month: July 2022

Daniel Defoe Placed in a Pillory (1703)

Although Defoe achieved literary immortality with the novel Robinson Crusoe and is called the father of modern journalism, he also produced eloquent, witty, often audacious tracts on public affairs during his prolific writing career. After Defoe’s publication of a pamphlet that ruthlessly satirized the High Church Tories, he was arrested and placed in a pillory. According to legend, what did Defoe’s pillory audience throw at him instead of the customary harmful and noxious objects? Discuss

Jamaica Festival

Originally called the Independence Festival of Jamaica because it ended on Jamaica‘s Independence Day, the Jamaica Festival emphasizes the cultural roots, conservation, and revival of traditional art forms by ethnic groups—particularly music, dance, and games of African origin—as well as nurturing contemporary arts. Competitions determine who will perform each year, the categories of which include fine art, photo, and culinary exhibits, music, dance, plays, and literary readings. The festival has been held in Kingston, Montego Bay, and elsewhere on the island since 1963. Discuss

J.K. Rowling (1965)

Joanne Kathleen Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter book series, which has been credited with sparking an interest in reading at a time when children were thought to be abandoning books. She parlayed the series into a global brand, including the popular movie adaptations, worth an estimated $15 billion. All seven volumes of the series have broken sales records, and the last four have been the fastest-selling books in history. Where was Rowling when she first conceived the story? Discuss

Seismology

Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes—their origins, geographic distribution, and effects. Much of what we now know about the composition of the Earth and its internal structure comes from seismologic research. In recent years, seismologists have focused intense efforts on developing ways to predict earthquakes in hopes of minimizing casualties caused by seismic events. Unfortunately, a reliable method has yet to be developed. Why were six seismologists recently indicted in Italy? Discuss

Jimmy Hoffa Disappears from a Detroit Parking Lot (1975)

Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, was an influential US labor leader with alleged ties to the Mafia. He led with brawn and charisma and made toughness his policy—whether dealing with management or with rival unions. In 1964, he was convicted of jury tampering and fraud and sentenced to 13 years in jail, but President Richard Nixon commuted his sentence in 1971. Hoffa’s unexplained disappearance in 1975 prompted decades of speculation. What evidence surfaced in 2001? Discuss

Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947)

An Austrian-born bodybuilder, Schwarzenegger won the first of his five Mr. Universe titles in 1967 and went on to become a Hollywood action star. An increasingly politically active Republican during the 1990s, he was elected governor of California in 2003. Schwarzenegger ran for re-election in 2006 and, despite the numerous criticisms of his first term, defeated Democrat Phil Angelides. Why did an Austrian politician demand that Schwarzenegger be stripped of his Austrian citizenship in 2005? Discuss

Zen

Zen is the Japanese name for a branch of Buddhism originally practiced in China. Legend states that an Indian monk named Bodhidharma traveled to China and declared to Emperor Wudi that meditation, not good deeds, is the path to enlightenment. Bodhidharma himself is said to have sat in constant meditation for nine years. His teachings—which emphasize breaking through the boundaries of logical thought—developed fully in Japan by the 12th century, where they came to be called Zen. What is “zazen”? Discuss