A particularly heavy or torrential downpour of rain. (Chiefly heard in the southern United States.) Watch the video
Month: July 2022
The MGM Grand Hotel
One of the largest hotels on Earth, the MGM Grand opened in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1993. It had a very different look then than it does today, originally boasting an extensive Wizard of Oz theme that has since been scrapped in favor of an Art Deco motif. The complex also included a theme park, which was meant to make the Vegas Strip more family friendly, but it performed poorly and was closed in 2000. Why did many Chinese patrons avoid the MGM Grand’s main entrance prior to its redesign? Discuss
escarpment
Definition: (noun) A steep slope or long cliff that results from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.
Synonyms: scarp.
Usage: The basalt cliffs of the outside were reproduced upon the inside, forming an escarpment about two hundred feet high, with a woody slope beneath it.
Discuss
Revolt Aboard the Amistad (1839)
In 1839, 53 African slaves being transported on the Spanish merchant ship La Amistad revolted against their captors. Having gained control of the ship, they demanded that the navigator set a course for Africa. However, he deceived them and sailed the ship northward until it was intercepted by the US Navy off the coast of New York. After a widely publicized court battle, the Supreme Court ruled that the Africans were not legally slaves and ordered them freed. What does amistad mean? Discuss
to a turn
For exactly the right amount of time necessary or desired (used almost exclusively in reference to how well meat is cooked). Watch the video
Masada
Masada is a mountaintop fortress in Israel. According to the ancient historian Josephus, it was fortified by Herod the Great in the 1st century BCE. In 66 CE, at the beginning of the Jewish uprising against the Romans, a group of rebels captured Masada. They retained control of the fortress until 73 CE, when, besieged by the Romans, they committed mass suicide rather than surrender. Excavated in the 1950s and 60s, Masada is now a major tourist attraction. How do visitors reach the top of Masada? Discuss
analogue
Battle of Gettysburg Begins (1863)
The Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War, resulting in some 50,000 casualties in three days. It took place in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and signaled a turning of the tide in favor of the Union. The site is now a national cemetery, at whose dedication on November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. Seamstress Ginnie Wade was the only documented civilian casualty of the battle. How did she die? Discuss
Botswana Sir Seretse Khama Day
July 1 is the birthday of Sir Seretse Khama, the man who led the nation of Botswana out of colonialism and laid the foundation for a modern democracy in his country. Sir Seretse Khama Day is a national holiday, observed across Botswana as a day to remember Khama’s contributions to his homeland. In celebrations in Serowe, Khama’s birthplace, people proceed from various points to the main town center. Traditional dances, such as the tsutsube, are performed. Speeches and ceremonies are made at the city’s statue honoring Khama, and a wreath is laid at his grave in the royal cemetery. Discuss
Diana, Princess of Wales (1961)
From the time she became engaged to Prince Charles in 1981 until her death in a car accident in 1997, Diana was arguably the most famous woman in the world. A dedicated humanitarian, she campaigned against the use of landmines and called attention to the plight of AIDS victims. She also spoke publicly about her struggles with depression and bulimia. Her openness endeared her to many and stood in contrast to the traditional image of the royal family. Where did Diana work before marrying Charles? Discuss