Month: August 2022

Rocky Marciano Dies in a Plane Crash (1969)

After failing to become a professional baseball player, Marciano took up boxing and became one of the greatest boxers of all time. Hard-punching and durable, he was the heavyweight champion from 1952 to 1956—and the only one to have retired without a defeat or draw in his professional career. He died in a plane crash in 1969, on the eve of his 46th birthday, while en route to Des Moines, Iowa, where a surprise birthday party awaited him. Of his 49 professional wins, how many were by knockout? Discuss

Moldovan Language Day (Limba Noastra)

Limba Noastra, or Our Language Day, is a public holiday in Moldova. On August 31, 1989, Moldova became the first Soviet republic to pass a law declaring its language, Moldovan, to be the official language of the republic. The law also formally proclaimed that Moldovan and Romanian were the same. Second in importance only to Moldova Independence Day on August 27, Language Day is celebrated with ceremonies at the burial sites of individuals linked to the struggle for cultural rights of Romanians, especially Romanian poets and writers. Discuss

Wilhelmina I of the Netherlands (1880)

The daughter of King William III, Wilhelmina I was queen of the Netherlands for more than 50 years, encompassing the two world wars. After Germany invaded the Netherlands in 1940, she left with her family for London but made radio broadcasts to boost the morale of the Dutch people, becoming a symbol of Dutch resistance to the German occupation. In 1948, after celebrating the 50th anniversary of her reign, she abdicated in favor of her daughter. What did Wilhelmina title her autobiography? Discuss

Art Deco

Art deco is a style of design that originated in French luxury goods shortly before World War I and became internationally popular during the 1920s and 30s. Its name derives from the 1925 Paris Exposition of Decorative Arts, where the style reached its apex. Art deco is characterized by long, thin forms, curving surfaces, and geometric patterning. Works executed in the art-deco style range from skyscrapers and ocean liners to toasters. What are some architectural examples of the art-deco style? Discuss

Socialist Revolutionary Shoots Lenin (1918)

Kaplan was a Russian political revolutionary and a member of the Socialist Revolutionaries, a group known for its terrorist tactics. After the Bolshevik party disbanded the long-promised Constituent Assembly, Kaplan sought revenge on leader Vladimir Lenin and shot him three times as he exited a Moscow factory. Kaplan confessed to the shooting and was executed on September 3. Why has it been suggested that Kaplan could not have been responsible for the assassination attempt? Discuss

Warren Buffett (1930)

Known for his financial wisdom and his vast wealth, Buffet is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. His early investment successes, particularly in buying undervalued companies whose stocks rose quickly, made him extremely rich and earned him the epithet the “Oracle of Omaha.” In 2006, he made the commitment to give away his fortune to charity, with the largest contribution—approximately $31 billion—going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. What is his annual salary from Berkshire Hathaway? Discuss

Nouvelle Cuisine

Nouvelle cuisine is a school of French cooking that seeks to bring out the natural flavors of foods and uses light, low-calorie sauces and stocks. Based on the style of chef Fernand Point, it was developed in France in the 1960s and marked a departure from the rich preparations of haute cuisine, which emphasizes butter and cream. Though nouvelle cuisine is less popular today, its influence is still widely felt. What is its approach to food presentation? Discuss