Haber was a Nobel Prize-winning German chemist whose work was instrumental in the development of poison gas during World War I. He was unwavering in his support of chemical warfare and staunchly defended his work against critics, though he might have felt differently had he known how the Nazis would use the gas he helped develop against its own people—indeed Haber’s own relatives—just a few years later. His wife, on the other hand, was deeply opposed. In what way did she protest his work? Discuss
Month: December 2022
(the) man/woman of the hour
A person currently being celebrated, honored, or admired by others, especially for a recent victory, accomplishment, or other cause for celebration. Watch the video
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a disorder characterized by sudden, uncontrollable, and often brief attacks of sleep, sometimes accompanied by paralysis and hallucinations. Its cause is unknown, it has no cure, but it is fairly common—the US alone is home to some 200,000 narcoleptics. People with narcolepsy may abruptly fall asleep at any time, including while talking or even walking. The attacks can range from embarrassing and inconvenient to severely disruptive of daily life. How is narcolepsy diagnosed? Discuss
vitriol
Definition: (noun) Abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will.
Synonyms: invective, vituperation.
Usage: At first, she patiently listened to him vent his frustration, but when he began to spout vitriol, she told him she had to leave.
Discuss
Pope Pius IX Defines Immaculate Conception as Dogma (1854)
The Immaculate Conception is the Roman Catholic dogma that asserts that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was preserved from the stain of original sin—the condition of sin that marks all humans as a result of Adam’s first act of disobedience—at the moment of her conception. In 1709, Pope Clement XI made the feast of the Immaculate Conception a holy day of obligation—145 years before it became official church dogma. The Immaculate Conception is often confused with what other church doctrine? Discuss
Eli Whitney (1765)
Whitney was the inventor of the cotton gin, a mechanical device that separates cotton fiber from its seeds. His invention, which had immense economic and social ramifications, brought great wealth to many others, but little to Whitney himself. In 1798, he built a firearms factory, and his products were some of the first to have standardized, interchangeable parts. Why did Whitney’s ginning company go out of business only three years after he received his cotton gin patent? Discuss
make (oneself) useful
To do something that is actively helpful or of assistance to others. Watch the video
The Champs-Élysées
This avenue in Paris, France, leads from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. It is divided in two by the Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées. The lower part, toward the Place de la Concorde, is surrounded by gardens, museums, theaters, and restaurants. The upper part, toward the Arc de Triomphe, was traditionally a luxury commercial district. Twelve avenues radiate to form a star at the avenue’s upper end, with the Arc de Triomphe at its center. To what does the avenue’s name refer? Discuss
soapbox
The Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor (1941)
The surprise aerial attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii, destroyed 188 aircraft and several American naval vessels, killed more than 2,300 American military personnel, and wounded more than 1,100. The following day, the US declared war on Japan, entering World War II. Pearl Harbor is now a national historic landmark, and a memorial has been built over the sunken hull of the USS Arizona. How many Japanese planes attacked the American fleet that fateful day? Discuss