Marilyn Monroe married baseball star Joe DiMaggio after a courtship that captivated America. Their marriage lasted just nine months, collapsing amid reports of DiMaggio’s growing possessiveness. Monroe then wed playwright Arthur Miller, but after divorcing him in 1961, she became close again with DiMaggio. When Monroe was found dead in August 1962, it was DiMaggio who made the funeral arrangements. For the next 20 years, what did DiMaggio have delivered regularly to Monroe’s crypt? Discuss
Month: January 2023
Albert Schweitzer (1875)
Schweitzer was an Alsatian theologian, musician, philosopher, and physician. Determined to become a medical missionary, he established a hospital in Gabon, Africa, in 1913 and later expanded it to include a leper colony. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952 for his medical and humanitarian work and for his “reverence for life” concept of universal ethics, which emphasizes respect for the lives of all beings. An organist to boot, he interpreted the music of what composer? Discuss
23 skidoo
To clear out or get away in haste before getting into or causing trouble, referring either to oneself or to another. “23” may refer to the Flatiron Building in New York City (located on 23rd Street), around which great winds tend to blow. It may also derive from an older use meaning to tell someone to clear out of one’s way. Primarily heard in US. Watch the video
The Doberman Pinscher
Often used in police work, the Doberman pinscher is a breed of dog with a great capacity for training and a reputation for loyalty and intelligence, making it an excellent companion. Its short tail is the result of docking, a procedure in which most of the tail is amputated shortly after birth. The dogs are named for Louis Dobermann, who created the breed in 19th-century Germany by crossing German sheepherding dogs with the Rottweiler and Manchester terrier. What does “pinscher” mean in German? Discuss
ampoule
Definition: (noun) A small glass vial that is sealed after filling and used chiefly as a container for a hypodermic injection solution.
Synonyms: phial, vial.
Usage: Because of his medical condition, he was obligated to carry an ampoule of medicine and a hypodermic needle with him at all times.
Discuss
First Mickey Mouse Comic Strip Released (1930)
Mickey Mouse’s first incarnation of sorts was as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, created by Walt Disney for Universal Studios. After Universal threatened to cut Disney’s budget, Disney reorganized his studio and created Mickey to keep his company afloat. Mickey was rather mischievous in early cartoons but later evolved into a well-meaning everyman. Today, he is one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in the world. What did Disney call his cartoon mouse before his wife suggested “Mickey”? Discuss
Togo National Liberation Day
On January 13, 1967, Togo president Nicolas Grunitzky was overthrown by Gnassingbé Eyadema, who remained president of Togo until 2005. He was succeeded by his son, Faure Gnassingbé. To celebrate National Liberation Day, the Togo military joins with civilian bands to mount several colorful parades in the city of Lomé. Dissident groups have long opposed the celebrations, noting that January 13, 1963, saw the assassination of the nation’s first president, Sylvanus Olympio. In 2008, President Gnassingbé called for an end to the public celebrations on National Liberation Day. Discuss
Wilhelm Wien (1864)
German physicist Wilhelm Wien is noted for his work on hydrodynamics, X-rays, and the radiation of light, but it was his work on blackbody radiation that set him apart in the field. In 1893, he derived a law that relates the maximum emission of a blackbody to its temperature. In 1911, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in recognition of his “discoveries regarding the laws governing the radiation of heat.” His work contributed significantly to the development of what branch of physics? Discuss
15 minutes of fame
A brief period of celebrity or notoriety. The term was coined by artist Andy Warhol. Watch the video
Porgy and Bess
The folk opera Porgy and Bess is American composer George Gershwin’s most ambitious work. Controversial since its release in 1935 for its depiction of African Americans, it tells the story of Porgy, a crippled black man living in the slums of Charleston, South Carolina, and his attempts to rescue Bess from Crown, her pimp, and Sportin’ Life, a drug dealer. Which song from the show is one of the most popular cover songs ever, with an estimated 30,000 different versions recorded? Discuss