Sudden, unruly, and often violently aggressive behavior of a passenger aboard an airplane, generally while in the air, which puts the safety of other passengers, the crew, or the airplane at risk. The term is modeled on “road rage,” which is the equivalent behavior in relation to driving. Watch the video
Month: February 2023
nosebag
15th Amendment to the US Constitution Ratified (1870)
Ratified during the post-Civil War Reconstruction Period, the 15th Amendment to the US Constitution was intended primarily to enfranchise former slaves. It states: “The right of citizens…to vote shall not be denied or abridged…on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Though the amendment’s purpose was not fully achieved until 1965, the first African American to exercise this right did so the day after the amendment was ratified by participating in what election? Discuss
St. Blaise's Day
The association of St. Blaise with the blessing of throats can be traced to a number of sources. In any case, St. Blaise, since the 6th century in the East, has been the patron saint of people who suffer from throat afflictions, and celebrations on this day in the Roman Catholic Church often include the blessing of throats by the priest. In Spain, they bake small loaves, called tortas de San Blas (“San Blas’s loaves”). They are blessed during Mass, and each child eats a bit to prevent him or her from choking during the year. Discuss
Hugo Junkers (1859)
Junkers was a pioneering German engineer who held many patents for his original developments in the fields of gas engine and aircraft design. He had innovative ideas about metal airplanes and flying wings, and he put them to the test—somewhat ironically, as he was purportedly a pacifist—developing warplanes for World War I. In the lead-up to World War II, the Nazis stripped Junkers of control of his company and sentenced him to house arrest. He died soon after. What was the “Sheetmetal Donkey”? Discuss
against the collar
Difficult, exhausting, or problematic. The phrase originates from the collar on a horse’s harness, which tightens on the horse’s neck when it travels uphill. Primarily heard in UK. Watch the video
Filibusters
A filibuster is an obstructionist tactic used in legislative assemblies. It is particularly associated with the US Senate, where the tradition of unlimited debate is strong, and it has been used by conservatives and liberals for very different purposes. It was not until 1917 that the Senate provided for cloture—or ending of the debate—by a vote of two-thirds of the Senators present. Yet, despite many attempts, cloture has been applied only rarely. What is the etymology of the term “filibuster”? Discuss
didactic
Definition: (adjective) Intended to instruct.
Synonyms: didactical.
Usage: “The principal difficulty in your case,” remarked Holmes, in his didactic fashion, “lay in the fact of there being too much evidence.”
Discuss
The Hama Massacre (1982)
In the late 1970s, the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood sought to drive President Hafez al-Assad from power through a terror campaign that culminated in an uprising in the Syrian city of Hama. Government forces allegedly led by al-Assad’s brother quelled the revolt, destroying much of the old city in the process. The Syrian military shelled the town for weeks, and estimated deaths numbered more than 20,000. What incident involving al-Assad and the Muslim Brotherhood occurred in June 1980? Discuss
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (1926)
Valéry Giscard d’Estaing is a French political leader who rose through the ranks over nearly two decades to become president of France in 1974, defeating Socialist François Mitterrand, who would later unseat him in the 1981 election. A supporter of European economic integration, Giscard later served as a member of the European Parliament and as president of the Convention on the Future of Europe. What fueled rumors in 2009 that he had once had a fling with the late Diana, Princess of Wales? Discuss