Month: May 2023

The History of the Sewing Machine

The sewing machine is a device that stitches cloth and other materials. An attempt at mechanical sewing was made in England in 1790 with a machine having a forked, automatic needle that made a single-thread chain, but it was American inventor Elias Howe who made the first successful machine in 1846, using an eye-pointed needle and an intermittent feed. Isaac M. Singer, who is often credited with inventing the machine, patented what improvements to the device? Discuss

Elias Ashmole (1617)

Ashmole was a celebrated English archaeologist and antiquary who donated most of his collection of artifacts and curiosities to the University of Oxford in 1677 to create the Ashmolean Museum, the first such public institution in England. Though most of Ashmole’s acquisitions focused on the study of nature, he was also interested in mysticism and was a student of astrology and alchemy. What anagrammatic pseudonym did Ashmole use to publish an anthology of alchemical writings in 1650? Discuss

The Michelin Guide

The Michelin Guide (Le Guide Michelin) is a series of guide books to over a dozen countries published annually by the Michelin company. André Michelin published the first edition of the guide in 1900 to help drivers maintain their cars, find decent lodging, and eat well while touring France. Today, the Michelin Red Guide is the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide. International food critics have accused the guide of what type of bias? Discuss

Great Chilean Earthquake: Strongest Ever Recorded (1960)

Measuring 9.5 on the moment magnitude scale, the Great Chilean Earthquake was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded. The tsunami it produced sent waves of up to 82 ft (25 m) racing across the Pacific Ocean to Chile, Argentina, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand, and the Aleutian Islands. It is estimated that between 2,000 and 6,000 people lost their lives in the earthquake and ensuing tsunami. The tsunami reached Japan how many hours after the initial earthquake? Discuss

Laurence Olivier (1907)

One of the most revered actors of the 20th century, Olivier took on more than 120 stage roles and appeared in nearly 60 films over the course of an award-winning career spanning more than six decades. A versatile performer, he earned accolades for his portrayals of Shakespearean characters, like Henry V and Hamlet, as well as for his performances in modern dramas. He won four Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globes, and five Emmys, and was the first actor to receive what honor? Discuss

The Order of Skull and Bones

The Order of Skull and Bones is a secret society based at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut. It was founded in 1832 by Phi Beta Kappa pledges William Huntington Russell and Alphonso Taft. Membership has included US Presidents such as George W. Bush, Supreme Court Justices, business leaders, and US Senators such as John Kerry. What fictional Simpsons character is a member? Discuss