Definition: (noun) A tiny or scarcely detectable amount.
Synonyms: iota, scintilla, shred, smidgeon, whit.
Usage: Sydney Carton drank nothing but a tittle coffee.
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Month: May 2023
New England's Dark Day (1780)
On May 19, 1780, an unusual darkening of the day sky was observed over parts of New England and Canada. The darkness was so complete that candlelight was needed as early as noon in places. Researchers examining scar damage in tree growth rings believe that a large fire in Canada’s Algonquin Provincial Park contributed to the darkness, but thick fog and cloud cover likely also played a role. The episode was, and still is, interpreted by many as what kind of event? Discuss
Malcolm X's Birthday
Malcolm X (1925-1965) was an outspoken leader in the black nationalist movement of the 1960s. He converted to the Muslim faith while serving time in prison, and, upon his release, began touring the country on behalf of the Nation of Islam. During most of his career, Malcolm X advocated violence (for self-protection) and had a reputation for fanaticism and racism; however, he changed his outlook after his pilgrimage to Mecca. He was assassinated at a rally in Harlem shortly after. His birthday is still observed in most major American cities with a large African-American population. Discuss
Pol Pot (1925)
One of the most infamous leaders in modern history, Pot became a Khmer Communist leader in Cambodia in the 1960s. In 1975, he proclaimed the Democratic Republic of Kampuchea and served as its premier. During his rule, one to two million people out of a total population of seven million died as a result of his ruthless pursuit of a return to “year zero” and the creation of an ethnically pure, agrarian, communist state. What happened to Pot after his rule was ended by Vietnamese invasion in 1979? Discuss
accident of birth
Any and all particulars surrounding one’s birth (physical characteristics, social background, and even nationality) that are considered a result of parentage and the specific circumstances of birth, and are therefore entirely out of one’s control. Watch the video
Pizza
Pizza is a baked pie of Italian origin consisting of a shallow breadlike crust covered with toppings such as seasoned tomato sauce and cheese, and often peppers, sausage, and mushrooms. Popular throughout the world, pizza is now a symbol of cultural variation. In Brazil, pizzas may be topped with chocolate; in South Korea, sweet potato puree is popular; in Scotland, the “pizza supper” consists of French fries and a deep-fried frozen pizza. What toppings are popular in Sweden? Discuss
attenuate
Jackie Cochran: First Woman to Break Sound Barrier (1953)
A pioneering American aviator, Cochran was the first woman to break the sound barrier and, in 1961, to fly at twice that speed. She was also the first woman to fly in the Bendix transcontinental race, which she won in 1938, a few years after her initial attempt. During WWII, she trained female transport pilots in the British and US Air Force auxiliaries and became the first woman to pilot a bomber across the Atlantic. A successful entrepreneur, Cochran learned to fly to promote her line of what? Discuss
Omar Khayyám (1048)
Khayyám was a Persian poet, mathematician, and astronomer. The details of his life are mostly conjectural, but he is known to have been a celebrated mathematician of his time. Yet, he is now best known for his Rubaiyat, a collection of epigrammatic verse quatrains whose hedonism often masks serious metaphysical reflections. It was little known in Europe until Edward FitzGerald’s loose English translations were published in 1859. What does the name Khayyám indicate about his lineage? Discuss
abstract idea
An idea or thought that is intangible or outside the constraints or possibilities of the real world. Watch the video