In 1526, King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia led a poorly prepared army against a vastly superior Turkish force led by Sultan Suleiman I with disastrous results. About 25,000 of the king’s soldiers were killed in the battle, and the rest were taken captive and massacred. Louis himself died during the retreat after being thrown from his horse. The defeat resulted in more than 150 years of Ottoman domination in Hungary. What modern Hungarian expression of bad luck references the battle? Discuss
Month: August 2023
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809)
The father of the US Supreme Court justice of the same name, Holmes was an American physician, poet, and humorist. After beginning his medical career as a general practitioner, he shifted to the academic field and became dean of the Harvard medical school. However, he is perhaps best known for the poem that won him national acclaim—”Old Ironsides,” a protest against the scrapping of the USS Constitution, which helped save the ship. What common medical term was coined by Holmes? Discuss
be on (one's) conscience
To be a persistent cause or source of guilt, such as an act of wrongdoing. Watch the video
The iPod
The Apple iPod, currently the world’s best-selling line of digital audio players, was unveiled in 2001 for the Mac, and in 2002 for Windows. iPods store and play songs in a variety of digital formats, including MP3, Apple Lossless, and AAC. The combination of sound quality, sleek design, and slick user interface, coupled with a bold marketing campaign, has made the iPod a hit. By the end of 2006, over 67 million iPods had been sold. What medical problem may be associated with prolonged iPod use? Discuss
atavism
The Peace Palace Opens in The Hague (1913)
Often called “the seat of international law,” the Peace Palace houses the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Hague Academy of International Law, and the International Court of Justice, which is the primary judicial body of the United Nations. The palace was conceived in the early 20th century and was funded by American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. To show their support for the project, many nations sent gifts for use or display in the palace, including what items? Discuss
Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774)
Seton was the first native-born US citizen canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. Six years after she founded the Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children, her husband died, leaving her with five young children. She later opened a free Catholic elementary school and is considered the mother of the US parochial school system. In 1813, she founded the Sisters of Charity, the first US religious order, and served as its superior until her death. Seton is the patron saint of what? Discuss
toss (one's) hat in(to) the ring
To announce or make known one’s intention to compete against others for something, especially in a political race. Watch the video
Istanbul
The city of Istanbul, which extends on both the European and Asian sides of the Bosporus strait, is the only city in the world to span 2 continents. Over the centuries, this area has been under Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Turkish control. One of the great historic metropolises of the world, Istanbul is Turkey’s chief city and seaport as well as its commercial, industrial, and financial center. Istanbul is home to Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia, and what other historic sites? Discuss