The Anglo-Zanzibar War is the shortest war in history. Lasting only 38 minutes, the conflict broke out when Khalid bin Bargash seized power after the death of his uncle, Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini. The British, who favored a different candidate, delivered an ultimatum ordering Bargash to abdicate. When Bargash refused and assembled an army, the Royal Navy sent five warships to the harbor in front of the palace and opened fire. For what did the British demand payment after the brief war was over? Discuss
Month: August 2023
Emmanuel Radnitzky, AKA Man Ray (1890)
Radnitzky was a photographer, painter, and filmmaker better known in the art world as Man Ray. After forming the New York Dada group with Marcel Duchamp in 1917, he moved to Paris and became associated with the Surrealists. By placing objects on light-sensitive paper and exposing them to sunlight, he created “cameraless” pictures called “rayographs.” He later turned to portrait and fashion photography, extensively documenting Parisian celebrities. How did Radnitzky come to be known as Man Ray? Discuss
hash slinger
A cook or a waitress, especially at a diner or cheap restaurant. (“Hash,” in this sense, refers to a dish or stew of chopped meat and vegetables, not hashish.) Primarily heard in US. Watch the video
Ibn al-Haytham
Also known as Alhazen, Ibn al-Haytham was an Arab mathematician, astronomer, and physicist. Optics, perhaps his most significant work, introduced the idea that light rays emanate in straight lines in all directions from every point on a luminous surface. Latin translations of this work influenced both Kepler and Descartes. Alhazen is considered the “father of optics” for his experiments with lenses, mirrors, refraction, and reflection. What lunar phenomenon was named in his honor? Discuss
marque
Definition: (noun) A model or brand of a manufactured product, especially an automobile.
Synonyms: brand, trade name.
Usage: The public relations department argued that the prestige consumers associated with marque of the car was even more important than the quality of the product.
Discuss
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Adopted (1789)
Adopted by France’s National Assembly in 1789, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen contains the principles that inspired the French Revolution. Influenced by the American Declaration of Independence, it serves as the preamble to France’s Constitution of 1791. It guarantees rights to liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression, as well as freedom of speech and of the press. Who later penned the “Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female Citizen”? Discuss
Guillaume Apollinaire (1880)
Apollinaire was a French poet who developed a casual, lyrical poetic style characterized by a blend of modern and traditional images and verse techniques. His poetry was marked by daring technical experiments, and his use of unusual verbal associations and word patterns to create surprise is often considered the start of Surrealism. A friend of many avant-garde artists, including Pablo Picasso, Apollinaire was once arrested as a suspect in the theft of what famous painting? Discuss
harp away at (someone or something)
To complain about or dwell upon someone or something repeatedly and to the point of tediousness. Watch the video
The Kingdom of Swaziland
The Kingdom of Swaziland is a small, landlocked, mountainous country in southeast Africa. In 1968, Swaziland achieved complete independence, but retained membership in the Commonwealth of Nations. The country is cut by four major river systems, which are increasingly used for irrigation. Sugarcane is the country’s leading export, but pineapple, citrus fruit, and cotton are also important agricultural exports. Why does Swaziland have the one of the world’s lowest life expectancy rates? Discuss
indefatigable
Definition: (adjective) Incapable or seemingly incapable of being fatigued.
Synonyms: tireless, unflagging, unwearying.
Usage: His indefatigable spirit helped him to cope with the illness.
Discuss