Month: August 2023

First Documented Meeting of Narcotics Anonymous (1953)

Modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is an organization dedicated to the treatment of drug addiction. Since its first meeting in 1953, NA has spread to more than 100 countries, with tens of thousands of meetings held regularly. Its 12-step program of recovery begins with the member’s admission that their life has become unmanageable due to powerlessness over addiction. What controversies have arisen over the group’s official literature? Discuss

Samuel Goldwyn (1879)

Goldwyn was a Polish-born American film producer. He founded a film company that later merged with others to form Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). He produced Wuthering Heights, Guys and Dolls, and Porgy and Bess, among others. In 1946, he received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. Goldwyn is said to have had an explosive temper that left him with few close friends. He also became known for his “Goldwynisms”—odd sayings like “Include me out.” What are some other Goldwynisms? Discuss

Salmonella

Salmonella is a certain type of bacteria, several species of which are responsible for typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, and food poisoning in humans. It is usually contracted from poultry, meat, or raw eggs and from food that has been cooked or frozen and not eaten right away. Salmonella poisoning could also result from handling reptiles, such as iguanas or terrapins, which commonly host the bacteria. According to the US government, what percentage of chickens is contaminated with salmonella? Discuss

Ray Chapman Fatally Injured by Pitch to the Head (1920)

For the entirety of his Major League Baseball career, Ray Chapman was a shortstop for Cleveland. He set a team record for stolen bases that would stand for decades, but his career was tragically cut short when he was hit in the head by a pitch thrown by Yankees hurler Carl Mays. According to eyewitnesses, Chapman likely never even saw the ball. He is the only Major League Baseball player to have died as a result of an injury received in a game. His death led the league to establish what rule? Discuss

Daimonji Okuribi

In Japan, the belief that the souls of the dead return to earth during the Obon Festival gave rise to the custom of lighting great bonfires to guide the souls back to heaven after their yearly visit. This custom is known as Daimonji Okuribi, the Great Bonfire Event. In the city of Kyoto, an enormous flammable structure, built in the shape of the Chinese character dai, meaning “big,” is set on fire on the hill in back of the Zenrinji Temple. The character is 530 feet tall and 510 feet wide, providing a spectacular display for city residents. Discuss

Wilhelm Wundt (1832)

Wundt was a German physiologist and psychologist who stressed the use of scientific methods in psychology. Regarded as one of the fathers of psychology and the founder of experimental psychology, Wundt is credited with many firsts in the field: he gave the first course in scientific psychology in 1862, established the first psychological laboratory in 1879, and founded the first journal of psychology in 1881. What famous expression is attributed to Wundt? Discuss

handbags at dawn

A confrontation or disagreement that is highly aggressive, emotionally expressive, and/or highly dramatic, but which does not end or result in violence. Used originally and primarily in reference to football (soccer) players, who would be sent off if they engaged in violent actions, the phrase is a play on the clichéd “pistols at dawn,” indicating a forthcoming pistol duel. Primarily heard in UK. Watch the video

The Poppy

The poppy family is composed chiefly of herbs from the Northern Hemisphere that have characteristic milky or colored sap. Most species are native to the Old World, and many are cultivated in gardens for their brilliantly colored, if short-lived, blossoms. The opium poppy is grown for its opium as well as for its seeds for cooking and baking. The poppy has been the symbol of the dead and of sleep since antiquity. In many countries, the poppy is worn to commemorate what holiday? Discuss