Valachi, a New York gangster, was the first Mafia member to publicly acknowledge the organization’s existence. A “soldier” in New York City’s powerful Genovese crime family, he testified before a congressional committee on organized crime in 1963, disclosing details about the Mafia’s history and operations and making “Cosa Nostra” a household name. Three years later, he attempted suicide in his prison cell but survived. Why did Vito Genovese put out a $100,000 contract on Valachi in 1962? Discuss
Month: September 2023
have had (one's) chips
To be defeated; to fail completely; to die or be killed. A reference to chips (small plastic disks) used to make wagers when gambling. Watch the video
O-Rings
An o-ring is a rubber ring that is used in machinery as a seal against substances like oil and air. Although it is one of the most commonly used seals, it is forever linked to a catastrophic failure. After the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, investigators determined that the o-ring seal in one of the shuttle’s solid fuel rockets failed due to a loss of elasticity that resulted from the low temperature at launch time. How was this problem later demonstrated at a news conference? Discuss
monomania
Definition: (noun) Pathological obsession with one idea or subject.
Synonyms: possession.
Usage: He thought of it constantly, so that it became a monomania.
Discuss
The Hindu Milk Miracle (1995)
On September 21, 1995, news spread around the world that Hindu worshippers in India and several other countries were experiencing what they considered a miracle. At numerous temples, thousands of Hindus were spooning offerings of milk to statutes of deities, especially the elephant-headed god Ganesha, and claiming that the milk—which appeared to disappear from the spoons—was being miraculously consumed by the gods. What scientific explanation was given for the phenomenon? Discuss
Armenia Independence Day
On September 21, 1991, the Armenian people voted in favor of independence from the USSR; they were granted independence on December 26 of that year, by which time the former Soviet Union had collapsed. Armenia had been part of the Soviet Union since the 1920s. Discuss
Maurice Barrymore (1849)
Maurice Barrymore was the first in the famous family of Barrymore actors. In 1875, a few years after he began his acting career in London, Barrymore went to New York and became an instant success. Over the next 25 years, he starred in a variety of roles. In 1876, he married Georgiana Drew, the actress daughter of famous British-American actors John and Louisa Lane Drew, thus founding what would become known as “The Royal Family of Broadway.” Who are the other famous Barrymore actors? Discuss
have got to (do something)
To be obligated, obliged, or required to (do something). Watch the video
Paul Klee
Paul Klee was a Swiss painter, graphic artist, art theorist, and violinist. His early introduction to music played a large role in the way he approached his art and its imagery. Klee often varied the media and style in which he worked and produced over 10,000 works before his death. He also taught at the Bauhaus school of art and architecture with his friend and fellow artist Wassily Kandinsky. During WWI, Klee served in the German army; what was his job? Discuss
odium
Definition: (noun) Strong dislike, contempt, or aversion.
Synonyms: abhorrence, detestation, execration, loathing, abomination.
Usage: He rather deserved the odium which he had incurred.
Discuss