Month: September 2023

George Washington Lays Cornerstone of US Capitol (1793)

The US Capitol is the seat of the legislative branch of government in Washington, DC. The city’s dominating monument, it was built on an elevated site chosen by George Washington in consultation with architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant. The building was begun in 1793, after the president set the cornerstone during a groundbreaking ceremony that included Masonic rites. As it stands now, the building is the result of the work of several architects. When was the imposing dome added to the Capitol? Discuss

Greta Garbo (1905)

Born in Sweden, Garbo appeared in publicity films for the store where she worked as a young woman. She later studied at the prestigious Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, where she was discovered by film director Mauritz Stiller. She appeared in her first film in 1924, and her beauty and enigmatic personality made her a star. She made only a handful of films and retired abruptly in 1941 at the age of 36, later living in legendary seclusion. What were some of her most famous roles? Discuss

The Mandala, a Microcosm of the Universe

The mandala, meaning circle or completion, is a ritualistic diagram that has spiritual significance in Hinduism and Buddhism. Representing a microcosm of the universe and the totality of existence, it serves as a collection point for gods and universal powers. Its symmetric geometric shapes draw the viewer’s attention to a central meditative point. A Tibetan sand mandala is created over the course of days or weeks only to be swept away upon completion. What does this represent? Discuss

Joshua A. Norton Declares Himself Emperor of the US (1859)

Though Norton arrived in San Francisco during the California gold rush, he took up speculating in rice, a valuable commodity at the time, rather than prospecting. Unfortunately, he ended up losing his fortune, after which he vanished for a short time. When he reappeared, he was wearing a costume resembling that of France’s Napoleon III and calling himself “Emperor Norton.” For the next 13 years, he paraded around the city issuing “proclamations” and even banknotes. How was he treated by police? Discuss

Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky (1857)

Tsiolkovsky was a Russian inventor and rocket expert who was an early investigator of the possibility of rocket flight into outer space. In 1903, he published The Investigation of Outer Space by Means of Reaction Apparatus, which discussed the problems involved in overcoming the earth’s gravitational pull and suggested the use of reaction vehicles for interplanetary flight. After losing his hearing as a child, Tsiolkovsky could not attend regular schools. How was he educated? Discuss

Sea Sponges

Sponges are sessile, mostly marine animals from the phylum Porifera. Until the 18th century, scientists classified them as plants because they demonstrated so little movement. More than 4,500 living species, which reproduce through both sexual and asexual means, have been documented. Sponges are colonial in nature, living in groups that may grow to 5 feet (150 cm) in diameter. In common usage, the term “sponge” refers to what part of this aquatic animal? Discuss