Month: October 2023

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884)

Eleanor Roosevelt, niece of US president Theodore Roosevelt, was an active worker in social causes before she married future US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1905. When her husband was stricken with polio in 1921, she took a more active interest in public issues in order to restore his links with the world of politics, playing a leading role in humanitarian causes such as child welfare, equal rights, and social reforms. How was she related to her husband? Discuss

Judith Rodin

In 1994, Rodin became the first female president of an Ivy League University and was, at one time, the highest paid US university president. During her tenure at the University of Pennsylvania, the school rose to 4th place in the US News & World Report college ranking. She has published more than 200 articles and chapters in academic publications and authored or co-authored 11 books. In 2004, who did Rodin have address the university at commencement? Discuss

The Double Tenth Incident (1943)

During the Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II, several Japanese ships in Singapore Harbor were sunk in an Allied raid. On October 10, or the “Double Tenth,” Japanese military police arrested 57 civilian suspects—none of whom had actually been involved in the plot—and tortured them for months. Fifteen of the detainees died. After the war, 21 of the Japanese officers were charged with war crimes, eight were sentenced to death, and six received prison terms. What happened to the rest? Discuss

Cuban Anniversary of the Beginning of the Wars of Independence

This official holiday in Cuba marks the day in 1868 when Cuba declared its autonomy from Spain. The declaration, called the Grito de Yara, began the Ten Years’ War (1868-1878), which was the first of three wars that Cuba fought against Spain for its freedom. Schools and offices in Cuba are closed on this day. Discuss

Helen Hayes (1900)

Hayes was an American actress who began her stage career at the age of five and debuted on Broadway at nine. She went on to star in Broadway productions such as Caesar and Cleopatra and became known as “the First Lady of the American Theatre.” She won three Tony Awards, as well as two Academy Awards for her roles in The Sin of Madelon Claudet and Airport. Hayes is one of only a handful of people who have won a Tony, an Oscar, and what other two awards? Discuss

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Rock, Paper, Scissors (RPS) is a hand game, often played by children, that is used as a selection method similar to drawing straws. Though seemingly random, an experienced and attentive player can sometimes recognize the behavior patterns of other players and use this knowledge to his advantage. The game involves 3 hand gestures, each representing rock, paper, or scissors. Each gesture beats one of the other two. In 2006, US Federal Judge Gregory Presnell used RPS to settle a court dispute; how? Discuss