Now a US National Historic Landmark, the Experimental Breeder Reactor I in Idaho became the world’s first electricity-generating nuclear power plant in 1951, when it produced enough electricity to illuminate four light bulbs. After the initial test, it subsequently generated sufficient electricity to power its building and continued to be used for experimental purposes until it was decommissioned in 1964. Today, the site is open to the public during what times of the year? Discuss
Month: December 2023
Harvey Firestone (1868)
In 1900, Firestone formed a company to manufacture and sell rubber tires for horse-drawn vehicles, but within four years, his business had shifted to making tires for the burgeoning auto market. Sales to Ford Motor Company helped put Firestone Tire & Rubber Company at the top of the US tire industry. In 1924, Firestone established his own rubber plantations in Liberia, effectively defeating the British rubber cartel. What was “The Millionaires Club,” and who besides Firestone was a member? Discuss
hoist by (one's) own petard
To be injured, ruined, or defeated by one’s own action, device, or plot that was intended to harm another; to have fallen victim to one’s own trap or schemes. (Note: “hoist” in this instance is the simple past-tense of the archaic form of the verb, “hoise.”) Watch the video
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome
Micropsia, also named Alice in Wonderland Syndrome after Lewis Carroll’s fictional children’s book, is a disorienting visual disorder in which humans, animals, and inanimate objects are perceived as significantly smaller than they actually are. The condition affects the brain’s interpretation of signals sent from the eyes and not the mechanical functioning of the eyes themselves. What painful neurological condition may, in part, be the cause of micropsia? Discuss
neophyte
Original FIFA World Cup Trophy Is Stolen (1983)
The World Cup has been held every fourth year since 1930, except during WWII. The international soccer tournament’s original prize was officially renamed the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1946 in honor of the former Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) president, who stipulated that the first team to win the World Cup three times could keep the trophy in perpetuity. Brazil earned this right in 1970, but, in 1983, the trophy was stolen while on display there. Was it ever recovered? Discuss
Édith Piaf (1915)
Encouraged by her father, a circus acrobat, Édith Giovanna Gassion began singing in the streets of Paris at age 15. She was eventually discovered by a cabaret owner who gave her her first nightclub job, taught her the basics of stage presence, and suggested she change her name to Piaf, Parisian slang for “sparrow.” As her popularity grew, she began performing in clubs across Europe and the Americas and appeared in several films. How did she allegedly aid French prisoners of war during WWII? Discuss
hog (something)
To take or use something all for oneself; to not allow others to have or use something. Watch the video
Computer Worms
The Internet is a gamer’s haven, a business’s lifeline, and a hacker’s playground. Over the past 20 years, hundreds of worms have devastated the infrastructure of millions of computers around the world, causing billions of dollars of damage—and the life of the worm is far from over. Jerusalem, Michelangelo, and Melissa may all sound innocuous, but these worms have left a trail of devastation in their wake. What are some examples of worms that were launched with non-malicious intent? Discuss