Cicero was a statesman, philosopher, unsurpassed master of Latin prose, and one of Rome’s greatest orators. His writings introduced the Romans to Greek philosophy and created a Latin philosophical vocabulary. He was a prolific author, and his letters reveal a wealth of information about Roman life and politics. As an active politician and leader of the senatorial party, he was at times hailed as a hero, but he also made enemies who contributed to his exile and, later, his execution for what? Discuss
Month: January 2024
be honor-bound to do (something)
To be or feel obliged to do something because it is morally correct or required by one’s sense of duty or integrity, even if one does not desire to do so. Primarily heard in US. Watch the video
The Hoff
David Hasselhoff is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. Though “The Hoff” spent a six-year stint on The Young and the Restless, he is best known for his roles in Knight Rider and Baywatch. During the late 1980s, he enjoyed significant musical success, particularly in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. In 1994, Hasselhoff was scheduled to perform a pay-per-view concert that would hopefully reignite his US musical career. What major news event diverted his viewers? Discuss
arid
Discovery of the Planet Vulcan Is Announced (1860)
To account for inconsistencies between Mercury’s predicted and observed orbital path, French astronomer Urbain Jean Joseph Leverrier postulated that a tiny, hypothetical planet, which he named Vulcan, was present within Mercury’s orbit. Sightings of Vulcan were reported until 1878, and Leverrier died believing he had discovered another planet. Eventually, however, the orbital anomalies were explained by Einstein’s general theory of relativity. After what was the hypothetical planet named? Discuss
Mehmed IV (1642)
After the deposition and murder of his father, Sultan Ibrahim, 7-year-old Mehmed IV ascended the throne of the Ottoman Empire. Chaos and corruption followed, and though grand vizier Mehmed Köprülü managed to restore order, the empire suffered severe setbacks. In 1683, the Turks besieged Vienna but were repulsed by King John III of Poland, and a Holy League was formed to carry the war into Ottoman territory. Mehmed was deposed after a Turkish defeat by Charles V of Lorraine. Who succeeded him? Discuss
honey-mouthed
Smooth, soothing, and sweet in voice, especially in a persuasive or seductive manner or intent. Watch the video
Water Witching
Dowsing, also known as divining or water witching, is the practice of ascertaining the presence of underground water or minerals using a forked twig or a pendulum. Dowsing has existed in various forms for thousands of years, and while it may have originally been rooted in divination of the will of the gods, the practice was later associated with Satan. Many skeptics believe that dowsing successes result mostly from chance. What did the 1987 Munich study of more than 500 dowsers conclude? Discuss
centerboard
Definition: (noun) A movable keel in a sailboat that can be pivoted upward to reduce the boat’s draft in shallow water.
Synonyms: drop keel, sliding keel.
Usage: Except for some damage to the centerboard, the boat was in good condition.
Discuss
Edwin Hubble Announces Existence of Other Galaxies (1925)
Edwin Hubble worked as a basketball coach and teacher, served in World War I, and studied law before focusing his energies on astronomy. On January 1, 1925, he made a groundbreaking announcement, declaring that fuzzy “nebulae” seen earlier with less powerful telescopes were not part of our galaxy but were actually galaxies themselves. With the findings now known as Hubble’s law, he was also the first to provide evidence to support what theory about the universe? Discuss