Month: November 2024

Click Fraud

Click fraud is a type of Internet crime that occurs when a person or computer program imitates a legitimate user clicking on a pay-per-click online advertisement. It is done to generate a per-click charge without having an interested consumer view the ad’s link. In 2004, authorities in California made what was believed to be the first click fraud arrest, detaining a man who had attempted to blackmail Google with a click fraud program he created. Why were the charges dropped without explanation? Discuss

Rock Hudson (1925)

Hudson was an American actor who worked at odd jobs before making his film debut in 1948. His wholesome good looks made him a popular star in Douglas Sirk melodramas, and his comedic talents were displayed in a series of romantic comedies costarring Doris Day. He appeared in over 70 films and TV shows during the course of his career. His death from AIDS in 1985 greatly increased awareness of the disease. What notable film roles did Hudson reportedly turn down to film A Farewell to Arms? Discuss

Barbecue

The word barbecue can refer to many things: a specific cooking method, cooking apparatus, type of food, or party that includes such food. For many, the word brings to mind smoky meats flavored with a variety of sauces, rubs, and seasonings. However, the origins of both the word and activity are somewhat obscure. Most etymologists believe it was derived from the term “barbacoa,” which means “sacred fire pit” in the language of the Taíno people of the Caribbean. What are some other explanations? Discuss

Hoxne Hoard Found in Britain (1992)

In 1992, a tenant farmer in the village of Hoxne, England, lost a hammer and asked a friend for help finding it with a metal detector. While searching the field, the friend discovered silver utensils, gold jewelry, and numerous gold and silver coins. Archaeologists notified of the find excavated the site the next day and found what has become known as the Hoxne Hoard—the largest hoard of late Roman silver and gold discovered in Britain. What objects are among its treasures? Discuss

Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus (42 BCE)

Tiberius was the second Roman emperor. The stepson of the first Roman emperor, Augustus, he undertook his first military command at age 22 and earned great acclaim. Forced to give up his beloved wife to marry Augustus’s daughter, he went into a self-imposed exile until he was recalled by Augustus and named his heir. As emperor, he initially ran the state efficiently and instituted reforms, but he became increasingly brutal. Who smothered Tiberius while he was recovering from an illness in 37 CE? Discuss

Adirondack Forty-Sixers

The Adirondack Forty-Sixers is a club whose members have successfully climbed all 46 of the traditionally recognized High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains in New York. The first “46ers” devised the criteria for the club in the early 20th century, selecting only those summits that rise more than 4,000 ft (1,219 m) above sea level and have at least 300 ft (91 m) of vertical rise on all sides. Some take the challenge further and re-climb all the peaks in winter. How long is the winter 46 season? Discuss

Cornerstone of Jefferson Memorial Is Laid (1939)

The construction of the Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, was authorized by Congress in 1934. In 1939, US President Franklin Roosevelt presided over a ceremony during which the cornerstone of the monument was laid. Completed and dedicated in 1943, the white marble building, designed by John Russell Pope, is a circular structure with a domed ceiling, surrounded by 26 columns. Inside is a bronze statue of Jefferson. Why was a temporary plaster statue initially erected there? Discuss