Change ringing is the art of ringing a set of tuned bells in a series of mathematical patterns called “changes.” Differing from many other forms of bell ringing in that no attempt is made to produce a conventional melody, change ringing is performed by groups the world over. However, it remains most popular in the setting where its modern form developed during the 17th century: English church towers. Why was church bell ringing prohibited during World War II? Discuss
Month: February 2025
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (1867)
Wilder was the American author of a classic series of children’s books based on her childhood. Born in Wisconsin after the Civil War, she traveled with her pioneer family throughout the Midwest by covered wagon for years before settling in the Dakota Territory. As a farmer and mother she struggled for years. Her first novel, Little House in the Big Woods was not published until 1932, when she was 65. How many of her books, which spawned a popular TV show, were published after her death? Discuss
Modern Antipopes
Modern antipopes are religious leaders who reject the popes selected by the Roman Catholic Church and instead claim the title for themselves, sometimes developing their own religious infrastructure. The Roman Catholic Church regards these claimants as schismatics and heretics. Unlike historical antipopes, most modern antipopes have few followers and are usually not recognized as serious claimants to the papacy. Who are some of the modern antipopes? Discuss
Treaty of Waitangi Establishes New Zealand as a British Colony (1840)
Though considered the founding document of New Zealand as a nation, the Treaty of Waitangi has been the subject of much debate since it was signed by representatives of the British crown and Maori chiefs in 1840. It gave Britain control of New Zealand while recognizing the native inhabitants’ land rights. However, the English and Maori texts differed, leading to many controversies over its stipulations. In 1913, one of the treaty documents was restored after having been partially eaten by what? Discuss
Simulated Reality
The idea that reality could be simulated to a such a degree that it becomes indistinguishable from “true” reality raises a number of questions, including whether the reality we experience is in fact a simulated reality, whether it is possible to determine if we are in a simulated reality, and whether a simulated reality differs from a “real” one. What common phenomenon, which leads many people to believe that a false reality is true, is cited as proof that people will accept simulated realities? Discuss
United Artists Film Studio Is Founded (1919)
In 1919, four of the leading figures in Hollywood—Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, D.W. Griffith, and Douglas Fairbanks—decided to form their own film studio to better control their own work. Though initially successful, United Artists foundered as films became more expensive to produce. It was taken over in the 1950s and began to thrive again until the 80s, when it was bought by the studio MGM. What famous actor announced plans to resurrect United Artists in 2006 as part owner of the company? Discuss
Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron (1934)
Aaron was the first US baseball player to hit more career home runs than Babe Ruth. After playing briefly in the Negro leagues and then in the minor leagues, Aaron moved up to the majors as an outfielder with the Milwaukee—later Atlanta—Braves in 1954 and was National League MVP in 1957. Upon breaking Ruth’s record in 1974, he was besieged by the media and badgered by racist letter-writers, and retired just two years later. Aaron’s home run record remained unbroken until when? Discuss
Diplodocus
Due to a wealth of fossil remains, the first of which was found in the late 1870s, Diplodocus is one of the best-studied dinosaurs. The herbivorous dinosaur roamed western North America about 145 million years ago, during the late Jurassic period, walked on four legs, and had an extremely small brain and skull. One of the longest known sauropods, Diplodocus could grow to be 88 ft (27 m) long, most of which was neck and tail. With what man-made structure is it often compared? Discuss
The "Flying Tailor" Dies after Failed Parachute Jump from Eiffel Tower (1912)
Parachutes at the dawn of the aviation age were bulky and, inconveniently, had to be pre-opened. Among those trying to improve upon their design was French tailor Franz Reichelt. He had some success testing his designs on dummies, but he had no evidence that his parachute would work with a real person when he jumped from the Eiffel Tower before a crowd of spectators and reporters. The chute failed to open, and he plummeted to his death. How had he convinced the authorities to allow the jump? Discuss
Charles Lindbergh (1902)
In 1927, Lindbergh, an American aviator, made the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic in 33.5 hours, landing in Paris to a hero’s welcome. He returned to the US a celebrity but moved to England in 1932 to escape the media frenzy surrounding the kidnapping and murder of his son. Returning to the US in 1940, he faced criticism for opposing US entry into WWII. Still, he flew combat missions for the US during the war. He helped invent what device that made open-heart surgery possible? Discuss