Author: Ian

Follow the Lady

Known by a number of names, including Follow the Lady and Follow the Bee, three-card monte is a confidence game in which victims, or marks, are tricked into betting that they can find a certain card, such as the queen of spades, among three face-down playing cards. After showing the target card, the dealer often uses sleight of hand before rearranging the cards quickly and giving the player an opportunity to select one of the three cards. What happens if the mark unexpectedly finds the queen? Discuss

Sara Jane Moore Attempts to Assassinate US President Gerald Ford (1975)

In September 1975, Ford was the target of two assassination attempts. Just 17 days after Manson Family member Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme unsuccessfully attempted to shoot Ford, Moore shot at him outside a San Francisco, California, hotel. The bullet just missed the president, and Moore was then subdued by a bystander, who likely saved Ford’s life. Moore was sentenced to life in prison but was paroled in 2007. What has she since said about the assassination attempt? Discuss

Anne of Cleves (1515)

Anne was the fourth queen consort of King Henry VIII of England. She was the sister of a powerful German Protestant leader and was considered a desirable match for Henry by English councilors, most notably Thomas Cromwell, who sought to ally England with Protestants in Germany. The marriage was agreed upon in 1539, and although Henry tried to break the contract after actually seeing his bride, they married in 1540. The marriage was never consummated, however, and they divorced after how long? Discuss

H. G. Wells (1866)

Wells was an English author whose early books exemplify the political and social beliefs of his time. Full of fantasy and fascinating pseudoscientific speculations, they include The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, and The War of the Worlds. Although he is probably best remembered for his works of science fiction, he was also an imaginative social thinker who worked for many progressive causes. What novels did he write after he abandoned science fiction? Discuss

Language: What Is It?

Humans are the only creatures to use a form of communication that scholars consider “language”—a system of spoken sounds or conventional symbols that communicates thought. Although some animals display similar social behavior, linguists are reluctant to term it language, instead describing it as “animal communication.” Still, some animals have been taught certain features of human language. Why are most animal languages considered “closed”? Discuss

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit Is Published (1937)

The Hobbit is a fantasy novel written by J.R.R. Tolkien, a professor of Anglo-Saxon and of English language and literature at Oxford University. Adapted from stories Tolkien told his kids, The Hobbit is recognized as a classic in children’s literature but also attracts adult readers. Its sequel, The Lord of the Rings, is one of the 20th century’s most popular and influential works of fantasy literature. What is the The Hobbit‘s full title? Discuss

James Dewar (1842)

Dewar was a British chemist and physicist best known for his work on the properties of matter at very low temperatures and the liquefaction of gases. In the course of his work, he liquefied and solidified hydrogen and invented the Dewar flask. Used for storing liquefied gases, his Dewar flask—a double-walled flask with an insulating vacuum between the inner and outer walls—became essential in low-temperature scientific work. What everyday item was patterned after Dewar’s flask? Discuss

Constitution Week (Mesa, Arizona)

Mesa, Arizona, has consistently celebrated the Congressionally established Constitution Week for over 30 years. Held at the Mesa Amphitheater, the celebration includes a school band concert, a Constitution Quiz, a Boy Scouts parade of flags, the high school color guard ROTC, and live music. Educational activities include information about the lives and activities of America’s Founding Fathers and an in-depth examination of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Mesa students at all grade levels learn about the U.S. Constitution during the week. Discuss