Author: Ian

Wish Trees

Identified by the faithful as possessing special spiritual value, wish trees are individual trees which have been distinguished—often by species, position, or appearance—as the objects of wishes. Visitors commonly offer up coins, liquor, and other gifts in order to gain fulfillment of their desires. Among the most famous wish tree visitors was Queen Victoria, whose 1877 visit to an oak in the Scottish Highlands brought it much fame. How are Christmas trees connected to the concept of wish trees? Discuss

Samuel Johnson (1709)

Johnson was a British man of letters and one of the outstanding figures of 18th-century England. In 1755, after eight years of work, he published his monumental Dictionary of the English Language, considered the first great English dictionary. His aphorisms helped make him one of the most frequently quoted English writers. His biography, written by his contemporary James Boswell, is one of the most admired biographies of all time. How many entries did Johnson’s dictionary include? Discuss

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Is Formed (1998)

ICANN is a nonprofit corporation that manages domain name systems, the assignment of IP addresses and protocol parameters, and root server systems. The original mandate for ICANN came from a US government proposal to privatize the management of Internet names and addresses to allow for the development of competition and to facilitate global participation in Internet management. Its functions are now performed under US Government contract. What are some criticisms of the organization? Discuss

US Constitution Signed in Philadelphia (1787)

The US Constitution embodies the fundamental principles upon which the American republic is conducted. It was drawn up at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and signed in 1787, and it was ratified by the required number of states the following year. It superseded the Articles of Confederation in force since 1781 and established the system of federal government that began to function in 1789. It includes seven articles and a preamble. How many amendments have since been adopted? Discuss

Maureen Connolly (1934)

Known as “Little Mo,” Connolly was one of America’s greatest female tennis players. At 14, she became the youngest winner of the National Girl’s Tournament. At 16, she became the youngest player to win the US national singles championship and successfully defended the title in the two years that followed. She also won three straight Wimbledon championships starting in 1952. In 1953, she became the first woman to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same year. Why did she retire at age 19? Discuss

Photographic Mosaics

Simply speaking, a photographic mosaic is a picture made of smaller pictures. Often used to recreate iconic images such as the Mona Lisa, photomosaics are created by replacing rectangular sections of an image with smaller pictures or photographs of an average color. When viewed from afar, a primary image is visible. When examined closely, the hundreds or thousands of smaller images acting as pixels are revealed. In 1994, a photomosaic of John F. Kennedy was created with pictures of whom? Discuss

Julia Drusilla (16 CE)

Drusilla was the sister of the Roman Emperor Caligula, a man widely characterized as insane, autocratic, and cruel. Drusilla was reportedly her brother’s favorite sibling. During banquets at his residence, she consistently occupied the seat of honor normally reserved for the host’s wife and, perhaps because of this practice, was rumored to be Caligula’s lover. Upon Drusilla’s death, Caligula had the Roman Senate declare her “Diva Drusilla,” deifying her as a representation of what goddess? Discuss

Orcas

Found in oceans worldwide, orcas display sophisticated hunting techniques and social behaviors that have been described by experts as manifestations of a shared culture. Like other dolphins, orcas produce a variety of vocalizations used for communication and echolocation. Orca mothers have even been observed training their young in the group’s dialect, and it is said that groups that share ancestors are likely to have a similar set of call types. What does this suggest about orca vocal behavior? Discuss