Author: Ian

Krypteia

In the Spartan tradition of Krypteia, young men who successfully completed their rigorous training regime were sent into the countryside unarmed and told to kill any members of Sparta’s serf population, or “Helots,” that they encountered at night and to take any food they needed. The tradition derives it name from a Greek word meaning “hidden, secret things,” and its goal and nature are still a matter of debate among historians. What purposes do scholars believe Krypteia served? Discuss

Leon Uris (1924)

Uris was an American novelist known for his many popular novels, especially the 1958 bestseller Exodus, a fictional account of Israel’s early history that was eventually translated into dozens of languages. Meticulously researched, much of his fiction is set in historical periods of the 20th century. Uris also wrote screenplays, notably for the classic Western Gunfight at the OK Corral, and many of his novels were made into films. Who starred in the film version of Exodus? Discuss

Potsdam Conference Concludes (1945)

The Potsdam Conference was an Allied conference held in the Berlin suburb of Potsdam after Germany’s surrender in World War II. Representing the US, USSR, and UK, respectively, Harry Truman, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill met there to discuss European peace settlements and reparations, the administration of Germany, the demarcation of Poland, the occupation of Austria, the USSR’s role in eastern Europe, and the war against Japan. Who replaced Churchill during the conference? Discuss

Carroll O'Connor (1924)

O’Connor was an American actor who started out on the stage and appeared in a number of movies in the 1950s and 60s. He gained fame in the 70s and early 80s playing Archie Bunker in All in the Family and Archie Bunker’s Place, winning numerous Emmy awards for his portrayal of the bigoted yet loveable blue-collar family man. He later starred as a progressive Southern sheriff on the TV show In the Heat of the Night. Which of O’Connor’s relatives also had a role on that show? Discuss

Struthiomimus: An "Ostrichosaurus"?

Struthiomimus was a long-legged, possibly feathered, ostrich-like dinosaur that lived in the area that is now Alberta, Canada, during the late Cretaceous Period, approximately 75 million years ago. With a slender neck and a toothless beak, it is believed that the bipedal dinosaur’s only defenses against predators were its powerful legs, which gave Struthiomimus the ability to run rapidly, much like an ostrich. How fast was it? Discuss

MTV Is Launched (1981)

MTV is an American cable television network that was originally created to broadcast videos of pop and rock musicians. It quickly gained a wide following, and soon virtually all major pop and rock performers were making videos to be aired on MTV. In the 1990s, MTV diversified its programming, airing game shows, cartoons, sitcoms, documentaries, and reality shows. The network has had a profound impact on both the music industry and popular culture. What was the first music video aired on MTV? Discuss

Herman Melville (1819)

Neglected for much of his career but now considered one of the greatest American writers, Melville was born into an impoverished family and had little formal schooling. He sailed for the South Seas on a whaler in 1841, jumped ship after 18 months, and spent the next 2 years on various Pacific islands. His popular first novels were based on these adventures. His masterpiece, Moby-Dick, is both an intense whaling narrative and a symbolic examination of US democracy. To whom is it dedicated? Discuss