A high school dropout, Foreman learned to box in the Job Corps. He won the Olympic heavyweight gold medal in 1968 and beat Joe Frazier for the world heavyweight crown in 1973. He won all 40 of his professional bouts—many by knockout—before losing to Muhammad Ali in the “Rumble in the Jungle.” He retired to be a minister in 1977 but launched a comeback in 1987 and became the world’s oldest heavyweight champ in 1994. After naming his first four sons “George,” what did Foreman name his fifth son? Discuss
Author: Ian
London Underground Begins Operation (1863)
The world’s first subway line opened in London in 1863. It was 3.75 mi (6 km) long and soon carried tens of thousands of passengers each day—transporting 9.5 million in its first year. Initially steam-powered, the system first electrified some of its lines in 1890. By 1896, it was fully electrified. Today, the London Underground system is one of the largest in the world, with 256 miles (410 km) of track and 270 stations. How many passengers did it carry on January 10, 1863? Discuss
Mimesis
Mimesis is the imitation or representation of nature and human behavior in art. According to Plato, all artistic works are mere imitations of that which exists. Because the substantive reality perceived by man is only a reflection of a higher truth, art is thrice removed from the truth. Aristotle believed that this necessary distance between life and its representation allows a play’s audience to empathize with its characters and achieve catharsis. What Romantic poet theorized about mimesis? Discuss
Richard Milhous Nixon (1913)
After serving as vice president of the US under Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nixon ran for president but lost to John F. Kennedy in 1960. He was elected president in 1968 and 1972, but his second term was cut short by the Watergate scandal, which involved the burglary and wiretapping of Democratic party headquarters. Likely facing impeachment, he became the first president to resign. Although never convicted, he was pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford. What pet did Nixon receive as a political gift? Discuss
Davy Lamp Tested at Hebburn Colliery (1816)
The Davy lamp was an early safety lamp used in the mining and quarrying industries. It was designed by English chemist and physicist Sir Humphrey Davy to prevent the accidental ignition of flammable gases. This was achieved by enclosing the flame of the oil-burning lamp in wire gauze that distributed heat over a large area and brought its temperature below the ignition temperature of methane. Why did the introduction of the Davy lamp initially lead to an increase in the rate of mining accidents? Discuss
Chris Burden
Burden is a performance artist who emerged as part of the American art scene in the 1970s, performing controversial, dangerous pieces in which he used his own body as the art medium. During a 1971 performance piece titled Shoot, he was shot in his left arm by an assistant standing a short distance away. He was labeled insane following the performance, but it has since become one of his most well-known pieces from the period. Why did he resign from the University of California in 2005? Discuss
José Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintrón (1912)
Ferrer was an American actor, director, and producer. He made his Broadway debut in 1935 and gained acclaim playing the starring role in Charley’s Aunt (1940) and Iago in a 1943 Broadway production of Othello. A versatile actor with a rich and powerful voice, he appeared in many films, including The Caine Mutiny and Ship of Fools. In 1950, he won an Academy Award for his performance as the title character in what film version of a play that he had also starred in? Discuss
President Lyndon B. Johnson Declares a "War on Poverty" (1964)
During his first State of the Union address, President Johnson outlined a vast program of economic and social welfare legislation designed to create what he termed the “Great Society.” As part of this platform, Johnson called for a nationwide “War on Poverty” in response to a high national poverty rate. Johnson’s call led Congress to pass the Economic Opportunity Act, legislation that established an agency to administer federal funds targeted against poverty. Did it work? Discuss
Endocrine System
The pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands are all part of the endocrine system, a bodily system that is instrumental in regulating metabolism, tissue function, and growth and development. The endocrine system is an integrated network of small glands located throughout the body that release extracellular signaling molecules known as hormones. Hormones travel in the blood to distant targets, where they cause specific physiological responses. What diseases result from endocrine system problems? Discuss
Zora Neale Hurston (1891)
An anthropologist, folklorist, and author, Hurston spent much of her life collecting African-American folktales in the rural South and in other places, such as Haiti, Bermuda, and Honduras. She was a significant figure in the Harlem Renaissance and collaborated with her friend Langston Hughes on the play Mule Bone in 1931. Along with her folklore collections, she also wrote four novels, including the influential Their Eyes Were Watching God. Why did the book inspire controversy? Discuss