James “Honest Dick” Tate

As state treasurer of Kentucky, James “Honest Dick” Tate had a spotless reputation that earned him reelection every two years for two decades. The true irony of Tate’s nickname was only revealed in 1888—34 years after he first entered public office—when he absconded with funds from the state treasury. It is estimated that between his shoddy bookkeeping, embezzlement, and outright theft, Tate misappropriated nearly $250,000. He was later impeached and indicted. Was “Honest Dick” ever captured? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Prairie Dogs

Named for their habitat and warning call, which sounds similar to a dog’s bark, prairie dogs are short-tailed, ground-living rodents native to the grasslands of North America. The highly social animals live in large colonies that can span hundreds of acres. Cone-shaped mounds surround the entrances to their burrows, keeping rainwater out and serving as lookout posts. Why has the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention banned the sale, trade, and transport of prairie dogs within the US? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Chang and Eng Bunker

The term “Siamese twins” originated with conjoined twin brothers Chang and Eng Bunker, who were born in 1811 in Siam, which is now Thailand. After touring with P. T. Barnum’s circus for many years, they settled in North Carolina and married two sisters: Chang to Adelaide Yates and Eng to Sarah Anne Yates. The two fathered a total of 22 children and died within hours of each other in 1874. Would the Bunker brothers have been able to be separated using today’s surgical techniques? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Therizinosaurs

Therizinosaurs were theropod dinosaurs with a very distinctive set of characteristics. Possessing long necks, wide torsos, and hind feet with four toes, therizinosaurs also had unique hip bones that pointed backwards and were partially fused together. However, the most striking characteristics of these dinosaurs were the enormous claws on their hands, which could reach lengths of three feet. Furthermore, skin impressions from at least one therizinosaur indicate that they were covered in what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Schmidt Sting Pain Index

The Schmidt Sting Pain Index is a scale that rates the relative pain caused by the stings of nearly 80 species of insects in the Hymenoptera order, which includes wasps, bees, and ants. It is mainly the work of entomologist Justin O. Schmidt, who spent years subjecting himself to the stings, ranking them, and describing some of the experiences in colorful detail. Which insect’s sting was described as producing “trembling in the form of a totally uncontrollable urge to shake the affected part”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Black Pudding

Black pudding is a type of sausage made by cooking blood with a filler—often meat, fat, or bread—until it is thick enough to congeal when cooled. Called blood sausage in North America, the dish is prepared in many different ways throughout the world, often using pig or cattle blood. It can be eaten uncooked but is often grilled or boiled in its skin. Black pudding is usually served as part of a traditional full breakfast in the United Kingdom and Ireland, along with white pudding, which is what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Postnatal Depression

Affecting approximately 15 percent of all childbearing women, postnatal, or postpartum, depression is a psychiatric condition characterized by symptoms that range from mild “baby blues” to depressive psychosis. Typically developing in the days and weeks after a woman gives birth, the condition is thought to be influenced by both neurochemical and psychological factors, including hormonal changes and the stress of caring for a newborn infant. Can men suffer from postnatal depression? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Mathilde Kschessinska

Though she is perhaps best known for her affair with the future tsar Nicholas II, Mathilde Kschessinska was actually the first Russian prima ballerina assoluta. She earned the title—the highest possible rank for a ballerina—in 1896, at the age of 24. She was kind to colleagues but was said to be ruthless with her rivals and was known to use her connections with the tsar to her advantage. What was she rumored to have done during a fellow ballerina’s performance that featured live chickens? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Parthenon

Regarded as an enduring symbol of ancient Greece, the Parthenon is the chief temple of the Greek goddess Athena, built in the 5th century BCE on the Acropolis of Athens. One of the world’s greatest cultural monuments, the white marble temple is considered the culmination of the Doric order of classical architecture. It features 46 outer columns and once boasted a continuous band of sculpture that encircled the structure. What caused the explosion that heavily damaged the Parthenon in 1687? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke is cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke that is inhaled unintentionally by nonsmokers. The amount of such smoke inhaled by a nonsmoker is relatively small when compared to the amount inhaled by a tobacco user; however, so-called passive smoking can aggravate respiratory illnesses and contribute to serious diseases, including cancer. This danger has led many countries to adopt smoking bans in indoor spaces. How has the tobacco industry responded to the issue of secondhand smoke? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary