Flying Squirrels

There are 43 known species of flying squirrel. While the name flying squirrel is a bit of a misnomer—the creatures cannot actually fly—they are able to glide long distances by leaping from tall heights and extending flaps of skin, called patagia, that stretch from their forelimbs to their hindlimbs. Once airborne, the squirrels have a high degree of maneuverability and are able to steer by adjusting the tautness of the patagia and using their tails as stabilizers. How do they “brake”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Cosplay

A combination of the words “costume” and “play,” cosplay refers to a Japanese subculture in which participants dress as characters from anime, manga, video games, and other forms of entertainment. Often seen at conventions or parties at nightclubs or amusement parks, cosplay is also publicly practiced in places like Tokyo’s Akihabara district, where costumed servers wait on patrons at many of the area’s cafés. How does cosplay in the US and UK differ from that in Japan? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Czech Dream

As their final film-school project, two Czech students, Vít Klusák and Filip Remunda, perpetrated a massive hoax—and filmed it. Called Czech Dream, the 2004 documentary follows the pair as they convince a public relations agency to create an advertising campaign—complete with billboards, TV commercials, and a jingle—for the launch of a fake department store. It worked; 3,000 shoppers showed up to an empty field for the grand opening of the “store.” How did the customers react to the ruse? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Babylonian Law

The study of ancient Babylonian law, supported by thousands of primary sources that include contracts, deeds, and legal decisions, was greatly advanced by the discovery of a set of 282 laws known as the Code of Hammurabi. Created around 1760 BCE by the sixth Babylonian King, Hammurabi, the Code loosely divided the population into three classes and established an “eye-for-an-eye, tooth-for-a-tooth” style of punishment for criminals. What was the penalty for perjury? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Air Force One

Though often thought of as a specific airplane, Air Force One is the air traffic control call sign for any US Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. The call sign was established for security purposes in 1953 after a commercial flight with the same call sign as the president’s plane accidentally entered the same airspace. Any Air Force aircraft carrying the Vice President is called Air Force Two. What was the first presidential transport plane nicknamed? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Pub Quiz

Largely a British phenomenon that spread to other nations after peaking in the early 1990s, pub quizzes are popular trivia games that take place in pubs around the world. Though participants often have to pay to play, pubs sometimes host free games in order to increase attendance and revenue on less busy nights. In this team game, players work together to win prizes that often include drinks, cash, or vouchers for pub fare. How are pub owners combating the recent spate of high-tech cheating? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Port Arthur Massacre

On the morning of April 28, 1996, Martin Bryant bought a lighter, a can of tomato sauce, and a cup of coffee, drove to Port Arthur, a popular tourist site in Tasmania, Australia, and shot and killed 35 people and wounded another 37. The mentally handicapped 28-year-old was found fit to stand trial as a mentally competent adult, convicted, and sentenced to serve 35 life terms, one for each person killed, plus 1035 years without the possibility of parole. How old was Bryant’s youngest victim? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Energy Vampires

In New Age terminology, an energy vampire is a being said to have the ability to feed off the “life force” of other creatures. Such entities include the tiger-women of Asia and the incubi and succubi of Judeo-Christian mythology. Though not as popular as their blood-sucking counterparts, energy vampires have nonetheless made appearances in a number of works of popular fiction. Who popularized the term “psychic vampire” in the 1960s? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Fusor: DIY Nuclear Fusion

Originally designed by TV developer Philo T. Farnsworth as a device to create nuclear fusion, the fusor is unique in its simplicity. Instead of slowly heating plasma, the fusor simply injects “high temperature” ions directly into a reaction chamber. Still, engineers have been unable to develop a practical power source using the technology. Hobbyists and even high school students have built small fusors over the years. The youngest person ever to build a working fusor was how old? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Copito de Nieve

The most popular resident of the Barcelona Zoo during his life, Copito de Nieve was an albino Western Lowland Gorilla—the only known albino gorilla. Originally captured in 1966 in what is now Equatorial Guinea, where he was called Nfumu Ngi, or “White Gorilla,” he later gained fame as Copito de Nieve, Spanish for “Snowflake,” a nickname given to him by National Geographic magazine. During his nearly 40 years in captivity, Snowflake fathered 22 offspring. How many survived to adulthood? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary