Chameleons

Chameleons have laterally flattened bodies and bulging, independently rotating eyes. They are variously ornamented with crests, horns, and spines. They feed chiefly on insects and are unique among lizards in possessing long, sticky tongues with which they capture their prey. Their changes in skin color are under hormonal and nervous control and are not affected by the color of the background but by stimuli such as light, temperature, and emotion. “Chameleon” is derived from what Greek words? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

LASIK Surgery

LASIK is a form of refractive laser eye surgery performed by ophthalmologists to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The surgery generally eliminates the need for glasses or contact lenses and is a less painful alternative to photorefractive keratectomy. LASIK is a two step process. First, a flap of corneal tissue is created and folded back to reveal the cornea, which is then remodeled with a laser. What have studies revealed about the safety and efficacy of LASIK? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Darkrooms

A darkroom is a workspace for the processing of light-sensitive materials. Darkrooms have been used for black and white photography since the late 19th century, but their popularity has waned with the introduction of color, Polaroid, and digital photography. The most familiar black and white processes involve developing the image, stopping the development, fixing the image, then washing and drying it. Why is it safe to use red or amber lighting in a darkroom? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Marching Bands

A marching band is a sporting group of instrumental musicians that generally performs outdoors. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments, and the music usually incorporates a strong rhythmic component suitable for marching. Marching bands grew out of military bands, which used to control troop movements on the field. What military traditions survive in modern marching bands? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Slot Machines

Slot machines are popular casino games that constitute about 70% of the average casino’s income. The player pulls a handle to rotate a series of reels that have pictures printed on them. Winning or losing is determined by which pictures line up with the pay line, a line in the middle of a viewing window. Some believe skill is involved in the game, but the probability of a win is determined by the game’s random number generator. Who invented the slot machine? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Voodoo

Voodoo refers to West African religious beliefs and practices that also have adherents in the New World. Voodoo believers are most numerous in Haiti and Benin, where they enjoy official government recognition. Voodoo contends that all of nature is controlled by spiritual forces which must be acknowledged and honored through offerings and animal sacrifice. Voodoo’s incarnation in the American South is often called Louisiana Voodoo. What is a gris-gris? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Keffiyeh

The keffiyeh is a traditional Arab headdress, made of a square of cloth that is folded and wrapped in various styles around the head. It is commonly worn in areas with arid climates as protection from direct sun exposure and blown dust and sand. The plain white keffiyeh is popular in the Gulf states, while the red-and-white keffiyeh is most strongly associated with what country? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Foot Binding

Foot binding originated during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in the wealthiest parts of China. By the end of the practice’s thousand-year history, it had spread to all classes and was viewed as a status symbol. Young girls’ feet were wrapped in tight bandages that restricted growth, causing breakage and deformity. Most often, the men that foot binding was intended to impress would never see the woman’s bare feet, as they were concealed within tiny “lotus shoes.” When and why did the practice end? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Champagne

The word “Champagne,” when capitalized, refers specifically to the white, sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France. Generally, production begins with the fermentation of grapes with low sugar and high acid levels to produce a still wine, which is blended with other wines, a small amount of sugar and yeast, and stored. During the second fermentation, carbon dioxide is trapped in the bottle. How should Champagne be poured in order to preserve the bubbles? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Apgar Score

The Apgar Score is a system of evaluating a newborn’s physical condition, generally done at one and five minutes after birth, where a value from 0 to 2 is assigned to each of five criteria: heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, response to stimuli, and skin color. The values are summed up and the resulting score ranges from 0 to 10. Scores below 3 are generally regarded as critically low, with 4 to 7 fairly low, and over 7 generally normal. What does the acronym APGAR stand for? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary