Nashville Sit-Ins Begin (1960)

Just before it became first major Southern US city to begin integrating public spaces, Nashville was the scene of a months-long peaceful protest at the lunch counters of the city’s department stores. Scores of African-American college students calmly occupied seats at the counters while employees refused to serve them. Some protesters were assaulted or jailed. That May, the counters were desegregated. The protesters’ code of conduct became a model for other demonstrations. What did it say? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Shrove Tuesday

There are a number of names in the West for the last day before the long fast of Lent. The French call it Mardi Gras (meaning “Fat Tuesday”), because it was traditionally a time to use up all the milk, butter, and eggs left in the kitchen. These ingredients often went into pancakes, which is why the English call it Pancake Day. The name “Shrove Tuesday” is derived from the Christian custom of confessing sins and being “shriven” (i.e., absolved) just before Lent. No matter what its name, the day before Ash Wednesday has long been a time for excessive eating and merrymaking. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Sarojini Naidu (1879)

Known as “the Nightingale of India,” Naidu was an Indian child prodigy who began writing poetry as a young girl. She went on to pursue politics and became the first Indian woman to serve as president of the Indian National Congress and the first female governor of Uttar Pradesh. She enjoyed a close relationship with Mohandas Gandhi, and her participation in passive disobedience campaigns landed her in jail on multiple occasions. How is Naidu’s birthday celebrated in India? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Fat Tax

A fat tax, also known as “Twinkie tax,” “junk food tax,” and “snack tax,” is a tax on calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods. The concept was pioneered in the early 1980s by Kelly D. Brownell, PhD, who proposed that revenue from such a tax be used to subsidize more healthful foods and fund nutrition campaigns. Proponents believe that the increased cost of junk food might also deter buyers and thereby curb consumption. Where have fat taxes been introduced? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

An aquarium accident may have given this crayfish the DNA to take over the world

It sounds like a bad monster movie plot: A 10-legged mutant creature that reproduces asexually, escapes from confinement in Germany, and quietly begins a global invasion. Within 2 decades, clones of the voracious animal spread through Europe and Africa, bringing … Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Battle of the Herrings (1429)

The meatless days of Lent were approaching when Sir John Fastolf set off from Paris with hundreds of wagons laden with weapons and barrels of herring to resupply the English troops that had been laying siege to the French town of OrlĂ©ans for months. Engaged by thousands of French troops attempting to sever his supply route, Fastolf made a defensive formation with his wagons, lending the battle its name. What group’s poorly timed attempt to help the French may have caused them to lose the battle? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Lincoln’s Birthday

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was born on Feb. 12, 1809. A wreath-laying ceremony and reading of the Gettysburg Address at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., are traditional on Feb. 12. Lincoln’s actual birthday is a legal holiday in 11 states: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and West Virginia. In most other states, Lincoln’s and George Washington’s birthdays are combined for a legal holiday on the third Monday in February called Presidents’ Day. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

George Meredith (1828)

One of the great English novelists, Meredith wrote complex, often comic yet highly cerebral works that contain striking psychological character studies. Though he ostensibly launched a law career at age 18, he focused instead on journalism, poetry writing, and translation. Unable to earn a living this way, he began writing novels and eventually became a critical and popular success. In one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s tales, Sherlock Holmes asks Dr. Watson to talk about Meredith instead of what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is a famous road junction and public space in London. Built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly, the “great thoroughfare,” as Charles Dickens called it, has since become a popular meeting place and tourist destination. In the late 19th century, a commemorative fountain was erected there featuring a nude, winged figure often mistakenly identified as Eros, the Greek god of love. Who did the sculptor actually intend to depict? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary