Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Is Elected Pope (2005)

Ordained in 1951, the German-born Ratzinger came to be regarded as the most influential person in the Catholic hierarchy after the pope through his high-profile positions within the church and his uncompromising stance on Catholic teachings. He presided over the funeral of Pope John Paul II as dean of the College of Cardinals and, after just two days and four ballots, was elected pope in one of the fastest papal elections in a century. Why did he pray not to be elected during the papal conclave? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Cerealia

Ceres was the ancient Roman goddess of grain and of harvests, often identified with the Greek goddess Demeter. The festival known as Cerealia was observed at various locations only by Roman matrons, who, for several days preceding the festival, abstained from wine and other carnal pleasures. People who were in mourning were not allowed to appear at the celebration. For this reason, the Cerealia was not observed after the Battle of Cannae, when 50,000 Roman troops were killed by Hannibal. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Eliot Ness (1903)

Ness was 26 years old when he was hired as a special agent of the US Department of Justice to head its Chicago Prohibition bureau, with the express purpose of breaking up the bootlegging network of Al Capone. He formed a nine-man team of unbribable officers known as “the Untouchables.” Numerous attempts were made on his life, and one of his friends was killed, but he eventually helped take down Capone, who was convicted on tax evasion charges. What did Ness do after Prohibition ended? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Spider Webs

Many spiders use webs of proteinaceous fibers extruded from silk-spinning organs, called spinnerets, to catch prey without having to expend energy pursuing it. However, constructing a web is an energetically costly process, and it is not uncommon for a spider to eat its own web each day to recoup some of the energy expended in its spinning. A remarkable material, spider silk possesses a tensile strength comparable to that of high-grade steel and has been used in medical settings to do what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

US Federal Court Rules to Release Ezra Pound from Mental Hospital (1958)

An influential American poet and literary critic, Pound spent most of his life in Europe. At the end of WWII, he was arrested for treason by the US for making public broadcasts in Italy supporting anti-Semitism and Fascism. Judged insane, he was committed to a hospital in Washington, DC, until Ernest Hemingway and other friends secured his release 12 years later. In the early weeks of his incarceration, he began showing signs of a mental breakdown, possibly as a result of being locked in what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Leopold Anthony Stokowski (1882)

Stokowski was a legendary British-American conductor whose strong advocacy of new music helped to broaden American musical taste. He conducted and toured with the Philadelphia Orchestra for more than two decades, transforming it into a world-class ensemble and creating the lush “Philadelphia sound.” He made three films, including Walt Disney’s Fantasia, in which he also appeared. What made the “Philadelphia sound” so unique? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Leprechauns

Leprechauns are mythological male fairies of Irish folklore. They are often described as small, mischievous cobblers who hide crocks of gold in secret locations. According to legend, leprechauns can be captured and compelled to reveal the location of their treasure, but their captors must never look away because doing so allows the elusive creatures to escape. Why do some Irish people consider the modern, popularized image of leprechauns offensive? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary