Definition: (noun) An iced cocktail of rum, lime or lemon juice, and sugar.
Synonyms: rum cocktail.
Usage: They knew he was lying about being a bartender when he was unable to correctly mix a daiquiri.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
In an unexpected twist of fate, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a process to turn carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into ethanol fuel — a breakthrough with implications for the future of renewable … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The Battle of Edgehill was the first major engagement of the English Civil War, fought between the Royalist army of King Charles I and the Parliamentarians. The battle ended in a draw, and its inconclusive result prevented either faction from gaining a quick victory in the war, which eventually resulted in the execution of the king and the establishment of a republican commonwealth. What did a group of Parliamentarian troops under Faithfull Fortescue do when the Royalists charged them? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Hoshana Rabbah is considered the last possible day on which one can seek forgiveness for the sins of the preceding year. According to Jewish tradition, on Yom Kippur, God seals the Book of Life—and thus each individual’s fate for the coming year. But since the Middle Ages, Hoshana Rabbah has been regarded as an extension of the deadline for Divine judgment. According to an old Jewish folk belief, notes fell from Heaven on this day, informing people of how they had been judged. The traditional Yiddish greeting, a gute kvitl, “May you receive a good note,” reflects this belief. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Two years after a 12-year-old Carson sent away for a magic kit, “The Great Carsoni” gave his first performance. He continued his show business career by working as a radio announcer and television comedy writer and went on to host several television quiz shows from 1955 to 1962. He first appeared on The Tonight Show in 1958. He was permanent host from 1962 to 1992, and his personable demeanor and wry humor made it America’s most popular late-night program. How many times was he married? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
In his 1897 book Suicide, French sociologist Emile Durkheim introduced his concept of anomie, a social condition characterized by institutional instability, the breakdown of social norms, and a divorce between socially valid goals and available means for achieving them. The alienation, anxiety, and amorality afflicting individuals who live under such conditions is widely believed to result in delinquency, crime, and suicide. How did the Industrial Revolution factor into Durkheim’s theory? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) A method of betting, as on a horserace, in which the bettor must correctly pick those finishing in the first and second places in precisely that sequence.
Synonyms: perfecta.
Usage: Even though she knew it was risky, she was tempted to go for the exacta, which had a higher payout than a bet on just the winning horse.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
Stone flakes excite archaeologists hunting for early human artifacts. The razor-sharp edges that suggest deliberate creation point to someone with skills. Generally, that someone is human. But stone flake production might not be so special, according to a … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
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Celebrated English Admiral Cloudesley Shovell was returning from an abortive attack on Toulon, France, in 1707 when his ship and several others struck rocks off the Scilly Islands, southwest of England. In one of the greatest maritime disasters in British history, Shovell is believed to have drowned along with as many as 2,000 sailors. According to one of the many legends about the disaster, Shovell reached the shore alive, only to be murdered by a woman who stole what priceless object from him? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Early on the evening of October 22, people light bonfires along the narrow street leading to the Kuramadera Shrine in Kurama, a village in the mountains north of Kyoto, Japan. Fire is a purifying element according to Shinto, and the village is believed to be protected from accidents on this night. Soon after dusk, people light torches: even babies are allowed to carry tiny torches made out of twigs. Young men carry large torches—sometimes, it takes several men to keep them upright. As they walk through the streets, everyone chants rhythmically, “Sai-rei! Sai-ryo!” (“Festival, good festival!”) Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary