Louis Daguerre (1787)

Originally a scene painter for the opera, Daguerre was a French inventor who devised one of the first practical photographic processes—the daguerreotype. He, in collaboration with Nicéphore Niépce, found that a permanent image could be formed on a silver iodide-coated copper plate if it was exposed to light, then fumed with mercury vapor and fixed by a solution of common salt. His daguerreotype process was announced in 1839 at the Academy of Sciences. Who acquired the patent for the invention? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Camels, the Even-Toed Ungulates

Camels, ruminant mammals of the family Camelidae, are well adapted to desert life, as they can live for several days without drinking and their broad, flat, two-toed feet do not sink in the sand. There are two species of true camel, the single-humped Arabian camel, a domesticated animal used in Arabia and N Africa, and the two-humped Bactrian camel of central Asia. The humps, fat stores that provide energy and water when metabolized, also aid in desert survival. How fast can a camel run? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

First Computer Mouse Patented (1970)

While working at the Stanford Research Institute in the early 1960s, human-computer interaction pioneer Doug Engelbart invented the first computer mouse, so called because of its resemblance to the small rodent. His mouse was constructed out of a wooden box and two wheels set perpendicular to one another. The rotation of each wheel was translated into motion along one axis, and this information was relayed to the computer to indicate the mouse’s position. What is the proper plural of “mouse”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day

In 1939, Nazi troops invaded Czechoslovakia and took over the country. On November 17, student protests were held. Nazi troops subsequently executed nine students and sent many to a concentration camp. On November 17, 1989, Czech students gathered to demonstrate against the communist regime. This marked the beginning of the Velvet Revolution. Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day is a national holiday in the Czech Republic. People gather and light candles near a “V for Victory” memorial plaque on National Avenue in Prague, and the national flag is flown in all public places. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Martin Scorsese (1942)

Scorsese is an American film director whose movies often deal with violent and obsessive aspects of modern America and the themes of sin and redemption. He won critical attention for his film Mean Streets in 1973 and went on to make a number of acclaimed films, including Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The Departed, for which he finally received the Academy Award for best director. What vocation did Scorsese pursue before attending film school? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Rocket-Propelled Grenade

The term rocket-propelled grenade is actually a misnomer stemming from the Russian acronym for a handheld anti-tank grenade-launcher. The RPG, developed by the Soviets during WWII, is a low-cost, low-tech, direct fire, portable weapon used primarily against unarmored or medium-armored vehicles and personnel. Though it is largely ineffective against heavily armored vehicles and has a low level of accuracy, the RPG has become a favored weapon in what modern conflicts? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

UNESCO Founded (1945)

Established in the aftermath of World War II, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) aims to further peace by acting as a clearinghouse for the exchange of ideas and knowledge and by improving education, especially supporting efforts to eliminate illiteracy. In 1972, it helped establish the World Heritage program, which promotes government protection for cultural sites and natural areas. Why did the US and the UK withdraw from UNESCO in the mid-1980s? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary