Pirate Mary Read

Read, an Englishwoman who was born in the late 17th century, spent much of her life disguised as a man and working in industries generally reserved for men. She was on a ship bound for the West Indies when it was captured by pirate captain Calico Jack Rackham. Read joined his crew and became one of the most notorious female pirates of the time. When Rackham’s ship was captured and the crew sentenced to death, Read received a stay of execution after she “pled her belly,” a reference to what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Elva Zona Heaster Discovered Dead (1897)

Shortly after marrying drifter Erasmus Shue, Heaster was found dead and was soon buried. Her mother, who suspected foul play, claimed to have had a vision in which her daughter’s ghost stated that Shue had broken her neck, killing her. When the body was exhumed, an autopsy confirmed that Heaster’s neck had been broken, and Shue was tried for murder. What role did the ghost—since known as the Greenbrier Ghost for Heaster’s hometown of Greenbrier County, West Virginia—play in the trial? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Wakakusayama Yaki

This event, held near the Japanese city of Nara, is one of the ancient capital’s most thrilling spectacles. It takes place on Mt. Wakakusafireworks are ignited, and at six o’clock in the evening, priests from the temples of Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji set fire to the dry grass on the slopes. The whole mountain turns into a flaming beacon that lights up the night sky and can be seen for miles. The festival commemorates the historic burning of the hill 10 centuries ago during a friendly disagreement about the boundaries of the two major temples and a shrine in Nara. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Édouard Manet (1832)

One of the foremost French artists of the 19th century, Manet is often regarded as the father of modern painting. Rebelling against the academic tradition, he developed a realist style that was one of the founding forces of Impressionism. Although his talent is recognized today, Manet was often greeted with harsh criticism during his career, including for his paintings Le déjeuner sur l’herbeThe Luncheon on the Grass—and Olympia. Why were the paintings controversial? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Rubies

Rubies are precious gemstones that range in color from light pink to blood red and are second only to the diamond in hardness. They are found chiefly in Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka and are classified among the most valuable of gems. The rare star ruby, which shows an internal star-shaped formation when cut into a cabochon, is an example of a gemstone whose value is actually increased by an inclusion. Why can rubies be found beneath building foundations in some Asian countries? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

After 16 Years of Terrorizing New York City, Mad Bomber Arrested (1957)

Known as the Mad Bomber, George P. Metesky terrorized New York City for 16 years in the 1940s and 1950s with dozens of explosive devices that he planted in terminals, libraries, offices, phone booths, storage lockers, and restrooms in public buildings. He also bombed movie theaters by hiding his bombs within the upholstery of the seats. Metesky planted at least 33 bombs, and despite the fact that he often placed warning calls in advance of his bombings, 15 people were injured. Why did he do it? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary