Tajikistan Gains Independence from the Soviet Union (1991)

Russia first took control of Tajik lands in the 1880s. In the aftermath of the 1917 Russian Revolution, the Tajiks rebelled against Russian rule, and the Red Army did not retake control until 1921. Tajikistan was made an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan in 1924 and joined the USSR in 1929. In 1991, at around the time the USSR was being dissolved, the Republic of Tajikistan declared its independence. Civil war broke out a year later. When was a peace agreement reached? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Toronto International Film Festival

Second in size only to the Cannes Film Festival in France, the Toronto International Film Festival is considered one of the world’s most prestigious artistic events. It features some of the year’s most anticipated films, attracts leading stars in the movie business, and serves as a networking and educational opportunity for industry professionals. Festival organizers pride themselves on creating a public festival, which means film submissions from all over are accepted and screenings are open to the public as well as to the media and the film industry. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

William Bligh (1754)

Though he had a long and notable career in the British Royal Navy, Bligh is chiefly remembered for the 1787 mutiny on his ship, the HMS Bounty, during which he and those crew members who remained loyal to him were set adrift in a longboat. In a remarkable act of seamanship, with neither a map nor a compass, Bligh guided them across 3,618 mi (5,822 km) of ocean to the nearest European outpost, Timor. In the 1770s, Bligh served as the sailing master on what famous explorer’s final voyage? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Sudoku

Sudoku is a number puzzle based on the Latin squares described by the 18th-century Swiss mathematician Euler. The modern version consists of a box divided into nine squares, each of which is again divided into nine smaller boxes, making 81 boxes in total. The puzzle setter provides a partially completed grid so that there is only one solution. The objective is to fill the grid so that every column, every row, and every 3×3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. What was sudoku originally called? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Honda Point Disaster (1923)

The Honda Point Disaster was the largest peacetime loss of US Navy ships. On the evening of September 8, 1923, 14 destroyers were engaging in simulated combat maneuvers a few miles from the northern side of the Santa Barbara Channel off the California coast. Upon reaching Honda Point, seven destroyers ran aground and were wrecked; two others suffered minor damage. In all, twenty-three sailors lost their lives. What is the “Devil’s Jaw,” and how did it factor into the incident? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

International Literacy Day

Established by the United Nations to encourage universal literacy, this day has been observed since 1966 by all countries and organizations that are part of the UN system. Observances are sponsored primarily by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) and include the awarding of special literacy prizes. Prizes are also awarded by the International Reading Association and the Japanese publisher Shoichi Noma to literacy programs that have made a significant difference. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Peter Sellers (1925)

Sellers was a British actor who earned international stardom playing a wide range of characters at a time when rigid typecasting was the norm. The son of vaudeville performers, he began appearing with his parents as a boy. He started making films in the 1950s and later gained enormous popularity as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther series. In Dr. Strangelove, he plays three characters, including the titular role. What fourth character was he initially supposed to play? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Legendary Griffin

In ancient and medieval legend, the griffin is a creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. Some traditions also give it a serpent’s tail. The griffin is thought to have originated in ancient Middle Eastern legend and is often found in Persian sculpture. Although its significance is obscure, the griffin is thought to have been a protective symbol, representing strength and vigilance. When is a griffin called an “alce” or “keythong”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary