The Ukulele

The ukulele is a Hawaiian musical instrument developed from the Portuguese guitar. It has a fretted fingerboard and four strings that are plucked or strummed. A similar instrument is the banjolele, which has a banjo body. The ukulele became popular in the US through a 1915 exposition held in San Francisco, at which the Hawaiian Pavilion featured a guitar and ukulele ensemble. Vaudeville performers took it up, and its popularity spread. “Ukulele” is Hawaiian for what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Ray Chapman Fatally Injured by Pitch to the Head (1920)

For the entirety of his Major League Baseball career, Ray Chapman was a shortstop for Cleveland. He set a team record for stolen bases that would stand for decades, but his career was tragically cut short when he was hit in the head by a pitch thrown by Yankees hurler Carl Mays. According to eyewitnesses, Chapman likely never even saw the ball. He is the only Major League Baseball player to have died as a result of an injury received in a game. His death led the league to establish what rule? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

St. Roch’s Day

Also known as Roque or Rock, St. Roch (c. 1295-c. 1327) was a Frenchman who went on a pilgrimage to Rome. The plague struck while he was there, and, legend has it, he spent his time healing the afflicted by miraculous means. Known as the patron saint of the sick and the plague-stricken, St. Roch is honored annually throughout Italy. In Florence, there is a flower festival that includes a 14th-century historical costume parade, races, and competitions. In Realmonte, Sicily, the saint’s poverty is recalled with a procession of people dressed in rags who carry a shabby picture of the saint. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Wilhelm Wundt (1832)

Wundt was a German physiologist and psychologist who stressed the use of scientific methods in psychology. Regarded as one of the fathers of psychology and the founder of experimental psychology, Wundt is credited with many firsts in the field: he gave the first course in scientific psychology in 1862, established the first psychological laboratory in 1879, and founded the first journal of psychology in 1881. What famous expression is attributed to Wundt? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Salmonella

Salmonella is a certain type of bacteria, several species of which are responsible for typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, and food poisoning in humans. It is usually contracted from poultry, meat, or raw eggs and from food that has been cooked or frozen and not eaten right away. Salmonella poisoning could also result from handling reptiles, such as iguanas or terrapins, which commonly host the bacteria. According to the US government, what percentage of chickens is contaminated with salmonella? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Tivoli Gardens Opens in Copenhagen (1843)

One of the oldest amusement parks still in operation, Denmark’s Tivoli Gardens opened in 1843 with a variety of attractions, including a theatre, bandstands, amusement rides, and, of course, flower gardens. Tivoli is said to have inspired Walt Disney’s plans for his own park. Today, the park is best known for its wooden roller coaster, built in 1914. What did Tivoli founder Georg Carstensen reportedly tell King Christian VIII about the park to obtain a five-year charter for the site? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Prince’s Birthday in Liechtenstein (Staatsfeiertag)

The Prince’s Birthday is a national holiday in Lichtenstein. The country is a constitutional monarchy formerly headed by Prince Franz Joseph II, who turned over power to his son, Hans-Adam II, in 1984. Franz Joseph II was born on Aug. 16, 1905, but his birthday is celebrated on Aug. 15, the day of the Feast of the Assumption. Celebrations take place in the capital city of Vaduz; festivities include an open house at the prince’s home and castle, Schloss Vaduz, dancing in the streets, special food in the cafes, and fireworks in the evening. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Blind Jack Metcalf (1717)

John Metcalf, popularly known as Blind Jack, was a civil engineer and the first professional road builder of the Industrial Revolution. He lost his sight to a smallpox infection at age six and earned a living in early adulthood as a fiddle player. Though he was unable to see, he swam, played cards, rode horses, and even hunted. In 1765, Parliament passed an act authorizing turnpike building, and he won a contract to build a new road. How many miles of roadway is Metcalf said to have built? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary