Definition: (noun) A deposit of urates around a joint or in the external ear; diagnostic of advanced or chronic gout.
Synonyms: tophus.
Usage: Once the doctor saw the chalkstone, he knew his patient was suffering from gout.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, Juneteenth is a US holiday that commemorates the day when the slaves of Texas learned that they were legally free. Although President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was formally issued on Jan 1, 1863, it had little immediate effect on slaves’ day-to-day lives. In Texas, it was not until June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops took over the state, that it was enforced. How is Juneteenth often celebrated? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
New Church Day refers to the Church of the New Jerusalem, founded in London in the late 18th century by the disciples of Emanuel Swedenborg. Swedenborg’s followers believe that in 1757 there was a great judgment in the spiritual world, and that as a result the evil spirits were separated from the good and a new heaven was established. June 19 is the date on which Swedenborg’s disciples met in 1770 to organize the New Church. Every year on this day, members of the New Church, called Swedenborgians, meet to conduct important church business and to commemorate the church’s founding. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
As the New York Yankees’ first baseman for 15 seasons, Gehrig broke numerous major-league records. He retired from baseball in 1939, after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, now commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. During an emotional farewell speech at Yankee Stadium, he proclaimed himself the “luckiest man on the face of the earth.” Known as the “Iron Horse,” Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive league games, setting a record that stood until 1995, when it was broken by whom? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Hickam Air Force Base is a US Air Force base located in Honolulu, Hawaii, on 2,850 acres (12 sq km) of land. It boasts facilities valued at more than $444 million. During World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, it served as a major center for training pilots and assembling aircraft. The base supported flights to and from the forward areas, which earned it the nickname “America’s Bridge Across the Pacific.” When Japanese troops bombed Pearl Harbor, what happened to Hickam Air Force Base? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) One authorized to manage the affairs of another; an agent.
Synonyms: proxy, placeholder.
Usage: The wealthy businessman's procurator arrived at the auction to bid on his behalf.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Giordano Bruno is a small lunar impact crater that is estimated to have been formed less than 350 million years ago. Some believe that its age can be pinpointed exactly thanks to five English monks who reported that on June 18, 1178, during the annual Taurid meteor shower, they saw “two horns of light” on the shaded part of the moon—a description some say is consistent with the visual phenomena associated with such a crater’s formation. How do others interpret the monks’ sighting? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The Republic of Seychelles was first settled by the French in 1770. In 1814, it was ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Paris. Seychelles gained independence from Britain in 1976 and became a republic within the commonwealth. On June 18, 1993, a new constitution was approved, and the first multiparty elections were held in July. June 18 is known as National Day in Seychelles and commemorates the implementation of a multiparty democracy. On this day, thousands of people attend celebratory events that include parades, a flower show, music, and a presidential speech. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Scripps began publishing his own newspapers in 1878 and eventually went on to own 34 papers across the US. His Scripps-McRae League of Newspapers was the first major US newspaper chain. In 1907, he consolidated regional Scripps news services into what would become United Press International. In 1922, he transferred his interests to his son, who, with Roy W. Howard, formed the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. Scripps is credited with bringing what innovations to the newspaper business? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Eight years after he killed off Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle brought the character back in The Hound of the Baskervilles. The novel is possibly the most popular of all of the Holmes stories and has been filmed at least 24 times since 1914. It was inspired by the regional mythology of the British Isles concerning hell-hounds and set largely on an area of moorland close to where Doyle worked as a general practitioner while writing the novel. Who helped Doyle craft its plot? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary