Meryl Streep (1949)

Streep is widely considered one of the most respected and talented film actors of all time. Famous for her mastery of a wide variety of accents, she has become legendary for the perfectionist approach she brings to each role. Streep has received more Academy Award nominations than any other actor in history and won two for her roles in Kramer vs. Kramer and Sophie’s Choice. She is also tied with Jack Nicholson for most Golden Globe Award wins. What was Streep’s first starring role? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Porcelain

Porcelain is a white, hard, nonporous pottery which is resonant when struck. It was first made by the Chinese to withstand the great heat generated in certain parts of their kilns. The two natural substances used were kaolin and a feldspar mineral called petuntse that forms a glassy cement. In Europe porcelain was first commercially produced in the early 1700s. Most of the European porcelain is soft paste and is not as strong as the Chinese hard-paste porcelain. What is bone china? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Molly Maguires Hanged in Pennsylvania (1877)

The Molly Maguires was a secret organization of Irish-Americans who fought against the oppressive working conditions in the anthracite mining districts of Pennsylvania. Members often resorted to intimidation or murder when dealing with police, who were entirely controlled by the mine owners. At around the time the organization reached the height of its power, a detective was hired to infiltrate its ranks. His testimony led to the eventual hanging of 10 “Mollies.” How did the group get its name? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Father’s Day

Sonora Louise Smart Dodd from Spokane, Washington, suggested to her minister in 1910 that a day be set aside for honoring fathers. The Ministerial Association and the Spokane YMCA picked up on the idea, and in 1924 Father’s Day received the support of President Calvin Coolidge. But it wasn’t until 1966 that a presidential proclamation established Father’s Day as the third Sunday in June. Although it began as a religious celebration, today it is primarily an occasion for showing appreciation through gift-giving. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859)

Tanner was an American painter of religious and genre scenes. He studied under Thomas Eakins at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where he was the only black student. Tormented by racial persecution, he settled in Paris in 1891 and gained international acclaim, earning many awards for his landscapes and treatments of biblical themes. In 1927, he became the first African American granted full membership in the National Academy of Design. What was his most famous work? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Margot Fonteyn

Fonteyn was an English ballet dancer. She made her debut as a soloist in 1934 and gained a reputation for expressive acting and versatility, inspiring famed choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton to create a number of major ballets especially for her. Fonteyn’s international reputation soared once she formed a legendary partnership with the Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev. The pair became known for receiving repeated frenzied curtain calls and bouquet tosses. Why was Fonteyn arrested in 1959? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

“Red Telephone” Established Between US and USSR (1963)

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, it took the US nearly 12 hours to receive and decode Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev’s initial settlement message. By the time the US drafted a reply, Moscow had already sent new demands. Afterward, it was decided that the crisis could have been resolved more quickly with faster communication. In 1963, a “hot line”—the so-called “red telephone”—was established to provide a direct link between the White House and the Kremlin. When was the hotline first used? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Dragon Boat Festival

Chu’ü Yüan (343-289 BCE) was a Chinese poet and statesman of the Ch’u kingdom who drowned himself in the Mi Lo River to protest political corruption and injustice. The dragon boat races that take place on lakes and rivers throughout China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan on this day are a reenactment of the search for his body. People celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, which occurs on Tuan Wu, or Double Fifth Day, by eating dumplings made of steamed rice wrapped in bamboo leaves called zong ze. This is also a traditional time for performing customs intended to drive away evil spirits and illness. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary