Baroness Bertha von Suttner was an Austrian novelist who was known chiefly as an ardent pacifist. Her 1889 pacifist novel Die Waffen nieder—translated into English in 1892 as Lay Down Your Arms—had great social impact. Through her subsequent friendship with Swedish Chemist Alfred Nobel, she influenced him to establish the Nobel Prizes. In 1905, she became the first woman awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She met Nobel after answering an advertisement for what? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Anna Karenina is a novel by Leo Tolstoy about the tragedy of a woman’s faith in romantic love, first published as a book in 1877. Tolstoy’s style, praised by Nabokov and Dostoevsky, is considered by many critics to represent a bridge between the realist and modernist novels. Its seventh section is, in particular, one of the earliest examples of stream-of-consciousness literature. Many critics believe that which character reflects Tolstoy’s own beliefs and struggles? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (adjective) So crude and unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility.
Synonyms: unrefined.
Usage: Jenny's mother was horrified by the crass behavior of the young man whom her daughter had befriended.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
In 934, an eruption of Iceland’s Laki volcanic fissure released 4.7 cu mi (19.6 cu km) of basalt lava, one of the largest volcanic eruptions on Earth in historical times. In 1783, the system erupted again, pouring out an estimated 3.4 cu mi (14 cu km) of basalt lava and clouds of poisonous compounds that killed over half of Iceland’s livestock and led to a famine that killed approximately a quarter of its human population. How did Laki’s eruption help trigger the French Revolution? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
St. Médardus, or Médard, who lived from about 470 to 560, was the bishop of Vermandois, Noyon, and Tournai in France. Because he was the patron saint of farmers and good weather, he has come to play a role in weather lore similar to that of the English St. Swithin. In Belgium, he is known as the rain saint, and there is an old folk rhyme that says, “If it rains on St. Médard’s Day, it will rain for 40 days.” Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The daughter of iconic singer Frank Sinatra, Nancy is an American singer and actress best known for her 1966 signature hit “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.” The song was written by singer and producer Lee Hazlewood, who wrote and produced most of Nancy’s hits and sang with her on several duets. She followed the song’s wild success with a slew of singles, including a duet with her father that remains the only father-daughter duet to reach the top of the charts in the US. What song is it? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Jeopardy! is a well-known television game show which first ran on NBC in 1964. Its most successful incarnation is the current Alex Trebek-hosted syndicated version, which has aired continuously since September 10, 1984. The Jeopardy! concept of presenting clues in the form of answers was created by Merv Griffin, who also created Wheel of Fortune. Why is the show called Jeopardy!? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (adjective) Not mingled or diluted with extraneous matter.
Synonyms: pure.
Usage: Because she did not like artificial or diluted flavors, she made sure to purchase unadulterated maple syrup.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Named for the style of clothing favored by the mainly Mexican-American victims of these clashes, the Zoot Suit Riots erupted between American servicemen stationed in Los Angeles, California, during World War II and the city’s minority residents. While the local press lauded the attacks by the servicemen and described them as having a “cleansing effect,” First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt denounced them as “race riots” rooted in discrimination. What happened to the nine sailors arrested in the riots? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Under British rule, the Maltese Islands helped the Allies during World War I. Although the war brought jobs to the country, many Maltese found it hard to make ends meet. These factors and others prompted riots in Valletta on June 7, 1919. During the riots, four Maltese were killed by British troops. This tragic event became known as the Sette Giugno Riots. Every year on June 7, Malta holds a commemorative ceremony in Valletta. The commemorative celebration includes marches and the playing of the national anthem, “L-Innu Malti,” as well as a moment of silence in memory of the four fallen men. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary