New England’s Dark Day (1780)

On May 19, 1780, an unusual darkening of the day sky was observed over parts of New England and Canada. The darkness was so complete that candlelight was needed as early as noon in places. Researchers examining scar damage in tree growth rings believe that a large fire in Canada’s Algonquin Provincial Park contributed to the darkness, but thick fog and cloud cover likely also played a role. The episode was, and still is, interpreted by many as what kind of event? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Atatürk Remembrance

On May 19, 1919, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk landed with his forces at the Black Sea town of Samsun, Turkey, to begin his fight against the Allies who had occupied the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I. He ushered in an era of reform, development, and an increasingly Western approach to government and society. Because Turkish youth have always engaged in sporting events to celebrate the day, it is also known as Youth and Sports Day as well. In the capital city of Ankara, the celebration of the day begins with a 21-gun salute at 7:00 in the morning, the time when Atatürk arrived in Samsun. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Pol Pot (1925)

One of the most infamous leaders in modern history, Pot became a Khmer Communist leader in Cambodia in the 1960s. In 1975, he proclaimed the Democratic Republic of Kampuchea and served as its premier. During his rule, one to two million people out of a total population of seven million died as a result of his ruthless pursuit of a return to “year zero” and the creation of an ethnically pure, agrarian, communist state. What happened to Pot after his rule was ended by Vietnamese invasion in 1979? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Caviar

Caviar is the roe, or eggs, of various species of sturgeon processed as a piquant table delicacy. Due to its high price, it is synonymous in Western culture with luxury and wealth. The best-known caviar comes from the countries on the Black and Caspian seas and the rivers that flow into them. In 2006, however, declines in sturgeon species led to a suspension of the international trade in nearly all caviar from wild Caspian sturgeon. Caviar should be served with utensils made from what material? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Jackie Cochran: First Woman to Break Sound Barrier (1953)

A pioneering American aviator, Cochran was the first woman to break the sound barrier and, in 1961, to fly at twice that speed. She was also the first woman to fly in the Bendix transcontinental race, which she won in 1938, a few years after her initial attempt. During WWII, she trained female transport pilots in the British and US Air Force auxiliaries and became the first woman to pilot a bomber across the Atlantic. A successful entrepreneur, Cochran learned to fly to promote her line of what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Haiti Flag and University Day

National unity is a primary theme of Flag and University Day in Haiti, an independence celebration and an occasion to recognize the country’s educational system. Flag Day became an annual celebration shortly after Catherine Flon sewed the first red and blue flag in 1803, a year before Haiti won its independence from France. The government incorporated University Day as part of the celebration in 1919. Haitians wave flags throughout the day’s parades and fairs, which take place throughout Haiti as well as in New York and Miami, two cities with large Haitian communities. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Omar Khayyám (1048)

Khayyám was a Persian poet, mathematician, and astronomer. The details of his life are mostly conjectural, but he is known to have been a celebrated mathematician of his time. Yet, he is now best known for his Rubaiyat, a collection of epigrammatic verse quatrains whose hedonism often masks serious metaphysical reflections. It was little known in Europe until Edward FitzGerald’s loose English translations were published in 1859. What does the name Khayyám indicate about his lineage? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Pizza

Pizza is a baked pie of Italian origin consisting of a shallow breadlike crust covered with toppings such as seasoned tomato sauce and cheese, and often peppers, sausage, and mushrooms. Popular throughout the world, pizza is now a symbol of cultural variation. In Brazil, pizzas may be topped with chocolate; in South Korea, sweet potato puree is popular; in Scotland, the “pizza supper” consists of French fries and a deep-fried frozen pizza. What toppings are popular in Sweden? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary