Albert Einstein (1879)

Einstein was an intellectual giant of the 20th century whose name has become synonymous with genius. Recognized as one of the greatest physicists of all time, Einstein made countless important contributions to physics, including his theories of relativity, which profoundly revolutionized scientific and philosophical inquiry. In 1921, he received the Nobel Prize for his work on theoretical physics. Though he sought it for decades, Einstein never discovered a unified field theory, which is what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Seamus Heaney

Heaney is an Irish poet, writer, and lecturer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995. His carefully crafted poetry has been praised for its powerful imagery, meaningful content, musical phrasing, and compelling rhythms. Focused on “the local,” he often writes about the disappearing world of unspoiled rural Ireland and hints at the sectarian violence of the north where he was born. In 1999, he published a highly regarded verse translation of what epic poem? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Operation Northwoods Proposed (1962)

Operation Northwoods was a plan proposed by the US Department of Defense to generate public support for military action against the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. To this end, it recommended staging acts of simulated or real terrorism and violence on US soil or against US interests and then placing the blame on Cuba. The plan, which was not implemented, was drafted by senior US defense leaders and signed by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Who made the secret document public? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Kasuga Matsuri

The Kasuga Shrine in Nara is one of the most beautiful and ancient in Japan. Every year on March 13, a festival is held there with elaborate ceremonies and performances that recall the shrine’s heyday. The hiki-uma horse ceremony, where a sacred horse is led in procession through the streets, and the elegant Yamato-mai dance performed by Shinto women are reminiscent of the culture and customs of the Nara and Heian Eras. Construction of the Kasuga Shrine was started during the Nara period (710-784) and was completed in the first years of the Heian period (794-1185). Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764)

Charles Grey was a British statesman elected to Parliament in 1786 at the age of 22. He went on to become one of the leaders of the Whig party and eventually served as prime minister from 1830–34. His tenure saw the passage of the Reform Bill of 1832, which reshaped the parliamentary representative system, and the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire. He is perhaps best remembered as the namesake of the Earl Grey blend of tea. What once knocked the head off a statue of him? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Anna Anderson

Anna Anderson was the best known of several women claiming to be Grand Duchess Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, believed to have been executed with her family after the Russian Revolution. Anderson first claimed to be Anastasia after a failed suicide attempt in 1920, which led to a protracted court case involving a long line of people who had known the real Anastasia. DNA tests in the 1990s revealed what about the claim’s legitimacy? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary