Courrières Mine Disaster (1906)

The Courrières mine disaster, the worst mining accident in European history, killed 1,099 miners in Northern France. It is generally agreed that the majority of the deaths and destruction were caused by an explosion of dust which swept through the mine, however, it has never been ascertained what caused the coal dust to ignite in the first place. A group of 13 trapped survivors, later known as the rescapés, was found by rescuers 20 days after the explosion. How had they survived? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Fairbanks Winter Carnival

The Winter Carnival is a week of festivities in Fairbanks, Alaska, highlighted by sled dog races. The carnival opens with the two-day Limited North American Sled Dog Race, and concludes, on the last two days, with the Open North American Sled Dog Race. Other events include dances, a parka parade, a campstove chili contest, a native potlatch, snow- and ice-sculpting contests, snowshoe races and softball, musical and dramatic presentations, and a trade fair. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Chuck Norris (1940)

Carlos “Chuck” Norris is an American martial artist and action star best known for his titular role on the television series Walker, Texas Ranger. After serving in the US Air Force, Norris became a martial arts champion and an actor, starring in many action films. In 2005, Norris became the subject of an Internet phenomenon known as “Chuck Norris Facts,” which document fictional, often absurdly heroic feats and characteristics about him. Which “fact” is reportedly Norris’s favorite? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Piña Coladas

The Piña Colada is a sweet cocktail made of rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice blended with crushed ice and typically garnished with a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry. Its name means “strained pineapple” in Spanish. Several bartenders claim ownership of the drink, which was created in Puerto Rico and has been the country’s official beverage since 1978. There are many variations on the cocktail, such as the coconut-free “Staten Island Ferry,” and the “Lava Flow,” which contains what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations Is Published (1776)

Published in 1776, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations is the magnum opus of Scottish economist Adam Smith. It is a clearly written account of political economy at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution and is considered the first modern work in the field of economics. In it, Smith postulates the theory of the division of labor and emphasizes that value arises from the labor expended in the process of production. What was Smith’s concept of “the invisible hand”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Forty Martyrs’ Day

The “Forty Martyrs of Sebaste” were Roman soldiers quartered in Armenia in 320 CE; they are greatly revered in the Eastern Orthodox Church. In Greece, special foods are prepared, such as cake with 40 layers of pastry and stew with 40 herbs. In Romania, little cakes called sfintisori (“little mints”) are baked and given to and received from every passerby. Coliva is also traditional. Farm tools are readied for work, and hearth ashes are spread around the cottage to keep the serpent from entering. (Each home is said to have a serpent protecting it). Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov (1890)

A leading figure in Soviet government from the 1920s until 1957, Molotov rose to power as a protégé of Stalin. He was chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars from 1930–41 and foreign minister from 1939–49 and 1953–56. In the early days of World War II, he negotiated a treaty with Germany, but after the 1941 invasion of Russia, he worked to strengthen ties with the West. Why is the Molotov cocktail, a makeshift bomb made of a breakable container filled with flammable liquid, named for him? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Gates of Tashkent

The Gates of Tashkent were built around the town of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in the 10th century. The last of the gates was destroyed in 1890, but several of the city’s districts still bear their names. The gates, which varied in number over time, served as fortifications for the original settlement located at the intersection of the Bozsuv canal and caravan routes from the Tien Shan Mountains. Who was in charge of protecting the wooden gates? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary