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DEFINITION: (adjective) Marked by temperance in indulgence. SYNONYMS: light. USAGE: Though he ate abstemious meals, he never seemed hungry for snacks.

As First Lady of the Philippines from 1965-1986, Marcos helped shape social policies designed to assist the poor and develop the nation. Her personal excesses, however, became symbols of greed and indifference when the economy soured. Badly defeated in two presidential races, she was elected Congresswoman of Leyte in 1995, but was later convicted of corruption and extortion. Marcos became notorious for her shoe collection; how many pairs did she reportedly own?

In 1839, 53 African slaves being transported on the Spanish merchant ship La Amistad revolted against their captors. Though their transport to the US was illegal, when they arrived in New York they were declared salvage by the US Navy and taken to be sold as slaves. The ensuing widely publicized court cases helped propel the abolitionist movement. In 1842, the Africans finally returned home after a federal court ruled that they were not legally slaves. What is the meaning of "amistad?"

William "Captain" Kidd is often remembered as a notorious pirate, but the historical record evokes a more complex character. Kidd began his career as a privateer defending English ships from pirates in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Disease, mutiny, and failure to take prizes apparently caused him to turn to piracy. He was arrested in New York and taken to London, where he was tried on charges of piracy and murder. What was the result of the trial?

A new study conducted in the UK suggests that surveillance cameras may not always be necessary: images of eyes could be enough to keep people honest. A team of researchers at Newcastle University found that people buying drinks on the honor system put nearly 3 times as much money into an 'honesty box' when they were being 'watched' by a pair of eyes on a poster.