September 30, 2007
cirque
DEFINITION: (noun) A steep bowl-shaped hollow occurring at the upper end of a mountain valley, especially one forming the head of a glacier or stream.
SYNONYMS: corrie, cwm.
USAGE: We followed the stream up the incline until we reached the cirque that was its source.
Pankration
Pankration, as practiced in the ancient world, combined the techniques of boxing and wrestling in a no holds barred fighting sport. According to Greek mythology, the sport was created by Hercules and Theseus. It was introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BCE, and a similar form of the sport, called mixed martial arts, is still practiced today. Pankration was not simply a sport; it formed the basis of combat training for Greek soldiers. In what ways did it resemble oriental martial arts?European Vote to Determine Fate of Creationism
This week, the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly will review a resolution proposing that European schools resist teaching creationism, the belief that God created the world in 6 days, and intelligent design, the theory that a higher intelligence helped some life forms develop, in school science classes. If passed, the resolution would not be binding on the Council's 47 member states, it would merely reflect the widespread political opposition to teaching these disciplines as science.September 28, 2007
paunch
DEFINITION: (noun) A protruding abdomen.
SYNONYMS: belly.
USAGE: Jim's bride was an excellent cook, and after only a few weeks of marriage, he began to develop a significant paunch.
The Nord Stream
The Nord Stream pipeline is a planned natural gas pipeline that will run from Russia to Northern Germany across the Baltic Sea. Russian and German officials claim that the pipeline will lead to economic savings by bypassing transit countries and avoiding transit-fees, but environmentalists fear that it might dislodge toxic material dumped on the Baltic seabed. German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was a major proponent of the pipeline project. Why are his activities now being scrutinized?September 27, 2007
piddling
DEFINITION: (adjective) So trifling or trivial as to be beneath one's consideration.
SYNONYMS: trivial, petty, fiddling, footling, niggling, picayune, piffling, lilliputian, little.
USAGE: Because she had only invested a piddling sum of money, she was not worried about the stock's poor performance.
Thomas Nast
Nast, a US caricaturist and cartoonist, is considered the father of American political cartooning. During the Civil War, Harper's Weekly published the first of Nast's serious political cartoons. His stylized, clever, and forceful illustrations attracted much attention and earned accolades from President Lincoln. His cartoons were also instrumental in breaking up the corrupt NYC Tweed Ring. Nast revived the use of what symbols in his depictions of the US Democratic and Republican parties?Chemical Burns
A chemical burn occurs when living tissue is exposed to any of 6 types of chemical substance. Acids, bases, oxidizers, solvents, and reducing agents can all cause chemical burns without the presence of a heat source. Burns may occur right away, though they may not be immediately evident. Symptoms include itching, bleaching or darkening of the skin, burning sensations, trouble breathing, and tissue necrosis. Why are poison control centers an important resource for burn victims?September 26, 2007
camion
DEFINITION: (noun) A low heavy horse cart without sides; used for haulage.
SYNONYMS: dray.
USAGE: An empty camion came bumping down the cobblestone street, pulled by two exhausted horses.
The Ming Dynasty
The Ming dynasty ruled over China from 1368-1644. The 1st Ming emperor, Chu Yüan-chang, had been a Buddhist monk before joining a rebellion, gaining control of it, and overthrowing the Mongol Yüan dynasty. Chu Yüan-chang effectively unified China, setting up a strong centralized government and instituting economic recovery programs. Despite these political modifications, the dynasty never set up a viable tax policy and always struggled financially. What was the purpose of the Jinyi Wei?- » About
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