The German Assembly Adopts the Weimar Constitution
July 31, 2008
Written immediately after WWI, the Weimar constitution was the document that governed the short-lived Weimar Republic of Germany. According to the document, the nation was to be a federal republic, governed by a president and parliament. This was a strong attempt to establish a liberal democracy in Germany, but it occurred during a time of civil conflict and failed with the ascent of the Nazi Party in 1933. How did Hitler manage to subvert …
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The German Assembly Adopts the Weimar Constitution
J.K. Rowling
July 31, 2008
Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter book series, which has been credited with sparking an interest in reading at a time when children were thought to be abandoning books. She parlayed the series into a global brand, including the popular movie adaptations, worth an estimated $15 billion. All seven volumes of the series have broken sales records, and the last four have been the fastest-selling books in history. Where was the story first conceived?
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J.K. Rowling
Escape from Stalag Luft III
July 31, 2008
Stalag Luft III was a German prisoner-of-war camp in Poland during WWII that at one time housed some 10,000 allied airmen. It is best known for the 1944 tunneling escape immortalized …
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Escape from Stalag Luft III
ferment
July 31, 2008
DEFINITION: (noun) A state of agitation or turbulent change or development.
SYNONYMS: agitation, fermentation, tempestuousness, unrest.
USAGE: In 1789 a ferment arises in Paris; it grows, spreads, and is expressed by a movement of peoples from west to east.
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ferment
Hearing Loss Widespread in US
July 31, 2008
Researchers are concerned that Americans may be facing an “epidemic” of hearing loss. The data show that one in six, or approximately 29 million, adults have a degree of speech-frequency hearing loss, and some 55 million Americans have experienced high-frequency hearing loss in either one or both ears. Those numbers are expected to rise significantly in the coming years. While the aging population will play a role in the surge, experts also believe that the increased use of personal listening devices, such as iPods and mp3 …
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Hearing Loss Widespread in US
Jimmy Hoffa Disappears From a Detroit Parking Lot
July 30, 2008
Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), was an influential US labor leader. As a young man, Hoffa developed …
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Jimmy Hoffa Disappears From a Detroit Parking Lot
Arnold Schwarzenegger
July 30, 2008
This Austrian-born bodybuilder won the first of his five Mr. Universe titles in 1967 and went on to become a Hollywood action star. An increasingly active Republican during the 1990s, he was elected governor of California in 2003. Schwarzenegger ran for re-election in 2006 and, despite the numerous criticisms of his first term, defeated Democrat Phil Angelides. Why did Austrian politician Peter Pilz demand that Schwarzenegger be stripped of his Austrian citizenship?
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Catacombs of Paris
July 30, 2008
The Catacombs of Paris are a network of subterranean tunnels and rooms located in Roman-era limestone quarries that were converted into a mass tomb at the end of the 18th century to curb the spread of disease due to improper burials and mass graves. Today, only a small portion of the catacombs, which span more than 186 miles, is open to the public, but many enter them illegally via secret entrances found throughout Paris. What is the name of the special police force that patrols the catacombs?
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The Catacombs of Paris
acerbic
July 30, 2008
DEFINITION: (adjective) Sharp or biting, as in character or expression.
SYNONYMS: blistering, caustic, acid, vitriolic, acerb, acrid, sulfurous, virulent, bitter.
USAGE: The comedienne’s acerbic wit drew laughs from the crowd, though some found her jokes offensive.
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acerbic
Killer Countertops?
July 30, 2008
As the sleek look of granite has gained popularity in modern kitchens, the range of available varieties has grown to include a number of exotic samples. However, some experts now fear that the growing trend may have serious health implications. Granite contains small amounts of the radioactive element uranium, which releases radon gas—a known carcinogen—as it decays. While experts are divided on the actual danger the radon emitted by kitchen countertops poses, some …
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Killer Countertops?
