Word of the day
- tenacious November 21, 2024Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 21, 2024 is: tenacious • \tuh-NAY-shus\ • adjective Something described as tenacious cannot easily be stopped or pulled part; in other words, it is firm or strong. Tenacious can also describe something—such as a myth—that continues or persists for a long time, or someone who is determined to […]Merriam-Webster
Widget not in any sidebars
On This Day
Skip to
Temple:
Mercury’s temple in Rome was situated in the Circus Maximus, between the Aventine and Palatine hills, and was built in 495 BC.[12]
That year saw disturbances at Rome between the patrician senators and the plebeians, which led to a secession of the plebs in the following year. At the completion of its construction, a dispute emerged between the consuls Appius Claudius Sabinus Regillensis and Publius Servilius Priscus Structus as to which of them should have the honour of dedicating the temple. The senate referred the decision to the popular assembly, and also decreed that whichever was chosen should also exercise additional duties, including presiding over the markets, establish a merchants’ guild, and exercising the functions of the pontifex maximus. The people, because of the ongoing public discord, and in order to spite the senate and the consuls, instead awarded the honour of dedicating the temple to the senior military officer of one of the legions named Marcus Laetorius. The senate and the consuls, in particular the conservative Appius, were outraged at this decision, and it inflamed the ongoing situation.[13]
The dedication occurred on 15 May, 495 BC.[14]
The temple was regarded as a fitting place to worship a swift god of trade and travel, since it was a major center of commerce as well as a racetrack. Since it stood between the plebeian stronghold on the Aventine and the patrician center on the Palatine, it also emphasized the role of Mercury as a mediator.[citation needed]
Born On This Day
1689 – Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, English author and playwright (d. 1762)
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (baptised 26 May 1689 – 21 August 1762) (née Pierrepont) was an English aristocrat, letter writer and poet. Lady Mary is today chiefly remembered for her letters, particularly her letters from travels to the Ottoman Empire, as wife to the British ambassador to Turkey, which have been described by Billie Melman as “the very first example of a secular work by a woman about the Muslim Orient”.[1] Aside from her writing, Lady Mary is also known for introducing and advocating for smallpox inoculation to Britain after her return from Turkey. Her writings address and challenge the hindering contemporary social attitudes towards women and their intellectual and social growth.
Read more ->
FYI
Thomas Kennerly Wolfe Jr. (March 2, 1930 – May 14, 2018)[1] was an American author and journalist, best known for his association with and influence in stimulating the New Journalism, in which literary techniques are used extensively.
He began his career as a regional newspaper reporter in the 1950s, but achieved national prominence in the 1960s following the publication of such best-selling books as The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (a highly experimental account of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters), and two collections of articles and essays, Radical Chic & Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers and The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby. In 1979, he published the influential book The Right Stuff about the Mercury Seven astronauts, which was made into a 1983 film of the same name directed by Philip Kaufman.
His first fiction novel, The Bonfire of the Vanities, published in 1987, was met with critical acclaim, and also became a commercial success. It was adapted as a major motion picture of the same name, directed by Brian De Palma.
By Erik Shilling: Tom Wolfe’s New Journalism Started With A Story About Cars
By George Dvorsky: Australian Badass Sets Speed Record for Climbing Tallest Mountain on Every Continent
By Heather Chapman: Fewer U.S. workers are using prescription opioids, but more are using cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana
Click here for a handy guide for journalists on how to cover rising meth use, from Journalist’s Resource at Harvard University.
By Katie Lemons: 18 Work at Home Jobs for Moms (Well-Paid, Flexible and Fun)
By David Murphy: How to ‘AirDrop’ Between Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android Devices
By Katie Rife: Queen will, Queen will rock you in the Bohemian Rhapsody trailer
By Patrick Allen: Dig Up Dinosaurs at These Family-Friendly Paleontology Sites
Misleading headline?
By Larry Robertson: Jeff Bezos to workers everywhere: You’ll all work for Amazon soon
By Glenn Fleishman: Building the next great coffee company from the grounds up
Atlas Obscura: ACHARNES, GREECE Royal Ruins This abandoned 10,000-acre estate was the summer palace of the now defunct Greek monarchy. Mothers Lie Best We asked readers to send us the most outlandish white lies their mothers ever told them. Turns out moms are telling a lot of the same outrageous fibs. Swimming Suffragists In the 1910s, women swimmers in America and England began creating leagues of their own that pushed for new freedom for women’s bodies. More ->
Open Culture DC: Get the History of the World in 46 Lectures, Courtesy of Columbia University
Widget not in any sidebars
wikimedia
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for November 21 November 21, 2024Picture of the day This technical illustration shows early hot air balloon designs. The first untethered manned hot air balloon flight was performed by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes on this day in 1783.
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for November 20 November 20, 2024Picture of the day A man in a boat at Ratargul Swamp Forest, Bangladesh
Recipes
By A. E. Dwyer: How to make perfect fried rice (and I mean perfect)
By LiorS5: Molecular Gastronomy Cocktails
Widget not in any sidebars
Widget not in any sidebars
Widget not in any sidebars