For those about to read Antigone (and anyone else interested), there’s a new quiz in the long-neglected quiz section, covering our introduction to Greek drama, and the broad arc of the story of Oedipus. If you’ve never taken one of these before, you’ll have to register first, but it’s pretty painless, and I won’t sell or trade any personal information. … 

We ran across this tidbit in The Travels and Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen in our readings in class: Just as I put my foot upon the ground a large bear leaped upon me with his fore-paws; I caught one in each hand, and squeezed him until he cried most lustily; however, in this position I held him until he starved … 

Merriam-Webster has published its Words of the Year for 2004—a list of the top 10 online searches at Merriam-Webster Online. The #1 searched-for word for 2004? “Blog.” Huh. (Being so popular and all, M‑W has restricted this definition to its subscription-only section, so I’ve linked it up to Dictionary.com, instead. :ponder:) Clocking in at #10 was “defenestration,” a word evidently …