M-W's Word of the Year

Merriam Webster has released its 2020 Word of the Year, and it will probably not surprise you that it is  pandemic. What might surprise you, though, are the other words on the list, including kraken and malarkey. I recommend following Merriam Webster on social media--they are extraordinary at commenting on daily events through vocabulary!

Honoring Our Veterans

This organization features interviews with current and former members of the Armed Services. Hear their experiences in their own words, and in their own voices. 

Today's The Day!

 

Hallowe'en During a Pandemic (No, not this one)

What did Hallowe'en look like during the 1918 influenza outbreak? Hint: Jollification was frowned upon. Read more about it here.

Read, Then Vote!

The New York Public Library has released a reading list for teens to help prepare you for the upcoming election.  There are also lists for kids and adults. Each list can be filtered by topic of interest. 

National Book Festival

The annual National Book Festival starts tomorrow, and this year it is completely virtual, giving you an opportunity, without leaving your couch,  to hear from authors like Leigh Bardugo, Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi, Saeed Jones, Bill and Melinda Gates, and many more. For all events and livestreams, go to www.loc.gov/bookfest. 

Constitution Day 2020

 On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia for the last time to sign and ratify the Constitution for the United States of America. (Notice the British spelling of defence.)  New York had one representative--Alexander Hamilton. Here are the famous words of the preamble:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.