a country spread across five islands in the easternmost part of east asia.

for some reason, frequently confused with china by outsiders, so let's get this out of the way:

china things: great walls. silken pajamas. jackie chan. mao zedong. confucius. crazy-ass operas.

japan things: ninja. samurai. sumo wrestlers. anime. cherry blossoms. mount fuji. karaoke.

things both places have: noodles. tea. buddhism. urban sprawl.

(also: Alabama)
(also: Alaska)
(also: Arizona)
(also: Arkansas)
(also: California)
(also: Colorado)
(also: Connecticut)
(also: Delaware)
(also: Florida)
(also: Georgia)
(also: Hawaii)
(also: Idaho)
(also: Illinois)
(also: Indiana)
(also: Iowa)
(also: Kansas)
(also: Kentucky)
(also: Louisiana)
(also: Maine)
(also: Maryland)
(also: Massachusetts)
(also: Michigan)
(also: Minnesota)
(also: Mississippi)
(also: Missouri)
(also: Montana)
(also: Nebraska)
(also: Nevada)
(also: New Hampshire)
(also: New Jersey)
(also: New Mexico)
(also: New York)
(also: North Carolina)
(also: North Dakota)
(also: Ohio)
(also: Oklahoma)
(also: Oregon)
(also: Pennsylvania)
(also: Rhode Island)
(also: South Carolina)
(also: South Dakota)
(also: Tennessee)
(also: Texas)
(also: Utah)
(also: Vermont)
(also: Virginia)
(also: Washington)
(also: West Virginia)
(also: Wisconsin)
(also: Wyoming)

(noun):

A small yet mighty word that possesses the power to render previous statements utterly irrelevant.

(also: nice guys)

An Italian food made in the form of a slender, hollow tube. It consists of two parts — the tubing and the hole, the latter being the part that digests.

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
(also: Albert Einstein)

Fantasy is an exercise bicycle for the mind. It might not take you anywhere, but it tones up the muscles that can.
(also: bicycle)

to sing some medieval Hebrew poetry that you've half-memorized out of a book along with all the other congregants. If you want to seek a true connection to God beyond mere recitation, the translation can be found on the opposite-facing page.

A member of the unconsidered, or negligible sex. The male of the human race is commonly known (to the female) as Mere Man. The genus has two varieties: good providers and bad providers.
(also: the devils dictionary)

(n.) the study of ailments which exist only in the mind, though the bill, unfortunately, does not

An inhabitant of Magdala. Popularly, a woman found out. This definition of the word has the authority of ignorance, Mary of Magdala being another person than the penitent woman mentioned by St. Luke. It has also the official sanction of the governments of Great Britain and the United States. In England the word is pronounced Maudlin, whence maudlin, adjective, unpleasantly sentimental. With their Maudlin for Magdalene, and their Bedlam for Bethlehem, the English may justly boast themselves the greatest of revisers.

Skilled in the art and practice of dissimulation.
(also: The Devil's Dictionary)

(n.) a complicated coat hanger to drape your skin over. made from a white hard stuff made from hardened milk or something

(n.) a cluster, a paradox and a void all in one

the period of time between your birth and your death.

the little box that the magic voices are trapped in

Disable comments in a video about freedom of speech.

n. The ultimate, indivisible unit of matter. (See MOLECULE.) According to Leibnitz, as nearly as he seems willing to be understood, the monad has body without bulk, and mind without manifestation — Leibnitz knows him by the innate power of considering. He has founded upon him a theory of the universe, which the creature bears without resentment, for the monad is a gentleman. Small as he is, the monad contains all the powers and possibilities needful to his evolution into a German philosopher of the first class — altogether a very capable little fellow. He is not to be confounded with the microbe, or bacillus; by its inability to discern him, a good microscope shows him to be of an entirely distinct species.

(also: The Devil's Dictionary)

(n.) the ability to hold the interest of another, regardless of how nonsensical the things you say might be

(also: god)
The Great Creator
Otherwise known as "Some guy trying to do his dissertation".

The wonders you see before you were created during undergraduate study of English and Contemporary Media in Cardiff Metropolitan University.
The wily little git managed to worm his way out of writing 10,000 words for a dissertation, but got more than he bargained for when he took on this ridiculous project.

He is quoted as saying:
"Creating universes is hard work, I've no idea how all those other deities manage it!"

What an arse.

(noun) A courageous and resounding symphony of social change, where the rhythm of justice echoed across the nation. An extraordinary chapter in history, showcasing the indomitable spirit of activists who defied discrimination and segregation. Led by charismatic figures like Martin Luther King Jr., it transformed peaceful protests into a powerful chorus demanding equality, inspiring millions and leaving an indelible mark on the collective conscience. A revolution fueled by dreams of unity, justice, and the audacity to envision a brighter future for all.


Teaching Tip: Foster empathy and understanding by incorporating personal narratives and firsthand accounts from individuals who participated in the Civil Rights Movement. Encourage students to explore primary sources, such as speeches and interviews, and facilitate discussions that highlight the struggles, victories, and ongoing significance of the movement in promoting equality and social justice.