Glossary

by Rachel Ropella

Billy Graham: (1918-2018) An ordained Southern Baptist minister who gained national attention with his broadcasted sermons. Before he passed, Graham was vocally against the LGBTQIA+ marriage amendment in the US.

Cardamom: A spice which has a gingery, aromatic flavor made from the seed pods of the Cardamom plant. Cardamom is a popular seasoning for curries and pastries.

Cat Stevens: (1948-) A British singersongwriter who plays multiple instruments. The music genres of his albums range from folk to rock to Islamic music.

Chick-fil-A: An American fast food chain that is known for its fried chicken. Many of the company's values (such as restaurants closing on Sundays) are influenced by the religious beliefs of its founder, S. Truett Cathy, who was a Southern Baptist. Chick-fil-A has faced significant controversy in the past decade as they have donated over $5 million to antiLGBTQIA+ groups.

Dogwood: A type of flowering tree that is native to eastern North America and northern Mexico; its blossoms vary in color, including yellow, white, and pink.

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: A western TV drama, starring Jane Seymor as Dr. Michaela Quinn. Dr. Quinn heads west and settles in Colorado during the 1860s, convincing the town that women can practice medicine and eventually finding romance over the course of the show’s six seasons.

Elephant ear: A flat disc of fried dough, fried and is dusted with cinnamon and sugar. Elephant ears have been a staple treat sold at many state fairs and carnivals in America since the early 1900s.

Food Lion: An American regional grocery store chain that was founded in North Carolina and has stores located across the Southeast.

Goa: A popular tourist destination within the country of India known for its sandy beaches, seafood, and the annual Goa Carnival festival.

ISIS: Also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS is a militant jihadist group who was extremely active in the 2010s as they made significant territorial gains in Iraq and Syria. International efforts to hinder the group led to its decline, with Syria and Iraq considering ISIS effectively defeated at the end of 2017.

Jackie O: A shortened nickname that the public gave Jacqueline Onassis, who was the wife of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. Known for her sense of fashion, her oversized, circular sunglasses were called "Jackie O. glasses" by the press.

Jezebel: A US-based website that launched in 2007 and features news and personal essays geared towards an audience seeking feminist cultural criticism. Jezebel is also a Phoenician royal in the Bible who has come to signify a power-hungry, violent, and sensual woman.

Marzipan: A sweet that consists primarily of sugar, honey, and almond meal. Marzipan can be molded and turned into edible figures of animals or fruits.

Maxwell House: An American brand of coffee that was first introduced in 1892, it was the most common and highest-selling coffee brand in the United States through the 80s.

Party City: An American chain of stores that sells party supplies such as balloons and decor for different occasions.

Richard Dawkins: (1941-) A British evolutionary biologist and writer whose 1976 book, The Selfish Gene, helped popularize a gene-centered view of evolution in biology. Dawkins is also well known for his criticisms against creationist theory and identifies as an atheist.

Russell Stover: An American manufacturer of chocolate and other candies that are popular for holidays, it was founded by chemist Russell Stover and his wife in 1923.

Socrates: (470 BCE-399 BCE) An Ancient Greek philosopher who spoke about and studied the questions of ethics. Well known for being the teacher of Plato and Aristotle, he was sentenced to death by poison at age 70 for challenging Athens's concept of democracy.

Speedrooter: Built by the company General Wires, the Speedrooter is an electric drain auger that helps unclog and clean drains and pipes by using a rotating drill bit to dislodge any clogs in a plumbing system.

Splenda: An American brand that makes sucralose, an artificial, low-calorie sweetener that is 600 times sweeter than normal sugar. Known for its packaging in little yellow packets, Splenda is commonly found in restaurants and diners.

Swiss roll: A dessert made from a sponge cake that is rolled and filled with cream, jam, or frosting and then is either covered in chocolate or dusted with powdered sugar.

The Birdcage: An 1996 American comedy film starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, adapted from La Cage aux Folles, a 1973 French farce by Jean Poiret. In the film, Val, the son of openly gay Armand and his partner Albert, brings his fiancée's ultraconservative parents over for dinner but tries to hide his family’s true identities.

Yelp: A website and phone app that allows customers across the globe to publish reviews about businesses they visit, helping generate recommendations with their rating system out of five stars.