Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, September 28, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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plainsong
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Con Man Matthew CoxA number of years before he was placed on the US Secret Service's Most Wanted List, bold con man Matthew Cox wrote a novel detailing the exploits of a man who travels across America committing many of the crimes for which Cox himself is currently incarcerated. Cox used approximately 30 aliases in his real life criminal pursuits, including the name of cartoon millionaire C. Montgomery Burns, and acquired between $5 million and $25 million in fraudulent property mortgaging deals. How did he do it? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Paddington Tram Depot Fire (1962)In 1962, the Paddington Tram Depot in Brisbane, Australia, and 65 of its trams were destroyed in one of the largest fires in the city's history. The strain that the destruction put on local transportation resources is generally considered to have brought about the beginning of the end for Brisbane's tram system, which closed in 1969. After the fire, parts were salvaged from the destroyed trams and incorporated into new ones. What mythical creature adorns the trams bearing the salvaged parts? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Ed Sullivan (1901)Famed American TV host Ed Sullivan started out as a journalist and gossip columnist but was hired by CBS to host the variety program that eventually became The Ed Sullivan Show because of his talent for discovering interesting performers. The program, featuring diverse entertainment, became a national institution for over 20 years, while Sullivan's terse introductions of guests and distinctive mannerisms made him a popular target for comedians. What acts were banned from Sullivan's show? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate and replace the savage races throughout the world.Charles Darwin (1809-1882) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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have a handle on (something)— To have a firm, clear understanding or determination of something. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Confucius's Birthday (2016)This is a time to commemorate the birth of the teacher Confucius, perhaps the most influential man in China's history. In Qufu, Shandong Province, China, the birthplace of Confucius, there is a two-week-long Confucian Culture Festival. During the Cultural Revolution in the late 1960s, Red Guards defaced many of the buildings in Qufu. They have since been restored, and the festival held there attracts scholars from China and abroad. The festival opens with a ceremony accompanied by ancient music and dance and includes exhibitions and lectures on the life and teachings of Confucius. More... | |
| In the News | |
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Did the Vikings Help Distribute Cats around the World?Cats have been constant companions to humanity for thousands of years. Yet scientists know remarkably little about their origins and their spread across the world. Finally, the veil of mystery around the origins and spread of ancient cats is beginning to lift. The ... More... | |