Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, October 12, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining Viewpoint AdverbsViewpoint adverbs are often confused with evaluative adverbs. Although they are similar in form, and the specific adverbs used can overlap, the two actually serve different functions. While evaluative adverbs are used to give an opinion, viewpoint adverbs are used to indicate what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Gregorian CalendarThe Gregorian calendar is the most widely used dating system in the world. It replaced the Julian calendar in 1582, following a decree by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom it is named. In the Julian system, an inaccuracy in the measurement of the solar year caused the calendar dates of the seasons to regress almost one day per century. By Gregory's time, the Julian calendar was 10 days out of sync. To bring the vernal equinox—and thus Easter—back to its proper date, 10 days were dropped. Which ten? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 First Oktoberfest Held in Munich, Germany (1810)The first Oktoberfest was held as a horse race celebrating the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese von Saxony-Hildburghausen. In the years that followed, the race was combined with the state agricultural fair, and food and drink were offered. Since that time the 16-day festival has become, above all else, a celebration of German beer, drawing more than five million attendees annually. How many millions of liters of beer did Oktoberfest attendees consume in 2007? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Luciano Pavarotti (1935)Originally a schoolteacher, Pavarotti only began his vocal training in his 20s but nevertheless became one of the most successful tenors of all time. He made his professional debut in 1961 and then debuted at La Scala in 1965 and the Metropolitan Opera in 1968. A popular favorite, Pavarotti was noted for the rich and ringing clarity of his voice as well as for his immense personal charm. At the peak of his career, his concerts drew hundreds of thousands of attendees. Where did he last perform? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It is the fault of our science that it wants to explain all, and if it explain not, then it says there is nothing to explain.Bram Stoker (1847-1912) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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hit a brick wall— To come up against an immovable or insurmountable difficulty or obstacle. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Feast of the Virgin of the Pillar (2024)According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to St. James the Apostle when he was in Saragossa (Zaragoza), Spain. She spoke to him from the top of a pillar, which he interpreted as a sign that he should build a chapel where the column stood. The Feast of the Virgin of the Pillar is observed with special masses and processions, such as the Gigantes—giant cardboard and canvas figures representing Spanish kings and queens or famous literary and historical figures—and the cabezudos, or "big heads"—grotesque puppets with huge heads. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: keyboardfallboard - The hinged protective covering that protects the keyboard of a piano when it is not being played. More... finger board - The part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone—as well as the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc. More... home key - The home key is either of two keys on a keyboard acting as the base position for one's fingers in touch-typing (left F, right J). More... octothorpe - The pound key on a keyboard or keypad is technically an octothorpe. More... | |