Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, March 19, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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nickelodeon
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Quotation MarksQuotation marks are most commonly used to indicate the exact words that someone else said. This is known as direct speech or direct quotation. What are the two forms of quotation marks? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Bayeux TapestryThe Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidered cloth that chronicles the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Annotated in Latin, the 230-ft (70-m) long tapestry focuses on the Norman leader, William the Conqueror, and his victory over the English. It presents a singular visual document of medieval arms, apparel, and other objects from the period, however, its origins and depictions have been subject to much speculation. What are some of the mysteries associated with the tapestry? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Nevada Legalizes Gambling (1931)Though unregulated gambling had been common in early Nevada mining towns, it was outlawed in 1909, and for many years, the state's economy was carried by mining. However, with the mining industry in decline amid the Great Depression, state lawmakers agreed to re-legalize gambling in order to strengthen the state's finances. Today, the state economy is dominated by tourism and gaming. Nevada has the unusually high ratio of approximately one hotel room to how many state residents? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Sir Richard Frances Burton (1821)Burton lived a life of adventure and scandal as an explorer, translator, fencer, ethnologist, poet, and spy. He spoke at least 25 languages and put these skills to use translating works like the Arabian Nights and Kama Sutra into English. His linguistic skills also helped him pass himself off as a Muslim so that he could visit the forbidden holy cities of Mecca and Medina. After he died, his wife burned 40 years' worth of his diaries. What caused the distinctive scars on his face? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Be so true to thyself as thou be not false to others.Francis Bacon (1561-1626) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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make (oneself or something) ready (for someone or something)— To become or make something prepared for something or someone. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 St. Joseph's Day (2018)In Valencia, Spain, the feast of the foster-father of Jesus is a week-long festival called Fallas de San Jose (Bonfires of St. Joseph). On St. Joseph's Eve, March 18, fallas—huge floats of intricate scenes made of wood and papier-mâché, satirizing everything from the high cost of living to political personalities—parade through the streets. At midnight on March 19, the celebration ends with the spectacular ceremony known as the crema, when all the fallas are set on fire. The festival is said to reflect the happy and satirical nature of the Valencians. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: proveprobe, prove, probable - Latin probare, "approve, prove, test," is the source of English probe and prove. From that came Latin probabilis, "provable," which became English probable. More... sooth, soothsayer, soothe - Sooth, "true, truth," or "that which is," is part of soothsayer; it is related to soothe, which once meant "assent to be true; say yes to," or "to prove or show a fact to be true." More... approve - Its original sense was "prove, demonstrate." More... rebut, refute - To rebut a statement is to offer clear evidence or a reasoned argument against it; to refute a statement is to prove it wrong (neither means "contradict" or "deny"). More... | |
| In the News | |
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Global Warming Study Has Scientists Concerned about Shrinking MammalsA new Science Advances study linking the shrinking of mammals and global warming as Earth's carbon dioxide levels rise has researchers keeping a close eye on the issue. The study, published Wednesday, March 15, reports global warming has reduced the size of ... More... | |