Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, May 3, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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inequity
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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ConjunctionsConjunctions are used to express relationships between things in a sentence, link different clauses together, and to combine sentences. There are four main types of conjunctions—what are they? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Polyphasic SleepModern convention dictates that a single, consolidated period of sleep in each 24-hour period is ideal for human adults, but, in fact, early humans were likely polyphasic sleepers, meaning they experienced several sleep-wake cycles daily. Nowadays, the latter sleep pattern is generally reserved for extreme situations. Still, there are those who advocate its regular use as a means of increasing productivity. Which American futurist reportedly spent two years taking just four 30-minute naps a day? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Post-War Japanese Constitution Goes into Effect (1947)The Constitution of Japan was drawn up under the Allied occupation that followed World War II. It replaced Japan's previous imperial system with a form of liberal democracy, which provides for a parliamentary system of government and guarantees human rights. Under its terms, Japan renounces the right to wage war, and the emperor exercises a purely ceremonial role, with the prime minister acting as the head of government. What amendments have been made to the constitution since its adoption? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Niccolò Machiavelli (1469)Machiavelli was a prominent Florentine author and statesman. He entered political service in 1498 and became acquainted with power politics through diplomatic missions, but he eventually fell out of favor and died embittered. His best-known work, The Prince, describes the means by which a leader may gain and maintain power. The adjective "Machiavellian" has since come to describe amoral cunning and justification by power. Did Machiavelli write the work as serious advice or as satire? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I've never been able to believe it. I don't believe a rose would be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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stack Z's— To get some sleep. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Hakata Dontaku (2022)The largest festival in Japan, Hakata Dontaku is held in Fukuoka City during Golden Week, the first week in May. The festival originated in the Muromachi Period (1333-1568) as a procession of the merchants of Hakata, an old section of Fukuoka City, paying their new year visit to the daimyo, or feudal lord. The festival highlight is a three-hour parade with legendary gods on horseback, floats, and musicians playing samisens (a three-stringed instrument similar to a guitar), flutes, and drums. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: replyriposte - A counterstroke, such as a snappy retort, from Italian riposta, "reply, response." More... antapology - The reply to an apology, such as "That's all right." More... irrespondence - People not answering your e-mails? That's irrespondence! (Failure to reply.) More... | |