Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, February 5, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Middle VoiceThe so-called middle voice is an approximate type of grammatical voice in which the subject both performs and receives the action expressed by the verb. Middle voice and active voice use the same verb structure in a sentence, so how can we distinguish between the two? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Rose WindowsThese circular windows, often found in medieval churches and Gothic architecture, are generally ornamented with stained glass and stone tracery laid out in round, radiating, shaft patterns. Since the pattern often resembles a rose with radiating petals, the term “rose window” is often misattributed to the flower; in fact, the 17th century name likely stems from the Old French word roué, meaning wheel. What role did the crusaders play in the spread of this decorative window style? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Morecambe Bay Cockling Disaster (2004)At low tide, the sand flats of England's Morecambe Bay are rich in cockles, or edible saltwater clams. However, gathering them can be dangerous, as the bay is subject to treacherous, fast-moving tides. In 2004, 23 Chinese immigrants who had been at work collecting cockles on the sand flats drowned after becoming trapped by the incoming tide. The leader of the group was later convicted of manslaughter for failing to warn them about the tide. Whose attempt to warn them unfortunately went unheeded? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Belle Starr (1848)Though her only criminal conviction was for the theft of a horse, Starr associated with numerous criminals throughout her life and was portrayed after her death as a notorious American outlaw, earning the nickname "the Bandit Queen." Two of her husbands were killed in the course of their respective criminal careers, and days before her 41st birthday, Starr herself was ambushed and shot in the back as she returned to her Oklahoma ranch. Her murder was never solved. Who were some of the suspects? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 I count religion but a childish toy, and hold there is no sin but ignorance.Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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lose (one's) faith (in something or someone)— To stop believing (in someone or something); to become disillusioned, embittered, or doubtful (about something or someone). (When said simply as "lose faith," it is often in reference to losing religious faith in God.) More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Birthday of Johan Runeberg (2018)Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804-1877) is widely regarded as Finland's greatest poet. Schools throughout Finland are closed on Runeberg's birthday. Busts and pictures of him are displayed in shop windows, particularly in Helsinki. A special ceremony is observed at Runeberg's monument in the Esplanade, where his statue is decorated with garlands of pine and spruce, suspended between four huge torches. At night the torches are lit, and lighted candles burn in the windows of houses and apartments. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: spendscabbage pounder - An inept golfer who spends a lot of time in the rough. More... carpet knight - A knight who spends his time in luxury and idleness—knighted on the carpet at court rather than on the field of battle. More... mouse potato - A person who spends too much time on the computer, patterned on couch potato. More... spendthrift - One who spends the "thrift" or earnings/wealth of another. More... | |
| In the News | |
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UK Scientists Given Go-Ahead to Genetically Modify Human EmbryosBritish scientists have been given the green light to genetically modify human embryos, for the first time in the nation's history. The landmark decision means scientists will now be allowed to alter the DNA of embryos, for research purposes only. It ... More... | |