Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, January 10, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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nitty-gritty
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Quotation Marks and TitlesWe use italics or occasionally underlining to indicate the title of a complete body of creative work (such as a novel, music album, play, or film). In what instances do we use quotation marks to indicate a title? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Venerable BedeOfficially recognized as a saint in 1899, Bede (673?-735) was an English Benedictine monk who, from the age of seven, lived in monasteries and became probably the most learned man in Western Europe in his day. His writings, virtually a summary of the learning of his time, consist of theological, historical, and scientific treatises. He consulted many documents, discussed their reliability, and cited them as sources—highly unusual practices at the time. What dating method did he help popularize? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 London Underground Begins Operation (1863)The world's first subway line opened in London in 1863. It was 3.75 mi (6 km) long and soon carried tens of thousands of passengers each day—transporting 9.5 million in its first year. Initially steam-powered, the system first electrified some of its lines in 1890. By 1896, it was fully electrified. Today, the London Underground system is one of the largest in the world, with 256 mi (410 km) of track and 270 stations. What is the record for visiting them all in the shortest amount of time? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 George Edward Foreman (1949)A high school dropout, Foreman learned to box in the Job Corps. He won the Olympic heavyweight gold medal in 1968 and beat Joe Frazier for the world heavyweight crown in 1973. He won all 40 of his professional bouts—many by knockout—before losing to Muhammad Ali in the "Rumble in the Jungle." He retired to be a minister in 1977 but launched a comeback in 1987 and became the world's oldest heavyweight champ in 1994. After naming his first four sons "George," what did Foreman name his fifth son? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 To depend upon a profession is a less odious form of slavery than to depend upon a father.Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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a good turn— An action that is beneficial to another person in some way. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Benin National Vodoun Day (2020)Vodoun is an ancient African pantheistic religion. When it was brought to the Americas by African slaves, it was blended with elements of Christianity into what is known as "Voodoo." The present African country of Benin, situated on the former kingdom of Dahomey, is known as a center of Vodoun culture. This day is celebrated throughout Benin with processions, Vodoun rituals, dances, and even an international film festival. The celebration's central activity, however, is the re-enactment of the journey from the slave auction block in the center of town to the ships in the harbor. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: netdream catcher - A decorative Native American object in the form of a hoop and net with attachments such as feathers. More... net - As in "without deductions," it came from French net, "neat," and then evolved to mean" free from any (further) deduction." More... reticule - An older term for a small handbag, it alludes to the fact that they were originally made of netted fabric—Latin rete, "net," became reticulum, "netted bag." More... retina - From Latin rete, "net," as there is a net of nerves making up this layer of the eyeball. More... | |