Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, January 27, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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succinct
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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MoodGrammatical mood refers to the way in which a verb is used to express certain meaning by the speaker or writer. Moods are broken down into two main categories. What are they? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 U ThantBurmese diplomat U Thant served as UN Secretary-General for ten years. During his first term of service, he played a major role in defusing the Cuban Missile Crisis and ending the civil war in the Congo. He was elected to a second term in 1966, but had less success in dealing with the major crises of this later period, which included the Vietnam War and the Six Day War. On the day of U Thant's funeral, a group of students stole his coffin. What short-lived crisis did their actions spark? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 National Geographic Society Founded (1888)The National Geographic Society is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. It was founded in 1888 by a small group of eminent explorers and scientists and, by the turn of the 21st century, boasted approximately nine million members. It has supported more than 7,000 major scientific projects and expeditions, including those of the Leakey family, Jacques Cousteau, and Jane Goodall. What journalistic methods were pioneered by its magazine? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Donna Reed (1921)Reed was an American film and television actress. In 1946, she starred in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, playing Mary Bailey—the wife of James Stewart's character, George Bailey. She went on to win the 1953 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in From Here to Eternity and later received a Golden Globe for Best Female TV Star for her performance as Donna Stone in The Donna Reed Show. Why did Reed once sue the producers of the TV show Dallas? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It is so pleasant to come across people more stupid than ourselves. We love them at once for being so.Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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a bit out of it— Feeling somewhat disoriented, phased, or out of touch with the world; spaced out. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Birthday of Mozart (2020)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, on this day in 1756. His achievements in composing operas, chamber music, symphonies, and piano concerti have earned him a reputation as one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time. Mozart's birthday is observed by musical societies all over the world, who often give concerts of his music on this day. The city of his birth also honors him at the end of January with Mozart Week. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: riggingrig, rigging - A ship's rig is the arrangement of masts, sails, etc.; the rigging is the system of ropes or chains supporting these. More... spread-eagle - First described a navy man who was lashed to the rigging for flogging. More... furniture - The furniture of a ship is its apparel, including the sails, rigging, and anchor; to apparel, in early use, meant "make ready or fit." More... tight ship - Literally one in which ropes and rigging are tied and taut. More... | |