Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, October 3, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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eyestrain
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Saint George and the DragonThe patron saint of England, Saint George is regarded as an early Christian martyr and one of the most prominent military saints. His historical existence is uncertain, but from the 6th century onward he was the subject of legends brought back from the East by returning Crusaders. According to tradition, George was a soldier and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian who rescued a Libyan king's daughter from a dragon, which he killed in return for what promise from the king? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 George Washington Creates Thanksgiving Day (1789)Though the feast held in 1621 may be better remembered, the first official national Thanksgiving in the US was declared in 1789. On that day, Washington, the president at the time, offered thanks for "the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty" following the revolution. Thanksgiving feasts were declared sporadically until 1863, when President Lincoln established it as a lasting holiday. Traditionally, the president pardons a live turkey each year. Why have recent presidents pardoned two? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Alain-Fournier (1886)Henri-Alban Fournier, who published as Alain-Fournier, was a French novelist known for his single full-length work, Le Grand Meaulnes. The poetic novel about a youthful search for the ideal was published in 1913 and is now considered a classic of French literature. Set in an imaginary locale, it is a blend of the author's own childhood and his mystical ideas. Though he began work on a second novel in 1914, he was killed in action in WWI that year. When was his body finally identified? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience.Francis Bacon (1561-1626) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Olney White Squirrel Count (2020)The community of Olney, Illinois, boasts a population of rare white squirrels. It is believed that the animals first appeared in the area just after the American Civil War. For many years, Olney has been concerned with preserving the squirrels. Every year an official count is done to determine how the white squirrel population is surviving. Professors from nearby Central College, with the help of volunteers, try to gauge whether the number of animals is increasing or decreasing and whether any migration is taking place. More... | |