Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, February 14, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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coeval
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Past Continuous TenseAlso called the past progressive, the past continuous tense is used to describe something that was in progress at a certain moment in the past. Why is it called the past continuous? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 WaterboardingWaterboarding, a torture method that simulates drowning, has existed in various forms since the time of the Spanish Inquisition. Generally, water is poured over the face of an immobilized prisoner, inducing the gag reflex and mimicking sensations associated with drowning. The technique gained international attention in 2006, when reports surfaced charging the US with torturing detainees during the "War on Terror." When CIA officers were waterboarded during training, how quickly did they break? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Israeli Knesset Convenes for the First Time (1949)In May 1948, following a failed attempt by the UN to divide Palestine, which had been under British mandate, the new nation of Israel proclaimed its independence. The first legislative assembly, or Knesset, convened in February 1949. It succeeded the Assembly of Representatives that had functioned as the Jewish community's parliament during the Mandate era. Although the 120 legislators of the Knesset are elected every four years, the average lifespan of a Knesset is about two years. Why? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Renée Fleming (1959)Fleming is an American soprano who specializes in opera and lieder, a type of German art song intended for soloists. The daughter of two music teachers, Fleming graduated from SUNY Potsdam in 1981 with a degree in music education and went on to study at Eastman School of Music and Juilliard. Her professional debut was in Austria in 1986. She has won numerous awards for her roles in opera and for the classical music she has recorded. What did Fleming do to pay for her studies at Juilliard? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 To criticize is to appreciate, to appropriate, to take intellectual possession, to establish in fine a relation with the criticized thing and to make it one's own.Henry James (1843-1916) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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guilt complex— A very strong and persistent feeling of guilt regarding something or some event. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Adelaide Fringe Festival (2020)Originating in the 1970s as an innovative, cutting-edge alternative to the established Adelaide Festival, the Adelaide Fringe Festival today enjoys a synergistic relationship with its sister event, contributing to the vibrant atmosphere of this Australian city during the autumn months. Held over a three-week period, the Fringe features the latest in the underground and experimental arts created by independent artists from Australia, Europe, and the United States. The program includes comedy, dance, film, music, physical theater, dramatic theater, and visual arts. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: trousersfob - A small pocket close to the waistband of trousers. More... galluses - Another name for suspenders for trousers. More... plus fours - Got their name (c. 1920) from the fact that such trousers were made four inches longer than standard knickerbockers or shorts, which came to just above the knee. More... trousers, trouse - The singular of trousers is trouse. More... | |