Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, March 27, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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taproom
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Using the Past Perfect Continuous for Past Durations of TimeWe can use the past perfect continuous tense to describe the duration of continuous past action. The meaning is very similar to the present perfect continuous tense in this way. However, whereas the present perfect continuous describes an action that was happening up until the present moment, the past perfect continuous highlights what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Lost-Wax CastingThe lost-wax method of casting metal sculptures was developed thousands of years ago and is still used by metalworkers today. In this labor-intensive process, a clay or plaster model is coated with wax and then covered with a perforated plaster or clay mold. When the cast dries, the wax is melted and drained and replaced with molten metal. Archeological evidence suggests that metalworkers in India and Mesopotamia were using this method as early as 3500 BCE to make what sorts of objects? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The "Beeching Axe" Decimates British Railways (1963)In an effort to reduce the cost of running the nationalized railway system of the UK, the British government commissioned a report to find ways to save money. Authored by Dr. Richard Beeching, the report concluded that many of the railway's lines were costing more to operate than they earned and called for the elimination of unprofitable routes and closure of a large percentage of railway stations. More than 2,000 stations were closed as a result of the "Beeching Axe." What became of Beeching? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Michael Jackson (1942)Not to be confused with the American musician of the same name, English journalist Michael Jackson was arguably the most influential beer and whiskey critic in modern history. He came to prominence after the publication of his influential 1977 book The World Guide to Beer and went on to host a TV show that featured him traveling around the globe sampling various brews. He played an enormous role in the popularization of brewing culture and was especially fond of beers from what country? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Whipping and abuse are like laudanum; you have to double the dose as the sensibilities decline.Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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live the life of Riley— To lead a life of great ease, comfort, or luxury. The phrase is likely of early 20th-century Irish-American origin, but to whom Riley refers is uncertain. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Myanmar Armed Forces Day (2021)Throughout most of the 1800s, the Union of Myanmar, known as Burma until 1989, was ruled by the British. Aung San, an outspoken student leader, helped the Japanese oust the British, and the Japanese ruled Burma from 1942 until 1945. On March 27, 1945, he helped the World War II Allied forces remove the Japanese from power. Myanmar celebrates Armed Forces Day on March 27 to commemorate the day that Aung San rebelled against the Japanese. The day is celebrated with a military parade and fireworks. Since 1989, the Tatmadaw has made it a tradition to pardon several prisoners on this day. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: skilledart - Comes from a base word meaning "put together"; its original general meaning referred to any kind of skill. More... deipnosophist - If you are skilled at table talk, you are a deipnosophist. More... kung fu - From Chinese words translating to "merit master" or "one who is highly skilled." More... linguished - Means "skilled in languages." More... | |