Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, August 24, 2015)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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cembalo
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining DeclensionDeclension collectively refers to the inflection (change in form) of nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs to reflect certain aspects of how they are used in a sentence. How does declension differ from conjugation? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The NecktieA necktie is a narrow fabric band of varying length worn around the neck and tied in a knot or bow close to the throat. The modern tie, ascot, and bowtie are descended from the 17th c. cravat. Originally, the four-in-hand necktie was cut on the square and had square ends. The bias-cut necktie, introduced in 1926, allowed the tie to fall evenly from the knot without twisting. Using mathematical modeling, researchers have discovered 85 possible necktie knots. How many are "aesthetically pleasing"? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Pluto Gets Demoted (2006)Although it was recognized as a planet for decades, Pluto is much smaller than the other planets in our solar system and more closely resembles a giant comet nucleus. Consequently, the International Astronomical Union demoted Pluto to the category of dwarf planet, which reflected astronomers' conclusion that it is a member of the Kuiper belt, a strip of billions of icy bodies orbiting the Sun beyond the orbit of Neptune. What objects in the outer region of the solar system exceed Pluto in size? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Lavinia Fontana (1552)One of the few female Italian artists of the 16th century, Lavinia Fontana was the daughter of Italian mannerist painter Prospero Fontana. She was a fashionable portrait painter in Bologna and Rome who was especially noted for the vibrant color and detail of her works. Her self-portraits and a portrait of Pope Gregory XIII show a fine decorative sense in the treatment of costume. She was also a painter of religious subjects. What are some of her major works? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends.Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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a bit of a stretch— A mild exaggeration beyond the truth or what is likely the case. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 WCSH 6 Sidewalk Art Festival (2019)The WCSH 6 Sidewalk Art Festival is held every year in late August in Portland, Maine. More than 300 artists typically display their work at the outdoor event, which draws thousands of visitors to the festival area. The exhibit is juried, with cash prizes for first, second, and third place. For the fourth prize, the winning art work becomes part of the permanent art collection of the festival sponsor, local television station WCSH 6. Its organizers bill it as the largest and oldest one-day art show in northern New England. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: penlapsus calami, lapsus memoriae - A lapsus calami is a slip of the pen; a lapsus memoriae is a slip of the memory. More... ruling pen - A type of pen used in graphic design and calligraphy for drawing precise lines of various thicknesses. More... nom de plume - Literally "name of the pen," meaning "pseudonym." More... | |