Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, August 8, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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recidivate
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Academic FencingAcademic fencing is a traditional form of sword-fighting practiced primarily by members of college fraternities in German-speaking countries. During a bout, or mensur, participants exchange blows without moving their feet. Flinching or dodging is not allowed, as the aim is less to avoid injury than to endure it stoically. While protective clothing makes serious injury rare in modern bouts, facial wounds are common, and the scars are seen as a badge of honor. How does one win such a match? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 2008 Summer Olympics Begin in Beijing, China (2008)At 8:08 PM on 8-8-08, the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics began. Held in the new Beijing National Stadium—nicknamed "the Bird's Nest"—it marked China's first time hosting the Olympics. The nearly four-hour event, which showcased Chinese culture, was a popular and logistical success, and the games became one of the most-watched TV events in history. However, in the international torch relay before the opening ceremony, protests in what city caused the Olympic torch to be extinguished? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac (1902)Dirac was an influential English mathematician and theoretical physicist. In 1928, he published a version of quantum mechanics taking into account the theory of relativity. His theory predicted an antiparticle to the electron, and, in 1932, the positron was discovered. That year, Dirac was appointed to the same University of Cambridge chair once held by Isaac Newton. Likely autistic, Dirac was known for his precise nature and literal view of the world. How did he once introduce his wife? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Do not read, as children do, to amuse yourself, or like the ambitious, for the purpose of instruction. No, read in order to live.Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Eisteddfod (2020)The Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales dates back to the 12th century. Its purpose is to encourage the preservation of Welsh music and literature, and only those who sing or write in Welsh may enter. The annual event opens with the blowing of trumpets, followed by all kinds of musical and literary contests—harp playing, solo and choral singing, dramatic presentations, and poetic composition. The National Eisteddfod is held in northern Wales one year and southern Wales the next. Other Eisteddfodau are held in Welsh communities elsewhere from May to November. More... | |