Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, January 29, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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hydroponics
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Factitive VerbsFactitive verbs are used to indicate the resulting condition or state of a person, place, or thing caused by the action of the verb. What is this resulting condition or state known as? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Underground RailroadThis informal network of safe houses and transport facilities was established by 19th century US abolitionists in the northern states prior to the Civil War. Volunteers, or “conductors,” offered sanctuary and assistance to escaped African-American slaves and helped lead the slaves to safety in the North. Conductors on the railroad included escaped slaves like Harriet Tubman, who is credited with having led more than 300 slaves to freedom. Who was the “Father of the Underground Railroad”? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Bear River Massacre (1863)The Bear River Massacre took place in 1863 when the US Army attacked Shoshone gathered at the confluence of the Bear River and Beaver Creek in what is now Idaho. The incident began when Colonel Patrick Edward Connor led a detachment of approximately 200 US Army soldiers as part of the an expedition against Shoshone Chief Bear Hunter, who had strongly resisted colonization of tribal areas. Some 250 Shoshone were killed in the attack, including Bear Hunter. What became of Connor? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860)Chekhov was a Russian short-story writer, dramatist, and physician who earned enduring international acclaim for his stories and plays. His early works were broad humorous sketches and tales published under a pseudonym, written to support himself and his family while he studied for his medical degree in Moscow. His first full-length play, Ivanov, was produced while he was practicing as a doctor. Why was a statue of Chekhov in the town of Tomsk modeled on the perspective of a drunkard? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It is not from nature, but from education and habits, that our wants are chiefly derived.Henry Fielding (1707-1754) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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wallflower— Someone who remains on the outer edges of a social event, especially a dance or party, and does not participate due to being shy or unpopular. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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30Jan1973.jpg) Up-Helly-Aa (2019)This ancient fire festival is observed by people of Lerwick in the Shetland Islands. In pre-Christian times, their Norse ancestors welcomed the return of the sun god with Yule, a 24-day period of feasting, storytelling, and bonfires. The last night of the festival was called Up-Helly-Aa, or "End of the Holy Days." Today, a group known as the Guizers builds a 31-foot model of a Viking longship in honor of the Viking invaders who remained in Scotland. On the night of Up-Helly-Aa, the Guizers dress in Norse costumes and carry the boat to an open field. There, they throw lit torches into the ship and burn it. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: replyriposte - A counterstroke, such as a snappy retort, from Italian riposta, "reply, response." More... antapology - The reply to an apology, such as "That's all right." More... irrespondence - People not answering your e-mails? That's irrespondence! (Failure to reply.) More... | |