Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, October 25, 2015)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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swellhead
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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"Could" and Rhetorical Questions"Could" is sometimes used informally in sarcastic or rhetorical questions that highlight a behavior someone finds irritating, unacceptable, or inappropriate. In these situations, "could" is often (but not always) used with what as a main verb? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Dark MatterDark matter is a hypothetical form of matter that is believed to make up more than 90% of the mass of the universe but is not readily visible because it neither emits nor absorbs light. Its existence could explain gravitational anomalies observed in the motion and distribution of galaxies. In 1993, astronomers identified part of the dark matter in the form of stray planets and brown dwarfs, and, possibly, stars that have failed to ignite. What acronym is used to refer to this hot, dark matter? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 George III Becomes King of Great Britain and Ireland (1760)George III ascended the throne at the age of 22, during the Seven Years' War. The war had put England in financial distress, and George supported raising funds through taxation of the American colonies. This policy proved disastrous for him, as it provoked the American Revolution and led him to be blamed in part for losing the colonies. Later in life, George's mental health declined, and his son acted as regent after 1811. It has been suggested that he suffered from what hereditary disease? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Minnie Pearl (1912)Pearl was an American country comedienne, born Sarah Colley in Centerville, Tennessee. One of the Grand Ole Opry's most iconic performers, she appeared on the show for more than 50 years, performing routines that gently poked fun at rural Southern culture. Outfitted in styleless "down home" dresses and a hat with a price tag that dangled over its brim, she also appeared regularly on the television show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1991. On whom was the Minnie Pearl character based? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Charm, in most men and nearly all women, is a decoration.E. M. Forster (1879-1970) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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stand on the shoulders of giants— To make discoveries, insights, or progress due to the discoveries or previous work of great minds that have come before. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Saffron Rose Festival (2015)Saffron, the world's most expensive spice, is harvested from the stigmas of the autumn-flowering Crocus sativus. Much of the world's saffron comes from Spain's La Mancha region. The Saffron Rose Festival held in the town of Consuegra each year celebrates this exotic crop, which must be harvested by hand so that the valuable stigmas are not crumpled. The celebrations include parades and contests, folk dancing, and the crowning of a pageant queen. Costumed characters from Cervantes's 17th-century novel Don Quixote stroll among the crowds who flock to Consuegra for the fiesta. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: soreangry - Describing a wound or sore that is red and inflamed. More... merry-gall - A sore produced by chafing. More... sore - As a noun, it first meant generally "physical pain and suffering." More... chafe, chaff - To chafe means to rub until sore or worn; to chaff means to tease good-naturedly. More... | |