Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, January 15, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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tyrannical
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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WhoseThe interrogative adjectives "what" and "which" can often be used interchangeably, while "whose" is very different. What does "whose" denote? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Damsel in DistressDerived from a French term meaning "young lady," the word "damsel" is rarely used in modern English except in the phrase "damsel in distress." A classic stock character in literature, art, and film, the damsel in distress is usually a young, beautiful woman placed in a dire predicament by a villain or monster. Notably, she needs a hero to rescue her, leading to stereotypes of helplessness that are often targets of feminist criticism. What are some examples of damsels in distress in modern media? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Mafia Boss Salvatore Riina Apprehended after 23 Years in Hiding (1993)Riina started out as a mafia hit man and ascended the ranks, becoming a feared leader of the Sicilian Mafia. When control of the heroin trade in Sicily led to fierce rivalry among the Mafia clans, Riina—known as "The Beast"—orchestrated the murders of high-profile public officials while living in hiding for 23 years. His tactics were unusual—mafia bosses tended to be highly visible in their communities while keeping their violent activities under the radar. How did the police finally find him? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929)King was the inspirational leader of the US Civil Rights Movement. An advocate of nonviolence, he organized boycotts, marches, and demonstrations to protest segregation and racial injustice. In August 1963, he spearheaded the March on Washington, an assembly of more than 200,000 protesters at which he made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. King's work helped to assure the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but he was killed just four years later in Memphis, Tennessee. Why was he there? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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on the fiddle— Engaged in deceitful, fraudulent, or dishonest means of obtaining money. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Chilembwe Day (2022)John Chilembwe was born in the 1860s in the African nation of Nyasaland, now known as Malawi. Dismayed by the treatment of local peoples at the hands of plantation owners, whom he charged with racism and exploitation, he and a group of 200 followers staged an uprising. They were caught and killed on February 3, 1915. Chilembwe is now memorialized as a hero for African independence and is celebrated annually on January 15 in Malawi, which attained its independence in 1964. His image on a Malawi banknote attests to his enduring popularity as a symbol of Malawi freedom and patriotism. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: wrinkle | |