Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, January 7, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
corpulence
| |||||||
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 BarleyOne of the first crops domesticated by humans, barley also had the distinction of being used to make one of the first alcoholic drinks—beer. With its short growing season, barley is adaptable to a greater range of climates than any other cereal. It thus became a staple cereal of ancient Egypt, featured in ancient Greek rituals, was used as currency, and even had it grains used for measurement in England. Shoe sizes in the US and UK are based on a historic inch equivalent to how many barleycorns? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
.jpg) First Crossing of the English Channel by Air (1785)In the dangerous, early days of balloon flight, French inventor Jean-Pierre Blanchard became the first person to travel across the English Channel by air. Not long after, another pair of balloonists attempted to repeat this feat, but the two were killed when their balloon exploded. Blanchard himself eventually died in a ballooning accident, and his widow suffered a similar fate about a decade later. With what useless objects did Blanchard attempt to steer his balloon during early flights? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Millard Fillmore (1800)Born in a log cabin in rural New York, Fillmore was compelled to work at an early age to help support his large, impoverished family. Despite his limited education, he became a lawyer and was elected vice president under Zachary Taylor. Upon Taylor's death in 1850, Fillmore was sworn in as president. His attempt to take a moderate stance on the highly contentious issue of slavery ended his political career. While being fed soup, a dying Fillmore made what remark that turned out to be his last? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Two friends, two bodies with one soul inspired.Homer (900 BC-800 BC) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Ganna (2021)The Christmas celebration in Ethiopia (observing the Coptic Orthodox calendar), which is officially called Leddat, is more popularly known as Ganna, after the game that is traditionally played on this day by boys, young men, and occasionally elders. According to legend, the shepherds were so happy when they heard about the birth of Jesus that they used their hooked staffs to play ganna—a game similar to field hockey. Pilgrims gather in the spectacular medieval churches in Lalibela for services, music, and food. More... | |