Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, October 12, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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malinger
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| Article of the Day | |
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 The Gregorian CalendarThe Gregorian calendar is the most widely used dating system in the world. It replaced the Julian calendar in 1582, following a decree by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom it is named. In the Julian system, an inaccuracy in the measurement of the solar year caused the calendar dates of the seasons to regress almost one day per century. By Gregory's time, the Julian calendar was 10 days out of sync. To bring the vernal equinox—and thus Easter—back to its proper date, 10 days were dropped. Which ten? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Margaret Thatcher Escapes Assassination Attempt (1984)In 1984, five people were killed and over 30 injured when a bomb tore through a hotel in Brighton, England, where Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet were staying for a conference. The bomb had been planted weeks earlier by a Provisional Irish Republican Army operative. Though Thatcher's suite was damaged, she was uninjured. She attended the conference that morning as scheduled, and her popularity soared. How did attendees replace their destroyed clothes in time for the conference? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Jonathan Trumbull, Sr. (1710)The only colonial governor to side with the colonists in the American Revolution, Trumbull made Connecticut a principal source of supplies for the Continental army. It is said that the name "Brother Jonathan," a humorous designation for the American people collectively, arose from an affectionate nickname George Washington gave to Trumbull during the war. How did Trumbull reply to a request for assistance from British General Thomas Gage after the Battles of Lexington and Concord? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It is the fault of our science that it wants to explain all, and if it explain not, then it says there is nothing to explain.Bram Stoker (1847-1912) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Pack Monday Fair (2020)The Pack Monday Fair, which used to be called St. Michael's Fair because it is held on the Monday following Old Michaelmas Day, is held in Sherborne, England. It begins shortly after midnight on Sunday, when a band of young people lock arms and march through the streets of Sherborne blowing bugles, horns, and whistles, and banging metal pots, tea-trays, and garbage can lids together. Locals call this noise-making brigade "Teddy Roe's Band," a tradition that has persisted for several centuries even though town authorities have tried to stamp it out. More... | |