Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, October 21, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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gastronome
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| Article of the Day | |
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 The Qianlong EmperorHongli took the title of Qianlong—meaning "the Era of Strong Prosperity"—when his imperial reign of China began in 1735. Ironically, by the end of Qianlong's reign in 1796, expensive military expeditions and corruption had nearly exhausted the funds of the Imperial Treasury. A patron of the arts, the Qianlong Emperor commissioned a catalogue of all important Chinese cultural works that took 20 years to complete and consisted of 36,000 volumes. How many copyists were involved in the project? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Siad Barre Leads Coup to Become President of Somalia (1969)Following the assassination of Somalia's president in 1969, a military coup installed Major General Mohamed Siad Barre as leader. His dictatorial administration was marked by human rights abuses and civil strife. Though he sought to end pervasive clan loyalties, warfare among rival factions intensified. In 1991, he was ousted. The country plunged into a civil war and has had no effective central government since. How did Siad Barre's regime terrorize the Majeerteen clan in particular? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (1917)Considered one of the main innovators of bebop along with Charlie Parker, Gillespie was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. His virtuosity and comic wit—in addition to his trademark puffed cheeks and 45-degree upturned trumpet bell—made him one of the most charismatic and influential musicians in jazz. Gillespie was once struck by a car while riding his bicycle. Though he was injured only slightly, a jury awarded him $1,000 because he could no longer do what? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 In the bosoms of this people, thus heterogeneously composed, there was burning, kindled at different furnaces, but all furnaces of affliction, one clear, steady flame of liberty.John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Festival of the Black Christ (2020)One legend associated with the observance of this festival in Portobelo, Panama, says that during a cholera epidemic on the Isthmus, the people discovered a statue of a black Christ and brought it into the church. Within a few days, the cholera had completely disappeared from Portobelo, even though it continued to rage elsewhere. The people of Portobelo honor El Jesús Nazarene by carrying the statue in procession on a decorated platform through the city. Pilgrims come from all over Panama, as they have for more than 300 years, to celebrate with folk dancing, music, and songs. More... | |