Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, October 24, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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skepticism
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Ending a Sentence with a PrepositionNearly every grammar guide agrees that it is acceptable and often more correct to end a sentence with a dangling preposition than to rewrite the sentence specifically to avoid it. Why? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 WhipcrackingWhipcracking, producing a cracking sound with the use of a whip, originated with cattle herding and horse riding but has since become an art that crosses the boundaries of sport, hobby, and performance. It is featured in rodeo shows in the US and is a competitive sport in Australia. Rhythmic whipcracking is part of a variety of traditional cultures throughout many parts of Europe, especially Bavaria, where it is a performance art showcased in concerts. What produces a whip's "crack"? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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.svg.png) Zambia Gains Independence (1964)The area that is now Zambia came under British control in the early 1900s with the development of the copper mining industry. After decades of nationalist struggle, the British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia became the independent Republic of Zambia. Kenneth Kaunda, a former schoolteacher who had been jailed for nationalist political activities prior to independence, became its first president. Zambia may have been the first country to do what during the Olympics? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Annie Edson Taylor (1838)On her 63rd birthday, Taylor became the first person to survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel. The interior of the barrel was cushioned and the air was compressed with a bicycle pump. Before her trip, Taylor sent a cat over the falls in her barrel—and it lived. Days later, she drifted over the falls in the same barrel and walked away from the plunge with minor injuries. However, she did not significantly profit from the stunt. According to some accounts, her barrel was stolen by whom? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 I don't think, sir, you have a right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience.Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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follow (someone or something) in stride— To follow the direction, lead, or guidance (of someone or something); to act in accordance (with someone or something); to follow suit. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 World Development Information Day (2020)In 1972, the United Nations established World Development Information Day on October 24. The purpose of this observance is to raise awareness about world economic development and the programs devised by the U.N. to promote development. The date was chosen to coincide with United Nations Day and the adoption of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: techniquetraffic-calming device - Any device (e.g. a speed bump) or technique on or next to a road that is used to slow or restrict traffic, especially in residential areas. More... appliance - First was the use or application of a technique, putting a technique into practice. More... expression marks - The collective term for musical directives, including tempo, volume, technique, phrasing, and mood. More... martial art - So named for Japanese bu-jutsu (bu + jutsu), "art, technique, skill, craft." More... | |