Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, October 3, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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lighthearted
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Lichtenberg FiguresNamed for German physicist Georg Lichtenberg, Lichtenberg figures are branching, lightning-like fractal patterns that can appear on or in insulating materials, such as glass, after an electrical discharge. They are also sometimes found on the skin of lightning strike victims in the form of intricate patterns thought to be caused by damage to small blood vessels along the path of the current. In capturing the figures on paper, Lichtenberg discovered the principle behind what modern technology? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 George Washington Creates Thanksgiving Day (1789)Though the feast held in 1621 may be better remembered, the first official national Thanksgiving in the US was declared in 1789. On that day, Washington, the president at the time, offered thanks for "the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty" following the revolution. Thanksgiving feasts were declared sporadically until 1863, when President Lincoln established it as a lasting holiday. Traditionally, the president pardons a live turkey each year. Why have recent presidents pardoned two? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Alain-Fournier (1886)Henri-Alban Fournier, who published as Alain-Fournier, was a French novelist known for his single full-length work, Le Grand Meaulnes. The poetic novel about a youthful search for the ideal was published in 1913 and is now considered a classic of French literature. Set in an imaginary locale, it is a blend of the author's own childhood and his mystical ideas. Though he began work on a second novel in 1914, he was killed in action in WWI that year. When was his body finally identified? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Any woman can fool a man if she wants to and if he's in love with her.Agatha Christie (1890-1976) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Olney White Squirrel Count (2020)The community of Olney, Illinois, boasts a population of rare white squirrels. It is believed that the animals first appeared in the area just after the American Civil War. For many years, Olney has been concerned with preserving the squirrels. Every year an official count is done to determine how the white squirrel population is surviving. Professors from nearby Central College, with the help of volunteers, try to gauge whether the number of animals is increasing or decreasing and whether any migration is taking place. More... | |