Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, November 13, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Article of the Day | |
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 MosquesThe mosque has traditionally been the center of social, political, and educational life in Islamic societies. Although Muhammad's house in Medina served as the prototype for Muslim houses of worship, mosques appear quite different in various parts of the world due to the influence of local architectural styles. Minarets, towers from which the call to prayer is sounded, are common features of mosques, as are courtyards surrounded by arcaded porticoes. What determines the orientation of a mosque? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Nevado del Ruiz Erupts in Colombia (1985)When ash began to fall on the Colombian town of Armero, local authorities assured residents that it was safe to stay put, despite geologists' warnings to the contrary. It had been more than 140 years since the last serious eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz, known to residents as "the Sleeping Lion." That night, a lahar—a massive flow of mud and debris—swept down the side of the erupting volcano, destroying Armero. It was the worst natural disaster in Columbian history. How many people were killed? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Saint Augustine of Hippo (354 CE)Augustine was bishop of Hippo, a Roman city that is now Annaba, Algeria. In his early 30s, he converted to Christianity, gave up his position as professor of rhetoric, became a bishop, and turned his home into a monastery. He served for more than 40 years. While he lay dying, Vandals destroyed his city but spared his library. His writings, which include Confessions and De Civitate Dei, deeply influenced Western Christianity. What now-extinct religion did he originally practice? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It is essential to the idea of a law, that it be attended with a sanction; or, in other words, a penalty or punishment for disobedience.Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Carberry Day (2020)The students and faculty at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, celebrate the fictitious academic exploits of Professor Josiah Stinkney Carberry every Friday the 13th. On Carberry Day, small brown jugs appear around campus, and students and teachers fill them with change. The money goes to a book fund that Professor Carberry has set up "in memory of my future late wife, Laura." More... | |