Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, November 19, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
sundry
| |||||||
| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
|---|---|
Most as an "Intensifier"We often find the adverb "most" being used as an intensifier of other adverbs, especially in formal speech or writing. In these instances, "most" does not indicate a superlative adverb (i.e., in comparison to others in a group). How does it function instead? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 The Carnival of BaselAt precisely 4 AM on the Monday after Ash Wednesday, all of the lights in the town of Basel, Switzerland, are turned off, and the city is lit only by decorative lanterns that are carried or worn on the heads of those gathered for the start of Basler Fasnacht—the Carnival of Basel. For the next 72 hours, thousands of costumed revelers, or Fasnächtlers, enjoy the parades and music of Switzerland's biggest carnival. Why is the use of multicolored confetti frowned upon at the carnival? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 Prestige Oil Spill (2002)On Nov. 13, 2002, the Prestige oil tanker suffered damage in a storm and began leaking oil. Denied entry to ports in Spain, France, and Portugal, the stricken vessel was kept at sea for nearly a week before it broke apart and sank about 150 mi (250 km) from the Spanish coast. The resulting oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in Spain's history, fouled much of the Galician coastline as well as parts of the French coast. How did this spill compare to that of the Exxon Valdez? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 William Ashley "Billy" Sunday (1862)Sunday was the most popular American evangelist of the World War I era, drawing an estimated 100 million people to his revival meetings. Preaching was a second career for him. Before undergoing a religious conversion, he had been a professional baseball player. A flamboyant fundamentalist whose sermons reflected the social upheaval of the transition from a rural to an urban society, Sunday advocated a strict morality and promoted Prohibition. As an evangelist, what were his thoughts on baseball? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 To be different from your fellow creatures is always a misfortune.L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
not have much between the ears— To be rather stupid, dull, or dimwitted; to not have much common sense or basic intelligence. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Garifuna Settlement Day (2021)Garifuna Settlement Day honors the heritage of the Garifuna people, a unique ethnic group in the Caribbean and Central America. In 1943, Garifuna Settlement Day was declared a holiday in the southern districts of Belize, and it is now celebrated throughout the country. There are long sessions of traditional drumming and dancing, and Garifuna crafts and food are sold and displayed. Events to raise awareness and appreciation of Garifuna culture are common, including special days to dress in traditional clothing, a Miss Garifuna Belize beauty pageant, parades, and rallies. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
|---|---|
Today's topic: physicianallopathy, allopath, allopathist - Another word for conventional medical treatment is allopathy; an allopath or allopathist is a physician. More... pediatrician - Comes from Greek pais/paidos, "child," and iatros, "physician." More... armamentarium - The equipment of a medical institution or physician. More... | |