Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, November 6, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Singing SandAlso known as sounding sand, singing sand is sand that emits musical, humming, whistling, or crunching sounds when disturbed. Although it has been studied extensively, the phenomenon is not completely understood. When it occurs near dunes, the sound accompanies a slumping or avalanching movement of the sand, usually triggered by wind or by someone walking near the crest. Different patches of sand are even said to "sing" at different frequencies. What are some locations where the sand sings? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Green March Begins (1975)Extremely arid and almost entirely sand and gravel, the sparsely populated territory of Western Sahara was a protectorate of Spain until the 1970s. Despite internal calls for independence, the king of neighboring Morocco led a march of more than 300,000 unarmed Moroccans into the territory as a show of support for annexation. Known as the Green March, the mass demonstration led to Spanish withdrawal, but control of the region is still contested. What other group claims the territory? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Joanna the Mad (1479)Joanna was the first queen regnant of both Castile and Aragon, which would become modern Spain. Though Joanna likely suffered from depression, the extent of her mental illness may have been exaggerated for political reasons. Throughout much of Joanna's reign, her father, husband, and son vied for power, each ruling on her behalf by attesting to her insanity. Joanna remained confined for much of her life. According to some accounts, what did she do with her husband's body after he died? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 What makes old age hard to bear is not the failing of one's faculties, mental and physical, but the burden of one's memories.W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Sitka Whalefest (2020)Gray whales are native to the northern Pacific Ocean. They spend their summers in the Bering Sea but migrate every year to the waters off the coast of Mexico. Since the whales prefer to hug the coast, they are often visible to those living in seaside towns. Several towns along the migration route celebrate the whales' yearly appearances by hosting whale festivals. In Alaska, the town of Sitka holds a whale festival in November. Festival organizers coordinate a program of whale-watching tours, special presentations by marine biologists, and performances by Native and Russian dance troupes. More... | |