Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, December 8, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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scavenger
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Attributive vs. Predicative AdjectivesWhile most adjectives can occur either as attributive adjectives or predicative adjectives, there are certain adjectives that can only occur predicatively. What are some examples? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Magdalene AsylumsNamed after Mary Magdalene, who, according to Christian tradition, repented her sins and became one of Jesus' closest followers, Magdalene asylums were institutions largely run by various orders of the Catholic Church to rehabilitate so-called fallen women—prostitutes, unwed mothers, even girls considered too promiscuous or flirtatious—through hard labor and penance. Many were admitted against their will, and some allege that they were subject to abuse. When was the last of these asylums closed? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 SpaceX Launches and Returns a Spacecraft from Orbit (2010)In 2002, PayPal cofounder Elon Musk established the California-based space transportation company SpaceX. In 2010, SpaceX became the first private company to place a spacecraft into orbit and successfully recover it. The craft, called Dragon, was launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. Eventually, SpaceX hopes to fly missions to the International Space Station for NASA. Although Dragon was unmanned during its maiden voyage, it was carrying what secret piece of cargo? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 James Thurber (1894)After working at various newspapers, Thurber served on the staff of The New Yorker from 1927 to 1933 and was later a principal contributor to the magazine, publishing drawings, stories, and anecdotes of his misadventures. He is especially known for his short story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." In 1940, his failing eyesight forced him to curtail his drawing, and by 1952 he had to give it up altogether as his blindness had become nearly total. What is said to be Thurber's last drawing? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Books, not which afford us a cowering enjoyment, but in which each thought is of unusual daring; such as an idle man cannot read, and a timid one would not be entertained by, which even make us dangerous to existing institution--such call I good books.Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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all bark and no bite— Full of talk that is more threatening or impressive than that which one can or will actually do. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Santon Fair (2019)Santons are the small, colored clay figures that appear in crêches throughout France at Christmas. Thousands of people come from all over to purchase their santons at the Santon Fair, which takes place during the month of December in Marseilles. In addition to the usual biblical figures, a number of local figures, garbed in traditional Provençal clothing, can be purchased at the fair. They are made by local families who have passed down the molds and models from generation to generation since the 17th century. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: roastrule the roost - Was first "rule the roast," as it referred to the master of the house who sat at the head of the table. More... steak - Seems to be related to Old Norse steikja, "roast on a spit," and stikna, "be roasted." More... dry roast - To roast without oils. More... rotisserie - First meant a restaurant or shop specializing in roasted or barbecued meat. More... | |