Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, March 23, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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buffoon
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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SlashesThe slash ( / )—technically known as a virgule but also called a slant, solidus, or stroke—serves a number of purposes in writing. What are they? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Red Imported Fire AntAccidentally introduced into the US in the 1930s from its native S America, the red imported fire ant (RIFA) is an invasive ant species that has since spread to Asia and Australia. These resilient, aggressive pests possess a painful sting and build mounds that can destroy crops. US officials estimate that the ants cause more than $5 billion in damages annually. While RIFA stings are rarely life-threatening to humans, the insects are responsible for at least 80 deaths. What causes them to swarm? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Benito Mussolini Founds the Fasci di Combattimento (1919)In the troubled period following WWI, Mussolini organized his followers, mostly veterans, into a paramilitary organization that promoted aggressive nationalism and violently opposed communism and socialism. Amid strikes, unrest, and governmental failure, Mussolini advocated the use of force to restore order. In 1921, his Fasci di Combattimento became the Fascist Party, planting the seeds for the regime that would rule Italy for nearly 20 years. What title did Mussolini choose for himself? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Margaret of Anjou (1430)Margaret was queen consort of King Henry VI of England and ruled during her husband's frequent bouts of mental illness. With the king insane and childless, Richard, duke of York, was poised to inherit the throne. However, in 1453, Margaret gave birth to a son. The convoluted struggle over who would be king resulted in the War of the Roses, which, by 1471, had left most of those involved dead—except for Margaret. In May of that year, she led an army at the battle of Tewkesbury. Who won? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Faith is believing what you know ain't so.Mark Twain (1835-1910) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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have a mountain to climb— To have an extremely difficult, seemingly impossible task at hand. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Pakistan Day (2018)This national holiday is also known as Republic Day, and it is the anniversary of a 1940 resolution calling for a Muslim country for Muslim Indians. On the same day in 1956, Pakistan became an Islamic republic within the British Commonwealth. Pakistan Day is celebrated with parades and fairs. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: vigorvim, vigor - Vim is the same as vigor. More... bouncing - In bouncing baby, it means "vigorous." More... feckful - Means "efficient, vigorous," or "powerful." More... macho, machismo - Macho is from Mexican Spanish, meaning "male animal or plant" or "masculine, vigorous"—from Latin masculus, "male"; machismo (pronounced mah-CHEEZ-mo) is based on macho. More... | |