Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, April 24, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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pauperism
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Modal Auxiliary Verbs - MustThe modal verb "must" is most often used to express necessity—i.e., that something has to happen or be the case. When is "must" used in interrogative sentences? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Radiocarbon DatingRadiocarbon dating is a method for determining the age of carbonaceous materials—especially ancient archaeological specimens—that relies on the presence of a naturally occurring isotope called carbon-14. After an organism dies, the amount of carbon-14 in its remains gradually decreases through radioactive beta decay. Measuring the amount of carbon-14 in an organism's remains thus allows scientists to determine how long it has been dead. How do atomic bombs affect atmospheric carbon-14 levels? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Hersheypark Opens in Pennsylvania (1907)Milton Hershey, founder of the Hershey Chocolate Company, originally created Hersheypark for his employees. Situated along a creek, it was a good spot for boating, picnicking, and enjoying baseball, which is what visitors did on the park's first day in 1907. The next year, the park added its first ride, a carousel. Over the decades, as the park acquired more attractions, it grew from a regional amusement to a national attraction. The entrance sign once directed "ye who enter here" to do what? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Sue Taylor Grafton (1940)A onetime screenwriter, Grafton began writing detective novels after a bitter and protracted custody battle left her daydreaming about the vengeful crimes she would have liked to commit but could not. As a means of escape, she created private detective Kinsey Millhone, the protagonist in a series of alphabet-titled novels such as A is for Alibi and B is for Burglar. After G Is for Gumshoe, she was able to quit screenwriting. Why won't she sell the film rights to her books? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The gambling known as business looks with austere disfavor upon the business known as gambling.Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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have the floor— To have the right or opportunity to speak in a group, especially at a formal event or gathering. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Tribeca Film Festival (2020)The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 in response to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The festival's founders—actor Robert De Niro, film producer Jane Rosenthal, and philanthropist Craig Hatkoff—believed a festival devoted to music, culture, and independent film would restore Lower Manhattan as a major center for filmmaking. Juries decide on the best films in competitions in the categories of documentary, feature, and short film. There are also panel talks, music performances, and workshops for aspiring filmmakers. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: magicaeaeae - Meaning "magic," it is derived from aealae artes, "magic arts." More... elicit - Comes from a Latin stem meaning "draw forth by magic or trickery." More... glamour - First meant "magic, enchantment" or "art of contriving magic spells." More... magic - Named for the magi, who were regarded as magicians. More... | |