Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, April 8, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining the Continuous AspectThe continuous aspect is a subclass of the imperfective that emphasizes the progressive nature of the verb, looking at it as an incomplete action in progress over a specific period of time. The continuous aspect does not indicate the duration of the action, nor how often it occurs. Instead, it shows what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Dihydrogen Monoxide HoaxThe dihydrogen monoxide hoax utilizes an uncommon scientific name for molecules composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom to demonstrate how the lack of scientific literacy combined with an exaggerated analysis can lead to misplaced fears. The hoax points out that dihydrogen monoxide "is the major component of acid rain," "may cause severe burns," "contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape," and "accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals." What is dihydrogen monoxide? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Jomo Kenyatta Sentenced to Seven Years Hard Labor (1953)Kenyatta was an African political leader and the first president of an independent Kenya. His activities were integral to the effort to liberate Kenya from British colonial rule. In 1953, British leaders sentenced Kenyatta to seven years in prison for his suspected ties to the Mau Mau guerilla organization. Released in 1959, he participated in negotiations with the British to write a new constitution for Kenya, which became independent in 1963. What did he achieve during his 14-year presidency? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Betty Ford (1918)Betty Ford, born Elizabeth Anne Bloomer, supported herself as a dancer and model before marrying congressional hopeful Gerald Ford—later to be the 38th president of the US. An unusually candid first lady, she spoke openly about drugs, premarital sex, abortion, and women's rights. In 1978, she sought treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction and later established the Betty Ford Center for the treatment of chemical dependency. What prompted critics to call for the first lady's "resignation"? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Hitch your wagon to a star.Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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spit (out) the dummy— To have a childish overreaction or angry outburst to a negative situation or outcome; to act in a bad-tempered manner, likened to a temper tantrum of a child. "Dummy" here refers to a plastic teat used to soothe teething infants (also called a "pacifier" in the U.S. or a "soother" elsewhere), which they may spit when in the middle of a tantrum. Primarily heard in Australia. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Hana Matsuri (2022)Hana Matsuri is a celebration of the Buddha's birthday, observed in Buddhist temples throughout Japan, where it is known as Kambutsue. The highlight of the celebration is a ritual known as kambutsue ("ceremony of 'baptizing' the Buddha"), in which a tiny bronze statue of the Buddha, standing in an open lotus flower, is anointed with sweet tea. People use a small bamboo ladle to pour the tea, made of hydrangea leaves, over the head of the statue. The custom is supposed to date from the seventh century, when perfume was used, as well as tea. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: platformlectern, podium, dais, rostrum - A lectern is the stand on which the speaker's notes are placed, the podium is the platform on which the speaker and lectern stand, a dais is a platform for several people, and a rostrum is a platform for one or more. More... pulpit - From classical Latin pulpitum, "platform, stage." More... hustings - Its early meaning of "platform" led to its sense of "any place from which campaign speeches are made" and "political campaigning." More... rostrum - Latin for "beak," it first referred to part of the Rome Forum decorated with bird beaks and used as a platform for speakers. More... | |