Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, May 15, 2015)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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pariah
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| Article of the Day | |
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 The Scripps National Spelling BeeThe Scripps National Spelling Bee is a highly competitive annual spelling bee run on a non-profit basis by The E. W. Scripps Company, held at a hotel in the Washington, DC, area. The competition came into existence in 1925, and the first winning word was "gladiolus." The bee is open to the winners of sponsored regional spelling bees held mostly throughout the US, and participants must be in eighth grade or below, or 15 years old or younger. Why is it called a spelling "bee"? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 US Department of Agriculture Is Created (1862)US President Abraham Lincoln created the Department of Agriculture, which he referred to as the "people's department," at a time when most Americans were farmers. It played a key role in the survival of many during the Depression, and today it continues to ensure that those in need receive food. It also aids farmers, inspects meat and dairy products, oversees food stamp and school lunch programs, and administers national forests. Before Lincoln, the Agricultural Division was part of what office? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Richard Avedon (1923)A major figure in fashion photography, Avedon studied photography in the US Merchant Marine. He became a regular contributor to Harper's Bazaar in the 1940s and was later was associated with Vogue. Known for his stark, black-and-white portraits of people in unusual poses, Avedon redefined fashion photography as an art form. However, many consider his magnum opus to be what 1985 book documenting something very different from fashion? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The world is all gates, all opportunities, strings of tension waiting to be struck.Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Paraguay Independence Day (2020)Paraguayans set aside two days to celebrate their independence from Spain, which they won on May 14, 1811, after a bloodless revolution led by Dr. José Gaspar Rodríguez Francia (1766-1840). The most elaborate Independence Day parade is in the capital, Asunción. People may wear traditional clothes as they stroll down the streets, and Sopa Paraguay, a traditional Independence Day dish, is served on this day because it is only on special occasions that the poor can afford to buy the eggs and cheese that go into it. More... | |