Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, May 20, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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gyrate
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Rule of ThumbNow used to refer to a convenient principle with a broad application not intended to be strictly accurate in every situation, the term "rule of thumb" first appeared in print in Sir William Hope's The Compleat Fencing-Master in 1692. The phrase is thought to have originated with woodworkers who used the length of their thumbs, rather than rulers, for measurements. However, it is often erroneously claimed that the term originally referred to a law that limited the thickness of what? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Cartographer Abraham Ortelius Issues the First Modern Atlas (1570)Prior to 1570, maps were often unreliable, illegible, and unwieldy. When Ortelius published his Theatrum orbis terrarium, it was the first comprehensive, easy-to-use, and fairly up-to-date collection of world maps. It drew from the works of 87 cartographers, all of whom were credited. Demand was immediate and persisted for decades, during which time dozens of editions were published in several languages. In addition to practical contemporary maps, Ortelius published what? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 James Maitland "Jimmy" Stewart (1908)Stewart was an American actor recognized for his self-effacing screen persona. His slow, halting line delivery initially made him difficult to cast, but his idealistic characters in films such as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) soon endeared him to audiences, and he won an Oscar in 1940. His role as the quintessential small-town man helped make It's a Wonderful Life (1946) a Christmas classic. What mysterious Nepalese artifact did Stewart allegedly smuggle out of India? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The truth is, we each of us have an inborn conviction that the whole world, with everybody and everything in it, was created as a sort of necessary appendage to ourselves. Our fellow men and women were made to admire us and to minister to our various requirements.Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Calgary International Children's Festival (2020)This five-day event takes place in downtown Calgary, located in the Canadian province of Alberta. The festival features storytelling, dance, music, puppetry, and physical comedy, all catering to a young audience. The performances take place in and around the Arts Commons, located in the Olympic Plaza Cultural District. The program of the festival, which was launched in 1989, reflects the organizers' emphasis on creativity and cultural sensitivity. Teacher guides are provided to instructors looking to ensure an educational experience for students. More... | |