Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, May 4, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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conflate
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Adverbs of FrequencyAdverbs of frequency (sometimes called frequency adverbs) tell us how often something happens or is the case. They cannot be used to modify what part of speech? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 NasreddinNasreddin is a semi-historical, legendary wise man and wit who features in the folklore of many peoples of the Middle East and Asia. He is said to have lived in Turkey in the 13th century. As tales about him spread throughout the world, he came to be known by a variety of names and titles. Most of the thousands of Nasreddin stories are humorous anecdotes that can be seen to convey morals or deeper meanings that seemingly transcend cultures and national borders. What are some Nasreddin tales? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Jesse Tafero's Execution Goes Horribly Wrong (1990)Accused of the fatal shooting of a Florida Highway Patrol officer and a visiting Canadian constable, Tafero was convicted of murder in 1976 and sentenced to death. His execution by electrocution in 1990 was grisly. Lasting more than 13 minutes, it took three separate jolts of electricity and caused flames to shoot out of Tafero's head. Later, the conviction of Tafero's girlfriend—obtained with the same evidence that implicated Tafero—was overturned. Who do many believe was guilty of the murder? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Richard Louis "Dick" Proenneke (1916)An icon of wilderness living, Proenneke spent 30 years residing alone in a log cabin he built by hand in remote Twin Lakes, Alaska. His three decades of solitude there were, in fact, his retirement years. During his stay, he chronicled his daily life, keeping detailed written journals and filming his activities, like the construction of his cabin, as well as wildlife. Proenneke left Alaska in 1998, at age 82, to live out the remainder of his life with family. What has since become of his cabin? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willingly avoids the sight of distress.W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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in bits and pieces— In many small fragments. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Cassinga Day (2021)On May 4, 1978, South African forces attacked a SWAPO (South West Africa People's Organization) base located in the old Angolan mining town of Cassinga. Hundreds of Namibians died during the attack. Namibia eventually won its political independence in 1990 and is currently ruled by the SWAPO party government, and a national holiday is declared every year on the anniversary of the attack to commemorate those who died in their country's struggle for independence. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: harmfulcatalytic converter - A device with a catalyst for converting pollutant gases into less harmful ones. More... allergen - Though allergens are not harmful themselves, when they are combined with certain antibodies, a reaction (i.e. the allergy) liberates substances that damage body cells and tissues. More... intrigant - A person who plots something illicit or harmful. More... nocuous - Meaning "harmful, noxious," it is based on Latin nocere, "to hurt." More... | |