Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, July 15, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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ridgepole
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Active VoiceThe active voice is a type of grammatical voice in which the subject is also the agent of the verb—i.e., it performs the action expressed by the verb. In active-voice sentences, where is the agent always positioned? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 PareidoliaWhether it's a face on Mars or the Virgin Mary's image on a grilled-cheese sandwich, perception of the meaningful in the mundane is common. It is called pareidolia, the psychological phenomenon in which a vague and random stimulus, such as an image or sound, is perceived as significant. Common examples include images of animals in clouds, the man in the moon, and hidden messages on records played in reverse. What test uses pareidolia to attempt to gain insight into a person's mental state? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Crusaders Take the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem (1099)Built in the 4th century by Constantine, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is the supposed location of Jesus' tomb. The holy site was captured and partially destroyed numerous times, and, in 1096, the First Crusade was launched in part to recapture it. In 1099, Crusaders poured into Jerusalem, killed its non-Christian population, and took the church. It was rebuilt, and has since been carefully divided among quarreling Christian factions. Who has traditionally kept the key? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Linda Ronstadt (1946)Ronstadt is an American popular-music singer and record producer. She embarked on a solo career in the late 1960s and became known for her interpretations of folk songs and collaborations with artists from a diverse array of genres. She became one of the most successful female singers of the 1970s and branched out in the 80s with award-winning Spanish language albums. One of her grandfathers was an inventor who made a fortune by patenting what widely used household item? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 When a man bleeds inwardly, it is a dangerous thing for himself; but when he laughs inwardly, it bodes no good to other people.Charles Dickens (1812-1870) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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be honor-bound to do (something)— To be or feel obliged to do something because it is morally correct or required by one's sense of duty or integrity, even if one does not desire to do so. Primarily heard in US. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Hill Cumorah Pageant (2020)Billed as the largest outdoor pageant in the United States, the Hill Cumorah Pageant is based on the Bible and the Book of Mormon and is presented by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Palmyra, New York, for nine consecutive evenings (excluding Sunday and Monday) in July. It tells the story of the people who lived on the North American continent between 600 BCE and 421 CE, and how Christ taught these ancient Americans his gospel after his resurrection in Jerusalem. Presented on seven stages, more than 500 people participate in the pageant on a volunteer basis. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: shydemur, demure - Demur is the verb "to object or voice opposition," while demure is the adjective meaning "modest, shy." More... farouche - Means "sullen or shy in company." More... milquetoast - Comes from a comic strip character created in 1924 who was shy, timid, and unassertive. More... shrinking violet - Violets actually shrink as if they become shy, giving us this term. More... | |