Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, August 12, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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pedicab
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Copito de NieveThe most popular resident of the Barcelona Zoo during his life, Copito de Nieve was an albino Western Lowland Gorilla—the only known albino gorilla. Originally captured in 1966 in what is now Equatorial Guinea, where he was called Nfumu Ngi, or "White Gorilla," he later gained fame as Copito de Nieve, Spanish for "Snowflake," a nickname given to him by National Geographic magazine. During his nearly 40 years in captivity, Snowflake fathered 22 offspring. How many survived to adulthood? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Isaac Singer Granted Patent for Sewing Machine (1851)Before the advent of the sewing machine, sewing was a laborious task. Singer's 1851 sewing machine patent made him a very rich man. Several other people laid claim to having invented the sewing machine, notably Elias Howe, who won a lawsuit against Singer for infringement. Nevertheless, Singer's company was already well established and was able to pool its patents with other claimants to avoid litigation. At times, Singer used alternate names to accomplish what scandalous feat? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Ross and Norris McWhirter (1925)In 1954, a few years after identical twins Norris and Ross McWhirter founded a London fact-finding agency, they met a director of the Guinness brewing company, Sir Hugh Beaver, who commissioned a compilation of world records that was intended to settle bar-room disputes. The first edition of the McWhirters' Guinness Book of Records was given to bars for free as a marketing gimmick, but the book quickly became a phenomenal success. In 1975, Ross was assassinated. Why? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall.Francis Bacon (1561-1626) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Santa Fe Opera Festival (2020)The internationally acclaimed Santa Fe Opera Festival began in 1957 and survived the burning of the opera house in 1967. It is now staged in an open-air opera "house" atop a mesa outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Gala Opening Celebration includes an Opera Ball to benefit apprentice programs for young artists, and, on opening night, a festive reception, tailgate parties (with tablecloths and caviar and people in formal dress) and, after the performance, waltzing for the entire audience. More... | |