Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, August 13, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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duster
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Diyu: The Realm of the DeadElements from Taoism, Buddhism, and traditional Chinese folk religion are all incorporated in the Chinese concept of Diyu, a mythological realm of the dead. A purgatory of sorts, Diyu is a maze of underground levels and chambers where souls atone for their earthly sins and prepare for reincarnation. According to some legends, Diyu has 18 levels, each of which is reserved for specific categories of offenders. What are some of the punishments found in each level? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Circus Acrobat Otto Witte Crowned King of Albania…or Not (1913)Witte was a German citizen and circus acrobat who claimed to have impersonated his way into being crowned King of Albania in 1913—by some accounts, on August 13. According to Witte, he enjoyed the royal harem and reigned for several days before being discovered as an impostor. Though he was likely lying, his story was picked up by several publications, including Time magazine. What novel may have given Witte the idea for his story, and what other novel was then based on Witte? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Lucy Stone (1818)In 1847, Stone became the first Massachusetts woman to graduate college. Not long after, she began speaking on women's rights. An effective orator, she is said to have swayed antagonistic audiences and inspired Susan B. Anthony to join the cause. She kept her own name after marriage as a protest against the unequal laws applied to married women, and others who did the same called themselves "Lucy Stoners." She caused an uproar by wearing "bloomers." What were they, and why were they so named? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 How does one kill fear, I wonder? How do you shoot a specter through the heart, slash off its spectral head, take it by its spectral throat?Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Iowa State Fair (2020)One of America's foremost state fairs, the Iowa State Fair is held for 11 days at the fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. Attracting close to a million people each year, the fair is famous for having inspired the Phil Stong novel, State Fair, and three movies based on the novel. The fair is also famous for its cow made out of butter, which is kept in a display case cooled to 40 degrees. Sheep are an important feature at the fair, and sheepshearing contests are popular. The big boar contest is also popular; the winning animal always weighs in at more than half a ton. More... | |