Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, August 14, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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stoop
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| Article of the Day | |
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 The Cluttered Lives of the Collyer BrothersAmerican brothers Homer and Langley Collyer lived as hermits in their New York City home before being found dead in 1947, surrounded by more than 100 tons of rubbish amassed over several decades. Their uncontrolled collecting is often cited as a prime example of the hoarding behavior associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Among the clutter were 14 pianos, pickled human organs, and the chassis of an old car, with booby-traps set up to protect against intruders. How did the men die? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 British Troops Are Deployed in Northern Ireland (1969)In August 1969, tensions between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland came to a head in the predominantly-Catholic Bogside neighborhood of Londonderry. For days, fighting raged with Catholic residents on one side and police and Protestant residents on the other. On August 14, British troops were deployed to restore order. Some consider that day to be the definitive beginning of the decades-long conflict known as The Troubles. How did residents react to the arrival of the army? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Hans Christian Ørsted (1777)Ørsted was a Danish physicist and chemist. In 1820, he discovered that electric current passing through a wire can deflect a nearby compass needle, a phenomenon that inspired the development of electromagnetic theory. His 1820 discovery of piperine, one of the pungent components of pepper, was an important contribution to chemistry. In 1824, he founded a society devoted to the spread of scientific knowledge among the general public. What unit of measurement was named after him? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 I describe not men, but manners; not an individual, but a species.Henry Fielding (1707-1754) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Great Battle of Hansan Festival (2020)The Great Battle of Hansan Festival is held annually in Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea, for four days in August. This colorful and eventful celebration marks the stunning victory of Admiral Yi Sun-sin over the Japanese navy at the Battle of Hansan during the Imjin War (1592-1598). A re-enactment of the battle in the waters off Tongyeong is the undisputed highlight of the event, but dozens of associated activities are also held, including a commemorative parade; performances of music, dance, and drama; art exhibitions; and lectures. More... | |