Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, August 27, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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beseem
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining ClausesClauses are groups of words that contain both a subject and a predicate. There are two main types of clauses: independent clauses (which can function independently as sentences) and dependent clauses. What do dependent clauses depend on? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Táin Bó Cúailnge: The Cattle Raid of CooleySet in the 1st century BCE and recorded between the 8th and 11th centuries, Táin Bó Cúailnge—The Cattle Raid of Cooley—is the central and longest text of the Ulster cycle, a group of early Irish legends about the pagan heroes of the pre-Christian age. The hero of this tale is 17-year-old Cuchulain, an Irish Achilles who single-handedly defended the province of Ulster against the armies of Ireland, led by Queen Medb. What mythical beast had Medb hoped to capture in the attack? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Mars Makes Its Closest Approach to Earth in Nearly 60,000 Years (2003)In its most favorable position for viewing, when it is opposite the Sun, Mars is twice as bright as the brightest star in the sky. The Red Planet was even more visible in 2003, when it made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, passing within 35 million mi (56 million km) of us. An email sent during the 2003 approach has spawned hoax emails saying that during an upcoming approach Mars will appear as big as the Moon. When is the next time Mars will be as close as it was in 2003? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Theodore Dreiser (1871)Dreiser was a novelist and pioneer of naturalism in American literature. After working as a journalist, magazine editor, and publisher, he published his first novel, Sister Carrie, which was denounced as scandalous. In 1915, the withdrawal of his autobiographical novel, The Genius, from distribution on moral grounds ignited a national anticensorship campaign supported by most of the leading literary figures of the day. Whose murder inspired his An American Tragedy? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 In so complex a thing as human nature, we must consider, it is hard to find rules without exception.George Eliot (1819-1880) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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big break— A fortuitous moment, opportunity, or turn of events of great consequence, especially as relates to one's career. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Helsinki Festival (2019)The largest cultural event in the Nordic countries is the Helsinki Festival. First held in 1967, its programming includes music from all periods—rock, jazz, opera, symphonic music, and chamber works—as well as theater, ballet, circus, and art and photo exhibitions. Among the many musical events is what is known as the Festival Informal, a series where artists and visitors meet informally for "relaxed performances." Events are held in the city's parks and arcades as well as in the modern Finlandia Hall and the Finnish National Theatre and Opera. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: lightsday - One of the perpendicular divisions or "lights" of a mullioned window. More... blackout - Originally a theatrical term for the extinguishing of all lights on the stage when scenery was shifted. More... taps, last post - Taps, the bugle call for lights out, was originally a drum roll and got its name from the tapping of the drums; taps are also called last post. More... twilight - The time of two lights, the fading sunset and the emerging light of the moon and stars; there are three sequential stages of twilight: civil twilight, nautical twilight, and astronomical twilight. More... | |