Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, September 3, 2015)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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thurible
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Irregular Comparative AdverbsJust as there are irregular adverbs, there are irregular comparative adverbs. "Well" is an example of an irregular comparative adverb. What are some others? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Mother-of-PearlNacre, also known as mother-of-pearl, is the iridescent substance that forms the shell lining of some fresh-water and salt-water mollusks. Just like the pearl, it is a mantle tissue secretion and is composed of alternating layers of calcium carbonate and conchiolin. It serves to both smooth the shell and defend it against parasitic organisms and damaging debris. Its iridescent beauty makes it a popular ornamentation in jewelry, watches and guitar inlays. What other decorative uses does it have? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Qatar Becomes an Independent State (1971)Qatar, located on a small peninsula in the Persian Gulf, became a British protectorate in 1916. It remained under British control for more than 50 years, a period during which oil was discovered there and Qatar rapidly modernized. In 1968, Britain declared that it would disengage from the region, and Qatar joined a federation of nearby states. However, disputes arose, and, in 1971, Qatar became an independent state. Prior to the discovery of oil there, Qatar was noted for what unusual industry? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Louis Sullivan (1856)Sullivan is considered the father of modern American architecture. After working for several Chicago firms, he joined the office of Dankmar Adler in 1879, becoming Adler's partner at age 24. Their 14-year association produced more than 100 buildings, many of them landmarks. During this period, Frank Lloyd Wright spent six years as an apprentice to Sullivan, who would be a major influence on the younger architect. What famous phrase did Sullivan coin to express his architectural philosophy? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 "I could tell you my adventures—beginning from this morning," said Alice a little timidly: "but it's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then."Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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broken record— A person or thing that repeats itself over and over again. Likened to vinyl records that when severely scratched (i.e., "broken") can loop over the same recorded segment endlessly. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Taiwan Armed Forces Day (2019)Founded in 1955, Armed Forces Day in Taiwan honors the country's military and celebrates their victory over the Japanese in World War II (called in Taiwan the War of Resistance). The day is marked by military parades featuring special units chosen for their precision and outstanding performance. A troop-cheering by the onlookers is also part of the celebration, as are educational activities covering the history of the war period and the role of the Taiwanese military in defeating the enemy. The day is also marked by the members of the armed forces having a rare day off from work. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: stallloge - A booth or stall; also a box in a theatre. More... cage - Came to English from Latin cavea, "enclosure for animals; coop, hive, or stall"—or "dungeon." More... install - Its earliest sense was "place in office by seating in a stall or official seat," from Old French estaler, "to place," from estal, "place." More... pedestal - Comes from Old Italian piedestallo, a conflation of pie de stallo, "foot of a stall." More... | |