Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, October 1, 2015)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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villein
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Prepositional PhrasesA prepositional phrase is made up of at least a preposition and its object, which can be a noun, pronoun, or a noun phrase. What is an adjectival prepositional phrase? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The EyeThe eye is an organ of vision and light perception. In the human eye, the iris diaphragm regulates the size of the pupil, allowing more or less light to enter the eye as necessary. Light is focused by the combined action of the curved cornea, internal fluids, and lens. When light reaches the retina, located at the back of the eye, the light-sensitive rod and cone cells are stimulated. They, in turn, send signals to the brain via the optic nerve. How do the rods and cones differ in function? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Thrilla in Manila (1975)Frequently rated among the greatest boxing matches of all time, the Thrilla in Manila saw world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali meet rival Joe Frazier for the third—and final—time. Leading up to the match, Ali had publicly taunted Frazier, calling him a "gorilla." Because many believed Frazier to be past his prime, Ali—though older—was expected to win. However, the fight went on for 14 brutal rounds in the sweltering Manila heat, and neither man was able to knock out the other. Who won? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Vladimir Samoylovich Horowitz (1903)A Russian-American virtuoso pianist, Horowitz made his debut in Russia at 17. Within years, he was touring internationally, with much success. He eventually settled in the US, where his extraordinary technical virtuosity made him one of the most popular pianists of his time. Always susceptible to nervous strain, in 1953 he decided to quit performing publicly. He returned to the stage in 1965 and occasionally thereafter until his death. Why did Horowitz's father lie about his son's birthday? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Equality may perhaps be a right, but no power on earth can ever turn it into a fact.Honore de Balzac (1799-1850) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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let (someone) off the hook— To pardon, release, or allow someone to escape from blame, responsibility, obligation, or difficulty. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Festival of the Holy Rosary (2017)The rosary is a string of beads used by Roman Catholics to count a ritual series of prayers consisting of 15 paternosters ("Our Fathers," also known as the Lord's Prayer), and 150 Ave Marias, or "Hail Marys." The festival, observed on the first Sunday in October, was established by Pope Pius V under the name of Santa Maria de Victoria (St. Mary of Victory). But the name was changed by Gregory XIII to Festival of the Rosary. Among the events for which the faithful in the former Yugoslavia give thanks on this day is the victory of Prince Eugene over the Turks at Belgrade in 1716. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: thickfoggy, fog - Foggy first meant "covered with a grass; mossy; boggy," as fog first meant "coarse grass" and evolved to mean "thick, murky" in relation to atmosphere. More... riley - Has two meanings: thick and turbid, or angry and irritable. More... baobab tree - Is so thick—up to 30 feet across—that some African tribes hollow them out so families can live inside. More... | |
| In the News | |
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Tiniest Snail Ever Found Could Fit Through a Needle's Eye 10 TimesHow many angels can dance on the head of a pin? Who knows? But 10 Angustopila dominikae snails can fit within the eye of a needle. The newly discovered snail species, found in China, may be the world's smallest land snail. The height of its shell is ... More... | |