Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, April 2, 2015)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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pleonastic
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Moses MontefioreMontefiore was a famous 19th century British-Jewish philanthropist. He was connected through marriage to the famed Rothschild family and became affiliated with the family's banking business. After accumulating a fortune on the London stock exchange, he retired at age 40 to devote himself to philanthropy and to securing political and civil emancipation for Jews in England, founding a hospital and girls' school in Jerusalem in 1855. Montefiore was knighted by what queen? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Sverdlovsk Anthrax Leak (1979)Known as the "biological Chernobyl," the accidental release of anthrax at a Russian military facility in Sverdlovsk—now Yekaterinburg—roughly 900 mi (1,450 km) east of Moscow, sickened and killed around 100 people. The exact number of victims remains unknown because, as part of the Soviet government's cover-up of the incident, which it blamed on tainted meat, all of the victims' medical records were destroyed. What fortuitous weather condition likely prevented a much greater loss of life? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Giacomo Casanova (1725)Although his name is now synonymous with philandering playboys, Casanova was initially a man of the church. Expelled from an Italian seminary for scandalous conduct, he was later denounced as a magician and imprisoned. He escaped and traveled widely before becoming a spy for Venetian inquisitors. His huge autobiography, first published in 12 volumes, paints a vivid picture of 18th-century Europe and established his reputation as a seducer. He spent his last years in what rather tame occupation? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Heathen, n.: A benighted creature who has the folly to worship something that he can see and feel.Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Georgiritt (2018)St. George is honored each year at Traunstein in Bavaria, Germany, on Easter Monday to commemorate the legend of George's victory over the dragon that was threatening the pagan city of Sylene. Because St. George is usually depicted on horseback, the farmers of Traunstein decorate their own horses with garlands and ribbons and ride them across the fields and three times around the parish church. After the local priest blesses the horses and other animals, the procession turns toward the village. The festival ends with ritualistic sword dances that have been handed down from medieval times. More... | |