Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, May 23, 2015)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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scatology
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| Article of the Day | |
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 The History of the Sewing MachineThe sewing machine is a device that stitches cloth and other materials. An attempt at mechanical sewing was made in England in 1790 with a machine having a forked, automatic needle that made a single-thread chain, but it was American inventor Elias Howe who made the first successful machine in 1846, using an eye-pointed needle and an intermittent feed. Isaac M. Singer, who is often credited with inventing the machine, patented what improvements to the device? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 New York Public Library Dedicated (1911)When former New York governor Samuel J. Tilden died in 1886, he left $2.4 million in his will for the creation of a grand public library. At that time, there were two other important libraries in New York City—the Astor and the Lenox—but they were struggling. With Tilden's gift, they were merged in 1895. The new library's cornerstone was laid in 1902 at the old Croton Reservoir on Fifth Avenue, and it finally opened to the public in 1911. By 1910, how many miles of shelves had been installed? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Rosemary Clooney (1928)Clooney was an American singer popular in the 1950s with hits such as "Come On-a My House." She also appeared in several movies, including White Christmas (1954), which co-starred Bing Crosby. In the 1960s, mental illness and drug addiction took a toll on her career, but she made a comeback in the mid-1970s and performed until her death in 2002. Her 1968 mental breakdown was precipitated by the assassination—as she stood nearby—of what personal friend? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her [America's] heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy.John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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fingers crossed— An expression of hope that something one desires will come to pass or turn out to be true. A truncated version of the phrase "keep your fingers crossed." More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Declaration of the Bab (2017)Declaration of the Bab is a joyous Baha'i festival to celebrate the Bab's announcement in 1844 in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), that he was the "gate" (which is the meaning of Bab) to the coming of the promised one of all religions. This proclamation is considered the beginning of the Baha'i faith, although the religion was founded after the Bab's death. This day is holy to Baha'is and a day on which work is suspended. Its observation begins at about two hours after sunset on May 22. More... | |
| In the News | |
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Child's Life Can Be Significantly Improved by Dogs that Can Sniff SeizuresAlyssa was just 4 when her sight was lost and she also started to get seizures as many as up to 20 a day. 3 years ago, Alyssa got a gift, Flint – a service dog and that change the life of Alyssa and her family in Los Angeles. The dog has become an integral part ... More... | |