Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, July 15, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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ridgepole
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Second ConditionalSecond conditional sentences include a simple past tense verb in the "if clause" and a future tense verb in the main clause, preceded by the auxiliary verb "would." What do these sentences refer to? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 PareidoliaWhether it's a face on Mars or the Virgin Mary's image on a grilled-cheese sandwich, perception of the meaningful in the mundane is common. It is called pareidolia, the psychological phenomenon in which a vague and random stimulus, such as an image or sound, is perceived as significant. Common examples include images of animals in clouds, the man in the moon, and hidden messages on records played in reverse. What test uses pareidolia to attempt to gain insight into a person's mental state? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Chowchilla School Bus Kidnapping (1976)Chowchilla is a small California town that made national headlines when kidnappers took control of a school bus full of children in 1976. The 26 children and their bus driver, Ed Ray, were driven around in two vans for 11 hours before being forced into a moving van buried in a quarry. After 16 hours underground, Ray and the children managed to escape. All were safely returned home, and the kidnappers were soon arrested. Who were they? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Dame Iris Murdoch (1919)An Irish-born novelist and philosopher, Murdoch studied at Cambridge under prominent philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein before pursuing a career in writing. Her novels focus on the idea that free will is illusory and depict humans as "accidental" creatures, seemingly free but actually bound to self, society, and the natural world. She penned 26 novels and many philosophical works before Alzheimer's ended her writing career. To what non-medical condition did she initially attribute her symptoms? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 When a man bleeds inwardly, it is a dangerous thing for himself; but when he laughs inwardly, it bodes no good to other people.Charles Dickens (1812-1870) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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be not worth a brass farthing— To be completely worthless or useless; to have little or no value. Refers to farthings (obsolete British units of currency, worth one-quarter of a penny), formerly made from a copper alloy (brass). Primarily heard in UK. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Basset Hound Games (2018)The Basset Hound games are held annually at Legion Park in Woodburn, Oregon, as a way to bring together Basset Hound owners and their dogs in a day of light-hearted activities. The dogs compete in such custom-tailored Basset Hound events as longest ears, marathon napping, and the best howl. The public is welcome to view the games. The event is run by and raises money for Oregon Basset Hound Rescue, a non-profit group that fosters abandoned Basset Hounds and places them in permanent homes. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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| In the News | |
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Biting Your Nails May Help Your AllergiesKids love to put their hands in their mouths. Up to 25% of children suck their thumb or bite their nails, despite warnings not to; dentists and dermatologists caution that thumb sucking can adversely affect gum and mouth health and even lead to skin ... More... | |