Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, July 26, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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befuddled
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining Regular VerbsAll English verbs are either regular or irregular, depending on how they are conjugated. The majority are regular verbs. What does this mean? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Cargo CultsFirst appearing in the late 19th c. but particularly prevalent after WWII, when many Pacific Islanders witnessed airdrops of supplies, cargo cults are the unorthodox religious movements that appeared in tribal societies after interaction with Westerners. Believing fallen cargo came from divine spirits who would send more upon seeing rituals based on the foreigners' behavior, the tribes built straw airplanes, radios made of coconuts, and other pseudo-Western items. Do any cargo cults exist today? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 US President Truman Signs Executive Order Desegregating Military (1948)Expanding on 1941's Executive Order 8802, which prohibited discrimination in the defense industry, Order 9981 required that all persons in the armed forces be treated equally without regard to race or other factors. It also called for the establishment of an advisory committee to facilitate the implementation of this policy. The order eliminated segregation in the armed forces within years, though racism was another matter entirely. What historically black boot camp was eliminated by Order 9981? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Aldous Huxley (1894)Huxley was a British writer known for his works of witty and pessimistic satire, like Antic Hay (1923), which established his reputation as a novelist. In his acclaimed Brave New World, he envisions a nightmarish, scientifically controlled future society that underscores the dehumanizing aspects of technological progress. His later works reveal an interest in philosophy and mysticism. Though he spent much of his life in the US, he was repeatedly denied citizenship for what reason? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 How quick come the reasons for approving what we like!Jane Austen (1775-1817) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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jump at the chance (to do something)— To accept or seize with alacrity an opportunity (to do something). More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Teej (2017)Teej is a way to welcome the monsoon, the season when the wind from the Indian Ocean brings heavy rainfall. This is also a celebration for women and is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva and patron goddess of women. On Teej, specially decorated swings are hung from trees in every village, and women swing on them and sing songs in praise of Parvati. Married women go to their parents' home and receive gifts of clothes and jewelry. There are also local fairs and processions carrying the image of the goddess. On this day, she is supposed to have been reunited with Shiva. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: open spacelaund - An open space in the woods, like a glade or pasture. More... step-thru - Refers to having an open space in an otherwise solid object through which a person can step or walk, e.g. a motor-scooter has a step-thru frame. More... agoraphobia - Based on Greek agora, "open space," it was not the first phobia described, which was actually hydrophobia in the mid-16th century. More... concourse - An open space for people to move about in an airport terminal (or a set of gates) or other transport station. More... | |
| In the News | |
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Psychotherapy Helps People Turn Down the Din of TinnitusAbout three years ago, a high-pitched "eeeeeeeee" sound started ringing in Linda Gray's ears. Sometimes, the ring would suddenly turn into a roar, sending Gray into panic mode. Her heart would speed up. She'd try to find a quiet room. "You're trying to ... More... | |