Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, August 31, 2015)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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avidity
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining Evaluative AdverbsMost adverbs describe how or when an action occurs. Evaluative adverbs are different. Instead of giving us information about the action itself, evaluative adverbs are used by the speaker to comment or give an opinion on something. What do evaluative adverbs modify in a sentence? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Arlo GuthrieArlo Guthrie, American folk singer and son of Woody Guthrie, is perhaps best known for his talking blues song “Alice's Restaurant.” The song's original recording lasts 18 minutes and 20 seconds, though Arlo has been know to lengthen the song to 45 minutes in concert. Based on an actual incident, the song was a scathing indictment of the Vietnam War draft. Arlo also appeared at the 1969 Woodstock Festival in Bethel, New York. What movie launched his acting career? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Thomas Edison Patents Kinetoscope in the US (1897)Developed by Edison's assistant, W.K.L. Dickson, the kinetoscope was a precursor to the modern motion-picture projector. It works through a phenomenon known as "persistence of vision," in which a sequence of images creates the illusion of motion. Initially, Edison hoped to synchronize the images with sound, but he was unable to achieve this. The kinetoscope was designed to be viewed by one person at a time. Why did Edison supposedly balk at the idea of projecting films before larger audiences? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Commodus (161 CE)The son of Marcus Aurelius, Commodus was a Roman emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 CE—a period some historians consider the beginning of the empire's decline. Though his reign was fairly peaceful, Commodus was a tyrant who spent lavishly on gladiatorial combats, persecuted the Senate, and tried to rename Rome after himself. He fancied himself a gladiator, frequently killing exotic animals. His mistress and advisors had him strangled. He considered himself the reincarnation of what mythical hero? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 How is it possible to expect that mankind will take advice when they will not so much as take warning.Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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last-minute— (used before a noun) Done at the very last possible moment or opportunity. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Trinidad and Tobago Independence Day (2017)After being subjected to British rule since 1802, Trinidad and Tobago became an independent commonwealth state on this day in 1962. This national holiday is celebrated amid a Carnival atmosphere, with an elaborate military parade accompanied by calypsos at the Queen's Park Savannah. Religious services are varied to accommodate the Yoruba Orisha, Hindu, Muslim, Baptist, and other faiths represented in the citizenry. Later in the day, awards are presented at the National Awards Ceremony to those who have notably served their country. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: science fictiondroid - A robot in science fiction, it is a shortening of android. More... death ray - Was a staple of (pulp) science fiction in the mid-20th century. More... time warp - A concept that arose in the 1950s and originally applied to science fiction. More... warp speed - Alludes to the use in science fiction, especially the speed used for interstellar travel in the science fiction television series Star Trek. More... | |
| In the News | |
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Global Life Expectancy Climbs, but So Do Years of IllnessAverage life expectancy among people worldwide has risen by more than six years since 1990, and healthy life expectancy has climbed by more than five years, a new report shows. The analysis of data from 188 countries found that life expectancy for both ... More... | |