Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, August 31, 2015)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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avidity
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| 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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 Hermann von Helmholtz (1821)Helmholtz was one of the greatest scientists of the 19th century. He made fundamental contributions to physiology, optics, electrodynamics, mathematics, acoustics, and meteorology, but he is best known for formulating the mathematical law of conservation of energy. His approach was strongly empirical at a time when many scientists embraced deductions from mental concepts. He described body heat and energy, nerve conduction, and the physiology of the eye. What medical instruments did he invent? 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) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Hari Merdeka (Merdeka Day) (2018)Merdeka Day is a national holiday in Malaysia to commemorate its merdeka, or independence, from the British in 1957. Parts of Malaysia were under the rule of various foreign powers for centuries, but by the 1920s all the states eventually comprising Malaysia were ruled by Britain. The Federation of Malaya was founded in 1957 and Malaysia was formed in 1963. The streets of towns and cities are decorated on this day, and there are numerous parades, exhibitions, and stage shows. More... | |