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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 Death of Diana, Princess of Wales (1997)Diana's beauty and unprecedented popularity as a member of the royal family attracted intense press attention, and she became one of the most photographed women in the world. After her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996, she remained highly visible and continued her activities on behalf of numerous charities. In 1997, she was killed in a car crash in Paris, along with her companion, Dodi al-Fayed, and their driver. Who was blamed for the accident in subsequent investigations? 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) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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Kodak moment— A particularly poignant, memorable, or emotionally touching moment or event, i.e., one that would be well-suited to be captured in a photograph. Taken from an advertising slogan for Eastman Kodak photographic film and cameras. Sometimes used ironically or satirically. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Moldovan Language Day (Limba Noastra) (2016)Limba Noastra, or Our Language Day, is a public holiday in Moldova. On August 31, 1989, Moldova became the first Soviet republic to pass a law declaring its language, Moldovan, to be the official language of the republic. The law also formally proclaimed that Moldovan and Romanian were the same. Second in importance only to Moldova Independence Day on August 27, Language Day is celebrated with ceremonies at the burial sites of individuals linked to the struggle for cultural rights of Romanians, especially Romanian poets and writers. 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... | |