Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, June 24, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining InflectionGrammatical inflection is the way in which a word is changed or altered in form in order to achieve a new, specific meaning. Verbs are the most commonly inflected words, changing form to reflect grammatical tense, as well as mood, voice, aspect, person, and speech. Collectively, this is known as what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Automatic Number Plate RecognitionAutomatic number plate recognition, or ANPR, is a mass surveillance method that utilizes optical character recognition to "read" vehicle license plates in images taken by designated cameras. Used by law enforcement and for electronic toll collection, ANPR systems can store images, license plate text, and, sometimes, photographs of drivers, leading to public concerns about government tracking and misidentification. Modern ANPR systems are capable of scanning plates on cars traveling how fast? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Sally Ride Returns to Earth (1983)Before astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman to reach outer space, she made a name for herself as a nationally-ranked tennis player. After earning her bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from Stanford University, she took part in her first space shuttle mission in 1983, serving on board the Challenger. She later served on the panels that investigated the Challenger and Columbia shuttle disasters. What two women preceded Ride in space? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Ambrose Bierce (1842)Author of humorous sketches, horror stories, and tales of the supernatural, Bierce was an American journalist, satirist, and short story writer. Among his best known works are the short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and The Devil's Dictionary, a volume of ironic definitions that showcase his sardonic outlook. In 1913, Bierce traveled to Mexico for a firsthand perspective on its ongoing revolution and disappeared without a trace. What are some theories about how he died? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The knight's bones are dust,And his good sword rust; His soul is with the saints, I trust. Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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golden duck— In cricket, a batter's score of zero after being dismissed on the very first ball he or she faces. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Venezuela Battle of Carabobo Day (2023)The Battle of Carabobo was fought in Venezuela on June 24, 1821, between the Spanish and the Venezuelan freedom fighters, led by Simón Bolívar. Their victory led to the independence of Venezuela. At the site of the battle is the Alley of Glory. It leads to the Triumphal Arch, which features two female figures representing peace and victory. The Battle of Carabobo Day is marked by a military parade in Carabobo. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: sailingaloof - Comes from sailing, in which ships keep clear of coastal rocks by holding the vessel "luff"—"to the windward"; so, to hold "a-luff" means to "keep clear." More... jibe - Meaning "be compatible, consistent," it may come from the earlier jibe, "to shift a sail from side to side while sailing in the wind." More... plain sailing - Probably comes from plane sailing, a way of determining a ship's position based on its moving on a plane (flat surface). More... aback - Originated in sailing, as a ship was taken aback when a strong gust of wind suddenly blew the sails back against the mast, causing the ship to stop momentarily. More... | |