Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, February 7, 2022)| Word of the Day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
debacle
| |||||||
| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
|---|---|
Forming Irregular PluralsThere are some nouns that are irregular and do not adhere to spelling rules. "Child" is an irregular plural noun. Can you name any others? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 The BallistaThe ballista is an ancient missile launcher designed to hurl long arrows or heavy balls. The largest could accurately hurl 60-pound (27-kg) weights up to about 500 yards (450 m). The Greek version was basically a huge crossbow, while the Roman ballista was powered by torsion and used two separate arms joined at their ends by the cord that propelled the missile. Once the Roman Empire declined, so too did the ballista—it was too challenging and expensive to build. Which weapons took its place? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 The Cripple Creek Miners' Strike (1894)In 1891, gold was discovered on a cattle ranch in Cripple Creek, Colorado, creating one of the richest camps of a major gold-producing area. Two years later, the Western Federation of Miners (WFM) was established by the merger of several local miners' unions in the Rocky Mountain states. In 1894, the WFM led a five-month strike in Cripple Creek, resulting in a victory for the miners. The strike began when mine owners attempted to lengthen the work day—with no increase in pay—to how many hours? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Charles Dickens (1812)When Dickens was a boy, his father was placed in debtors' prison. As a result, he was withdrawn from school and forced to work in a factory—an experience that deeply influenced his future writings. Now regarded as one of the world's most popular, prolific, and skilled novelists, Dickens began his literary career as a reporter, developing an encyclopedic knowledge of London and the ability to vividly describe people and everyday life. Under what pen name did Dickens initially publish his work? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.James Madison (1751-1836) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
be like herding cats— To be very unwieldy or unmanageable; to be nearly impossible to organize. Usually said of a group of people. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Grenada Independence Day (2024)This is a national holiday commemorating Grenada's independence from Britain on this day in 1974. Britain had held the island since the 18th century, when France ceded it under the Treaty of Paris. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
|---|---|
Today's topic: vanillahard sauce - Contains butter and sugar, with brandy, rum, or vanilla. More... oak - In the flavor of wines, it comes from oak cases and is similar to coconut or vanilla. More... vanilla - Can mean "having no special features." More... white chocolate - A blend of cocoa butter, milk solids and sugar and vanilla, it used in candy bars and baking and coatings; it is not technically chocolate because it contains no chocolate liqueur. More... | |