Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, August 27, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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splendiferous
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Adverbs of PurposeAdverbs of purpose (sometimes called adverbs of reason) tell us why something happens or is the case. They can modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. What parts of speech generally make up adverbs of purpose? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 AssassinAssassin is a real-life role-playing game that is particularly popular on college campuses. Though rules vary, the game usually begins when a host assigns targets to the players. The goal is for players to track down and eliminate their targets—acquiring the eliminated victim's target each time—until only one player remains. Targets are pursued around the clock, so to be successful, players must remain vigilant at all times. What are some of the "weapons" used to eliminate targets? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 IRA Bomb Kills British Statesman and Naval Commander Louis Mountbatten (1979)A British statesman and former naval commander, Mountbatten often spent his summers in Mullaghmore, Ireland, an area also frequented by members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). In the summer of 1979, IRA member Thomas McMahon planted a bomb in Mountbatten's boat, and it exploded as Mountbatten and some family members left on a fishing trip. Mountbatten was killed along with his grandson and another boy working on the boat. What other IRA incident happened the same day? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Emmanuel Radnitzky, AKA Man Ray (1890)Radnitzky was a photographer, painter, and filmmaker better known in the art world as Man Ray. After forming the New York Dada group with Marcel Duchamp in 1917, he moved to Paris and became associated with the Surrealists. By placing objects on light-sensitive paper and exposing them to sunlight, he created "cameraless" pictures called "rayographs." He later turned to portrait and fashion photography, extensively documenting Parisian celebrities. How did Radnitzky come to be known as Man Ray? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Who has not remarked the readiness with which the closest of friends and honestest of men suspect and accuse each other of cheating when they fall out on money matters?William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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hash slinger— A cook or a waitress, especially at a diner or cheap restaurant. ("Hash," in this sense, refers to a dish or stew of chopped meat and vegetables, not hashish.) Primarily heard in US. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Helsinki Festival (2023)The largest cultural event in the Nordic countries is the Helsinki Festival. First held in 1967, its programming includes music from all periods—rock, jazz, opera, symphonic music, and chamber works—as well as theater, ballet, circus, and art and photo exhibitions. Among the many musical events is what is known as the Festival Informal, a series where artists and visitors meet informally for "relaxed performances." Events are held in the city's parks and arcades as well as in the modern Finlandia Hall and the Finnish National Theatre and Opera. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: terrierwhippet - A cross between a greyhound and a terrier. More... terrier - A dog that "takes the earth" or unearths its prey, from Latin terra, "earth." More... Dobermann, pinscher - Dobermanns are named for German dog breeder Ludwig Dobermann; pinscher means "terrier" in German. More... Jack Russell - A type of terrier—not recognized as a distinct breed— named for the Rev. John Russell (1795-1883) of Devonshire. More... | |