Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, December 23, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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baffle
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Negative AdverbsNegative adverbs and negative adverbials are used to modify the meaning of a verb, adjective, other adverb, or entire clause in a negative way. What are double negatives? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Eta CarinaeAround 1730, astronomers noted that Eta Carinae—one of the most massive stars known to science—had gotten brighter. It soon faded, only to intensify again in April 1843. Despite its enormous distance from Earth—about 7,500 light years—Eta Carinae became the second brightest star in the sky before again fading. Though the star was not destroyed in the 1843 "supernova imposter event," it could undergo a catastrophic explosion in the relatively near future. How might such an event affect Earth? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Tokyo Tower Completed (1958)In the postwar boom of the 1950s, Japan was searching for a monument to symbolize its ascendancy as a global economic powerhouse. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, architects designed the 1,093-foot- (333-meter-) tall Tokyo Tower, the world's tallest self-supporting steel structure. Today, the Tokyo Tower serves as a television and radio communications tower and is also a major tourist attraction. What was the source of about a third of the metal used in the tower's construction? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Madam C.J. Walker (1867)Thought to be America's first black female millionaire, this daughter of ex-slaves was orphaned at 7, working at 10, married at 14, and a widow with an infant at 20. She worked as a domestic and laundress and in her scant spare time developed a treatment system to stop hair loss in African-American women and create smooth, shiny coiffures. She soon expanded her product line, and by 1917, her cosmetics empire was the largest black-owned business in the US. What did she do with her riches? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 We have no right to distress any of God's creatures without a very good reason.Anna Sewell (1820-1878) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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hold (one's) water— To be calm or patient; to stop making pressing demands, requests, or solicitations. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Night of the Radishes (2023)Night of the Radishes is a festival dating from the 19th century that combines art, agriculture, and religion. It is held in the zócalo, or main square, in Oaxaca, Mexico. The radishes grow to yam-size here and are each uniquely shaped by growing through the rocky soil. Families harvest these vegetables, and combine and sculpt them into elaborate forms depicting biblical scenes, especially the nativity of Jesus. Historical and Aztec themes are also represented. After the awarding of cash prizes and ribbons, a fireworks display caps the night. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: micemurine - Means "pertaining to mice or rodents." More... muscle - Comes from Latin musculus, "little mouse," as the ancient Romans thought their muscles wriggled like mice. More... mussel - Also gets its name from Latin musculus. More... dormouse - A rodent but not a mouse, it may be a corrupted form of French dormeus, "sleepy." More... | |