Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, July 6, 2021)Word of the Day | |||||||
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abominable
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Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining ComplementsComplements are words or groups of words that are necessary to complete the meaning of another part of the sentence. Complements act like modifiers to add additional meaning to the word or words they are attached to. Are complements always part of the subject or the predicate? More... |
Article of the Day | |
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Airline MealsFood service on commercial flights became the norm after 1936, when United Airlines installed the first onboard kitchen. Typically reheated on board, in-flight meals are often the butt of jokes due to their reputedly poor taste—though the food may not be to blame, as some studies suggest that high altitude and cabin pressure interfere with taste buds. In recent years, many airlines have cut back on meal service in order to cut costs. How much did one airline save by eliminating free pretzels? More... |
This Day in History | |
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Nigerian Civil War Begins (1967)Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960, and its first years of autonomy were characterized by severe conflict between its many ethnic groups. In 1967, the predominantly Igbo Eastern Region of Nigeria seceded amid fears that the rival Hausa tribe was gaining increasing power in Nigeria's central government. Though the newly proclaimed Republic of Biafra made advances early in the war, it was no match for Nigeria's forces. What medical organization was established as a result of the war? More... |
Today's Birthday | |
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Frida Kahlo (1907)Kahlo, a Mexican artist noted for her self-portraits, taught herself to paint while recovering from a severe bus accident that crippled her as a teen and required her to undergo some 35 operations. Drawing on her personal experiences, her works often starkly portray pain and the harsh lives of women. Though once known only as the wife of famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera, she eventually eclipsed his fame. Of her 143 paintings, how many are self-portraits? More... |
Quotation of the Day | |
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The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) |
Idiom of the Day | |
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throw (some) shapes— slang To dance, especially to popular music. Primarily heard in UK. More... |
Today's Holiday | |
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Birthday of the Dalai Lama (2023)This celebration is held on July 6 for the birthday of the current Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political head of Tibet. The present Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (b. 1935), is the latest in the line that began in the 14th century. Each Dalai Lama is believed to be the reincarnation of the preceding one, and when a Dalai Lama dies, Tibetan lamas search throughout the country for a child who is his reincarnation. The birthday is observed today by exiles in India with family picnics, traditional dances and singing, and incense-burning ceremonies to appease the local spirits. More... |
Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: lemonpip - An apple seed or lemon seed is a pip. More... citrus, citron - Latin citrus signified the citron, an Asian tree with lemonlike fruit; citron is a French derivative of citrus, coined on the model of French limon, "lemon." More... lemon sole - Actually a type of flounder—not sole—it has nothing to do with lemon other than it is pale-yellow in color; the name derives from French limande, "flatfish." More... muddle - To muddle a lemon is to lightly mash slices to release the essential oils. More... |