Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, March 13, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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raillery
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Using Subordinating ConjunctionsA subordinating conjunction does two things: it introduces and subordinates the dependent clause (telling the reader that it's less important than the independent clause), and it explains what relationship it has to the independent clause. When we use subordinating conjunctions to join two clauses, does it matter which clause comes first? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Morris DancingThe morris dance is an English folk dance that emerged in the 15th century and is closely associated with festivals like those of May Day and Whitsunday. It is performed by sides, or teams, of dancers often dressed in white and adorned with bells. In addition to executing the dance's intricate footwork, which varies from region to region, performers hold and wave items like handkerchiefs, swords, and sticks. How did the morris dance get its name? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Phoenix Lights: Aliens or Air Force? (1997)In 1997, thousands of people reported a series of optical phenomena—since known as the Phoenix Lights—taking place in the skies over the US states of Arizona and Nevada. The sightings consisted of two events: a triangular formation of lights observed passing overhead and a series of stationary lights seen in the Phoenix area. Although the US Air Force identified the second group of lights as flares, many believe the first set of lights were those of a UFO, including what notable politician? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Daniel Lambert (1770)Lambert is famous for having been recognized, in his own time, as the fattest man in England. An active and athletic youth, he began his dramatic weight gain after taking over his father's job as keeper of a prison in Leicester. Though he initially led a quiet life and was well liked by his prisoners, he eventually—and reluctantly—went on tour. By then, he weighed more than 700 pounds (318 kg), and spectators paid a shilling each to see him. What complication arose when he died at Stamford? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Behold, the fool saith, "Put not all thine eggs in the one basket"—which is but a manner of saying, "Scatter your money and your attention"; but the wise man saith, "Put all your eggs in the one basket and—watch that basket!"Mark Twain (1835-1910) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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wash (someone's) mouth out (with soap)— To punish someone for using rude, vulgar, or obscene language by cleaning their mouth with soap (usually used merely as a threat). More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Omizutori Matsuri (2024)Omizutori Matsuri is marked by religious rites that have been observed for 12 centuries at the Buddhist Todaiji Temple in the city of Nara, Japan. During this period of meditative rituals, the drone of recited sutras and the sound of blowing conches echo from the temple. On March 12, young monks on the temple gallery brandish burning pine-branches, shaking off burning pieces. Spectators below try to catch the sparks, believing they have magic power against evil. On March 13, the ceremony of drawing water is observed to the accompaniment of ancient music. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: open spacelaund - An open space in the woods, like a glade or pasture. More... step-thru - Refers to having an open space in an otherwise solid object through which a person can step or walk, e.g. a motor-scooter has a step-thru frame. More... agoraphobia - Based on Greek agora, "open space," it was not the first phobia described, which was actually hydrophobia in the mid-16th century. More... concourse - An open space for people to move about in an airport terminal (or a set of gates) or other transport station. More... | |