Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, February 20, 2024)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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homebody
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Declarative SentencesA declarative sentence makes a statement or argument about what is, was, or will be the case. What are some variations of declarative sentences? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension ActIn 1998, the United States signed The Copyright Term Extension Act into law, thereby extending the copyright terms set forth in the international Berne Convention of 1886. The act increased America's term of protection for copyrighted works by 20 years. Sonny Bono, a songwriter, filmmaker, and congressman, was a major proponent of copyright extension, and the act, passed nine months after his death, was named in his honor. Why is the act pejoratively known as the Mickey Mouse Protection Act? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Barber of Seville's Disastrous Debut (1816)In 1816, Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini produced The Barber of Seville, based on the comedy by French playwright Pierre Beaumarchais. Though Rossini created much of the opera's music in just weeks, it resounds with his brilliant arias, ensemble numbers, and famous crescendos. Still, several on-stage accidents and constant jeers from the audience, likely spurred by supporters of one of Rossini's rivals, made its debut in Rome a disaster. What happened during the second performance? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Kurt Cobain (1967)Cobain formed the rock trio Nirvana in his hometown of Aberdeen, Washington, in 1986. The group's second album, Nevermind, featured the iconic hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and was the first punk-oriented album to achieve popularity with a mainstream audience. However, Cobain railed against his fame in Nirvana's next album, In Utero. Known for his self-destructive behavior and heroin use, he committed suicide in 1994. What tribute to Cobain is featured on a sign in his hometown? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It is salutary to train oneself to be no more affected by censure than by praise.W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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I suppose (so)— An expression of vague affirmation or assent. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Black History Month (2024)Black History Month grew out of Negro History Week, which was established in February 1926 by African-American historian Carter G. Woodson, who founded the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History. Initially designed to encompass the birthday of the abolitionist orator Frederick Douglass on February 14 as well as Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, it was expanded in 1976 to a month-long observance. The event is widely observed by schools, churches, libraries, clubs, and organizations wishing to draw attention to the contributions of African Americans. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: lapis lazuliazure stone - Another name for the lapis lazuli. More... lapis lazuli - A sky-blue semiprecious stone, it is pronounced lap-us-LAY-zuh-lee. More... sapphire - From Greek sappheiros, "lapis lazuli" or "blue stone." More... ultramarine - First a blue pigment made from lapis lazuli, imported from Asia by sea, so, in Latin, it was ultramarinus, "beyond the seas." More... | |