Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, August 21, 2023)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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compendium
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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ConjunctionsConjunctions are used to express relationships between things in a sentence, link different clauses together, and to combine sentences. There are four main types of conjunctions—what are they? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Great Boston Fire of 1872The Great Boston Fire of 1872 was Boston's largest urban fire and remains one of the most costly fire-related property losses in American history, causing $73.5 million in damages. Numerous factors contributed to the fire, not the least of which was the lax enforcement of Boston's building regulations which, coupled with the practice of over-insuring buildings, left no real incentive to build fire-safe structures. How many years did it take to rebuild the burnt district? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion Begins (1831)Turner, born into slavery and sold three times as a child, led a slave uprising in Virginia that resulted in the deaths of about 55 white people. A deeply religious man, he experienced visions he interpreted as divine in nature and which convinced him that his mission in life was to lead slaves out of bondage. He and many of his followers were caught and hanged, and many more Blacks were killed in retaliation. What celestial event did Turner interpret as a sign to begin preparing for rebellion? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 William "Count" Basie (1904)Basie was an American jazz pianist and composer who became one of the premier swing bandleaders of his time. After working in dance halls and vaudeville in New York City, Basie moved to Kansas City, a major jazz center, where he formed his own band. Under his leadership, they broadcast from the Reno Club in Kansas City, where a radio announcer dubbed him "Count." According to one story, the band came up with what signature song while improvising to fill time on the radio show? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Although a skillful flatterer is a most delightful companion if you can keep him all to yourself, his taste becomes very doubtful when he takes to complimenting other people.Charles Dickens (1812-1870) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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be hard hit (by something)— To be adversely affected (by something) to a great degree; to suffer financial losses (as the result of something). More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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.jpg) Salzburg Festival (2023)Although the Salzburg Festival features musical events by a wide variety of composers and performances by internationally celebrated musicians, conductors and singers, the festival has always paid special homage to Mozart. The festival takes place at the end of July and through most of August at different venues throughout Salzburg—most of the operatic and large orchestral pieces are performed in the Festspielhaus, chamber music concerts are usually given in the hall of the Mozarteum, and the Residenz is the scene for serenade concerts held by candlelight. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: prizeathlete - Derived from Greek athlon, "prize" or "contest"—which also gives us triathlon (etc.); it should be pronounced ATH-leet—with two syllables, not three. More... cakewalk - Started out as a competitive dance whose winner got a cake as a prize. More... premium - First meant "prize, reward." More... taking the cake - Once meant literally winning the prize of a cake, awarded in a cakewalk. More... | |