Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, February 24, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining the Future AspectAlthough English has no future tense in the strict sense, we commonly refer to several structures that are used for future meaning as belonging to the "future tense." What are they? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Viking LongshipsLongships were the boats used by the Vikings of Scandinavia and Iceland for trade, exploration, and warfare between the 8th and 11th centuries. Long and narrow, the boats were designed for speed and were propelled by teams of rowers, sometimes aided by sails. They were shallow enough to land on beaches and light enough to be carried over land. They were also double-ended and could reverse direction quickly. Why, according to legend, were crows brought along on some longship voyages? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Marbury v. Madison Establishes Judicial Review (1803)Marbury v. Madison was a landmark case in American law that resulted in the first decision by the Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional and void an act passed by Congress. It established the basis for the exercise of judicial review of federal statutes by the US Supreme Court. By identifying the Supreme Court as the authoritative interpreter of the Constitution, this decision bolstered power, respect, and prestige in the federal judiciary. Who were the "Midnight Judges"? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500)Charles V was the influential 16th-century European monarch who held the thrones of both the Holy Roman Empire and Spain for approximately 40 years. He played a key role in fighting Protestantism during the Reformation and was later an ardent supporter of the Counter Reformation. He also fought several wars against France and the Ottoman Empire before abdicating in the 1550s, dividing his realms between his son and brother and retiring to a monastery. What saying about Paris originated with him? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 To flatter and follow others, without being flattered and followed in turn, is but a state of half enjoyment.Jane Austen (1775-1817) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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cloud the issue— To obfuscate or distract from the topic at hand by introducing irrelevant and/or misleading information. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Estonia Independence Day (2023)On this day in 1918, Estonia issued a declaration of independence from the new Soviet Russia, which was followed by war with the Soviets to maintain Estonian liberty. Following a strong independence movement during the late 1980s, Estonia officially declared its independence from the former USSR on August 20, 1991, a day which is also commemorated with a public holiday. On September 6, independence was formally recognized by the former Soviet Union. Estonians celebrate their Independence Day with a parade, church services, speeches, and concerts in the capital city, Tallinn. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: keyboardfallboard - The hinged protective covering that protects the keyboard of a piano when it is not being played. More... finger board - The part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone—as well as the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc. More... home key - The home key is either of two keys on a keyboard acting as the base position for one's fingers in touch-typing (left F, right J). More... octothorpe - The pound key on a keyboard or keypad is technically an octothorpe. More... | |