Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, November 29, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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fire-eater
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Yoruba TwinsWhile the birth rate of monozygotic—identical—twins is relatively constant worldwide, the rate for dizygotic—fraternal—twins varies widely. Fraternal twins are most common among persons of African ancestry, and the highest incidence of fraternal twins is among the Yoruba peoples of Nigeria, with a frequency of more than 40 per 1,000 births. This has made twins an important part of Yoruba culture, in which twins are said to share one soul. What traditions do the Yoruba follow regarding twins? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Japan's Meiji Constitution Goes into Effect (1890)In the mid-19th century, Japan was forced to end its isolation by signing a series of unequal treaties that gave Western nations special privileges in Japan. The unpopular Tokugawa shogunate collapsed soon after and, in 1868, the boy emperor Meiji was "restored" to power. The Meiji constitution defined Japan as a capable, modern nation deserving of Western respect while preserving its own power. What did Ito Hirobumi, who drafted the Meiji constitution, do to prepare himself for the task? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Mildred Gillars, AKA Axis Sally (1900)Mildred Sisk was born in Portland, Maine, but went to Europe in the 1920s, changed her name, and by 1934 was an English-language radio broadcaster in Berlin. During World War II, she broadcast Nazi propaganda aimed to demoralize American troops, who nicknamed her "Axis Sally." On the radio, Gillars emphasized the infidelity of soldiers' wives and sweethearts while they were overseas. She was convicted of treason in 1949 and spent 12 years in prison. What did she do after she was released? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Capital, n.: The seat of misgovernment.Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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home sweet home— An expression of pleasure or relief upon returning to one's home, especially after an extended period away from it. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (2022)In 1977, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared November 29 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. On December 1, 2000, the Assembly reaffirmed the UN's responsibility to work towards the peaceful creation of a Palestinian homeland and lauded those countries that observed the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. More... | |