Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, October 14, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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wellspring
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| Article of the Day | |
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 The Plague of JustinianThe Plague of Justinian was a pandemic that afflicted the Byzantine Empire during and after the rule of Emperor Justinian I, who himself contracted the disease. The most commonly accepted cause of the pandemic is the bubonic plague, which is infamous for its role in the so-called Black Death of the 14th century. It is estimated that the Plague of Justinian wiped out what percentage of Constantinople's population at the time? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Massacre in Qibya (1953)In 1953, in response to escalating border clashes with Palestinians, Israeli forces raided the Jordanian West Bank village of Qibya, which was believed to be harboring militants. Codenamed "Operation Shoshana," the attacks led to the deaths of more than 60 Palestinians and the demolition of numerous houses, as well as a school and a mosque. The United Nations condemned Israel's actions. What future prime minister of Israel was the commander of the special forces unit that carried out the attack? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 King James II of England (1633)King James II was the last Catholic monarch to rule over England, Scotland, and Ireland, reigning from 1685 to 1688. The birth of his son, a possible Catholic heir, brought about the Glorious Revolution, in which Protestants deposed James in favor of Mary II and William of Orange. The belief that James was the legitimate ruler became known as Jacobitism, and Jacobites thereafter attempted to restore the Stuart line to the thrones of England and Scotland. Who protected James when he fled England? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 A common and natural result of an undue respect for the law is, that you may see a file of soldiers ... marching in admirable order over hill and dale to the wars, against their wills, ay, against their common sense and consciences.Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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cowboy up— To act tough and determined, like a stereotypical cowboy. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Kenka Matsuri (2022)The Kenka Matsuri (Roughhouse Festival) takes place October 14-15 in Shirahama, Japan, and thousands flock to the shrine where the festival is held. The roughhousing starts as teams of mikoshi-bearers jostle each other for position in the procession to the Matsubara Hachiman Shrine. Once they reach the shrine, they spin their heavy burden, raise it up high in the air, and let it crash to the ground—difficult maneuvers designed to thrill the crowd. The mikoshi engage in a final battle in an open field, where thousands of cheering spectators take sides and egg them on. More... | |