Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, December 17, 2022)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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stevedore
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Japanese Cherry BlossomsOrnamental cherry trees and their blossoms are a major symbol of Japan, where they are called sakura and are considered a metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life. As such, they are frequently depicted in art and are associated with both the samurai and kamikaze. In 1912, Japan gave 3,000 sakura as a gift to the US to celebrate the two nations' growing friendship. These trees have since lined the shore of the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. What is the practice of hanami? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Simpsons Debuts (1989)One of the most popular animated TV shows in US history, The Simpsons has earned its spot in pop culture history through its parodies of the "Middle American" lifestyle. The show, created by Matt Groening, is a spin-off of a series of animated shorts originally aired on The Tracey Ullman Show and is currently both the longest-running American sitcom and the longest-running American animated program. What are some of the characters' famous catchphrases? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 John Kennedy Toole (1937)Toole was an American novelist from New Orleans, Louisiana, best known for his novel A Confederacy of Dunces. His mental health began to deteriorate after his manuscript, into which he had poured so much of himself, was rejected by a publisher, and he committed suicide in 1969. Years after his death, Toole's mother brought the manuscript to novelist Walker Percy, who ushered the book into print. In 1981, Toole was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize. What is Toole's only other novel? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Democracy ... arises out of the notion that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respects; because men are equally free, they claim to be absolutely equal.Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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drop (one) a line— To contact someone, usually with a letter, note, or phone call. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Wright Brothers Day (2022)It was on the morning of December 17, 1903, that Wilbur and Orville Wright became the first men to fly and control a powered heavier-than-air machine. Events on December 17 traditionally include a "flyover" by military aircraft and a special ceremony held at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, a 425-acre area that features a 60-foot granite pylon on top of Kill Devil Hill, where the Wright Brothers' camp was located. The flyover takes place at precisely 10:35 AM, the time of the original flight in 1903. More... | |