Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, January 5, 2017)Word of the Day | |||||||
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Article of the Day | |
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The Trojan Room Coffee PotThe Trojan Room coffee pot, a coffee pot located in the so-called "Trojan Room" of Cambridge University's computer laboratory, inspired the development of world's first webcam in 1991. A camera aimed at the pot allowed people throughout the building—and eventually Internet users worldwide—to see a live image of the coffee pot on their computers and judge whether a trip to the coffee room would be worthwhile at any given moment. What happened to the pot after the webcam was switched off in 2001? More... |
This Day in History | |
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Jackie Robinson Retires (1957)Robinson, a vocal member of the Civil Rights movement, was the first African-American baseball player in the modern major leagues and the first African American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1949, he led the National League in both stolen bases and batting average and was named its most valuable player. In recognition of his accomplishments both on and off the field, Major League Baseball retired Robinson's number in 1997. How many times did he "steal home" during his career? More... |
Today's Birthday | |
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Alvin Ailey, Jr. (1931)American choreographer and dancer Alvin Ailey, Jr., formed his own company, the American Dance Theater—now called the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater—in 1958. Multiracial since 1963, Ailey's dance company has been internationally acclaimed and has brought recognition to many African-American and Asian dancers. His works, influenced by jazz, Afro-Caribbean, and modern dance, explore a wide range of black experience, from gospel music to social inequality. What is his most popular work? More... |
Quotation of the Day | |
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Pure and complete sorrow is as impossible as pure and complete joy. Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) |
Idiom of the Day | |
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endgame— The final stages of a process, development, or activity. An allusion to the last stage in chess, when the majority of pieces have been removed from the board. More... |
Today's Holiday | |
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Twelfth Night (2023)In England, the evening before the Epiphany is called Epiphany Eve, or Twelfth Night, and it traditionally marks the end of the Christmas season. Celebrations reflect ancient Winter Solstice rites encouraging the rebirth of the New Year and also the Magi's visit to the Christ child. Pageants held on this night typically include masked figures, costumed musicians, and traditional dances. Customarily, the Twelfth Night cake is sliced and served, and the man who gets the hidden bean and the woman the pea are the king and queen for the festivities. More... |