Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, November 17, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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exhilaration
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| Article of the Day | |
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 Snake OilSnake oil is a traditional Chinese remedy for joint pain and inflammation derived from the Chinese Water Snake. Imitations with unidentified or mischaracterized ingredients have caused the term "snake oil" to become synonymous in Western culture with remedies fraudulently marketed by charlatans as miraculous panaceas but which actually provide little health benefit. What were some of the ingredients of these so-called snake oils? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Luxor Massacre (1997)Located on the west bank of the Nile across from the city of Luxor, Deir al-Bahri is one of Egypt's most popular attractions. It encompasses the remains of three ancient temples, among them the terraced temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which in 1997 became the site of a terrible massacre. On that day, six terrorists armed with guns and knives descended on the temple and systematically killed more than 60 people, most of them foreign tourists. What did the terrorists hope to achieve with the attack? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Isamu Noguchi (1904)Noguchi was a prominent American sculptor. After briefly studying medicine, he won two Guggenheim fellowships that allowed him to study in Paris under renowned modern artist Constantin Brancusi. In his work in stone, wood, and metal, Noguchi integrated European modernism with Japanese traditionalism, harmonizing rough and smooth, geometric and organic. Among his diverse artistic creations are playgrounds, sculpture gardens, ballet sets, and furniture. With which inventor did he collaborate? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 History, n.: An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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have (one's) name taken— In football (soccer), to receive a yellow card (and thus have one's name recorded in the referee's booklet). More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day (2022)In 1939, Nazi troops invaded Czechoslovakia and took over the country. On November 17, student protests were held. Nazi troops subsequently executed nine students and sent many to a concentration camp. On November 17, 1989, Czech students gathered to demonstrate against the communist regime. This marked the beginning of the Velvet Revolution. Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day is a national holiday in the Czech Republic. People gather and light candles near a "V for Victory" memorial plaque on National Avenue in Prague, and the national flag is flown in all public places. More... | |