Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, January 12, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Article of the Day | |
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 VaudevilleBefore the dawn of movies, vaudeville shows packed US theaters. Following the format of beer hall variety shows, each vaudeville performance had 10–15 unrelated acts that could include anything from acrobats to opera singers. Vaudeville emerged in the early 1880s as former circus performer Tony Pastor cleaned up variety shows. He banned the sale of liquor and eliminated the cruder acts, and his success prompted other managers to do the same. What did Pastor give to vaudeville show attendees? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Caves of Nerja Are Rediscovered (1959)One of Spain's major tourist attractions is the Caves of Nerja, a series of caverns near the town of Nerja in the Province of Málaga. The caves were inhabited by prehistoric peoples, who left their mark in the form of paintings and other artifacts. Today, visitors can tour parts of the caves' three galleries and view skeletons and other items on display there. Concerts are also regularly held in one of the caves' many chambers. How did five friends inadvertently rediscover the caves in 1959? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Spiridon Louis (1873)Following the decision to revive the Olympic Games at the end of the 19th century, all eyes were on Athens, where the first modern games were held in 1896. Greek competitor Spiridon Louis won the first marathon event of the games and instantly became a national hero. He was first across the finish despite having allegedly taken a break from the race to have a glass of wine at an inn. It helped that some of his competitors collapsed along the way. Why was the third-place finisher disqualified? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 You … know full well as I do the value of sisters' affections to each other: There is nothing like it in this world.Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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inopportune moment— An unfortunate or inconvenient moment in time. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Hostos Day (2023)Eugenio Maria de Hostos (1839-1903) was a Puerto Rican philosopher and patriot who became a leader of the opposition to Spanish colonial rule in the 19th century. He campaigned for the education of women in Brazil, and his books on law and education triggered reforms in other Latin American countries. He even sponsored the first railroad between Chile and Argentina, across the Andes Mountains. The anniversary of his birth is observed as a public holiday in Puerto Rico on the second Monday in January. More... | |