Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, December 21, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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vitriolic
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| Article of the Day | |
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.jpg) The Forty-EightersIn 1848, Europe was in tumult. After two years of severe crop failures, French revolutionaries overthrew the monarchy, touching off a series of revolutions across the continent. However, the revolts ended in failure and repression, prompting waves of disappointed supporters—some of whom were now deemed enemies of the state—to immigrate to the US, Canada, and England. As these "Forty-Eighters" maintained their liberal ideals upon relocating, many went on to participate in what major US conflict? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Pan Am Flight 103 Is Bombed (1988)The terrorist bomb that brought down New York-bound Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killed all 259 people on board and 11 others on the ground. After a three-year investigation, US and UK authorities announced indictments against two Libyan officials in connection with the bombing. Libya finally turned over the suspects in 1999. After a nine-month trial, one of them, Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Why was he released in 2009? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Benjamin Disraeli (1804)Disraeli, a Conservative politician and novelist, succeeded the earl of Derby as prime minister of Great Britain in 1868 but lost the office to political rival William Gladstone that same year. During his second term as prime minister, from 1874 to 1880, Disraeli's ministry enacted a number of domestic reforms. He was a staunch imperialist and, under his leadership, Britain gained a controlling interest in the Suez Canal. Why was Disraeli's first book, Vivian Grey, strongly criticized? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Do you know why this world is as bad as it is? ... It is because people think only about their own business, and won't trouble themselves to stand up for the oppressed, nor bring the wrongdoer to light.Anna Sewell (1820-1878) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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cool customer— Someone who remains even-tempered, especially in stressful situations. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Doleing Day (2022)It was customary at one time in England on St. Thomas's Day for the poorer inhabitants of the parish to call on their wealthier neighbors and receive a gift or "dole" of food or money. In return, they would give their benefactors a sprig of holly or mistletoe. The custom of "going a-gooding," as it was called, gave rise to the name Gooding Day in parts of Sussex; in other areas, it was referred to as Mumping (Begging) Day, since those who had to beg were said to be "on the mump." Children would often spend St. Thomas's Day begging for apples. More... | |