Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, November 6, 2020)Word of the Day | |||||||
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imperium
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Article of the Day | |
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Circular BreathingCircular breathing is a technique for sustaining a tone on a wind instrument without interruption. When a musician's lungs are nearly out of air, he or she uses the cheeks to force air out of the mouth while quickly breathing in through the nose, and then resumes exhaling from the lungs. For some instruments, such as the Australian didgeridoo or the Cambodian sralai, circular breathing is an integral part of the playing technique. How long is the world record for holding a single note? More... |
This Day in History | |
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Dominican Republic Adopts First Constitution (1844)After declaring its independence in 1821, the colony that is now the Dominican Republic was overrun by Haitian troops. The Haitians were driven out in 1844, leading to the creation of the Dominican Republic under its first president, revolutionary Pedro Santana. Santana was dictatorial, and the republic suffered under his repressive rule. Faced with continued Haitian attacks and convinced of the need for foreign protection, Santana placed the Dominican Republic under what country's rule? More... |
Today's Birthday | |
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Suleiman the Magnificent (1494?)Reigning from 1520 to 1566, Sultan Suleiman I, or Suleiman the Magnificent, brought the Ottoman Empire to the height of its power and prestige. He continued his father's conquests, greatly expanding his empire. He also restructured the Ottoman legal system, earning himself the epithet Kanuni, or "Lawgiver." The sultan was also a great patron of the arts, and his reign saw the flowering of Turkish literature, art, and architecture. Why did Suleiman have his son Mustafa killed? More... |
Quotation of the Day | |
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The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the Nation's greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable, especially when that questioning is disinterested, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us. John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) |
Idiom of the Day | |
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fast asleep— In a deep, sound sleep. "Fast" in this instance means "secure or fixed firmly in place," rather than "moving quickly." More... |
Today's Holiday | |
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Sitka Whalefest (2022)Gray whales are native to the northern Pacific Ocean. They spend their summers in the Bering Sea but migrate every year to the waters off the coast of Mexico. Since the whales prefer to hug the coast, they are often visible to those living in seaside towns. Several towns along the migration route celebrate the whales' yearly appearances by hosting whale festivals. In Alaska, the town of Sitka holds a whale festival in November. Festival organizers coordinate a program of whale-watching tours, special presentations by marine biologists, and performances by Native and Russian dance troupes. More... |