Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, January 16, 2019)Word of the Day | |||||||
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contravene
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Article of the Day | |
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The Emirate of SicilyAfter the fall of Rome, the island of Sicily passed from the Vandals to the Goths in 493 CE and then to the Byzantines in 535 CE. After two centuries of raiding, the Arabs conquered the island when Euphemius, the commander of the Byzantine fleet, defected. The Emirate of Sicily remained under Islamic rule from 965 to 1060 CE, during which time agriculture, commerce, and arts and sciences were promoted. Who led the Norman conquest of Sicily that ultimately displaced the Arabs? More... |
This Day in History | |
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Ivan the Terrible Crowned Tsar of Russia (1547)Following his parents' deaths, Ivan IV became the first ruler of Russia to assume the title "czar" and to pursue a czarist autocracy by limiting the power of the Russian nobility. He also expanded Russian influence by conquering Kazan and Astrakhan, acquiring Siberia, and seeking better access to the Baltic Sea. A serious illness and the death of his wife, however, caused Ivan to become increasingly tyrannical and volatile. Why did Ivan murder his son—and only viable heir—in 1581? More... |
Today's Birthday | |
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Aaliyah (1979)Aaliyah was a popular American R&B singer, dancer, and actress. Her 1996 album, One in a Million, catapulted her to international stardom with hits like "If Your Girl Only Knew." She went on to make her big-screen debut in 2000's urban Shakespeare adaptation Romeo Must Die and was looking forward to a promising future in both the film and music industries when she was tragically killed in a plane crash at the age of 22. Which R&B star did she secretly marry when she was 15? More... |
Quotation of the Day | |
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It is not that the Englishman can't feel—it is that he is afraid to feel. He has been taught at his public school that feeling is bad form. He must not express great joy or sorrow, or even open his mouth too wide when he talks—his pipe might fall out if he did. E. M. Forster (1879-1970) |
Idiom of the Day | |
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bad omen— A sign, either real or imagined, of ill fortune or catastrophe in the future. More... |
Today's Holiday | |
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Harbin Ice and Snow Festival (2023)This extravaganza of ice sculptures takes place from January 5 to February 4 in the port city of Harbin, the second largest city of northeast China, located in Heilongjiang Province. The sculptures, using themes of ancient legends and stories and modern historic events, depict pavilions, temples, and mythic animals and persons. Located in Zhaolin Park, they shimmer in the sun by day, and at night are illuminated in a rainbow of colors. Theatrical events, art exhibitions, and a photo exhibition mark festival time, and wedding ceremonies are often scheduled at this time in the ice-filled park. More... |