Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, May 4, 2022)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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parochial
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Gender-Neutral PronounsIdentifying a single person with a pronoun if their gender is not known can be done by using the third-person plural forms (they, them, etc.) as gender-neutral alternatives to the third-person feminine/masculine forms. What is this sometimes called? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Ancient Art of JugglingJuggling is the art of repeatedly throwing objects—called "props"—into the air and catching them. The most popular props are balls, beanbags, rings, and clubs. Some jugglers use more dramatic objects such as knives and fire torches. Many ancient civilizations are believed to have practiced juggling, and it is depicted in ancient Egyptian wall paintings. In the Middle Ages, clerics frowned upon juggling as immoral, but today, it has had a resurgence in popularity. What is "gentleman juggling"? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Haymarket Riot (1886)This violent confrontation between Chicago police and labor protesters, which dramatized the labor movement's struggle for recognition, began when a bomb was thrown into the police ranks at a gathering of radical unionists protesting police brutality against strikers. With seven officers dead and 60 wounded, the police opened fire on the crowd. Seven anarchist leaders were later sentenced to death. Why is their trial regarded as one of the most serious miscarriages of justice in US history? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655)Scholars believe that though Cristofori was employed as the custodian of musical instruments at the court of Prince Ferdinand de' Medici, he was hired for the position largely because of his other talent—inventing instruments. His most successful creation was the pianoforte, which, unlike the harpsichord, varies the volume of its sound depending on the force with which its keys are struck. He is thus generally regarded as the inventor of the piano. What other instruments did Cristofori invent? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 A refined simplicity is the characteristic of all high bred deportment, in every country, and a considerate humanity should be the aim of all beneath it.James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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fresh-faced— Of or having an appearance of health, vitality, and/or youthfulness. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia (2023)The Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia from the USSR is marked as a national public holiday in Latvia every May 4. On that date in 1990, Latvia's Supreme Court re-declared the country a free democratic parliamentary republic. Following a transitional period, full independence was attained on August 21, 1991. Since 1920, Latvia has been acknowledged continuously by other countries as an independent state, despite occupations by Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1945, and by the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1941 and 1945 to 1991. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: strawberriesstrawberry friend - A freeloader, one who visits only when the strawberries are ready for picking. More... small fruits - Currants, raspberries, strawberries, etc. More... soft fruit - Fruit that grows on bushes, such as berries, strawberries and currants, as contrasted with top fruit. More... strawberry - Got its name because the plant "strews" its runners along the ground; its seeds are actually individual fruits and it is termed an aggregate fruit. More... | |