Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, October 20, 2020)Word of the Day | |||||||
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indignation
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Article of the Day | |
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Fritz Joubert DuquesneSaid to have been handsome, charming, and fluent in several languages, Duquesne was a South African Boer who led a life of intrigue. He was a secret agent, military officer, big game hunter, saboteur, and journalist. Imprisoned on numerous occasions, he narrowly avoided execution by firing squad and once escaped from prison by feigning paralysis. While spying for Germany, he and 32 others were arrested in the FBI's 1941 takedown of the Duquesne Spy Ring. Who is he suspected of assassinating? More... |
This Day in History | |
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Peru and Chile Sign Treaty of Ancón (1883)The Treaty of Ancón ended Peru's involvement in the War of the Pacific, which broke out between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru in 1879. Victorious, Chile annexed the Peruvian province of Tarapacá and gained substantial mineral-rich territories, leaving Bolivia without access to the sea. The loss of the coast remains an emotional issue for many Bolivians, who attribute their country's problems to being landlocked. What items stolen during the war did Chile return to Peru in 2007? More... |
Today's Birthday | |
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Béla Lugosi (1882)Lugosi, a Hungarian-born US actor, is best known for his portrayal of Dracula in the Broadway stage production and subsequent film of Bram Stoker's classic vampire story. He appeared in the 1931 film version wearing minimal makeup and using his natural, heavily accented voice. Following this memorable performance, Lugosi found himself frequently typecast as a horror film villain. When Lugosi died in 1956, his son and fourth wife decided to bury him wearing what part of his Dracula costume? More... |
Quotation of the Day | |
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Antiquities are history defaced, or some remnants of history which have casually escaped the shipwreck of time. Francis Bacon (1561-1626) |
Idiom of the Day | |
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curl (one's) lip— To sneer at something. More... |
Today's Holiday | |
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Ebisu Festival (2022)This Japanese festival is named after Ebisu, one of the seven Japanese gods of luck, who is the protector of businessmen and fishermen. According to legend, all the other gods leave their shrines during October, which is known as "the godless month," and gather at the temple of Izumo to discuss issues of great importance. Because he is deaf, Ebisu cannot hear the summons and does not accompany them. The Ebisu Festival is a time for members of trade associations and political and literary societies to socialize. The festival is also a time to pray for prosperity. More... |