Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, May 30, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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motley
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Forming Complex SentencesThe order of the independent and dependent clause in a complex sentence is flexible. We can structure complex sentences with the independent clause first or with the dependent clause first. When the dependent clause is placed first, what do we generally follow it with? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The ChekaEstablished by Vladimir Lenin in 1917, the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution, Speculation, and Sabotage, also known as the Cheka, was the first in a succession of Soviet state security organizations. Its troops policed labor camps, ran the Gulag system, put down worker riots, and orchestrated the campaign of repression that came to be known as the "Red Terror." Early Chekists made wearing what apparel fashionable among Western Communists? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Andrew Jackson Kills Charles Dickinson in a Duel (1806)In 1806, nationally famous duelist and expert marksman Charles Dickinson—whose dueling career included 26 kills—was goaded by political opponents of future US President Andrew Jackson to insult Jackson's wife. A duel was arranged between the men, and Jackson took a shot to the ribs before firing what would be a fatal shot at Dickinson—the only man Jackson ever killed in his 13 duels. Jackson's wife died in 1828, two weeks after Jackson was elected president. Whom did Jackson blame for her death? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Elly Beinhorn-Rosemeyer (1907)A contemporary of American aviatrix Amelia Earhart, German airwoman Elly Beinhorn-Rosemeyer began her flying career as a stunt pilot. She went on to make several daring solo flights and was awarded the Hindenburg Cup for her achievements. In 1936, she married racecar driver Bernd Rosemeyer, and the couple, allegedly with some reluctance, became darlings of the Nazi regime. Bernd was killed in a speed record attempt two years later. How had Elly survived a crash in the Sahara in 1931? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 A man that hath no virtue in himself, ever envieth virtue in others; for men's minds will either feed upon their own good, or upon others' evil; and who wanteth the one will prey upon the other.Francis Bacon (1561-1626) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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amount to nothing— To result in no tangible or appreciable difference. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Feast Day of St. Joan of Arc (2023)The second patron saint of France and one of the best known of all the saints, Joan of Arc was a young, pious peasant girl from the village of Domrémy. In 1428, she heard voices she identified as St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret telling her to help the dauphin, Charles VII, recover his kingdom from the British. Her mission was accomplished within 15 months, but Joan was captured by the king's enemies, tried for witchcraft and heresy, and burned at the stake in Rouen on May 30, 1431. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: pourdiffuse - Based on Latin diffundere, "pour out," from fundere, "pour," it means "to spread out." More... geyser - From Icelandic Geysir, "hot spring," from Old Norse geysa, "pour or rush forth." More... refund - First meant "pour back," and comes from Latin re- and fundere. More... gluck, glug - Gluck or glug is the light repetitive gurgling sound of liquid being poured from a bottle. More... | |