Daily Content Archive

(as of Wednesday, November 15, 2017)
Word of the Day

smorgasbord

Definition:(noun) A varied collection.
Synonyms:assortment, miscellanea, miscellany, mixed bag, mixture, motley, potpourri, salmagundi, variety
Usage: The conference panel was comprised of a veritable smorgasbord of religious leaders promoting peace, unity, and understanding.
Article of the Day

Bomb-Sniffing Rats

The Gambian pouched rat, with its superb sense of smell and tractable personality, has been used recently to locate land mines in its native Africa. Trained from a young age to associate the smell of explosives with a reward, the rodents learn to alert their handlers to the presence of mines. There are several advantages to using rodents rather than dogs in such operations, among them the fact that they are fairly small and thus rarely cause mines to detonate. Why has the US banned their import? More...
This Day in History

Brazil Becomes a Republic (1889)

In 1889, discontented Brazilian militarists staged a coup and exiled Emperor Pedro II. Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca, leader of the revolutionaries, led the provisional government that established the republic and became president. Although Brazil was flourishing financially thanks to coffee and wild rubber exports, its political situation remained uneasy. Faced with growing opposition, Fonseca dissolved Congress in 1891 and was forced to resign. What was Brazil's official name during this period? More...
Today's Birthday

Georgia O'Keeffe (1887)

Regarded by critics as one of the most original and important American artists, O'Keeffe is known chiefly for her large, semi-abstract studies of flowers, bones, and other imagery. Immaculate, sculptural, organic forms painted in strong, clear colors predominate in O'Keeffe's works, and her pristine abstract designs carry strong elements of sexual symbolism. Her work was first exhibited in 1916 at the 291 Gallery of Alfred Stieglitz, whom she later married. What is "O'Keeffe's Ghost"? More...
Quotation of the Day
Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Idiom of the Day

have (a) skeleton(s) in (one's)/the closet

To have (an) embarrassing, unpleasant, damaging, or incriminating secret(s) from one's past. Primarily heard in US. More...
Today's Holiday

King's Day (Belgium) (2022)

King Leopold I (1790-1865) of Belgium was named after St. Leopold, whose feast is celebrated on this day. He was the first leader of Belgium after it achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1831, and reigned until his death. The day is a major observance particularly among Belgium's German-speaking community. More...
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