Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, January 16, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
friable
| |||||||
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 PontusPontus was an ancient region in northeast Asia Minor on the coast of the Black Sea. It became an independent kingdom with its capital at Amasia in the 4th century BCE. At the height of its influence under King Mithradates VI, it controlled all of Asia Minor. It continued expanding its borders until 66 BCE, when Mithradates was defeated by the Roman general Pompey the Great and Pontus was incorporated into the Roman Empire. What popular fruit of the rose family is thought to be native to Pontus? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 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 | |
|---|---|
 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 | |
|---|---|
 Papa, potatoes, poultry, prunes, and prism are all very good words for the lips: especially prunes and prism.Charles Dickens (1812-1870) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
bad omen— A sign, either real or imagined, of ill fortune or catastrophe in the future. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 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... | |