Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, March 2, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Tense vs. AspectThe past tense is combined with four traditional aspects to form the structures that are known as the past simple, the past continuous (or past progressive), the past perfect, and the past perfect continuous. The tense tells us when the action takes place in relation to time (in this case, the past). What does the added aspect tell us? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 James "Honest Dick" TateAs state treasurer of Kentucky, James "Honest Dick" Tate had a spotless reputation that earned him reelection every two years for two decades. The true irony of Tate's nickname was only revealed in 1888—34 years after he first entered public office—when he absconded with funds from the state treasury. It is estimated that between his shoddy bookkeeping, embezzlement, and outright theft, Tate misappropriated nearly $250,000. He was later impeached and indicted. Was "Honest Dick" ever captured? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Battle of the Bismarck Sea Begins (1943)This battle was an unparalleled victory for Allied air power in WWII. During the engagement, Allied planes attacked and nearly obliterated a Japanese convoy transporting thousands of troops to New Guinea. The Japanese loss of critical reinforcements and supplies changed the course of the Pacific War. The Allies were later criticized for strafing Japanese survivors, reportedly in retaliation for Japanese actions earlier in the battle. What new bombing technique did the Allies use in the battle? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Moe Berg (1902)Once known as "the brainiest man in baseball," Berg was a professional athlete who became a professional spy. Though he played for several teams over a span of 15 seasons, he never distinguished himself on the field or at bat. He did, however, speak seven languages, and obtained degrees in languages and law from Princeton and Columbia. At one point in his espionage career, the former backup shortstop and catcher was tasked with helping to determine whether or not to assassinate whom? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 To make a contented slave, it is necessary to make a thoughtless one. It is necessary to darken his moral and mental vision, and, as far as possible, to annihilate the power of reason.Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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make the world go round— To be of critical or integral importance to the ordinary operation of life or the world at large. (Sometimes used hyperbolically.) More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Ethiopia Victory of Adwa Commemoration Day (2021)Ethiopia is an African country that successfully shook off European domination for centuries. One pivotal moment of resistance was the Ethiopian army's historic victory, led by Emperor Menelik II, over invading Italian troops in the Battle of Adwa, a two-day battle that ended on March 2. Festivities take place on its anniversary throughout the country, with official ceremonies in the capital, Addis Ababa, and Adwa, the market town located near the battle site. People will also leave wreaths at the Menelik Monument, which commemorates the victory led by the Ethiopian emperor. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: tree trunkpirogue - A canoe made from a tree trunk. More... tree ring - Any of the concentric rings of the cross-section of a tree trunk, representing a year's growth, or the layer of wood produced by a year's growth in a woody plant; also called annual ring. More... block - Derives from Middle Dutch blok, "tree trunk." More... snag - Literally first meant a stump on a tree trunk or a piece of timber underwater that obstructed navigation. More... | |