Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, March 5, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
|---|---|
Defining Concrete Countable NounsMany concrete nouns are countable, such as "cup," "dog," and "doctor." Each of these can be considered as an individual, separable item, which means that we are able to count them with numbers. We can also use them with indefinite articles. What are the two indefinite articles in English? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Lipid BilayersAbsolutely essential for all life on Earth, lipid bilayers are a critical component of all biological membranes, including cell membranes. They are composed of two layers of phospholipids—a class of fat-soluble molecules—positioned such that their hydrophilic, or water-absorbing, heads face outward, and their hydrophobic, or water-repelling, tails face inward, blocking entry of water and water-soluble material into the cell. Why is it important that lipid bilayers are asymmetrical? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" Speech (1946)The phrase "Iron Curtain" refers to the political, military, and ideological barrier erected by the USSR after WWII to seal itself and its dependent eastern European allies off from contact with the West. Churchill's use of the phrase in a 1946 speech at a US college, though initially perceived as antagonistic, popularized the term. The Iron Curtain largely ceased to exist in 1990, when the communists of eastern Europe finally abandoned one-party rule. What are some earlier uses of the phrase? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac (1658)Originally of the minor Gascon nobility, Cadillac came to America in 1683 to seek his fortune. He became a favorite of the governor of New France, was placed in charge of a frontier post at Mackinac, and eventually proposed the creation of a new fort with a better strategic position against the English. With a band of colonists, he founded in 1701 what would become the city of Detroit. Ten years later, he was appointed governor of what vast French territory? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 The voice of the sea speaks to the soul.Kate Chopin (1851-1904) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
a woman of her word— A woman who can be expected to keep or follow through with her promises or intentions; a truthful, trustworthy, or reliable person. (Masculine: "man of his word.") More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Feast of Excited Insects (2018)Known as Gyeongchip in Korea and as Ching Che in China, the Feast of Excited Insects marks the transition from winter to spring. It is the day when the insects are said to come back to life after hibernating all winter. In China, it is the day when "the dragon raises his head," summoning the insects back to life, and people perform various rituals designed to prepare for the onslaught. In Korea, this is one of 24 days in the lunar calendar that marks the beginning of a new season. Farmers prepare their fields and begin planting their barley, cabbage, and other vegetables. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
|---|---|
Today's topic: rulerrector - First was a ruler or governor, now it is generally a person conducting a religious service. More... sultan - Comes from the Arabic word for "ruler," from Aramaic shultana, "power." More... Inca - A Quechua word meaning "king, lord, ruler." More... rule - One of many words from Latin regula, "straight stick, ruler." More... | |