Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, April 20, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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environ
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Identifying Direct ObjectsDirect objects are directly affected by the verbs they complete. What questions can we ask to identify the direct object in a sentence? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of NantucketThe only complete novel written by Edgar Allen Poe, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket describes the fantastic adventures—and misadventures—of the eponymous character, who stows away on a whaling ship. Though the 1838 novel influenced writers such as Melville and Verne, Poe—who is best known for his short tales of the macabre—called the novel "a silly book." Contemporary reviews were likewise unfavorable, and readers disliked the book's abrupt ending, in which what happens? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Sun Dog Phenomenon Observed over Stockholm (1535)Today, the science behind parhelia—also known as "sun dogs"—is well understood, but when the huge, glowing halos and miniature suns appeared in the sky above Stockholm in 1535, it was a major event. A painting of the occurrence is the earliest color depiction of Stockholm, then a crowded cluster of stone buildings on an island. It is also the earliest depiction of sun dogs and is largely scientifically accurate. What were some of the conflicting interpretations of the omen at the time? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Ernesto Antonio "Tito" Puente, Jr. (1923)One of the premier composers and players of Latin music, Puente was an American bandleader, pianist, and virtuoso percussionist. He formed his own band in 1947 and rose to prominence with the salsa, mambo, merengue, and cha-cha-cha fads of the 1950s. Always experimenting, he became a pioneer of Latin-jazz fusion and recorded more than 100 albums, winning multiple Grammy awards. His compositions include "Pare Cochero" and "Oye Como Va." On what TV shows did Puente appear as a guest star? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The fallen angel becomes a malignant devil. Yet even that enemy of God and man had friends and associates in his desolation.Mary Shelley (1797-1851) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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(the) next thing (one) knows— All of a sudden; out of nowhere; without warning. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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.jpg) National Poetry Month (2022)Established by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, this month-long event centers attention on the contributions and accomplishments of American poets. It is celebrated primarily by educational institutions, libraries, bookstores, and nonprofit organizations throughout the United States and Canada, and its activities include poetry readings, poetry festivals, displays and exhibits, workshops, and other events designed to help Americans of all ages learn more about poetry and its place in our contemporary culture. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: hellbarathrum - A bottomless pit or hell. More... fire and brimstone - Eternal punishment in hell (from Genesis 19:24 and Revelation 19:20). More... pandemonium - Literally means abode of all demons (or hell), from Greek pan-, "all," and daimon, "demon(s)." More... hell - The Indo-European root meant "covered or concealed," as hell is supposedly hidden in the dark regions near the Earth's center. More... | |