Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, April 5, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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shimmy
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining the SlashThe slash ( / ) serves a number of purposes in writing, essentially standing in for other words as a quick and clear way of showing the connection between two things. What is a slash technically known as? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Texas City DisasterOn April 16, 1947, a fire aboard the SS Grandcamp turned into the deadliest industrial accident in US history when it caused the fertilizer-laden ship to explode at the docks in Texas City, killing approximately 580 people and injuring thousands more. The city's fire department was decimated by the initial blast, which leveled more than 1,000 buildings on land and knocked nearby aircraft out of the sky. What further intensified the disaster hours later? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 US President Franklin D. Roosevelt Forbids Hoarding of Gold (1933)Executive Order 6102 required US citizens and businesses to turn in all but a small amount of gold to the Federal Reserve in exchange for $20.67 per ounce. It came in the midst of a banking crisis, when the stability of paper currency was in doubt. Consequently, many tried to withdraw their money and redeem it for gold, which was considered safer. However, there simply was not enough gold in the US—or the world—to cover the nation's debts. How many people were prosecuted for violating the order? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (1908)American screen legend and two-time Academy Award-winning actress Bette Davis made her Hollywood debut in 1931 and, after several flops, won acclaim for her role in 1934's Of Human Bondage. Her electrifying performances and intense characterizations of strong women made her a prime box-office attraction between 1935 and 1946, but her popularity declined thereafter. Undeterred, she launched a comeback and continued acting until shortly before her death. Why did she disinherit her daughter? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 My experience is that as soon as people are old enough to know better, they don't know anything at all.Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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move through the gears— To steadily increase one's momentum, as of speed, intensity, progress, or success. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Thay Pagoda Festival (2025)This Vietnamese festival is held in honor of Buddhist monk Dao Hanh, who lived during the Lý Dynasty (1009-1225 CE). Dao Hanh was said to have invented what is known as mua roi can, "water puppetry," an activity that plays an important part in the festival. In addition to water puppet performances, the festival features firecracker competitions, folk singing, rowing contests, and mountain-climbing events. It is held in the village of Thay (or Thuy Khe village) in the Quoc Oai District of Ha Tay Province. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: problemslife coach - An advisor who helps people with problems, decisions, and goal attainment in daily life. More... empathy, sympathy - Empathy denotes a deep emotional understanding of another's feelings or problems, while sympathy is more general and can apply to small annoyances or setbacks. More... gravity - Comes from Latin gravitas, from gravis, "heavy, important"—and it can apply to situations and problems as well as to people. More... insoluble - Can be applied to problems that cannot be solved as well as substances that will not dissolve in liquids. More... | |