Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, September 17, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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exonerate
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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The Present Continuous for Actions Happening at the Moment of SpeechThe most common occurrence of the present continuous is when someone or something is performing an action at the very moment being described. What is the present continuous verb in the following sentence? "I am going home now." More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Schrödinger's Cat in Popular CultureIn 1935, Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger applied quantum-mechanical indeterminacy to an admittedly “ridiculous” thought experiment in which a cat is closed in a box with a vial of poison that will smash if a radioactive atom decays. The two possible yet mutually exclusive states—the cat being alive or dead—coexist until the box is opened and the cat's fate is seen. Writers have pounced on the idea, weaving it into TV shows, books, and movies. What TV character referenced it after a kiss? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Treaty of Fredrikshamn Signed (1809)In the 17th century, Sweden was a major European power and controlled most of the Baltic coast. However, its expansion in the Baltic Sea coastlands antagonized Russia, Denmark-Norway, and Saxony-Poland, which formed an anti-Swedish coalition. The resultant Great Northern War cost Sweden much of its territory and marked the emergence of Russia as a major power. After Russia and Sweden clashed again in the 19th century, the 1809 Treaty of Fredrikshamn forced Sweden to cede all of what country? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Maureen Connolly (1934)Known as "Little Mo," Connolly was one of America's greatest female tennis players. At 14, she became the youngest winner of the National Girl's Tournament. At 16, she became the youngest player to win the US national singles championship and successfully defended the title in the two years that followed. She also won three straight Wimbledon championships starting in 1952. In 1953, she became the first woman to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same year. Why did she retire at age 19? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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like a chicken with the pip— In low spirits; in a weak or sickened state or manner. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Angola National Heroes Day (2022)National Heroes Day in Angola is celebrated on the birthday of the man considered to be the nation's founder, Antonio Agostinho Neto. National Heroes Day honors Neto, his ideals for his country, and his accomplishments, as well as those who lost their lives in the struggle for Angolan independence. In addition to ceremonies and speeches, special sports events are often held on this day, including competitions in basketball, cycling, football, chess, swimming, volleyball, and other athletics. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: readinessimpromptu - Based on Latin in promptu, "in readiness," from promptus, "prepared, ready." More... procinct - A state of readiness or preparation. More... stand by - Meaning "to await, support," it was an order to hold one's self in readiness, recorded from 1669. More... gear - Its etymological meaning is "that which puts one in a state of readiness." More... | |