Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, October 21, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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effervesce
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Primary Auxiliary VerbsThe "primary" auxiliary verbs are "be," "have," and "do"—they occur most commonly in English. "Be" and "have" are used as auxiliaries to conjugate the continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous tenses. How is "do" used? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 KnowthKnowth is the site of a Neolithic passage grave in the valley of Ireland's River Boyne. Built approximately 5,000 years ago, the site consists of a large mound containing two passages leading to burial chambers. This is surrounded by 17 smaller satellite tombs. Knowth contains more than a third of all the megalithic art in Western Europe, including hundreds of stones decorated with spirals, crescents, and other shapes. Why do some believe that Knowth exhibits evidence of astronomical alignment? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Valentich Disappearance (1978)On October 21, 1978, 20-year-old Frederick Valentich disappeared while piloting a Cessna light aircraft over Australia. He was supposed to land at King Island, pick up a few friends, and return to Moorabbin Airport, but during his flight, he reported to air traffic control that a strange aircraft was flying close above him. No trace of Valentich or his aircraft was ever found, prompting some to speculate that he had been captured by a UFO. What was the last thing he told flight controllers? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Ronald McNair (1950)A nationally recognized US physicist, accomplished saxophonist, and black belt in karate, McNair was selected to join NASA's astronaut training program in 1978. Six years later, aboard the space shuttle Challenger, he became the second African American in space. His next trip into orbit was to take place on the same shuttle on January 28, 1986, and McNair brought his sax along for the ride, intending to be the first to record an original piece of music in space. Why did this never happen? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Women ... have more power for good or evil than they dream of.Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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a spring in (one's) step— A happy, energetic, and excited mood or manner, as indicated by the carefree way one walks. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Valme (2018)The Romeriá (pilgrimage) of Our Lady of Valme involves a cross-country pilgrimage. The image of Our Lady of Valme is kept in the parish church of Dos Hermanas, but on this day she is carried in an elaborate procession to the shrine of Valme, on a hill overlooking Seville, Spain. The cart bearing the statue of the Virgin Mary is drawn by oxen with gilded horns. The pilgrims walk behind, and it takes about three hours to reach the sanctuary. Everyone rushes inside, and the mass begins. Afterwards, there is dancing, singing and drinking until sunset, when the image is escorted back to Dos Hermanas. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: shorterstore - A shortened version of the obsolete astor, "stock of provisions, supplies." More... alligator - From Spanish el lagarto, "the lizard," which may have come from Latin lacerta; the alligator has a shorter, blunter snout than a crocodile. More... telescopic umbrella - An umbrella that can become shorter. More... dog watch - A two-hour watch on board a ship, it is based on dog sleep, the light or fitful sleep typical of dogs (a catnap being even shorter). More... | |
| Match Up | |
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| Mismatch | |
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| In the News | |
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No one's ever seen a moonmoon, but the internet already loves itScientists are exploring the possibility of a smaller moon going around a larger moon, and there are some truly adorable names being kicked around. One name being considered is "moonmoon," according to New Scientist. No known moons have a moonmoon, but Sean ... More... | |