Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, November 12, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Article of the Day | |
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 The Midnight SunThe term "midnight sun" refers to the phenomena of 24 consecutive hours of sunlight north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle. It occurs around the summer solstice—June 21 in the north and December 22 in the south. The odds of encountering night sunshine increase near either pole. Though beautiful, the midnight sun poses special challenges to people living in these areas, as it disrupts sleep schedules and religious rites based around the setting sun. What is "polar night"? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Royal Air Force Sinks German Battleship Tirpitz (1944)The German Tirpitz, sister ship of the similarly ill-fated Bismarck, was the largest battleship ever built in Europe. Though she was sent to waters around German-occupied Norway and never really saw action in World War II, her mere presence threatened Allied convoys and tied up their naval resources. The Allies therefore launched numerous attacks on the Tirpitz in an effort to destroy her. What was the final Allied operation called? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Jeanne Mance (1606)Mance was a member of a French association that planned a utopian colony at Montreal. With the support of the French queen, Anne of Austria, she sailed with the first settlers in 1641. Mance, who had cared for victims of the Thirty Years War and the plague while in France, opened Montreal's first hospital, the Hôtel-Dieu, in 1644. In 1650, she visited France and returned with a large donation meant to fund the hospital. Rather than use it for its intended purpose, Mance did what with the money? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Revenge triumphs over death; love slights it; honor aspireth to it; grief flieth to it; fear preoccupateth it.Francis Bacon (1561-1626) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Annakut Festival (Govardhan Puja) (2018)This Hindu festival is observed on the day following Dewali in northern India. It celebrates an event in Krishna's life in which he lifted the Govardhan Mountain on his little finger for seven days, to protect the cows and people of Vrindavana against the deluge of rain sent by Indra, god of the heavens and rains. People come to the nearby town of Vrindavan from all over India to visit and worship at Mount Govardhan on this day. Hindus all over the world celebrate this day by preparing hundreds of different food dishes and taking them to temples to offer to the gods. More... | |