Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, March 01, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
sepulcher
| |||||||
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 The ManticoreWith the body of a lion, the tail of a scorpion or dragon, the head of a human, and three rows of sharp teeth, the legendary manticore bears several similarities to the Egyptian sphinx. A mythical creature of Persian origin whose name derives from the Persian word for "man-eater," the manticore is rumored to kill its victims instantly with only a single bite or scratch and then fully devour them. The manticore was said to roam the jungles of what country? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 Yellowstone National Park Established (1872)Before Ferdinand Hayden's extensive geological exploration of the Yellowstone area in 1871, many doubted the stories of prior European explorers describing a remarkable landscape dotted with geysers and boiling springs. Paintings and photographs from Hayden's expedition helped convince Congress to make Yellowstone the US's first national park, and it now draws millions of visitors each year. Why do park officials refrain from extinguishing wildfires that pose no immediate threat to human life? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Alton Glenn Miller (1904)Miller was an American jazz trombonist and bandleader. He worked as a freelance musician in New York City before forming his own big band in 1938. It soon became one of swing's most popular groups, known for hits such as "In the Mood" and "Moonlight Serenade." During WWII, he joined the military and led the US Air Force band. In 1944, while flying from England to Paris, his plane disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and Miller was never found. What are the theories about what happened? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 If a governor comes out of his government rich, they say he has been a thief; and if he comes out poor, that he has been a noodle and a blockhead.Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
hit (something) out of the (ball)park— To do or perform something extraordinarily well; to produce or earn an exceptional achievement. An allusion to hitting a home run in baseball that lands outside the stadium. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Martenitza (Baba Marta) (2017)Every year on March 1, people in Bulgaria present each other with martenitzas—two joined tassels of red-and-white woolen thread symbolizing health and happiness. In some regions, women dress completely in red on this day. In northeastern Bulgaria, the lady of the house traditionally tosses a red cloth over a fruit tree, or spreads a red woolen cloth on the fields for fertility. In stock-breeding areas, a red-and-white thread is tied to the cattle. Bulgaria is the only country where this particular fertility custom seems to have survived. More... | |
| In the News | |
|---|---|
NASA Returns Priceless Bag of Moon Dust to Chicago-Area Woman after SuitA priceless bag of moon dust collected during the Apollo 11 mission has been returned to a Chicago-area woman after she won a landmark legal victory against NASA. NASA officials handed over the lunar dust bag — the only known one of its kind — at the ... More... | |