Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, July 22, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
recant
| |||||||
| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
|---|---|
Defining ConjunctionsConjunctions are used to express relationships between things in a sentence, link different clauses together, and to combine sentences. By using different kinds of conjunctions, we are able to make more complex, sophisticated sentences that show a connection between actions and ideas. How many main types of conjunctions are there? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Korean WinesIn Korea, the tradition of brewing alcoholic beverages, known as ju, is a long and proud one. These beverages are generally made from rice, a major Korean crop. The many varieties of ju include liquors and fruit, flower, and medicinal wines. One variety, called ihwaju, or "pear blossom wine," is brewed with rice malt fermented during the pear blossom season, a process that often produces a liquid so thick that it must be consumed in what way? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 Pablo Escobar Escapes from His Luxury Prison (1992)By 1989, Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar was one of the world's richest men. At the height of his success, his Medellín cartel controlled 80% of the global cocaine market. Even after he was incarcerated, he continued to conduct business from the resort-like Colombian prison that had been built to his specifications. In 1992, in an effort to avoid extradition to the US, Escobar escaped. He was killed by police 16 months later. His intimidation tactic of plata o plomo translates to what? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Edward Hopper (1882)Hopper was an American painter who supported himself as a commercial illustrator until he gained recognition in the mid-1920s with his now-iconic scenes of American life. His dramatically lit works often feature still, anonymous figures inside geometric buildings and evoke a haunting sense of isolation that was his hallmark. His famous Nighthawks depicts a mostly empty, brightly lit diner on an otherwise dark, desolate street at night. What was said to be Hopper's favorite thing to paint? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.Jane Austen (1775-1817) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
jolly (someone) along— To encourage someone (to do something), especially in a positive, cheerful manner. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Gambia Revolution Day (2017)The Gambia, a former British colony in West Africa, celebrates the anniversary of a coup in 1994 that ousted the country's president, Sir Dawda Jawara, and ushered in a military government. Following the bloodless coup, the government made the transition to civilian leadership and the people elected Yahya Jammeh president. The commemoration is essentially a vehicle to show the Gambian people's approval of their president. Past celebrations have included the unveiling of new development initiatives as well as cultural festivities. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
|---|---|
Today's topic: techniquetraffic-calming device - Any device (e.g. a speed bump) or technique on or next to a road that is used to slow or restrict traffic, especially in residential areas. More... appliance - First was the use or application of a technique, putting a technique into practice. More... expression marks - The collective term for musical directives, including tempo, volume, technique, phrasing, and mood. More... martial art - So named for Japanese bu-jutsu (bu + jutsu), "art, technique, skill, craft." More... | |
| In the News | |
|---|---|
How Do Hummingbirds Navigate at Such High Speeds?Hummingbirds dart around in colorful blurs, twisting and turning their flight and stopping on a dime, all at top speeds. Anna's hummingbird, native to the West Coast of North America, can even clock in at speeds of over 60 miles an hour. Humans traveling at ... More... | |