Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, August 31, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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thence
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| Article of the Day | |
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 The Pythian GamesAlso known as the Delphic Games, the Pythian Games were one of the four Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece. They were founded sometime before the 5th century BCE and were held every four years at the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, two years before each Olympic Games. Unlike the Olympic Games, they also featured music, art, and poetry competitions, which pre-dated the athletic portion of the games and were said to have been started by Apollo after he did what? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Thomas Edison Patents Kinetoscope in the US (1897)Developed by Edison's assistant, W.K.L. Dickson, the kinetoscope was a precursor to the modern motion-picture projector. It works through a phenomenon known as "persistence of vision," in which a sequence of images creates the illusion of motion. Initially, Edison hoped to synchronize the images with sound, but he was unable to achieve this. The kinetoscope was designed to be viewed by one person at a time. Why did Edison supposedly balk at the idea of projecting films before larger audiences? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Commodus (161 CE)The son of Marcus Aurelius, Commodus was a Roman emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 CE—a period some historians consider the beginning of the empire's decline. Though his reign was fairly peaceful, Commodus was a tyrant who spent lavishly on gladiatorial combats, persecuted the Senate, and tried to rename Rome after himself. He fancied himself a gladiator, frequently killing exotic animals. His mistress and advisors had him strangled. He considered himself the reincarnation of what mythical hero? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best.Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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last-minute— (used before a noun) Done at the very last possible moment or opportunity. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Trinidad and Tobago Independence Day (2017)After being subjected to British rule since 1802, Trinidad and Tobago became an independent commonwealth state on this day in 1962. This national holiday is celebrated amid a Carnival atmosphere, with an elaborate military parade accompanied by calypsos at the Queen's Park Savannah. Religious services are varied to accommodate the Yoruba Orisha, Hindu, Muslim, Baptist, and other faiths represented in the citizenry. Later in the day, awards are presented at the National Awards Ceremony to those who have notably served their country. More... | |
| In the News | |
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Coffee's Health Perks May Be Strongest for People Over 45Adults who drank four cups of coffee a day had a 64% lower risk of dying during a new 10-year Spanish study, compared to those who rarely or never drank the beverage. The link between coffee and reduced mortality risk was strongest for people over 45 ... More... | |