Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, September 7, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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fiat
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| Article of the Day | |
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 The Seizure of the Grand MosqueOn November 20, 1979, approximately 200 armed Islamic fundamentalist dissidents opposed to the Saudi ruling family took over Islam's holiest place, the Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. After 127 Saudi Arabian National Guard members were killed in an unsuccessful attempt to regain control, the nervous Saudi government called in French and Pakistani forces, which retook the shrine in a battle that left approximately 250 dead and 600 wounded. What happened to the surviving militants? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 First Miss America Pageant Held in Atlantic City, New Jersey (1921)The Miss America Pageant, now an American institution, began in 1921 as an attempt by Atlantic City businessmen to keep tourists in town after Labor Day. The weeklong event features the 50 state pageant winners and includes evening gown, swimsuit, and talent competitions. Its winner receives a $50,000 scholarship and spends the next year traveling and making lucrative personal appearances. What unusual skills have contestants demonstrated in the talent competition over the years? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Laura Ashley (1925)Ashley was a British fashion designer and manufacturer. After serving in the Women's Royal Naval Service during World War II, she founded a company with her husband to produce silkscreened placemats, scarves, and tea towels. Her romantic and old-fashioned look carried over into women's clothing, home furnishings, children's wear, fabrics, wall coverings, and decorative accessories. What inspired Ashley to start printing Victorian-style fabric in 1953? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Fortune always leaves a door open in adversity in order to bring relief to it.Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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pull a U-ie— To make a U-turn. Primarily heard in US, Australia. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Brazil Independence Day (2016)A declaration of independence was made by Pedro di Alcântara (1798-1834) on this day in 1822. Brazil had been a colony of Portugal since the 16th century. Alcântara, better known as Pedro I, became the first emperor of Brazil in 1823 and ruled until 1831. Independence Day is a public holiday in Brazil, and there are celebrations in Brasília, the capital, with parades of military personnel and floats decorated with flowers. More... | |
| In the News | |
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Online Tools Help People Improve Their Health but Need More StudyMobile apps and web-based programs do help people reach health goals like exercising more, losing weight and quitting smoking, but studies need to follow-up longer to see how sustainable these interventions are, according to a recent review of existing ... More... | |