Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, October 13, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Article of the Day | |
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 William S. BurroughsBurroughs was an American novelist, essayist, social critic, painter, and spoken-word performer whose two dozen books controversially blend homosexuality, science fiction, drug use, and underworld depravity. Much of his work is semi-autobiographical, drawn from his experiences as a long-time opiate addict. A primary member of the Beat Generation, he was an avant-garde writer whose style and ideas influenced popular culture as well as literature. Who did Burroughs accidentally kill in 1951? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Cornerstone of the White House Is Laid in Washington, DC (1792)Originally called the "President's Palace," the official residence of the president of the United States was designed by Irish-American architect James Hoban with guidance from President George Washington, whose term ended before he was able to move in. Some slaves took part in the construction, which lasted eight years. Today, the White House is the oldest public building in Washington. Very little of the original structure survived an 1814 fire, set by British troops in retaliation for what? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Mary Henrietta Kingsley (1862)Kingsley was an English explorer and writer who challenged and influenced European ideas about Africa. Following the deaths of her parents, Kingsley travelled to West Africa to complete her father's unfinished book. There, she studied local customs and explored uncharted territory. Returning to her native England, she criticized missionary efforts and defended traditional African culture—including aspects such as polygamy. Another female explorer introduced her to what murderous tribal custom? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 I'm not a bit changed—not really. I'm only just pruned down and branched out. The real me—back here—is just the same.Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Festa da Luz (2020)The two-week Festival of Light held every year in Belém, Pará State, Brazil, honors Our Lady of Nazareth. Her image is carried through the streets to the cathedral on Saturday night in a berlinda or glass enclosure set upon wheels. Behind comes the "Miracle Car"—a heavy platform inscribed with images of the miracles performed by the Virgin—carried on the shoulders of strong men who perform this service as a form of penance. The pilgrimage that accompanies the Festival of Light dates back to the year 1700. More... | |