Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, March 24, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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stalking-horse
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Collective Nouns and AnimalsIn the English language, there are many different types of collective nouns that refer to different groupings of animals. There are hundreds of different collective nouns used to describe animal group names, including a "flock of birds" and a "gatling of woodpeckers." What are some others? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Airship Pioneer David SchwarzThough most people associate the invention of the dirigible with German inventor Ferdinand von Zeppelin, it was Schwarz, a Croatian wood merchant, who designed the first rigid airship. His first model collapsed upon inflation, but in 1897, his second prototype flew briefly. Its frame was built of aluminum, a relatively new material at that time. Sadly, Schwarz never saw his creation airborne—he died before its maiden flight. Why do some believe that Zeppelin's design was based on Schwarz's work? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Elvis Presley Inducted into the US Army (1958)Though World War II ended in 1945, military conscription in the US continued in peacetime, and in 1957, the 22-year-old "King of Rock and Roll" was drafted for a two-year stint in the army. Despite concerns about his career, Presley did not try to avoid service and was inducted into the army at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, in a ceremony mobbed by photographers. Five months later, and just a month before he was shipped out to Germany, Presley was granted a short emergency leave for what reason? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Terrence Steven "Steve" McQueen (1930)After a tumultuous childhood, reform school, and a stint in the US Marines, McQueen studied acting in New York, earning money on the weekends by racing motorcycles. He gained attention on Broadway and went on to star as a cool, stoic loner in many films, including The Great Escape and Papillon. In Bullitt's famous car chase scene, he even did some of the stunt driving. When he was 18 years old, McQueen saved the lives of five fellow Marines in the Arctic. How? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Man sheds his grief as his skin sheds rain.Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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have a/the right to (something)— To have the just or legal permission, privilege, or authority to have or own something. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Alahamady Be (2020)Alahamady Be is New Year's Day in Madagascar. The Malagasy new year traditionally begins in March, with the appearance of the year's first new moon. People put on their best clothes, feast, give presents, and sing religious songs. The celebration is particularly festive in the capital city of Antananarivo. The townspeople make their way to the sacred royal hill known as Ambohimanga to offer prayers to the departed. When these devotions are completed, it's time to eat. The feasting is an opportunity for families and friends to get together and wish each other luck in the coming year. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: shoulderhobo - A style of handbag or purse that is typically large and characterized by a crescent shape, a slouchy posture and a long strap designed to wear over the shoulder. More... lane - A narrow, often bucolic, path that lacks a shoulder or median; it can also be a division of a larger road. More... jowl - The head and shoulders of certain fishes, such as salmon and sturgeon. More... trousseau - The French diminutive of truss or bundle—the thing that tramps or runaways carry tied to a stick over their shoulders. More... | |