Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, May 2, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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self-centered
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| Article of the Day | |
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 The Novgorod CodexDated to between 988 and 1030 CE and unearthed in Russia in July 2000, the Novgorod Codex is a collection of three wooden tablets containing a total of four wax pages on which a few Biblical psalms are written. Preserving the artifact required that the wax and wood be separated, a process that revealed in the wood traces of thousands of texts written over several decades. Researchers have painstakingly deciphered small portions of the underlying texts. What had been previously written on it? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Battle of Alcatraz Begins (1946)The Battle of Alcatraz followed an escape attempt from Alcatraz Island's federal penitentiary by six inmates who got stuck inside a cellhouse after failing to secure a key to the prison yard. Trapped, the inmates took the guards prisoner and took control of the cellhouse. The US Marines were called in, and two guards and three inmates died in the ensuing confrontation. Two inmates were later executed for their role in the incident. How long was it before the next attempted escape from Alcatraz? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Yongle Emperor (1360)Born Zhu Di, the Yongle Emperor was the favorite son of the founder of China's Ming dynasty. He spent his youth developing a military career but was passed over for the throne. He rebelled and seized the throne from his nephew in 1402. As emperor, he greatly extended China's scope and influence. He moved the capital to Beijing, built the Forbidden City, and sponsored the compilation of an immense encyclopedia of Chinese culture and history. What was the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Sooner or later we have all to pay for what we do.Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Land Diving (Nagol) (2020)On Pentecost Island in Vanuatu, land diving, or Nagol, is a centuries-old fertility ritual and the precursor of bungee jumping. Tree branches, trunks, and vines from the forest are used to create a tower—about 85 feet tall. Facing a test of resolve and courage, island men and boys ascend the tower with liana vines. After the diver leaps off the tower, the vines stretch nearly to the ground and the diver ducks his head out of the way and lets his shoulders touch the land. During the ritual, the entire village assembles under the tower to dance, sing, and encourage the divers. More... | |