Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, July 20, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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telamon
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| Article of the Day | |
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%2c_Nordisk_familjebok.png) Pole WeaponsThe idea of creating a weapon by attaching a sharp end to a long shaft is an old one—the first spears date back to the Stone Age. Over the centuries, pole weapons have taken many different forms, from the European fauchard to the Chinese guan dao to the Japanese naginata. Masses of soldiers carrying pole weapons were recognized as effective military units early in the history of organized warfare. What infantry weapon resembled a kitchen knife? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Colombia Declares Independence from Spain (1810)From the 16th century, present-day Colombia formed the nucleus of the region that Spanish conquistadors called New Granada. In the early 1800s, people like Antonio Nariño began agitating for independence. A prominent early revolutionary leader, Nariño helped foment rebellion by distributing The Declaration of the Rights of Man to his countrymen. Parts of Colombia threw off Spanish jurisdiction in 1810, but full independence was not secured until nine years later, under what famous revolutionary? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Alexander the Great (356 BCE)The son of Philip II of Macedon, Alexander was tutored by Aristotle and became king at 20. One of the greatest generals in ancient history, he conquered much of Greece and Persia before his troops mutinied at the prospect of having to sack India as well. At the age of 33, he died of a fever on his way home after more than a decade of conquest. His empire was the greatest that had existed until that time and spread Hellenism far and wide. What city did Alexander name after his horse? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Observation is an old man's memory.Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 W.C. Handy Music Festival (2020)The W.C. Handy Music Festival honors the "Father of the Blues" in the Alabama Quad-Cities of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. The festival celebrates not only Handy's musical heritage but also the musical roots of spirituals and jazz. Throughout the festival there is music by nationally known musicians night and day, street dancing, folk art exhibits, and music workshops held in such locations as ball fields, parks, and nursing homes. Concerts are performed in the church where Handy's father and grandfather served as pastor, and in restaurants and clubs. More... | |