Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, July 27, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining the Continuous AspectThe continuous aspect is a subclass of the imperfective that emphasizes the progressive nature of the verb, looking at it as an incomplete action in progress over a specific period of time. The continuous aspect does not indicate the duration of the action, nor how often it occurs. Instead, it shows what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 HeadhuntingHeadhunting, the act of removing, displaying, and, in some cases, preserving human heads, has been practiced worldwide and may date to Paleolithic times. Though the practice was sometimes linked to certain forms of cannibalism and human sacrifice, its primary function was often ceremonial and was part of the process of reinforcing hierarchical relationships between communities and individuals. Which troops were said to regularly collect the skulls of enemy soldiers during World War II? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Battle of Killiecrankie (1689)Fought between Scottish highland clans supporting James II and VII and the government troops of William of Orange, the Battle of Killiecrankie occurred in Scotland during the first Jacobite uprising in 1689. Outnumbered, barefoot, and armed mostly with claymores—large, double-edged broadswords—the highlanders, led by John Graham of Claverhouse, used their position on the steep Pass of Killiecrankie to force a retreat. Despite the victory, Claverhouse was killed. What became of the revolt? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Kenneth Tompkins Bainbridge (1904)Bainbridge was an American physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project, the US government program that produced the first atomic bomb. He was the director of Project Trinity, the first nuclear test explosion—the sole test before the bombs were used. The successful test took place in New Mexico on July 16, 1945, and Bainbridge called the blast "a foul and awesome display." He later became an outspoken opponent of nuclear testing. What was Bainbridge's other notable scientific accomplishment? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Painting, n.: The art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather and exposing them to the critic.Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 AirVenture (2023)Begun in 1953, the AirVenture has grown to become one of the largest conventions of any kind in the world. Sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association, the annual event draws together enthusiasts, designers, and a host of individuals, companies, and government agencies involved in the aviation and aeronautics industries. Some 10,000 aircraft of all kinds are on display at the convention. In the afternoon, there is a three-hour air show; in the evening, live entertainment performances feature NASA astronauts, test pilots, and leading aviation personalities. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: specialartificial language - An invented language, as opposed to a hereditary one, intended for a special use, as in international communication, a secret society, or computer programming. More... auspicious, propitious - Auspicious implies success in the future, while propitious means favorable conditions are present; auspicious means promising or of good omen—not just special or memorable. More... niche product - A product that is made and marketed for use in a small and specialized but profitable market. More... | |