Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, October 27, 2024)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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polarity
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining the SemicolonSemicolons ( ; ) are used for two main purposes: to separate lengthy or complex items within a list and to connect independent clauses. They are often described as being more powerful than commas, while not quite as a strong as what mark of punctuation? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Trout TicklingTrout tickling is the practice of rubbing the underbelly of a trout in order to put it in a trance-like state that makes it easier to catch by hand. Commonly used in times of economic stress, especially during the 1930s depression era, the technique has been featured in works of literature throughout history—including writings by 3rd century Greek writer Aelian, Shakespeare, and Mark Twain, who described catching catfish in a similar way. In what country is the practice essentially outlawed? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Turkmenistan Gains Independence from the Soviet Union (1991)Following Turkmenistan's independence, the head of its Communist Party, Saparmurat Niyazov, became president. He developed a totalitarian cult of personality, isolating the Central Asian nation culturally and politically. Citizens were tested on their knowledge of Niyazov's autobiography and spiritual guide book, the Ruhnama—even on driver's license tests. Niyazov's successor later reversed many of his policies, including the decision to rename the months of the calendar after what? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Roy Lichtenstein (1923)Lichtenstein was an American artist best known for his brilliantly colored paintings in the style of large-scale comic strips, such as Whaam! and Drowning Girl. Originally an abstract expressionist, he turned to the New York-based pop art movement in the 1960s. In addition to his comic-book inspired panels, he created ironic pop art reinterpretations of famous paintings by artists such as Picasso. Which of his works was destroyed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 There are strings … in the human heart that had better not be vibrated.Charles Dickens (1812-1870) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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not do a stroke (of work)— To not do any work at all. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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Turkmenistan Independence Day (2025)This national holiday commemorates Turkmenistan's independence from the U.S.S.R. on October 27, 1991. Turkmenistan and other republics were gradually able to establish their own autonomous states due to the relaxation of Soviet rule influenced by the policy of perestroika. When the Soviet Union ceased to exist in December 1991, their independence was assured. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: wakingexpergefacient, expergefaction, expergefactor - A synonym for awakening is expergefacient; expergefaction is waking up and an alarm clock is an expergefactor. More... dysania - The state of having a hard time waking up and getting out of bed in the morning. More... experrection - Waking up or awakening. More... hypnagogic jerks, hypnopompic jerks - Hypnagogic jerks are the spasms that happen right when you fall asleep; hypnopompic jerks happen right when you are waking up. More... | |