February 24, 2017
Word of the Day
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Definition:
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(noun) A foot and leg covering reaching halfway to the knee, resembling a laced half boot. |
Synonyms: |
half boot |
Usage: |
He wore pale yellow buskins that covered the scars just above his ankles. |
Idiom of the Day
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A week in which new recruits or pledges of an organization, especially a college fraternity or sorority, are subjected to a series of hazing rituals prior to initiation.
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Article of the Day
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A combination of the words "smoke" and "fog," smog is a kind of air pollution that plagues cities throughout the world. Smog can form in almost any climate but is worse during periods of warm, sunny weather, when it can build up to dangerous levels and cause a number of health problems. It has even led to acute incidents in which thousands of people in a single metropolitan area have been killed. In what city did the Great Smog of 1952 kill approximately 4,000 people over a four-day period?
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Daily Grammar Lesson
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Plurals of nouns are used to indicate when there is more than one person, place, animal, or thing. The normal method for making nouns plural is to add an "-s." What are some irregular plurals?
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This Day in History
Nazi Party Founded in Germany (1920)
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Discuss
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The term National Socialist—or Nazi, for short—was added to the name of the German Workers' Party the year after it was founded. On the day it was renamed, swiftly-rising new member Adolf Hitler outlined the party's official platform before 2,000 people, its largest audience yet. During the Great Depression, millions of jobless voters joined the party, and in 1932 it became the largest bloc in the Reichstag. How did Hitler manage to make it the only political party in Germany?
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Today's Birthday
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Wagner was an American baseball player who led the National League in batting eight times. He entered the majors in 1897, and played for Pittsburgh most of his career. Though massively built, he was agile, leading his league in stolen bases five times and scoring almost 1,800 runs. He retired in 1917 but returned to coach the Pirates for almost two decades. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1936. Fans called him "The Flying Dutchman" for his speed, but he had another nickname. What was it?
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Today's Holiday
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Legend says that on this night Lord Shiva, the great god of destruction (who is also the restorer), danced the Tandav, his celestial dance of Creation, Preservation, and Destruction. Hindu devotees eat only once on the day before this "Night of Shiva," and then fast and tell stories about him. In India, pilgrims throng the Shiva shrines in Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu), Kalahasti (Andhra Pradesh), and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), where special celebrations are held. Mandi in Himachal Pradesh becomes one big party. Devotees carry deities on temple chariots, and there are folk dances and folk music.
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Quote of the Day
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That's the reason they're called lessons...because they lessen from day to day.
Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)
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In the News
Good News, 'Cat Ladies' - Owning the Pets Doesn't Pose Any Risk to Mental Health
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Discuss
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The 'crazy cat lady' is a cruel stereotype often applied to female cat owners – but contrary to previous research, owning a cat isn't bad for your mental health. Previous studies had suggested that a parasite carried by cats was linked to depression in humans – and ...
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