Daily Content Archive

Word of the Day
chagrin Definition: (noun) A keen feeling of mental unease, as of annoyance or embarrassment, caused by failure, disappointment, or a disconcerting event. Synonyms: mortification, humiliation Usage: Much to my chagrin, my rival won the election hands down.

Article of the Day

Rogue Waves Rogue waves were once thought to be the stuff of sailors' lore, but scientists have since established that these ostensibly unpredictable, abnormally large ocean surface waves are indeed real. Though similar in appearance to tsunamis, rogue waves are an entirely different phenomenon. Tsunamis are often preceded by an undersea earthquake, but rogue waves spring up without warning in seemingly calm waters, often far out at sea. What famously ill-fated ship may have been the victim of a rogue wave? More...

This Day in History

The Battle of Bunker Hill (1775) Early in the American Revolution and soon after the battles of Lexington and Concord, colonial troops laid siege to Boston. When they began occupying hills overlooking the city, newly reinforced British troops attacked. After two failed assaults, a third charge dislodged the Americans, who had run out of gunpowder. Though the British technically won, their unexpectedly heavy casualties were a psychological blow, and American morale soared. On what hill was the battle actually fought—and why? More...

Today's Birthday

Charles François Gounod (1818) Gounod was French composer who also studied for the priesthood and worked as an organist. Throughout his life, he remained torn between the theatre and the church. His reputation largely rests on his hugely popular 1859 opera, Faust, but he also wrote 15 lesser-known operas, 17 masses, more than 150 songs, and two symphonies. One of his short pieces, "Funeral March of a Marionette," became well-known—albeit not by name—as the theme to what popular TV show beginning in the 1950s? More...

Quotation of the Day
Envy is ignorance. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Idiom of the Day
the nosebleeds — A seating area very high up in a stadium or theater, as for a sporting event, musical performance, play, etc., which typically costs less money but has a restricted view. "Nosebleed" refers jocularly to the effects of extremely high altitudes on the body, which can often cause nasal hemorrhaging, among other symptoms. More...

Today's Holiday
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (2025) In 1994 the United Nations established World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought on June 17. The date coincides with the June 17, 1994, signing of the Convention to Combat Desertification. Observances draw attention to the need for cooperation between nations in order to stop desertification and respond to drought. More...