Welcome to Dailypedia

Using laser scanning, art experts have revealed a veil-like cloth hanging from Mona Lisa's dress in Leonardo da Vinci's 16th century masterpiece. This garment was commonly worn by pregnant women and new mothers in Renaissance Italy, suggesting that da Vinci's model was either expecting a child or had recently given birth. The woman in the portrait is thought to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo.

DEFINITION: (noun) One who shirks work or duty, especially one who tries to evade military service in wartime. SYNONYMS: shirker. USAGE: Jim was a slacker and made the rest of his group do all the work on the project.

Samuel Adams was an American Revolutionary leader and patriot. In the mid-1760s, he drafted protests against Great Britain's Stamp and Townshend Acts and authored pamphlets designed to stir up sentiment against the British. Adams helped organize the revolutionary Sons of Liberty, was the chief instigator of the Boston Tea Party, served on the Continental Congress, and signed the Declaration of Independence. How was he related to John Adams?

During the chaotic period that followed the overthrow of the Soviet-backed government of Afghanistan, the Taliban entered Afghanistan through Pakistan with a well-funded militia and captured the capital city of Kabul. The rival revolutionary leader, Rabbani, subsequently fled the city, and the Taliban operated a fundamentalist Islamic state until their overthrow by US-backed forces loyal to Rabbani in late 2001. What three nations officially recognized the Taliban government?

Because her brother-in-law, the president of South Vietnam, was unmarried, Madame Nhu was considered the First Lady of Vietnam. A Catholic by conversion, she formed military units for women and pushed for the passing of "morality laws" outlawing, among other things, abortion, contraceptives, dance halls, and beauty pageants. Many people opposed the imposition of Madame Nhu's values on their lives, and she went into exile after a coup d'etat in 1963. Why was she called "The Dragon Lady?"