Word of the Day for Thursday, January 24, 2008

nolens volens \NO-lenz-VO-lenz\:

• Whether unwilling or willing.

Bush league also see Bushleague. Adj.

• Below good standards, not good or incorrect. Pitiful, poor, terrible, awful, bad, sucky,

"That's a bushleague call, ref."

"That kid is real bushleague."

Trivia

How much was George Clooney paid for writing and directing the 2005 film Good Night and Good Luck?

• A symbolic $2—$1 for writing the script and $1 for directing the movie in which he portrays TV news producer Fred Friendly. Clooney put his home up as collateral to make the film about newsman Edward R. Murrow, and he signed his rights away to get it distributed.

Today in History

• Caligula: Roman emperor who had a reputation for strange behavior was assassinated by his Praetorian Guards (41)
• Eskimo Pie: chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream bar was patented by Christian K. Nelson; it aimed to satisfy the cravings for both ice cream and chocolate bars at once (1922)
• St. Petersburg: Russian city was renamed Leningrad 3 days after Lenin's death (1924)

Today's Birthdays

• Edith Wharton (1862-1937): novelist, The House of Mirth, Ethan Frome and The Age of Innocence
• Joe Blow (43): t3h pr0n
• Oral Roberts (90): faith healer, evangelist
• Neil Diamond (67): Grammy-winning singer/songwriter; recently revealed that he wrote the single "Sweet Caroline" for Caroline Kennedy
• Mary Lou Retton (40): the first American woman gymnast to win an individual Olympic gold medal
• Mischa Barton (22): troubled star of The O.C.; also, actors John Belushi (1949-1982) and Ernest Borgnine (91)
• Nicole Marie Lenz (28): Playmate