Word of the Day for Tuesday, May 13, 2008

umbrage \UHM-brij\, noun:

1. Shade; shadow; hence, something that affords a shade, as a screen of trees or foliage.
2. a. A vague or indistinct indication or suggestion; a hint.
3. b. Reason for doubt; suspicion.
4. Suspicion of injury or wrong; offense; resentment.

farticles: Urban Word of the Day

• The particles of air contaminated after someone or something lets out gas.

You contaminated my air with your farticles!

Trivia

Where is the highest waterfall in North America?

• In Yosemite National Park, in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. Yosemite Falls, which has a 2,425-foot vertical drop, is the sixth highest waterfall in the world.

Today in History

• Mexican War: was declared by US president James Polk; the resulting land expansion was widely justified by manifest destiny (1846)
• space walk: Endeavour astronauts completed the first 3-person in-orbit excursion (1992)
• greenback: the $20 bill was revamped — and colorized — to thwart counterfeiters (2003)

Today's Birthdays

• William Petty-Fitzmaurice (1737-1805): British PM, first British Home Secretary
• Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989): author of Rebecca
• Bea Arthur (86): star of Maude and The Golden Girls; actors Harvey Keitel (69), Zoë Wanamaker (59), Julianne Phillips (48) and Samantha Morton (31) were also born on this date
• Peter Gabriel (58): singer/flautist/composer, one-time front man for Genesis; other musicians born on this date include Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900), Ritchie Valens (1941-1959) and Stevie Wonder (58)
• Dennis Rodman (47): outlandish former NBA star