December 25, 2008

oblique \oh-BLEEK\, adjective, noun:

1. something oblique, such as a line or figure
2. in military use, by turning 45 degrees
3. not straight up and down or across; slanting
4. a muscle attached at an oblique angle to the structure that it controls
5. having unequal sides; situated obliquely instead of transverse or longitudinal
6. not straightforward; indirect

by 1425, from Middle French oblique, from Latin obliquus "slanting, sidelong, indirect," from ob "against" + root of licinus "bent upward," from Proto Indo-European base *lei- "to bend, be movable."

merry textmas

• The use of text messaging to send Christmas greetings.

Bob: Hey Sheri, who is blowing up your phone over there?

Sheri: Everyone sending me Merry Textmas's

Trivia

What is the name of the befuddled angel who saves James Stewart in Frank Capra's 1946 Christmas classic It's a Wonderful Life?

• Clarence.

Today in History:

• William the Conqueror: monarch also known as William the Bastard was crowned king of England (1066)
• George Washington: crossed the Delaware River to attack Hessian forces in New Jersey (1776)
• Nicolae Ceauşescu: Romanian leader and his wife, Elena, were executed (1989)

Today's Birthdays:

• Jesus of Nazareth (c.4 BCE-c.30 CE): teacher and prophet, considered by Christians to be the Messiah
• Isaac Newton (1642-1727): physicist who explained gravity
• Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957): tough-guy actor; also, actors Sissy Spacek (59) and CCH Pounder (56)
• Anwar al-Sadat (1918-1981): president of Egypt who signed a peace treaty with Israel; also, founder of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jinnah (1876-1948)
• Larry Csonka (62): NFL hall-of-famer
• Barbara Mandrell (60): country singer; other musicians born on this date include Tony Martin (96), Jimmy Buffett (62), Annie Lennox (54) and Dido (37)

Quote:

• "There is nothing in the dark that isn't there when the lights are on." — Rod Serling