Sunday, December 20, 2009

iota \eye-OH-tuh\, noun:

1. The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet, corresponding to the English i.
2. A very small quantity or degree; a jot; a bit.

Iota is the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet. The word jot also derives from iota.
Christmasochist

• Someone who continues to subject themselves to Christmas activities -- Secret Santa, carolling, etc. -- despite feeling painfully awkward at the event.

Ryan's uncomfortable laughter at the Secret Santa Pot Luck indicated he was an Christmasochist.

Trivia
Who mapped and named the Gulf Stream?

• Benjamin Franklin, who made eight transatlantic voyages over a 60-year period.

Today in History

• South Carolina: became the first state to secede from the Union (1860)
• It's a Wonderful Life: Frank Capra's drama was screened for the first time, in the Globe Theatre of New York City (1946)
• Operation Just Cause: the US invaded Panama to overthrow and capture military leader Manuel Noriega, who stood accused of corruption and drug trafficking (1989)

Today's Birthdays

• Branch Rickey (1881-1965): baseball manager who developed the farm system and hired the first black players; plus, athletes Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman (1886-1974), Roy Williams (28) and David Wright (27)
• Robert Menzies (1894-1978): Australian prime minister
• Dick Wolf (63): creator and producer of Law and Order
• Uri Geller (63): illusionist
• David Cook (27): singer, American Idol winner; also, musicians Alan Parsons (60), Mike Watt and Billy Bragg (both 52), Kris Tyler (45), Chris Robinson (43) and JoJo (19)
• Jonah Hill (26): actor, Superbad, The Invention of Lying; also, actors Charlie Callas (83), John Hillerman (77), Kathryn Joosten (70), Jenny Agutter (57) and Michael Badalucco (55)