Thursday, December 10, 2009

cogitate \KOJ-uh-tayt\, intransitive verb:

1. To think deeply or intently; to ponder; to meditate.
2. To think about; to ponder on; to meditate upon; to plan or plot.

Cogitate comes from Latin cogitare, "to turn over in one's mind, to reflect, to think, to consider," from co- + agitare, "to put in constant motion, to drive about," from agere, "to drive." It is related to agitate.

Wiper Beat

• When the windshield wipers on your car sync up with the music on your car radio.

Oh snap! Check out the wiper beat! That song is way sicker with that hotness!
Trivia

How was comedian Fran Drescher’s beloved pet Pomeranian listed in the credits for her TV sitcom The Nanny and the 1990 movie Cadillac Man?

• As Chester Drescher. After Chester died in 2000, the actress adopted another Pomeranian, a female she named Esther Drescher.

Today in History

• Spanish-American War: conflict ended with Spain renouncing its claim to Cuba and ceding Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines to the US (1898)
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights: was adopted by the UN; it became the world's most translated document (1948)
• 300 million yen robbery: Japan's biggest heist was perpetrated; it remains unsolved (1968)

Today's Birthdays

• Emily Dickinson (1830-1886): reclusive poet; plus, writers Giovanni Battista Guarini (1538-1612),George Macdonald (1824-1905), Nelly Sachs (1891-1970) and Mary Norton (1903-1992)
• Melvil Dewey (1851-1931): creator of the Dewey Decimal System; educator of the deaf Thomas Gallaudet (1787-1851) shared this birth date
• Paul Hardcastle (52): jazz musician; singers Chad Stuart (68), Gloria Loring (63), J Mascis (44) and Kevin Sharp (39) also celebrate birthdays today
• Kenneth Branagh (49): actor best known for his interpretations of Shakespeare's plays; also, actors Harold Gould (86), Fionnula Flanagan and Tommy Kirk (both 68), Susan Dey (57), Michael Clarke Duncan (52), Nia Peeples (48) and Raven-Symoné (24)