Monday, April 12, 2010

neologism \nee-OLL-uh-jiz-um\, noun:

1. A new word or expression.
2. A new use of a word or expression.
3. The use or creation of new words or expressions.
4. (Psychiatry) An invented, meaningless word used by a person with a psychiatric disorder.
5. (Theology) A new view or interpretation of a scripture.

The French word neologisme, from which the English is borrowed, is made up of the elements neo-, "new" + log-, "word" + -isme, -ism (all of which are derived from Greek).

Drum Driving

• While you are driving and listening to music, you bang on the steering wheel as if it were a drum set.

"Would you please pay attention to the road and stop drum driving!?"
Trivia
How many pounds of fresh grapes does it take to produce a pound of raisins?

• About 4 ½ pounds.

History

• Galileo: Italian scientist's heresy trial began during the Inquisition (1633)
• US Civil War: started when Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter (1861)
• Yuri Gagarin: cosmonaut became the first human in space, orbiting Earth in 89 minutes aboard the Vostok I (1961)
• Columbia: first space shuttle took its first test flight (1981)

Berfdays

• Henry Clay (1777-1852): US Speaker of the House, statesman, "The Great Compromiser"
• Lily Pons (1898-1976): coloratura soprano; diva Montserrat Caballé (77) also has a birthday today
• Herbie Hancock (70): jazz musician who wrote the score for 'Round Midnight
• David Letterman (63): late-night talk show host
• Scott Turow (61): author of legal thrillers, Presumed Innocent; plus, techno-thriller novelist Tom Clancy (63) and playwrights Alan Ayckbourn (71) and Tom Noonan (59)
• Andy Garcia (54): actor, Ocean's Eleven, The Air I Breathe; also, actors Ed O'Neill (64), Dan Lauria (63), Nicholas Brendon and Shannen Doherty (both 38) and Claire Danes and Jennifer Morrison (both 31)
• Guy Berryman (32): bassist for Coldplay; other singers born today include John Kay (66), David Cassidy (60), Pat Travers (56), Vince Gill (53) and Amy Ray (46)