Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Hobson's choice (HOB-sonz chois)

• noun: An apparently free choice that offers no real alternative.

Etymology: After Thomas Hobson (1544?-1630), English keeper of a livery stable, from his requirement that customers take either the horse nearest the stable door or none.

Girlfriend-proof

• v. To hide any objects that you would rather your girlfriend not see. These objects usually include porn, childish things (dolls, small toys, etc), and Pokemon memoribilia. You can girlfriend-proof your car, room, house, and really just about anything. Similar to parent-proof

Mitch: Hey man want to play me in a Yu-Gi-Oh match?

Mike: Sorry dude I just got done girlfriend-proofing my room. All my cards are in a shoebox under my bed.

Mitch: Oh alright. Hey, did you remeber to take down your Justin Timberlake poster?

Mike: Oh shoot. Thanks for reminding me. I'll get home and take care of that right away.

Trivia

Who was the first villain Superman faced when he made his movie debut in 1948?

• Spider Lady. She appeared in the 15-episode Superman serial adventure.

History

• Anne Boleyn: Henry VIII's second wife was beheaded (1536)
• Tariff of 1828: was passed to protect US industry; it was denounced as a "tariff of abominations" by critics in the South (1828)
• Marilyn Monroe: crooned ''Happy Birthday, Mr. President'' to John F. Kennedy at a Madison Square Garden fundraiser (1962)

Berfdays

• Peter Mayhew (66): English actor known for playing the Wookiee Chewbacca in the Star Wars movies. His peak height was 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m) tall.
• Johns Hopkins (1795-1873): merchant, philanthropist who endowed Johns Hopkins University
• Nancy Astor (1879-1964): first woman in British House of Commons
• Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969): leader of North Vietnam
• Malcolm X (1925-1965): a leader of the Black Muslim movement in America
• Nora Ephron (69): writer, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle; writer Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965) shared this birth date
• Pete Townshend (65): guitarist/songwriter, The Who
• Joe Michael "Dusty" Hill (61): bassist and vocalist with Texas Boogie-Blues-Rock group ZZ Top.