Monday, May 9, 2011

splenetic \spli-NET-ik\, adjective:

1. Irritable; peevish; spiteful.

2. Of the spleen.

3. Archaic: Affected with, characterized by, or tending to produce melancholy.

Splenetic comes from the Late Latin spleneticus, "of the spleen." In medieval physiology the spleen was considered the seat of morose feelings and bad temper.

carbon soldiers

• Slang term for children, kids, offspring and rugrats.

I don't have any little carbon soldiers yet but maybe in the not so future.

"Yes he is my little carbon soldier."

Trivia

Who is the only major league baseball player to catch four no-hitters?

• Jason Variteck, for the Boston Red Sox. The no-hit pitchers were Hideo Nomo (2001); Derek Lowe (2002); Clay Buchholz (2007); and Jon Lester (2008).

History

• the Pill: oral contraceptive was approved by the FDA; it all began with hormones from an inedible Mexican yam (1960)
• "vast wasteland" speech: FCC chairman Newton Minow referred to television as a "vast wasteland" and called for programming in the "public interest" (1961)
• The Beatles: hired George Martin as their producer and signed their first recording contract (1962)
• Aldo Moro: the bullet-riddled body of the five-term Italian prime minister was found; he had been kidnapped by violently left-wing Red Brigade terrorists (1978)
• White Sox: beat the Brewers in 25 innings (eight hours and six minutes), the longest game in MLB history (1984)
• Ebola: Kinshasa was quarantined after an outbreak (1994)

Birthdays

• John Brown (1800-1859): abolitionist who led the raid on Harper's Ferry
• Howard Carter (1874-1939): archaeologist who discovered King Tut's tomb
• William du Bois: author and illustrator of children's books (1916-1993); also, authors J.M. Barrie (1860-1937) and José Ortega y Gasset (1883-1955)
• Mike Wallace (93): journalist, 60 Minutes
• Pancho Gonzales (1928-1995): tennis champ
• James L. Brooks (71): TV and movie director and producer, The Simpsons
• Billy Joel (62): singer/songwriter, Piano Man; plus, musicians Sonny Curtis (74), Richie Furay (67), Bob Margolin (62) and Dave Gahan (49)
• Audrina Patridge (26): actor, The Hills; also, actors Alan Bennett (77), Albert Finney and Glenda Jackson (both 75), Candice Bergen (65), John Corbett (50), Rosario Dawson (32) and Rachel Boston (29)

Read more: http://www.answers.com/