Saturday, December 29, 2012

axial \AK-see-uhl\, adjective:

1. Situated in or on the line about which a rotating body turns.

2. Of, pertaining to, characterized by, or forming an axis: an axial relationship.

Axial originates from the Latin axis meaning 'pivot.' The Middle English suffix -al, turns what was once a noun into an adjective by applying the meaning 'of' or 'pertaining to' an 'axis.' 

step on a duck

• The sound of a particular fart caused by overly compressed butt cheeks. This will occur due to the person attempting to slip out a silent squeaker so as not to draw attention to his or herself. Odds are a quack-like sound will result from this expulsion. There will always be at least one person who will notice and call you out immediately.

Wow, dude! Did ya step on a duck? Nice one! 

Trivia

• Next week.

History

• Thomas Becket: the Archbishop of Canturbury was killed by four knights in his cathedral; he later became a saint (1170)
• Texas: Lone Star State became the 28th American state (1845)
• YMCA: the first such men's club in the US was founded, based on the London model that was started in the previous decade by George Williams (1851)
• Wounded Knee Massacre: last major confrontation between the Sioux and the US Army ended with hundreds of Indians killed (1890)
• Tian Tan Buddha: 110-ft.-(34 m.)-tall bronze Buddha statue in Hong Kong was completed (1993)
• Guatemala: peace treaty ended 36 years of civil strife (1996) 

Birthdays

• Marquise de Pompadour 1721
• Charles Goodyear 1800
• Andrew Johnson (U.S.) 1808
• William Gladstone 1809
• Pablo Casals 1876
• Viveca Lindfors 1920
• William Gaddis 1922
• Rose Lee Maphis 1922
• Dina Merrill 1928
• Inga Swenson 1932
• Tom Jarriel 1934
• Ed Flanders 1934
• Ray Nitschke 1936
• Jon Voight 1938
• Mary Tyler Moore 1938
• Ed Bruce 1940
• Ray Thomas (Moody Blues) 1942

• Marianne Faithfull 1946
• Ted Danson 1947
• Cozy Powell 1947
• Jon Polito 1950
• Gelsey Kirkland 1952
• Yvonne Elliman (Jesus Christ Superstar) 1953
• Ed Autry 1954
• Neil Geraldo 1955
• Paula Poundstone 1960
• Mark Day (Happy Mondays) 1961
• Jim Reid (The Jesus and Mary Chain) 1961
• Jason Gouuld 1966
• Mystro Clark 1966
• Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket) 1970
• Jude Law 1972
• Shawn Hatosy 1975
• Jessica Andrews 1983