Sunday, January 8, 2023

sockdolager \sok-DOL-uh-jer\, noun:

1. A decisive reply, argument.

2. Something unusually large, heavy, etc.

3. A heavy, finishing blow.

Sockdolager is an odd American combination from the 1830s. Its probable components are sock, as in "striking a blow," and doxology, "a fervent hymn to god." Sockdolager is also possibly the last word Abraham Lincoln heard before he was assassinated.

 

Area Code DNA

• Determining someone's place of origin by checking out their cell phone number's area code. Even if they move cross country, people often keep their cell phone numbers to avoid losing contact with friends, or, simply because it's convenient. Interpreting their retained area code gives a ready glimpse into the history of the person.

Dude1: That girl is hot! Is she from around here?

Dude2: Her cell phone number starts with 619. Area code DNA tells me she's from San Diego.

 

History

• Battle of New Orleans: the US defeated the British in the final battle of the War of 1812; a peace treaty had already been signed, but the news hadn't yet reached New Orleans (1815)
• 14 Points: US President Woodrow Wilson presented his plan for post-WWI peace in Europe; it held the Allies together for the remainder of the war and established him as their moral leader (1918)
• Charles de Gaulle: became the first president of France's Fifth Republic (1959)
• Music City Miracle: controversial pass won an NFL post-season game for the Tennessee Titans; the team subsequently made it to the Super Bowl (2000)

Birthdays

• James Longstreet 1821 - U.S. Civil War general

  
• Wilkie Collins 1824
• Jose Ferrer 1909 - Actor, director
• Larry Storch 1923 - Actor ("F Troop")
• Ron Moody 1924 - Actor ("Oliver Twist")
• Soupy Sales (Milton Hines) 1926 - Comedian (Host: The Soupy Sales Show)
• Walter Hergesheimer 1927 - Hockey player
• Sander Vanocur 1928 - Broadcast journalist (ABC News)
• Doreen Wilbur 1930 - Archery
• Charles Osgood 1933 - Broadcast journalist (CBS News Sunday Morning)
• Gene Freese 1934 - Baseball
• Elvis Presley 1935 - Musician, known as "the King of rock 'n' roll"
• Shirley Bassey 1937 - Singer
• Christy Lane 1940 Country-gospel singer
• Anthony Gourdine 1940 Singer (Little Anthony and The Imperials)
• Yvette Mimieux 1941 - Actress ("The Time Machine", "The Most Deadly Game")
• Stephen Hawking 1942 - Theoretical physicist, writer (A Brief History of Time)
• Ron Ellis 1945 - Hockey player
• Robby Krieger 1946 - Musician (The Doors)
• David Bowie (David Robert Jones) 1947 Singer, movies
• Terry Sylvester 1947 (Hollies, Swinging Blue Jeans)
• Joe Reed 1948 - Football player
• Wilbur Howard 1949 - Baseball player

  
• John McTiernan 1951 - Director
• Calvin Smith 1961
• Maria Patillo 1965 - Actress
• R. Kelly 1969
• Ami Dolenz 1969 - Actress
• Jeff Abercrombie - Musician (Fuel)
• Jenny Lewis 1976 - Actress
  Genevieve Nicole Cortese Padalecki 1981- Actress ("Supernatural")
• Gaby Hoffman 1982 - Actress
• Anais Zanotti 1986
  Rachel Cook 1995 - model 
  Roy Batty 2016 - Replicant (Bladerunner / Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?)