Monday, May 27, 2024

spruik \sprook\ , verb:

• To make or give a speech, especially extensively; spiel.

Spruik is Australian slang that arose in the early 1900s. It is of unknown origin.

 
bible

• An ancient novel full of murder, corruption, homosexuality, bestiality, incest and cruelty. It is often read to children on Sunday.

Jimmy: I learned about sodomy today mommy!
Mother: What?!?! From whom?
Jimmy: We read the Bible in Sunday School!

 

Holiday

• Memorial Day, holiday in the United States observed in late May. Previously designated Decoration Day, it was inaugurated in 1868 by Gen. John A. Logan for the purpose of decorating the graves of Civil War veterans and has since become a day on which all war dead are commemorated.

 

 

History

• St. Petersburg: city was founded by Peter the Great as his "window on Europe" (1703 N/S)
• Survivor: won the first running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico (1873)
• Golden Gate Bridge: opened to pedestrians; bicycles and wheelchairs are also allowed on the bridge's sidewalks (1937)
• Bismarck: German warship was attacked and sank; nearly 2,000 crew members died (1941)
• Alexander Solzhenitsyn: Soviet dissident novelist returned to Russia after 20 years in exile (1994)

Birthdays

• Ibn Khaldun (or Ibn Khaldoun) 1332 - Astronomer, economist, historian
• Cornelius Vanderbilt 1794 - Entrepreneur (shipping and railroads)
• Amelia Jenks Bloomer 1818 - American women's rights and temperance advocate
• Julia Ward Howe 1819 - Abolitionist, social activist, poet ("The Battle Hymn of the Republic")
• Wild Bill Hickok 1837 - gunfighter, scout, lawman

  
• Arnold Bennett 1867 - Novelist
• Isadora Duncan 1878 - Dancer
• Dashiell Hammett 1894 - Author
• Rachel Carson (Rachel Louise Carson) 1907 - Marine biologist, nature writer
• Vincent Price 1911 - Actor
• Hubert H. Humphrey (Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr.) 1911 - Served as Vice President under Lyndon B. Johnson
• John Cheever 1912 - Novelist, short story writer
• Herman Wouk 1915 - Author
• Yasuhiro Nakasone 1917 - Prime Minister of Japan (1982-1987)
• Christopher Lee 1922 - Actor, musician
• Henry Kissinger 1923 - Former U.S. Secretary of State
• Ramsey Lewis 1935 - Musician, composer, radio personality
• Lee Ann Merriwether 1935 - Actress (Barnaby Jones, Batman)
• Louis Gossett, Jr. 1936 - Actor
• Don Williams 1939 - Country singer
• Cilla Black 1943 - Singer, actress
• Bruce Weitz 1943 - Actor ("Hill Street Blues")
• Bruce Cockburn 1945 - Singer
• Richard Schiff 1955 - Actor ("The West Wing")
• Eddie Harsch 1957 - Musician (The Black Crowes)
• Susan Janet "Siouxsie Sioux" Ballion 1957 - Singer (Siouxsie & the Banshees)
• Neil Finn 1958 - Musician (Crowded House, Split Enz)
• Cathy Silvers 1961 - Actress ("Happy Days")
• Peri Gilpin 1961 - Actress ("Frasier")
• Adam Carolla 1964 - Comedian
• Todd Bridges 1965 - Actor ("Diff'rent Strokes")
• Sean Kinney 1966 - Musician (Alice in Chains)
• Jeff Bagwell 1968 - Baseball player
• Frank Thomas 1968 - Baseball player
• Dondre Whitfield 1969 - Actor
• Paul Bettany 1971 - Actor
• Left Eye 1971 - Singer (TLC)
• Jack McBarayer 1973 - Actor ("30 Rock")
• André 3000 (André Lauren Benjamin) 1975 - Rapper (Outkast)
• Jadakiss 1975 - Rapper
• Darnell Dockett 1981 - Football player
• Ethan Dampf 1994 - Actor ("American Dreams")

  

 

  

 

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