Sunday, November 15, 2009

agog \uh-GOG\, adjective:

• Full of excitement or interest; in eager desire; eager, keen.

Agog derives from Middle French en gogues, "in mirth; lively."
gaydar detector

• A kind of "sixth sense" that allows a flamboyantly homosexual man, or masculine homosexual woman, to play up their macho/feminine side upon entering a "gay-unfriendly" area.

Les's gaydar detector was going crazy when she drove to Laramie.
Trivia
What animal makes the loudest sound?

• The blue whale. Its deep low-pitched moans have been recorded at up to 188 decibels, and have been heard up to 530 miles away.

Today in History

• Pikes Peak: explorer Zebulon Pike first spotted the 14,000-foot (4,267 m.) Colorado mountain that eventually bore his name (1806)
• March to the Sea: Union commander Gen. William Tecumseh
• Sherman began his attack "into the very bowels of the Confederacy" during the American Civil War (1864)
• Brazil: became a republic when its emperor, Pedro II, was deposed (1889)
• Wendy's: the first branch of the fast food chain was opened by Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio(1969)

Today's Birthdays

• William Pitt the elder (1708-1778): British war minister and orator who was known as the "Great Commoner"
• Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986): painter of bleached bones and flowers
• Marianne Moore (1887-1972): award-winning modernist poet
• Sam Waterston (69): Jack McCoy on Law and Order; other actors born on this date include Ed Asner (79), Bob Gunton (64), Jonny Lee Miller (37) and Virginie Ledoyen (33)
• Petula Clark (77): singer of "Downtown"; musicians Frida (64), Kevin Eubanks (52) and E-40 (42) share this birthday