Saturday, February 6, 2010

eschew \es-CHOO\, transitive verb:

• To shun; to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful).

Eschew comes from Old French eschiver, ultimately of Germanic origin, scheuchen.
It's complicated

• One of the options for "Relationship Status" on Facebook. Refers to a couple in an ambiguous state between "friends" and "in a relationship". May also be used to indicate dissatisfaction with an existing relationship.

If someone changes their status from "In a Relationship" to "It's Complicated", expect them to be "Single" and "Looking for Random Play" soon.
Trivia
How many volcanoes formed Hawaii, the Big Island of the Hawaiian chain?

• Five—Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Kilauea, Hualalai, and Kohala.

History

• Elizabeth II: became the reigning monarch of theUnited Kingdom upon the death of her father,George VI; she was formally crowned a year later (1952)
• Apollo 14: astronaut Alan Shepard became the first person to golf on the moon, while crewmate Edgar Mitchell threw a lunar scoop handle as a javelin (1971)

Berfdays, yo!

• Ronald Reagan (1911-2004): 40th POTUS
• Aaron Burr (1756-1836): Thomas Jefferson's vice president; he killed opponent Alexander Hamilton in a duel
• François Truffaut (1932-1984):New Wave film director and critic
• Mike Farrell (71): BJ Hunnicutt onM*A*S*H; other TV personalities born today includePatrick Macnee (88), Rip Torn and Mamie Van Doren (both 79), Gayle Hunnicutt (67), Michael Tucker (66),Kathy Najimy (53) and Barry Miller (52)
• Babe Ruth (1895-1948): New York Yankee slugger
• Tom Brokaw (70): broadcast journalist, longtime anchor of NBC Nightly News
• Axl Rose (48): rock singer with Guns 'N Roses; other musicians born today are Bob Marley (1945-1981), Fabian (67), Rick Astley (44) and Natalie Cole (60)