Friday, January 21, 2011

totemic \toh-TEM-ik\, adjective:

1. Pertaining to an object or natural phenomenon with which a family or group considers itself closely related.

2. Relating to a representation of such an object serving as the distinctive mark of the clan or group.

Totemic derives from the Algonquian (probably Ojibwa) odoodeman, "his sibling kin, his group or family," hence, "his family mark."

fast food opinion

• A blatantly regurgitated, prepackaged opinion. An opinion that requires no research, independent thought, wit, or creativity of one's own. Generally political, or theological in nature.

"John always re-posts political messages on Facebook. I'm tired of hearing his fast food opinions."

"MSNBC is the nation's leading purveyor of fast food opinions."

Trivia

In what sequence do the feet of all four-legged animals normally hit the ground when they walk?

• Left rear leg first, followed by left foreleg, right rear leg, then right foreleg.

History

• The Power of Sympathy: William Hill Brown published what was considered to be the first American novel, in Boston (1789)
• King Louis XVI: French monarch, husband of the profligate Marie Antoinette, was guillotined during the French Revolution (1793)
• USS Nautilus: first nuclear submarine was launched on the Thames River in Connecticut by FLOTUS Mamie Eisenhower (1954)
• Concordes: jet planes took off simultaneously from London's Heathrow Airport and Orly in Paris in the first commercial supersonic flights (1976)
• Eyak language: southcentral Alaskan language went extinct when its last native speaker died (2008)

Birthdays

• Stonewall Jackson (1824-1863): Confederate general; plus, soldiers/frontiersmen Ethan Allen (1738-1789) and John Fremont (1813-1890)
• Christian Dior (1905-1957): French fashion designer; also, fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972)
• Paul Scofield (1922-2008): actor, A Man For All Seasons; also, actors Telly Savalas (1924-1994), Ann Wedgeworth (76), Jill Eikenberry (64), Geena Davis and Robby Benson (both 55), Marie Trintignant (1962-2003), John Ducey and Karina Lombard (both 42) and Izabella Miko (30)
• Plácido Domingo (70): one of the Three Tenors; singers Richie Havens (70), Mac Davis (69) and Billy Ocean (61) share this birth date
• Hakeem Olajuwon (48): NBA star; also, golfer Jack Nicklaus (71)