Saturday, January 8, 2011

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.

Trivia

What marine creature eats only while floating on its back?

• The sea otter, which dives for its food, brings it to the surface, and then floats on its back while eating, often using rocks to crack open shells to get at their tasty contents.

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) (editor's note: while the treaty had been signed, it was not ratified on either side. Should US forces have lost i New Orleans, the treaty would, likely, have been ignored)
• 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

• John Curtin (1885-1945): Australian prime minister
• Sander Vanocur (83): veteran broadcast journalist; journalist Charles Osgood (78) shares this birthday
• Stephen Hawking (69): theoretical physicist who specializes in the physics of black holes
• Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) father of the detective novel, The Moonstone
• Elvis Presley (1935-1977): the king of rock and roll; other rockers born on this date include Shirley Bassey (74), Anthony Gourdine (70), Robby Krieger (65) and David Bowie (64)