Thursday, February 24, 2011

hypnagogic \hip-nuh-GOJ-ik; -GOH-jik\, adjective:

• Of, pertaining to, or occurring in the state of drowsiness preceding sleep.

Hypnagogic (sometimes spelled hypnogogic) ultimately derives from Greek hupnos, "sleep" + agogos, "leading," from agein, "to lead."

Bipolar Texter

• An individual who will suddenly, mid-conversation stop responding to you via text. Or, an individual who has reckless emotional swings through text message.

Jamie: "Hey Steve did you talk to Chelsea last night.

Steve: "Yeah dude shes such a Bipolar Texter"

Jamie: "Yep, she does that to everyone"

Trivia

Why is the island of Stromboli, off the west coast of southern Italy, called the Lighthouse of the Mediterranean?

• It’s an active volcanic island that has been erupting—and giving off a red glow—almost continuously for over 2,000 years.

History

• Gregorian calendar: solar calendar was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in a papal bull known as Inter gravissimas, to correct the Julian calendar (1582)
• Marbury v. Madison: established judicial review, giving the Supreme Court power to overturn acts of Congress it deems unconstitutional (1803)
• Andrew Johnson: became the first US president to be impeached, for defying the Tenure of Office Act (1868)
• National Public Radio: the home of All Things Considered and Car Talk was created (1970)

Birthdays

• Ibn Batuta (1304-1377?): Medieval Muslim explorer who traveled some 75,000 mi (120,675 km) over 30 years and wrote about the Muslim world of the 14th century
• Winslow Homer (1836-1910): painter who specialized in watercolor scenes of nature, especially of the sea
• Abe Vigoda (90): actor, Fish in Barney Miller, Tessio in The Godfather and possible zombie; also born today are actors Steven Hill (89), Dominic Chianese (80), James Farentino (73), Barry Bostwick (66), Edward James Olmos (64), Debra Jo Rupp and Helen Shaver (both 60), Kristin Davis (46) and Billy Zane (45)
• Steve Jobs (56): co-founder of Apple and Pixar, bullshit and con-off artist - makes people believe he actually invents stuff
• Mike Lowell (37): World Series MVP; other athletes born today include Honus Wagner (1874-1955), Fred Dean (59), Alain Prost (56), Eddie Murray (55), Jeff Garcia (41), Manon Rheaume (39), Simeon Rice (37) and Lleyton Hewitt (30)