Friday, December 26th, 2003  

In Today's Tribune                    

                    

 

Here's today's tidbits

Born on December 26th

Charles Babbage (1791)

Henry Miller (1891)

Mao Tse-tung (1893)

Richard Widmark (1914)

Steve Allen (1921)

Alan King (1927)

Carlton Fisk (1947)

Ozzie Smith (1954)

Lars Ulrich (1963)

  

 What I've Discovered

 ONE- I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

 TWO- My wild oats have turned into prunes and All Bran.

 THREE- I finally got my head together; now my body is falling apart.

 FOUR- Funny, I don't remember being absent minded...

 FIVE- All reports are in; life is now officially unfair.

 SIX- If all is not lost, where is it?

 SEVEN- It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser.

 EIGHT- Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant.

 NINE- I wish the buck stopped here; I sure could use a few...

 TEN- Kids in the back seat cause accidents.

 ELEVEN- Accidents in the back seat cause...kids.

 TWELVE- It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.

 THIRTEEN- Only time the world beats a path to your door is when you're in the bathroom.

 FOURTEEN- If God wanted me to touch my toes, he would have put them on my knees.

 FIFTEEN- When I'm finally holding all the cards, why does everyone decide to play chess?

 SIXTEEN- It's not hard to meet expenses... they're everywhere.

 SEVENTEEN- The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

 EIGHTEEN- These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter... I go somewhere to get something and then wonder what I'm here after.

 NINETEEN- I am unable to remember if I have posted this before and doubt if you can either.

 

What is the Daily Buzzword for December 26th?

 grotesque  \groh-TESK\  adjective

What does it mean?
  1 : combining (as in a painting or poem) details not found
together in nature
  2 : unnaturally odd or ugly

How do you use it?
  In the movie _Toy Story_, Buzz and Woody were horrified by
Sid's creation of a doll's head on spider-like legs and other
grotesque combinations of toy parts.

Are you a word wiz?
  We took the word "grotesque" from French, but "grotesque"
developed from the Italian word "grotta." What do you think
the Italian word "grotta" means? Hint: There is a similar-
sounding word with the same meaning in English.

  A. slime
  B. worm
  C. cave
  D. bog

Answer:
  There's nothing odd about C. Italians digging among the
ruins of ancient Rome found strange paintings on the walls of
some of the rooms they uncovered. Those paintings showed human
and animal forms mixed with those of strange fruits and
flowers. Italians called such a painting "pintura grottesca,"
which means "cave painting." "Grottesca" came from the Italian
"grotta," meaning "cave." (The English "grotto," another
synonym of "cave," also came from "grotta.") The French turned
the Italian adjective "grottesca" into "grotesque," and that
form was later borrowed into English.
 

Today's Jigsaw puzzle         

 

CLICK HERE    NEEN & JOSEPHINE

 

                         That's all for today. Have a nice weekend.

                                                

                                                                               

        The following is what appeared in Wednesday's edition.............................

In Today's Tribune                    

"And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid ... And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord."

"And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men."

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." - Linus Van Pelt

                                      

 

Here's today's tidbits

Born on December 24th

Kit Carson (1809)

Johnny Gruelle (1880)

Howard Hughes (1905)

Ava Gardner (1922)

Mary Higgins Clark (1929)

Ricky Martin (1971)

   Heart Attack

While visiting his niece, an elderly gentleman had a heart attack. The woman drove wildly to get him to the emergency room.

After what seemed like a very long wait, the E.R. doctor appeared, wearing his scrubs and a long face. Sadly, he said, "I'm afraid that your uncle's brain is alive, but his heart has stopped."

"Oh, dear," cried the woman, her hands clasped against her cheeks with shock, "We've never had a Republican in the family before!"

 

What is the Daily Buzzword for December 24th?

ubiquitous  \yoo-BIH-kwuh-tus\  adjective

What does it mean?
  : existing or being everywhere at the same time
: constantly encountered : widespread

How do you use it?
  "One sure sign of the holiday season," said Mr. Clark,
"are those ubiquitous sales flyers in the Sunday paper."

Are you a word wiz?
  How long ago do you think "ubiquitous" first appeared in
English?

  A. not long ago at all; it was first used in the mid-1900s
  B. not very long ago; it was first used in the early 1800s
  C. rather long ago; it was first used in the 1500s
  D. very long ago; it was first used in the 1300s

Answer:
  "Ubiquitous" is a rather recent addition to English, first
appearing in the early 1800s. "Ubiquitous" is an adjective
formed from the noun "ubiquity," a much older word that
means "presence everywhere or in many places especially
simultaneously." "Ubiquity" has its roots in the Latin
word "ubique," meaning "everywhere," and it made its first
appearance in English in the late 1500s. Back in the 1500s
and 1600s, thousands of Latin words were borrowed into the
English language because many scholars read Latin and Greek
texts. Some surprisingly modern-sounding Latin words that
entered English in the 1500s include "matrix," "fanatic,"
and "abracadabra."
 

Today's Jigsaw puzzle         

 

CLICK HERE    FOUR AT SEA

                      That's all for today. Tune in tomorrow for more stuff.

                                                

                                                                               

        The following is what appeared in Tuesday's edition.............................

In Today's Tribune                    

Nobody guessed the right number in the contest. We did, however, receive two numbers that were the closest to it. I have already sent these two contestants an e-mail telling them to re-submit a new number. We'll find out the results tomorrow night when the winner will be announced.

 

Here's today's tidbits

Born on December 23rd

Connie Mack (1862)

Jose Greco (1918)

Harry Shearer (1943)

Susan Lucci (1948)

Eddie Vedder (1964)

Corey Haim (1971)

Navajo

A woman is driving toward home in Northern Arizona when she sees a Navajo woman hitchhiking. Because the trip had been long and quiet, she stops the car and the Navajo woman climbs in.

During their small talk, the Navajo woman glances surreptitiously at a brown bag on the front seat between them.

"If you're wondering what's in the bag," offers the woman, "it's a bottle of wine. I got it for my husband."

The Navajo woman is silent for a while, nods several times and says, "Good trade."

What is the Daily Buzzword for December 23rd?

 haggard  \HAG-erd\  adjective

What does it mean?
  : very thin especially from great hunger, worry, or pain

How do you use it?
  Photographer Dorothea Lange is famous for the pictures she
took of haggard migrant workers and others who suffered
terribly during the Great Depression.

Are you a word wiz?
  What field of study do you think the word "haggard" comes
from?

  A. science
  B. literature
  C. sports
  D. history

Answer:
  "Haggard" comes from the sport of falconry, which is hunting
with a trained bird of prey. The birds, called falcons, were
not bred in captivity until very recently. Originally, wild
falcons were taken from the nest when very young or trapped as
adults. A bird trapped as an adult is called a "haggard."
These birds were wild and difficult to train. Soon people
started using "haggard" for a person who was wild or difficult.
Later, "haggard" was used to describe the face of someone who
is tired or scared. The most common meaning of "haggard" today
is "gaunt" or "worn."
 

Today's Jigsaw puzzle         

 

CLICK HERE   DECEMBER BIRTHDAY PAIR

                      That's all for today. Tune in tomorrow for more stuff.

                                                

                                                                               

        The following is what appeared in Monday's edition.............................

In Today's Tribune                    

Family is like a box of chocolates, you never know which one is going to be nutty!

 

Happy Monday everybody! I hope you all had a pleasant weekend. I want to remind you that the number contest ends tomorrow morning at 3:00am. Don't miss out on this chance to win a great prize. I ought to let you know, there aren't many entries so you still have a chance. Don't forget to enter your kids and tell everybody about it. Remember, 3am Tuesday morning! It's only an e-mail away.

 

Here's today's tidbits

Born on December 22nd

Lady Bird Johnson (1912)

Gene Rayburn (1917)

Barbara Billingsley (1922)

Diane Sawyer (1945)

Steve Garvey (1948)

Robin Gibb (1949)

Maurice Gibb (1949)

Horse Lover

I'm in love with my horse," the nervous man told his psychiatrist.

"Nothing to worry about," the psychiatrist consoled. "Many people are fond of animals. As a matter of fact, my wife and I have a dog that we are very attached to."

 "But, doctor," continued the troubled patient, "I feel, ummm... 'physically' attracted to my horse."

 "Hmmm," the doctor asked, "Is it male or female?"

"Female, of course!" the man replied. "What do you think I am... GAY???"

 

What is the Daily Buzzword for December 22nd?

elucidate  \ih-LOO-suh-dayt\  verb

What does it mean?
  : to make clear or plain : explain

How do you use it?
  In her research paper, Jane elucidated several points about
life in the 1860s by quoting passages from Louisa May
Alcott's novel, _Little Women_.

Are you a word wiz?
  At the root of "elucidate" is the Latin word "lucere." What
do you think "lucere" means?

  A. to explain
  B. to reflect
  C. to polish
  D. to shine

Answer:
  The meaning of "elucidate" shines right through when you know
the origin of the word. "Elucidate" traces ultimately to the
Latin term "lucere," which means "to shine." If you elucidate
something, you make it easier to understand, sort of like the
way you shine a light on something to make it easier to see.
"Elucidate" shares its shining root with several English words.
"Lucid" also comes from "lucere." It means "shining," "clear-
headed," or "easily understood." "Translucent" is another
"lucere" offspring, and it means "partly see-through" or
"clear enough for light to pass through."
 

Today's Jigsaw puzzle         

 

CLICK HERE   CHRISTMAS DINNER

                      That's all for today. Tune in tomorrow for more stuff.