1 January 2013

moxie

[mok-see]

noun, Slang.

1. vigor; verve; pep.
2. courage and aggressiveness; nerve.
3. skill; know-how.

Example sentence:

‘He handled the situation with great moxie.

Origin:

1925–30, Americanism; after Moxie, a trademark (name of a soft drink)

Today’s aphorism

‘I’ve never heard anything about the resolutions of the Apostles, but good deal about their acts’.

– Og Mandino

On this day

1 January – the official birthday for all thoroughbred horses in the Northern Hemisphere. (see 1 August for Southern Hemisphere).

1 January 1901 – Federation of Australia. The six self-governing colonies in Australia formed a single nation known as the Commonwealth of Australia.

1 January 1942 – the United Nations is established by representatives of 26 nations in order to enforce peace-keeping campaigns throughout the world. There are now 193 member states and 2 non-member states (the Holy See and Palestine).

1 January 1959 – Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba following a revolution led by Fidel Castro. Batista allegedly fled with around $700 million of art and cash, the result of graft and corruption.

1 January 1985 – the world’s first mobile phone call is made by British comedian, Ernie Wise (from ‘Morecombe and Wise’), to Vodafone.