29 September 2018

aperçu

[a-per-sy]

noun, plural aperçus [a-per-sy]. French.

1. a hasty glance; a glimpse.
2. an immediate estimate or judgment; understanding; insight.
3. an outline or summary.

Origin of aperçu

literally, perceived

Dictionary.com

Today’s quote

If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee.

– Unknown

On this day

29 September – National Coffee Day

29 September 1547 – birth of Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish novelist, authored Don Quixote, a classic of Western literature and which is considered to be the first modern European novel. Cervantes is considered to be the greatest writer in the Spanish language and the world’s pre-eminent novelist. Died 22 April 1616.

29 September 1997 – death of Roy Lichtenstein, American pop artist. Born 27 October 1923.

29 September – World Heart Day.

28 September 2018

aguardiente

[ah-gwahr-dee-en-tee; Spanish ah-gwahr-th yen-te]

noun

1. a type of brandy made in Spain and Portugal.
2. a liquor, popular in South and Central America, made from sugar cane.
3. (in Spanish-speaking countries) any distilled spirit.

Origin of aguardiente

1815-1825, Americanism; < Spanish, contraction of agua ardiente literally, fiery water; see aqua, ardent

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for aguardiente

Historical Examples

They desired not to eat or to drink—not even of my aguardiente, which is the best.
Cabbages and Kings
O. Henry

We shall give him a share for the provisions, for the tools, for the aguardiente.
The Story of a Mine
Bret Harte

He readily yields to it, and tosses off another glass of the aguardiente.
The Lone Ranche
Captain Mayne Reid

Today’s quote

Silence is a true friend who never betrays.

– Confucius

On this day

28 September 551BC – birth of Confucius, Chinese teacher and philosopher, founder of Confucianism. Died 479BC.

28 September 1330 – birth of Nicholas Flamel, French alchemist who purportedly made it his life’s work to decode a mysterious book, known as Book of Abramelin the Mage. Some believe he decoded the recipe for the Philosopher’s Stone, which could turn base metals into silver and gold, and was said to be the elixir of life. Died 22 March 1418(?) He was seen at least 3 times after his death, which led to rumour that he had produced the elixir of life and was therefore immortal. He has been immortalised in numerous books and movies, including ‘Harry Potter‘ by J.K. Rowling, and the ‘Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel‘ series by Michael Scott.

28 September 1864 – The birth of Revolutionary Marxism following a meeting at St Martin’s Hall in London of delegates from different countries in an effort to unify the various left-wing groups comprised of communists, socialists, anarchists and trade unionists. The meeting resulted in the founding of the International Workingmen’s Association or First International. The First International was headquartered in London and directed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels who had long stated that the working class struggle had to be supported internationally or would fail.

28 September 1872 – birth of David Uniapon, indigenous preacher, author and inventor. He is on the Australian $50 note. David influenced government decision making regarding aboriginal issues and invented a hand-piece for shearing sheep. Died 7 February 1967.

28 September 1895 – death of Louis Pasteur, French bacteriologist, one of the founders of microbiology. Invented the process for preventing milk and wine from causing sickness, known as pasteurisation. (Not entirely fool-proof, as over-imbibing wine still seems to cause sickness in some). Born 27 December 1822.

28 September 1967 – birth of Moon Unit Zappa, American musician. Daughter of legendary musician, Frank Zappa.

26 September 2018

cenote

[suh-noh-tee]

noun

1. a deep natural well or sinkhole, especially in Central America, formed by the collapse of surface limestone that exposes ground water underneath, and sometimes used by the ancient Mayans for sacrificial offerings.

Origin of cenote

Mexican Spanish Yucatec
1835-1845; < Mexican Spanish < Yucatec Mayan

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for cenote

Historical Examples

For these the Mayan Indian name is ” cenote,” and they are often huge.
The American Egypt
Channing Arnold

The floor of this cenote is near the watertable but not below it.
Summer Birds From the Yucatan Peninsula
Erwin E. Klaas

Dinny led on rapidly till they reached the turning in the direction of the old temple which contained the cenote.
Commodore Junk
George Manville Fenn

Probably the swallows were nesting in the cenote although the nests were inaccessible to view.
Summer Birds From the Yucatan Peninsula
Erwin E. Klaas

Today’s quote

Laughter is an instant vacation.

– Milton Berle

On this day

26 September 1181 – birth of St Francis of Assisi, Italian friar and founder of the men’s Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St Clare and the Third Order of St Francis. Although these are all Catholic Orders, he was never ordained as a Catholic priest. Died 3 October 1226.

26 September 1774 – birth of Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman), American environmentalist. Appleseed was a nurseryman who introduced significant numbers of apple trees to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Illinois. His legend grew while he was still alive because of his generous nature, care for animals and the environment, and respect he had for the American Indian tribes who believed he’d been touched by the ‘Great Spirit’ because of his love and admiration for them and the gospel message he preached. Born 26 September 1774. Died 11 March 1845. The exact date of Appleseed’s death is in dispute, with some sources claiming 18 March 1845 and others as ‘Summer 1845’. 11 March is celebrated in the USA as ‘Johnny Appleseed Day’.

26 September 1888 – birth of Thomas Stearns Eliot (T.S. Eliot), poet, playwright, publisher, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, described as ‘arguably the most important English language poet of the 20th century’. Wrote ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock‘, ‘The Waste Land‘, ‘Ash Wednesday‘, ‘The Hollow Men‘. Died 4 January 1965.

26 September 1902 – death of Levi Strauss, German-born, American clothing manufacturer. Most notable for Levi jeans. Born 26 February 1829.

26 September 1907 – New Zealand declares independence from Great Britain.

26 September 1960 – Fidel Castro delivers the longest speech in U.N. history, at 4 hours, 29 minutes.

26 September 1964 – the first episode of the sit-com, Gilligan’s Island, airs in the United States. The final episode aired on 17 April 1967. It told the story of four men and three women on board the S.S. Minnow are ship-wrecked on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean following a storm. Stranded are the ship’s mate, Gilligan and the ship’s skipper, a millionaire and his wife (the Howells), a sultry movie star (Ginger Grant), a professor and farm girl (Mary-Anne Summers).

26 September 1983 – Australia wins the America’s Cup yacht race; the first nation to take the cup off America in 132 years.

26 September 1997 – the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi (in Assisi, Italy) partially collapses after an earthquake strikes the region.

18 September 2018

Rudra

[roo d-ruh]

noun, Vedic Mythology.

1. father of the storm gods and controller of the powers of nature.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for Rudra

Historical Examples

The horrors of Rudra the deadly are the mantle of Śiva the gracious.
Hindu Gods And Heroes
Lionel D. Barnett

These are twenty-seven, or thirty-six in number, the sons of Rudra.
The History of Antiquity, Volume IV (of 6)
Max Duncker

Rudra, the god of the storm, is repeatedly invoked in the Rigveda.
The History of Antiquity, Volume IV (of 6)
Max Duncker

Where, O Rudra, is that gracious hand of thine, which is healing and comforting?
Demonology and Devil-lore
Moncure Daniel Conway

The Maruts, the sons of red Rudra, were the spirits of tempest and thunder.
Indian Myth and Legend
Donald Alexander Mackenzie

Shiva, as we have indicated, developed from Rudra, the storm god.
Indian Myth and Legend
Donald Alexander Mackenzie

Rudra and Indra are also represented in the form of the boar.
The Popular Religion and Folk-Lore of Northern India, Vol. II (of 2)
W. Crooke

They are the sons of Rudra and the mottled cloud-cow Pṛiçni.
A History of Sanskrit Literature
Arthur A. MacDonell

Indeed, the only deity in whom injurious features are at all prominent is Rudra.
A History of Sanskrit Literature
Arthur A. MacDonell

For better is the anger of Rudra than the blessings of other gods.
Curiosities of Superstition
W. H. Davenport Adams

Word Origin and History for Rudra

storm god in Vedic mythology, from Sanskrit Rudrah, according to Klein literally “the howler, roarer,” from stem of rudati “weeps, laments, bewails,” cognate with Latin rudere “to roar, bellow,” Lithuanian rauda “wail, lamentation,” Old English reotan “to wail, lament.”

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Today’s quote

Sometimes you want to give up the guitar, you’ll hate the guitar. But if you stick with it, you’re gonna be rewarded.

– Jimi Hendrix

On this day

18 September 1873 – ‘The panic of 1873’ – a severe economic crisis in Europe and the United States caused by a drop in demand for silver following Germany’s decision to abandon the silver standard after the Franco-Prussian Wars. ‘The Panic’ lasted until 1879. It was known as the ‘Great Depression’, until the financial crisis of the 1930s.

18 September 1965 – ‘Get Smart’ premieres on U.S. television.

18 September 1970 – death of Jimi Hendrix. American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He was 27. Born 27 November 1942

17 September 2018

Berith

[Sephardic Hebrew breet; Ashkenazic Hebrew bris; English bris, brit]

noun, Hebrew.

1. Brith.

Origin of Berith

bərīth literally, covenant
Brithor Berith, Brit, Bris
[Sephardic Hebrew breet; Ashkenazic Hebrew bris; English bris, brit]

noun, Hebrew.

1. the Jewish rite of circumcising a male child eight days after his birth.

Compare Brith Milah.

Origin

bərīth literally, covenant

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for Berith

Historical Examples

Abimelech has taken the whole city, but he can not take this temple of Berith.
New Tabernacle Sermons
Thomas De Witt Talmage

The temple of Berith must come down, and I do not care how it comes.
New Tabernacle Sermons
Thomas De Witt Talmage

One Inkepenne, a gentilman that Berith in his shield a scheker sylver and sables, was founder of it.
Bell’s Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Winchester
Philip Walsingham Sergeant

Today’s quote

In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.

– Khalil Gibran

On this day

17 September 1916 – Baron Manfred Von Richthofen (a.k.a The Red Baron), wins his first aerial combat in World War I.

17 September 1947 – the United State Department of Defense forms and is tasked with coordinating all defense related organisations in the U.S. The DoD is the largest employer in the world, with over 3.2 million employees, including active soldiers, sailors, airmen/women, and National Guard.

17 September 1951 – birth of Cassandra Peterson a.k.a Elvira, U.S. actress and host of late-night B-grade horror and sci-fi movies.

17 September 1961 – birth of Baz Luhrmann, Australian film director (Romeo and Juliet, Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge).

17 September 1966 – St George Dragons beat Balmain Tigers 23-4, to win the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) grand final for the 11th consecutive year. The longest premiership-winning streak in Australian sport.

17 September 1972 – M*A*S*H* premieres on NBC-TV.

17 September 1991 – first version of Linux released.

16 September 2018

fractious

fractious

[frak-shuhs]

adjective

refractory or unruly:
a fractious animal that would not submit to the harness.
readily angered; peevish; irritable; quarrelsome:
an incorrigibly fractious young man.

Origin of fractious

First recorded in 1715–25; fracti(on) + -ous

Related forms

frac·tious·ly, adverb
frac·tious·ness, noun
un·frac·tious, adjective
un·frac·tious·ly, adverb
un·frac·tious·ness, noun

Can be confused

factional factious fractious

Synonyms

1. stubborn, difficult. 2. testy, captious, petulant, snappish, pettish, waspish, touchy.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for fractious

Contemporary Examples

Relationships in her “blood family,” a distinction her brother pointedly made at her funeral, were often strained and fractious.
The Daily Beast logo
The Day the Fairytale Died
Marilyn Johnson
July 12, 2014

Starting with the House, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) was largely successful in keeping his fractious caucus largely in check.
The Daily Beast logo
2014 New Year’s Resolutions for the D.C. Political Establishment
Ron Christie
January 2, 2014

The story told on these walls is a fractured and fractious one that consciously resists an easy narrative.
The Daily Beast logo
Finally, an Accurate Look Back at AIDS Activism in ‘Why We Fight’
Hugh Ryan
December 15, 2013

He was well aware of the fractious history between Congress and the White House on Gitmo and was determined to start anew.
The Daily Beast logo
Congress Cooperates, Obama Pushes Hard, and Closing Gitmo Has a Chance
Daniel Klaidman
December 12, 2013

We are a troubled and fractious country, in a difficult neighbourhood.
The Daily Beast logo
Rowdy Crowds At Mandela’s Memorial
Mark Gevisser
December 10, 2013

Historical Examples

Correy mooned around the Arpan sub-base like a fractious child.
The Terror from the Depths
Sewell Peaslee Wright

His voice had a fractious tone, as if he combated an unseen tyrant.
Country Neighbors
Alice Brown

I’ll break you to pieces, James H., if you are fractious; and I’ve got the weapons to do it with.
A Pessimist
Robert Timsol

You are old enough to know better, and yet you behave like a fractious child.
Menhardoc
George Manville Fenn

There’s a tray for each, of course; but a ball dress is such a fractious thing.
Moods
Louisa May Alcott

Today’s quote

I have no patience with dinosaurs.

– Adam West

On this day

16 September – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

16 September 1908 – General Motors is founded by William C. Durrant.

16 September 1920 – The bombing of Wall St, New York, which kills 38 and injures 143. The crime has never been solved, but is believed to have been committed by Italian anarchists known as Galleanists, (after their leader Luigi Galleani), who were protesting against capitalism. The bomb had been placed in a horse wagon.

16 September 1927 – birth of Peter Falk, U.S. actor (Colombo) … ‘therrre ya go‘… (died 23 June 2011.

16 September 1975 – Papua New Guinea gains independence from Australia. PNG National Day.

16 September 1977 – death of Marc Bolan in a car accident. Singer/guitarist for T-Rex. (Born 30 September 1947 as Mark Feld).

16 – 18 September 1982 – Lebanese Christian militia (Phalange) massacres between 765 and 3,500 Palestinian and Lebanese civilians in Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut. An inquiry in 1983 held Israeli troops indirectly responsible as they had surrounded the camps, controlling access to them, and were aware a massacre was occurring without taking steps to stop it.