Thursday, January 1, 2004

 

Spotlight: Topic of the Day: The top-ranked USC Trojans will play the Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl today.

Word of the day: "au fait" -- [F] [in adv. phrase] being well instructed in, thoroughly conversant with, expert or skillful in (© )

Holiday: New Year

Today's News:

• Iran -- asks why an estimated 50,000 died when only 2 died in a similar earthquake in California. 2 views: Reuters, The Guardian
• Ephedra -- sales increase in anticipation of an FDA recall (story)
• Metrosexual, LOL, Smoking Gun -- make Lake Superior State University's 2004 banished words list

Today's History:

• Samuel Pepys -- made the first entry in his diary (1660)
• Quebec Campaign -- Richard Montgomery was killed and Benedict Arnold wounded in failed attack on Quebec (1775)
• Michael Kennedy -- died in a skiing accident in Aspen (1997)

Today's Birthdays:

• Betsy Ross -- creator of the American flag (1752 - 1836)
• J. Edgar Hoover -- director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1924-72 (1875 - 1972)
• J.D. Salinger -- author of The Catcher In the Rye turns 85
• Barry Goldwater -- conservative icon (1909 - 1998)