| Sunday, November 18, 2007 |
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| William Tell and Son |
SpotlightLegend has it that one of Switzerland's most famous archers was William Tell, an expert with the crossbow. When he defied an order to bow to the hat of Albrecht Gessler, the Hapsburg bailiff of Altdorf, Tell was forced to shoot an apple off his own son's head. On this date in 1307, he put bolt to bow, and split the apple with a single shot. Later, Tell also shot Gessler. Although there are no actual records of a William or Wilhelm Tell, nor of the assassination of a bailiff in central Switzerland, Tell became a Swiss hero.
Word of the dayarrant
thoroughgoing, confirmed; notoriously or outstandingly bad
Usage: The arrant serenity of the place made it nearly impossible to leave.
Ironically labeled by their dedicated compiler as "WWFTDs" (worthless words for the day), Obscure Words' collection of rarely used, abstruse or recondite words are offered for your consideration: some of them may be worthy of everyday use.
Today's News
Today's History
- "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County": Mark Twain tale was published in The New York Saturday Press (1865)
- Mickey Mouse: debuted in Steamboat Willie, an animated Disney film (1928)
- Jonestown: over 900 people died in a murder/suicide pact led by preacher
Jim Jones in Guyana (1978)
Today's Birthdays
- Sir William Gilbert (1836-1911): lyricist, half of the duo Gilbert and Sullivan
- Alan Shepard (1923-1998): the first American in space
- Margaret Atwood (68): author of The Handmaid's Tale
- Owen Wilson (39): actor, Zoolander, You, Me and DuPree
