On Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:14:34 -0400, Tim Cook <z99### [at] gmailcom> wrote:

>Stephen wrote:
>>> What do you call "*"?
>> Asterisk
>
>Nathan Hale
>
>    <character> An asterisk ("*", see also splat, ASCII).
>    Notionally, from "I regret that I have only one asterisk for
>    my country!" ("life to give" -> "ass to risk" -> "asterisk"),
>    a misquote of the famous remark uttered by Nathan Hale just
>    before he was hanged.  Hale was a (failed) spy for the rebels
>    in the American War of Independence.

LOL it's not from "asteriscum" latin for little star, then?
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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