Word of the Day for Tuesday, November 4, 2008

epicure \EP-ih-kyur\, noun:

1. a person who enjoys eating and drinking and who is very particular in choosing fine foods and beverages; gourmet
2. a person who is fond of luxury and pleasure

c.1380, "follower of Epicurus," from Latin Epicurus, from Greek Epicouros (341-270 B.C.E.), the Athenian philosopher who taught that pleasure is the highest good and identified virtue as the greatest pleasure; the first lesson recalled, the second forgotten, and the name used pejoratively for "one who gives himself up to sensual pleasure" (1641), especially "glutton, sybarite" (1774). Epicurus's school opposed by Stoics, who first gave his name a reproachful sense.

vote

• The best way you have of voicing your opinion in a way that can matter. Nothing's perfect, and there's always going to be mistakes, but there is simply no excuse for not casting a ballot for what you believe in. Take the time to understand the issues and then take the time to vote. Don't let people who aren't going to be around four years from now decide your future. Complaining without voting is worse than any hanging chad.

My conscience is clear because I took the time to vote.

Don't worry about rocking the vote, just vote!

Trivia

What U.S. presidential race featured the first public opinion poll of voter preferences?

• The 1824 contest between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. The survey of voters—taken in Wilmington, Delaware, for the Harrisburg Pennsylvanian—showed Jackson ahead, 335 to 169. Although Jackson won the popular vote, Adams was declared the winner after the election was thrown into the House of Representatives because no candidate had a majority of the electoral votes.

Today in History

• King Tutankhamen: treasure-filled tomb was discovered in Luxor, Egypt, by archeologist Howard Carter (1922)
• Nellie T. Ross: became the first female governor of a US state — Wyoming; she was serving out her late husband's term (1924)
• Iran hostage crisis: a mob seized the US Embassy in Teheran after the US admitted the exiled Shah Reza Pahlavi (1979)
• Yitzhak Rabin: Israeli prime minister was assassinated after speaking at a peace rally in Tel Aviv (1995)

Today's Birthdays

• William III (1650-1702): king of England
• Walter Cronkite (92): CBS newscaster who was "the most trusted man in America"
• Laura Bush (62): FLOTUS
• Kathy Griffin (48): stand-up comic and actor
• Jeff Probst (46): Emmy-winning host of Survivor
• Matthew McConaughey (39): actor and People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" for 2005; also, actors Art Carney (1918-2003), Doris Roberts (78), Loretta Swit (71), and Markie Post (58)
• Sean "P. Diddy" Combs (39): rapper/producer/businessman