Monday, September 7, 2009

sacrosanct \SAK-roh-sankt\, adjective:

1. Extremely sacred or inviolable.
2. Not to be entered or trespassed upon.
3. Above or beyond criticism, change, or interference.

Sacrosanct comes from Latin sacrosanctus, "consecrated with religious ceremonies, hence holy, sacred," from sacrum, "religious rite" (from sacer, "holy") + sanctus, "consecrated," from sancire, "to make sacred by a religious act."

one upper

• An annoying person who responds to hearing someone elses experience or problem by immediately telling a similar story about themselves with a much more fantastic (or terrible) outcome.

Person: I got to meet James Hetfield before the concert and I got his autograph.

One Upper: Yeah, well my cousin knows the head of security for Metallica, and he got us front row tickets to the show and then we went backstage and met the whole group. Then they invited us back to their hotel room and we partied with them all night.

Person: I have a a dislocated knee.

One Upper: Yeah, well last summer I broke my leg in four places and had to have a steel pin inserted. I also had to have surgery done on my knee to repair the torn ligaments. I was on crutches for almost two months.

Trivia

When it comes to work benefits, what is a cafeteria plan?

• A plan that allows employees to choose from a variety of options so they can design a benefits package that best meets their individual needs.

Today in History:

• Brazil: the largest country in South America declared its independence from Portugal (1822)
• Miss America: the first competition began, as a two-day beauty contest, in Atlantic City, New Jersey (1921)
• Tasmanian wolf: the last known thylacine, Benjamin, died in Hobart Zoo, though there may be survivors in the wild (1936)
• London Blitz: heavy bombing of the UK by the Nazi Luftwaffe began during WWII (1940)

Today's Birthdays:

• Elizabeth I (1533-1603): England's "Virgin Queen"
• Grandma Moses (1860-1961): folk artist; artist Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) shared this birth date
• Taylor Caldwell (1900-1985): novelist; other writers born on this date include Elinor Wylie (1885-1928) and Edith Sitwell (1887-1964)
• Buddy Holly (1936-1959): rock and roller, "Peggy Sue"; also, musicians Arthur Ferrante (88), Sonny Rollins (79), Gloria Gaynor (60), Chrissie Hynde (58), Benmont Tench (56) and Michael Feinstein (53)
• Evan Rachel Wood (22): actress, Once and Again, The Wrestler; also, actors Anthony Quayle (1913-1989), Peter Lawford (1923-1984), Julie Kavner (58), Michael Emerson and Corbin Bernsen (both 55), Tom Everett Scott (39), Shannon Elizabeth (36) and Oliver Hudson (33)