Friday, September 24, 2010

diaphanous \dy-AF-uh-nuhs\, adjective:

1. Of such fine texture as to allow light to pass through; translucent or transparent.
2. Vague; insubstantial.

Diaphanous ultimately derives from Greek diaphanes, "showing through," from diaphainein, "to show through, to be transparent," from dia-, "through" + phainein, "to show, to appear." It is related to phantom, something apparently sensed but having no physical reality.

VB

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  VB - A rather horrid beer favoured by the proletariat and Northern Territorians. Still remarkably better than the weak swill that Americans call beer. Also known as green death and Vaginal Backwash

Break out the Beer Bong, here comes Macca with a carton of VB.

Trivia
Does the US attorney general try cases in court? 

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  On this date in 1789, US President George Washington signed into law the first Judiciary Act, establishing two levels of federal courts below the US Supreme Court (district courts and circuit courts), as well as the position of Attorney General. Back then, the Attorney General's task was to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court that concerned the US and to advise the president or heads of other executive departments on questions of law. The position of attorney general was only part-time, the salary was low and there was a very limited staff. Today, the Attorney General is head of the Department of Justice, the world's largest law office and the central agency for the enforcement of federal laws. The attorney general continues to advise the president and other executives in legal matters and appears occasionally before the Supreme Court. 

History

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  Black Friday: Wall Street panicked as speculators tried to corner the gold market, causing a collapse (1869)
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  USS Enterprise: first nuclear aircraft carrier was launched, in Newport News, Virginia (1960)
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  60 Minutes: investigative TV newsmagazine debuted on CBS (1968)

Birthdays

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  John Marshall (1755-1835): fourth US Chief Justice
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  F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940): Jazz Age author, The Great Gatsby
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  Jim Henson (1936-1990): puppeteer, creator of The Muppets; Kermit and Ernie's new voice, Steve Whitmire (54), shares this birth date
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  "Mean" Joe Greene (64): NFL legend; also, athletes Rafael Palmeiro (46), Kevin Millar (39) and Eddie George (37)
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  Nia Vardalos (48): writer/actor, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, I Hate Valentine's Day; also, actors Phil Hartman (1948-1998), Gordon Clapp (62), Kevin Sorbo (52), Megan Ward (41) and Kyle Sullivan (22)
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  Paul and Morgan Hamm (both 27): Olympics gymnasts; Olympics sportscaster Jim McKay (1921-2008) was also born on this date