Today’s WOTD – 21 October 2012

filibuster

[fil-uh-buhs-ter]

noun
1.
Politics
a. the use of irregular or obstructive tactics by a member of a legislative assembly to prevent the adoption of a measure generally favored or to force a decision against the will of the majority.

b. an exceptionally long speech, as one lasting for a day or days, or a series of such speeches to accomplish this purpose.

c. a member of a legislature who makes such a speech.

2. an irregular military adventurer, especially one who engages in an unauthorized military expedition into a foreign country to foment or support a revolution.

verb (used without object)
3. U.S. Politics . to impede legislation by irregular or obstructive tactics, especially by making long speeches.

4. to act as an irregular military adventurer, especially for revolutionary purposes.

verb (used with object)
5. Politics. – to impede (legislation) by irregular or obstructive tactics, especially by making long speeches.

For example:

The Opposition filibustered to block the bill.

Parliament was filled with more filibustering than constructive debate about the bill.

Today’s aphorism

Second to agriculture, humbug is the biggest industry of our age.

– Alfred Nobel

On this day

21 October 1492 – Christopher Columbus discovers America.

21 October 1772 – birthday of Samuel Taylor Colleridge, English poet.

21 October 1833 – birth of Alfred Bernhard Nobel, Swedish chemist and armaments manufacturer, inventor of dynamite and the Nobel Prizes. Was known as the ‘Merchant of Death’. A newspaper stated that he ‘became rich by finding ways to kill people faster than ever before‘. As a result, he decided to leave a better legacy than that and used his estate to establish and fund the Nobel Prizes, which included the Nobel Peace Prize. Died 10 December 1896.

21 October 1967 – Thousands of anti-Vietnam-war protestors attempt to storm the Pentagon.

21 October 1969 – death of Jack Kerouac, American beat-generation writer, ‘On the road‘. Born 12 March 1922.