22 January 2014

slowth

[sloh-th]

noun.

1. slow growth, such as slow economic growth, e.g. ‘the slowth was attributable to dwindling market confidence’. Etymology: combination of slow + growth.

2. (archaic, obsolete) – laziness, slowness to action, e.g. ‘but such was the reduced state of our Continental regiments, after the battle of Brandywine, and such the slowth and difficulty of procuring reinforcements of militia from the southward …’ (from the ‘Writings of George Washington’). Etymology: alternative form of sloth.

Today’s aphorism

Be weird. Be random. Be who you are. Because you never know who would love the person you hide.

– Unknown

On this day

22 January 1973 – In the landmark ‘Roe v Wade’ case and decided simultaneously with ‘Doe v Bolton’, the United States Supreme Court rules that abortion is a Constitutional right because of the application of the due process clause of the 14th Amendment to a woman’s right to privacy, which includes the right to abortion. This was to be balanced with other state interests, namely the right to protect prenatal life and the protection of women’s health.

22 January 1930 – construction commences of the Empire State Building. It was completed 410 days later and was the world’s tallest building at that time.