28 May 2013

vanguard

[van-gahrd]

noun
1. the foremost division or the front part of an army; advance guard; van.
2. the forefront in any movement, field, activity, or the like.
3. the leaders of any intellectual or political movement.
4. ( initial capital letter ) Rocketry. a U.S. three-stage, satellite-launching rocket, the first two stages powered by liquid-propellant engines and the third by a solid-propellant engine.

Origin:
1480–90; earlier van ( d ) gard ( e ) < Middle French avangarde, variant of avant-garde; see avaunt, guard

Today’s aphorism

You only live twice. Once when you are born and once when you look death in the face.

– Ian Fleming

On this day

28 May 1908 – birth of Ian Fleming, British author of the ‘James Bond’ novels.

28 May 1964 – establishment of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), which was founded with the purpose of liberating Palestine through armed struggle. It has since rejected violence and been recognised as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people by the United Nations.