8 January 2016

sabrage

[seh-bra-zh]

noun

– the act of opening a champagne bottle with a sabre. Usually reserved for ceremonial occasions.

Example

Instead of popping corks for their wedding, the couple celebrated their union with a spectacular sabrage.

Anagram

sag bare

Today’s quote

Many will call me an adventurer – and that I am, only one of a different sort: one of those who risks his skin to prove his platitudes.

– Che Guevara

On this day

8 January 1935 – birth of Elvis Aaron Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. Died 16 August 1977.

8 January 1947 – birthday of David Bowie, British musician and actor, born David Robert Jones.

8 January 1959 – Fidel Castro’s rebel forces take control of Cuba. Castro eventually became President and ruled the nation until 2011.

8 January 1964 – US President Lyndon B. Johnson introduces legislation that results in the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, otherwise known as the War on Poverty, in an effort to reduce the increasing poverty rate, which at that time was around 19%. Through this a number of poverty-reduction strategies were implemented, including Social Security Act 1965, Food Stamp Act of 1964, Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965), Community Action Program, Job Corps, and Volunteers in Services to America. Within 10 years the poverty rate had been reduced to around 11%. In 2014, the rate had risen to around 15%.