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Old 07-22-2009, 02:26 PM
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Brother Tim Brother Tim is offline
 
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From Wiki: [smilie mine ]
Quote:
A bellwether is any entity in a given arena that serves to create or influence trends or to presage future happenings.

The term is derived from the Middle English bellewether and refers to the practice of placing a bell around the neck of a castrated ram (a wether) leading its flock of sheep. The movements of the flock could be noted by hearing the bell before the flock was in sight.