Preparing For The Benchmarks by Steve Young Pronunciation: bench-marhk Function: noun Definition: depends Hold on tight. This one's gonna be a ripsnorter. This week we will witness the a significant moment in modern history. General David Petreaus will issue his status report to Congress detailing the results reflected in the Surge as dictated by President Bush in January this year. Sometime in and about the millisecond he opens his mouth, if not sooner, the politicians, pundits and presidential disseminators, will go to great lengths to explain the general's explanation. So it is that some instructions are necessary to help the layman understand the spin. From Brittanica... Main Entry: bench-mark 1 usually bench mark : a mark on a permanent object indicating elevation and serving as a reference in topographic surveys and tidal observations 2 a : a point of reference from which measurements may be made b : something that serves as a standard by which others may be measured or j...