There is only one word used to describe one's level of awesome that has been in constant use since it's inception. Most come and go with the age, such as hip, rad, sick, wicked, dope, groovy, sprezzatura, itutu. Only one has kept its meaning: cool. Ever since its first use in the early jazz and blues clubs of North America, the word "Cool" has been used to describe people that one wishes to emulate, that have qualities that set them apart from the standard person. It might just be one of the few words in the English language that will hold its meaning for decades, or even centuries, to come!

- idea taken from Vsauce on youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/Vsauce?feature=watch

and an interesting chart to accompany it; a timeline of "cool things" http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped....._Timeline2.png