And nothing can be allowed to harm the Windows franchise, sacred cow that it is.

FORBES: Can Anybody Run Microsoft?

Commitment to the company's existing technology, product line, distribution system or customer base becomes a sacred cow.

FORBES

But alas, in politics fairness is constrained by another religion, the sacred cow.

FORBES: Keep Geniuses Out of the Post Office

"Part of the talent of this writing room is that they're not afraid to kill the sacred cow, " admits the actor.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The defence minister, Ehud Barak, who leads the Labour party, refuses to hear of cutting the military budget, an Israeli sacred cow.

ECONOMIST: Israel��s economy looks quite resilient

"A sacred cow is going to get slaughtered, it's just a question of which one, " says one senior Whitehall source about the coming welfare cuts.

BBC: Budget 'sacred cows�� under threat in welfare row

Republicans are the first to sacrifice a sacred cow.

FORBES: Boehner's Millionaire Tax Hikes Move Us Closer To A Fiscal Cliff Deal

Adobe is killing its own sacred cow.

FORBES: Adobe's Creative Cloud Move Causes Outcry And Confusion

The new law is a success for Carla del Ponte, Switzerland's federal prosecutor, who rails against the banks' sacred-cow status.

ECONOMIST: Private banking

Suffice it to say, in his satires and parodies, no cow is sacred, no genre is safe.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Celebrates Kennedy Center Honorees

"Krishna protected cows as sacred animals and we are delighted to celebrate the cow at this year's festival, " said President of the Temple, Srutidharma Das.

BBC: Janmashtami: A celebration on Krishna's birthday