Wednesday, January 31, 2007

And The Answer Is. . .Oh, And Don't Forget the Carnival is Now Open

Kudos to Scott S. Floyd, who correctly identified Voltaire as the person who said, "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."

I really enjoy finding and posting quotes and I'm thinking of making it a regular post, like Ms. Cornelius does over at A Shrewdness of Apes every Monday.

In other news, the 104th Edition of the Carnival of Education is now up and running over at The Median Sib.

Monday, January 29, 2007

And The Answer Is, Plus a New Quote

Kudos to Michael, who correctly identified Herman Goerring as the person who made the quote. Yes, that Herman Goerring, the Hitler crony and Luftwaffe chief during World War II.

Now for a new one. Who said:
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.

Amazing how these quotes from the past fit the present so precisely.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

An Interesting Quote

I came across this quote in an Uncle John's Reader, published by Bathroom Reader's Institute and thought it was very interesting.

In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.
Anyone care to guess who said this?

Monday, January 15, 2007

Monday, January 01, 2007

And Now a List of No-No Words

Lake Superior State University has released its annual list of List of Words and Phrases Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness.

Some of my favorites include:

- Combined celebrity names (TomKate, Brangelina)

- i-ANYTHING

— We’re pregnant (see my previous posts about baby showers for a good idea of how I feel about this)

— Armed robbery gone bad or drug deal gone bad (are there that many armed robberies gone good?)

— Ask your doctor

— Boasts (used as a verb, i.e. the home boasts a spacious fireplace)

If you have a word or phrase that you find really annoying, you can submit it for consideration in next year's list here.

I would like to see large defense companies banned from advertising on TV. Not that I have anything against Lockheed-Martin, but why would they spend money to tell me about the great new fighter they're building for the military? Do they think I'm going to decide what I really need in my driveway is a $40 fighter and rush out and buy one??