Words I dislike

Words & concepts I strongly dislike - at this moment in time [2012/2013].

BAU (Business as Usual).
Normal.
Global South/North (Affluent countries).
Developed-Developping.
Socially optimal level of pollution [, (non)achieved by] the free market.
Civilized.
Planned obsolescence.

Caring about others is caring for oneself

Caring about others will ultimately also be about caring for yourself.
If you want the people that love you and are close to you to flourish and thrive, to be happy,
it logically follows, that they need to be sure you are OK, actually good and genuinely doing great.

So, the argument goes, if you need external motivation for things you need to do - like work, study, thesis, laundry, whatever,
then know that
'when you do better, we do better'. (SW)

Onomatopoeity - onomatopoeia

Also something old I found on the PC. I wrote some of my onomatopoetic mistakes down in the last couple of years. This is their story.

Into the sizzling heat of savannas and bearly bearable humidity of the Brasilian rainforest.
... barely bearable humidity ...
A thought that has stricken me while reading the essay is
While on the topic, it stroke me that
While on the topic, it struck me while reading the essay that

Maybe I should've delete it the rest.
Maybe I should've deleted the rest.

jeaolus -> jealous  It's nice to know it just isn't in my dictionary.

and how much incouraged? -> encouraged

Yeah, it's a really cool weed...:)
Yeah, it's a really cool video:)

Sustainable: labelling of the food wood be
Sustainable: labelling of the food would be

with the same characterystic
with the same characteristic

I just saw you're message and I'm in Technotron... Jammer.
I just saw your message...

and the work did not at all progress as fast as I would hev liked to
and the work did not at all progress as fast as I would have liked to

Levels of English plummeting: No, these is to say that ...
Jesus. Onomatopoety, I kill you.

quire > choir

Lied on the bed
I lay on the bed...

##Dutch
Sometimes, my brain says something between Dutch & English, and instead of saying bye or dag, today, I went: "Bah!"
(Which is definitely better than the other way around, between dag and bye: "Die!" :)

Mono-dialogues

This is something old I found on my PC.


Internal dialogues

- I like her.
- You like everybody.
- True.
Still, she's kinda cute.
- Hopeless.

The passing of time, marked by the changes in (written) language

See, for example older novels, like the ones of John Carter from Mars - excerpt below.

John Carter:
Adventures on Mars book cover

Ascending to the roof of the building I watched her for hours, until finally she was lost in the dim vistas of the distance. The sight was awe-inspiring in the extreme as one contemplated this mighty floating funeral pyre, drifting unguided and unmanned through the lonely wastes of the Martian heavens; a derelict of death and destruction, typifying the life story of these strange and ferocious creatures into whose unfriendly hands fate had carried it.

Edgar Rice Burroughs: John Carter of Mars, Chapter VIII, p. 38

Nice, huh? I think it's more diverse words than your reg'lar newspaper article. Or even a paragraph from your average book, nowadays. This is a guess.

Some time ago, I wanted to research, how words and language in Disney songs changed through the years. (Or search the web first, in case someone dunnit before.)

My proposition is that the level has dumbified and dropped dramatically. What's your take?

Scaremongering in public debates

Word of the day: scaremongering.

scare·mon·ger (skâr′mŭng′gər, -mŏng′-) n.

One who spreads frightening rumors; an alarmist.

---

scare′mon′ger·ing n.   (from: the Free Dictionary.)

Example of usage: 

"The leaders of the local protest group spent a significant amount of efforts to galvanise local opposition, using rhetoric which pro-development stakeholders might call ‘scaremongering’ (it should be pointed out that we noted comparable ‘scaremongering’ tactics coming from a developer; Borders Biofuel first tried to ‘sell’ their fast pyrolysis plant in Wales on the basis of new  employment, but when public opposition became stronger, they began to argue that jobs in the existing sawmill were likely to disappear if the proposal was not accepted).
  It would be hard to prove that the initiators of the local protest do not fully believe their own rhetoric when they start off, but as they learn about the novel technology, these protest leaders must review this list of potential impacts and decide which ones are more ‘scientifically robust’ and/or more consistent with planning  regulations, thus providing more powerful arguments in the formal planning debate.
  However, these arguments may not be as powerful in the continued harnessing of public support to put pressure on elected local councillors. These leaders may thus end up in a situation where they are singing from two different hymn sheets." (van der Horst, 2007: 2711)



van der Horst, D. (2007). NIMBY or not? Exploring the relevance of location and the politics of voiced opinions in renewable energy siting controversies. Energy policy, 35(5), 2705-2714.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2006.12.012

There you go.

Brouhaha ... or "bless you, you've come straight from God"

Brou, ha ha. It's actually funny, how the words change meaning through centuries (and especially, where they come from - see below).

Brouhaha means 'great excitement or concern about something' (on Merriam-Webster). Online Dictionary describes it as:

1.

excited public interest, discussion, or the like, as the clamor attending some sensational event; hullabaloo: The brouhaha followed disclosures of graft at City Hall.

2.

an episode involving excitement, confusion, turmoil, etc., especially a broil over a minor or ridiculous cause: A brouhaha by the baseball players resulted in three black eyes.

---

Origin:
1885–90; < French, orig. brou, ha, ha! exclamation used by characters representing the devil in the 16th-cent. drama; perhaps < Hebrew, distortion of the recited phrase bārūkh habbā ( beshēm ădhōnai ) “blessed is he who comes (in the name of the Lord)” (Ps. 118:26)

From Dictionary.com, here.

What I find interesting, is what my today's discovery, the Online Etymology Dictionary gives (here):

1890, from French brouhaha (1550s), said by Gamillscheg to have been, in medieval theater, "the cry of the devil disguised as clergy." Perhaps from Hebrew barukh habba' "blessed be the one who comes," used on public occasions (cf. Psalm 118).

There. Now you know.
Today, it means great excitement ... via "muahaha, the devil is here", possibly from "bless you, you've come straight from God".

It's possible. Les Brown on Roger Bannister

It's possible.
Saying that to yourself everyday will change your belief system.

“Most people operate out of their personal history, out of their memory,
things they’ve done, things they’ve experienced, things they’ve seen, things that they have observed.

What I’m suggesting is that you operate out of a larger vision of yourself, I want you to see yourself doing what you want to do, experiencing what you want to experience, having what you want to have, doing what it is that gives your life some meaning and value, operate out of your imagination not your memory.”

From the speech of Les Brown - It's possible.

Operate out of your imagination, not your memory.

Before April 8th 1954 [It seems it was 6th of May], the common belief, the universal belief, (because it had been tried, again and again and again and again, and people had failed), the belief was that man was physically not capable of breaking the 4 minute barrier, that he could not run a mile in less than 4 minutes. That was the belief. On the planet. It had never been done...

But here's what happened, ladies and gentlemen: Roger Bannister came along. And he broke the 4 minute barrier. Now here's what's significant about that. Since that time, up to this day, over 20.000 people have done it, including high-school kids! What changed?
  Here's what happened when they got on the track: they knew it had been done! And because they knew it had been done, there was a new belief about this barrier, about this goal that was "unreachable". And those 20.000 people got in the race believing, knowing in their hart that someone had done it, that IT'S POSSIBLE, that they could do it.

And I'm saying that if you know anybody that had some goals, some dreams, something they wanted to do ... and they did it, then I'm saying that you know it in your heart that if someone has done it, than you can do it. It's possible.
  And that if someone can make their dream become a reality, that it's possible; that you can make your dream become a reality.

And so as you begin to look at where you want to go, beginning to embrace that it's possible.
/.../ I got a lot going for me, I got some good stuff in me. And it's possible that I can get my greatness out here in the universe. That I can do what I want to do, it's possible:
I can write my own book,
I can have my own business,
I ... I can take the trip and travel around the world: it's possible!
I can bounce back from adversity and re-invent my life: it's possible!
Regardless of where I am: that things can get better for me: ... it's possible!

Again from the speech: Les Brown - It's possible.

(Funny story: someone also copied this text (I copied some of it from there), but wrote: "be able to run faster than 4 minutes in a 100 mile run". I don't know whether 100 miles is synonymous with 1 mile, but I am guessing this person was not an experienced runner.)

So remember Roger Bannister. What changed? Belief that it is possible.

... Until one day in 1952 after Sir Roger Bannister had beat the current mark, but was still 4 seconds longer then breaking the 4 minute barrier. However, something clearly changed in his mind, “This race made me realize that the four-minute mile was not out of reach,”. Sir Roger Bannister’s new belief had given birth to the fastest 100 mile run on the planet. To elaborate on the subject, people had called it the “miracle mile” and Bannister remarked on the event stating that “No longer conscious of my movement, I discovered a new unity with nature. I had found a new source of power and beauty, a source I never dreamt existed.” 

From: here.

P.S.:  Bannister's record was broken in just 46 days by John Landy, now known as the Miracle Mile.
P.P.S.: He reclaimed the world record again in 3 years.
PPPS- Before Bannister, the record apparently held for 9 years. The current record (in men's category) is held since 1999 by a guy from Morocco, with a 3:43 on the clock. (Yeah, don't forget the women, eh.)

It's possible. Eyesight vs Mindsight.

This is an excerpt from a Story of two men, looking for a job. Here, told by Les Brown, who's made some really nice speeches (and quite some of them are available on youtube).

What was the difference between the two men? Eyesight and mindsight.

Eyesight is judging on what you see. Judging according to appearances.
But mind-sight is how you interpret what you see.
One guy said: it's not possible, it's over, I'm finished. I can't do it, I can't make it. He surrendered. I've faced rejection again and again, I'm not going anymore. There are no jobs out there.
But this other guy.. He felt that inspite of the NOs and rejection, in spite of how bad the economy is, in spite of what the newspapers are saying,
that it's possible.
That SOMEbody, SOMEWHERE will give me a job. He just kept going, thinking it was possible.
And guess what, ladies and gentleman, that's what we have to do with our dreams.

From: Les Brown's speech: It's possible.


Another really nice story is a parabole of the WORLD's opinion about whether or not it is possible to run one mile under 4 minutes. I blogged it here.

Also, you can check this out:
'Mindsight is the difference between saying “I am sad” and “I feel sad.” Similar as those two statements may seem, they are profoundly different. ...' From a page of Dan Siegel.

Bill FCUKing Murray

Who is this guy, then? Well, if you don't know him, you might want to check Bill Murray on IMDb or on Wikipedia.

The original You're Awesome!
dude. Still from Stripes (1981).

If you're familiar with the concept, please, just read the stuff below. It'll blow your mind.

Bill Murray Answers questions on Reddit:  (or see Monuments Men Movie post on Facebook here).
This is also a good story to read: 12 Insane Things That Happened On My Night Out With Bill Murray | Dec. 3, 2013, by Alex J. Mann.

And while you're at it, 10 Stories That Prove Bill Murray Really Is The Most Interesting Man In The World |January 10, 2014 |, with pictures of Murray doing some crazy siht here.

If this isn't enough for you (I know, some of the jpgs are slightly lame or just ridiculously incredulous, so you're wondering - is any of this shit true?), you should check out the web page dedicated to collecting (sometimes fictional) Bill Murray stories, conveniently titled: Bill Murray Stories. There are real BM stories out there, though, see this about a party in St Andrews or this one (which might be the same event, actually).

"And you know, it's a lesson to all of us, to take what you love and make it the way you live your life, and that way you bring love into the world."

- Bill Murray on Reddit AMA session
Permalink here.

 

And if you didn't already, you really should see Groundhog Day. It's pretty nifty.

Also, in case you were wondering, the title of this post alludes to some other posts on the net and the movie where it sort of started, Zombieland (2009). See clip with Woody Harrelson here.

Aaaand, if you want to groove a bit, while you leave this site and go someplace nice with palmtrees painted on, you can also listen to Bill Muthafuckin Murray on Youtube.
 

Getting back your eyesight, naturally

Sooo, after too much reading and mostly, spending too much time behind the screens (thesis work, then private stuff/surfing), I seriously noticed my eyes deteriorating. And as I was lucky enough to come across people (M.J.) that use techniques to improve eyesight, I contacted them, got some info and then looked it up on the net.

Below is the result of my search, a compilation of links and videos I suggest to anyone, including me.

[Note, if you doubt a lot of these things, just skip to links 11 and 12. And then possibly return to using the rest.]

What resounds most deeply with me is the thought that eye muscles can be trained. Sure, lenses can be tricky. But if you could see well before ... and your eyesight deteriorates, maybe it's time to ask yourself why. Why why why. For me, I look at screens or books for 8-14 hours per day. And I think I may not be the only person in this world (10).

Another thing that resounds with me is the next two:

"The professionals - Optometrists and Ophthalmologists base their profession on theories that are more than 150 years old. The official line is that your eyes will get worse as you grow older, and there is nothing you can do about this except wear corrective lenses. They need to be strengthened every so often as your eyesight deteriorates. Not a very promising picture except for one thing - it’s not actually true." (9)

And: 'The glasses do absolutely nothing about the under laying reasons you can’t see. Most people have the experience that their prescription slowly gets higher and higher. Some people actually avoid visiting the eye doctor for as long as possible so they don’t get stronger glasses.’' (7)

Remember, though: you need to invest time in it. If you spent 4 or 8 or 20 years of your life, looking at books and PC screens most of your waking hours (10), thereby deteriorating your eyesight, then maybe you should consider investing some minutes per day into restoring it.


Meir Schneider - Yoga for Your Eyes (1).
This guy used to be almost completely blind and he didn't accept it. So he took up a method, the Bates Method of eye exercises at age 17 and practiced it for up to 13 hours per day (2).

There's another book (8) and a mix of techniques, taught by Leo Angart, who, after wearing glasses for 26 years, got rid of them. And that was in 1992/3.

(1): Mier Schneider: Yoga for the Eyes
(2): Mier Schneider's page

(3): Interview with world renowned vision trainer Leo Angart

(4): BBC4 short interview with Leo Angart, two students and an ophthalmologist:
> practice 10 times a day, for a few minutes, for 5-6 months

(5): Google search for Mier Schneider

(6): Google: natural vision training

(7) From a FB post: link to source

(8): Angart, Leo (2008). Improve Your Eyesight Naturally: Easy, Effective, See Results Quickly. Saffire Press. pp. 89–90. ISBN 978-3-937553-08-5.
(9): Regaining your eyesight naturally - is it possible?

(10): Study: Minority Kids Spend Most Waking Hours Plugged In To Media | June 8, 2011: http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2011/06/study-minority-kids-spend-most-waking-hours-plugged-in

(11): Computer Eye Strain:  10 Steps for Relief: http://www.allaboutvision.com/cvs/irritated.htm

(12) If you're more of a "don't believe this esoteric crap" kind of person, here's Paul McCartney to teach/tell you about Yoga for Our Eyes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00XqvNwYMoc

(13): Hint about the Bates Method: Don't start staring at the sun. And at least until somebody else then you says you can, maybe it's good to drive with your glasses :)

Cuspidate, Word of the day

cus·pi·date

adjective \ˈkəs-pə-ˌdāt\   (Medical Dictionary)

:  having a cusp :  terminating in a point <a cuspidate leaf> <cuspidate molars>
Latin cuspidatus, past participle of cuspidare to make pointed, from cuspid-, cuspis point

First Known Use: 1692

From: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cuspidate

Are you a Lucy, a GYPSY or something else?

A curious page attracted my attention today: link here.

 

Why Generation Y Yuppies Are Unhappy

Say hi to Lucy.

 

Lucy is part of Generation Y, the generation born between the late 1970s and the mid 1990s. She's also part of a yuppie culture that makes up a large portion of Gen Y. 

 

Only issue is this one thing:

Lucy's kind of unhappy.

To get to the bottom of why, we need to define what makes someone happy or unhappy in the first place. It comes down to a simple formula:

Happiness= Reality - Expectations

 It's pretty straightforward—when the reality of someone's life is better than they had expected, they're happy. When reality turns out to be worse than the expectations, they're unhappy.

To provide some context, let's start by bringing Lucy's parents into the discussion: /.../

 

Read more, here.

 

So that's why Lucy is unhappy, or at the least, feeling a bit frustrated and inadequate.  In fact, she's probably started off her career perfectly well, but to her, it feels very disappointing.


Here's my advice for Lucy:

1) Stay wildly ambitious.  The current world is bubbling with opportunity for an ambitious person to find flowery, fulfilling success.  The specific direction may be unclear, but it'll work itself out—just dive in somewhere.

2) Stop thinking that you're special.  The fact is, right now, you're not special.  You're another completely inexperienced young person who doesn't have all that much to offer yet.  You can become special by working really hard for a long time. 

3) Ignore everyone else. Other people's grass seeming greener is no new concept, but in today's image crafting world, other people's grass looks like a glorious meadow. The truth is that everyone else is just as indecisive, self-doubting, and frustrated as you are, and if you just do your thing, you'll never have any reason to envy others.

Read the whole thing with nice unicorn graphs and flowers and siht, here.

--- UPDATE:
Here's another, rather more succint graphic to point out the matter (though from a different angle): http://maxcdn.zenpencils.com/comics/2012-11-13-chrisg.jpg
(See pic on the right. > Bigger version on the link above.)

America is not the greatest country in the world (Jeff Daniels, in Newsroom)

I ... quite adore this speech.
However, it's just one little flap, flapping away in the eddies of otherwise consumer-prone, -happy, -obsessed and otherwise saturated media. In the world and in US&A.

Want additional comment? Fine, check out Times magazine covers (and their titles, the themes they promote) just here. It's fascinating to see what a) the world is "struggling" with and what Americans are have to struggle with. Curious. I wonder, who writes the media agenda. (Whoops.)

 

Will McAvoy’s Epic America Speech (a.k.a. Jeff Daniels in HBO's "Newsroom")

Word of the day - maelstrom

maelstrom
ˈmeɪlstrɒm ˈmeɪlstrɑːm
 (literary) a situation full of strong emotions or confusing events, that is hard to control and makes you feel frighteneda maelstrom of conflicting emotionsThey were being sucked into the maelstrom of war.2 a very strong current of water that moves in circles

Synonym: whirlpool

 

Got the definition from: Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary.

 

Got the word from:
Solar panels could destroy U.S. utilities, according to U.S. utilities <link>

What's wrong with Star Wars prequels?

"So. If you're Qui-Gon, what do you do when one of its parts breaks down and nobody has any money?
/.../
You don't sell the BAZILLION DOLLAR ship and buy a fleet of less pretty, but completely working spaceships. That would be too sensible. Instead, Qui-Gon, in his infinite wisdom, decides to let a nine year-old enter a podrace (which he’s never completed before) in a podracer (that’s never been tested) that - and this is a fairly important detail - was BUILT BY A SMALL CHILD on the chance that this might result in winning enough money to buy the part. What could possibly go wrong? On our planet, those kind of shenanigans gets you put up on child abuse charges."

Source: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/04/15/the-9-dumbest-decisions-in-the-star-wars-prequels?utm_campaign=twposts&utm_source=twitter

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Lamp

This made me almost pee my pants in the university library. I highly recommend it. (Even if you don't carry humour around you all day long.)

From: Justin Flecker
Date: Sunday 6 May 2012 6.52pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Lamp

... I received your note but you cant go onto other peoples property and take things, that's trespassing. Massanutten is a wooded area and I installed that light for security. It's a safety issue. I can't help it if some of the light goes across the road, close your curtains if it bothers you.

From: David Thorne
Date: Sunday 6 May 2012 7.41pm
To: Justin Flecker
Subject: Re: Lamp

Hello Justin,

Thank you for your email. While I accept that curtains are usually the key to community accord, in this instance they would need to be constructed of eight-inch-thick lead sheeting. Last night, with my curtains closed and bedside light off, I read a book. Wearing sunglasses. Under a blanket.

Though unconvinced that blinding local fauna is the best solution, I do understand the heightened need for security living in a wooded area such as the gated community of Massanutten demands. Having formerly lived my entire life in Australia, I am unfamiliar with much of the local wildlife but I did see my first raccoon last week. I stepped outside to have a cigarette and the raccoon, sitting less than five feet away beside an up-ended bin eating the remains of a Domino's Artisan Tuscan Salami pizza, hissed at me. Surprised, I threw myself backwards, rolled several times toward the door, and sprang to my feet holding the welcome-mat above my head to appear taller. Sometime during the roll-spring-mat maneuver, probably during the roll part as it was over gravel and I was wearing shorts and a thin t-shirt so I had to take it slow, the raccoon left. Which probably isn’t as exciting a story as it should be but this isn't Borneo and I’m not Jack London.

I did see a snake the other day though. I picked up a stick to poke it with which also turned out to be a snake. Jumping back in panic, I threw it away from me, but our dog thought I was playing fetch and I had to run and jump over a creek to get away.

As such, this weekend I intend to set up a canister of poisonous gas in my yard with an industrial fan behind it. I can't help it if some of the gas goes across the road.

Regards, David.

From: Justin Flecker
Date: Monday 7 May 2012 2.14pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Lamp

Is that meant to be a threat? Put something up in your window if you don't like the light, we lived here 5 years before you even moved into the neighborhood and got along perfectly with Ryan who lived at your property before you. We went to his BBQ's and I loaned him our mower. We get along with all our neighbors. I dont know what you people do in your own country but in this country we dont go onto other peoples property and touch their stuff.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 7 May 2012 3.37pm
To: Justin Flecker
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Lamp

Dear Justin,

In my country, terawatt globes are reserved for police helicopter chases and warning sailors of hazardous shoals. This is despite the fact that practically every living creature there can kill you in under three minutes. Our primary spoken language is screaming.

I'm not surprised you get along well with all the other neighbours. If you put fifty children with Down's syndrome in a room there is going to be a lot of hugging.

And no, it was not a threat. It was an exaggerated response to an uncompromising stance. I was taught never to make a threat unless you are prepared to carry it out and I am not a fan of carrying anything. Even watching other people carrying things makes me uncomfortable. Mainly because of the possibility they may ask me to help.

I did consider installing a floodlight as bright as yours, but this would require some form of carrying things, electrical wiring knowledge, and access to a power supply capable of producing that amount of wattage. Probably fusion. As I am told off by my partner for wasting money when I leave the light on in the bathroom overnight, I can only speculate to what her reaction would be to an electricity bill eight times our annual income for retaliatory garden lighting. She would probably have to get a third job.

It would be much cheaper to stand in my driveway and throw rocks. I can't help it if some of the rocks go across the road. You should probably put something up in your window.

Regards, David.

From: Justin Flecker
Date: Tuesday 8 May 2012 10.01am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Lamp

Did you take our lamp again asshole? What part about not being allowed to go on our property don't you get?

From: David Thorne
Date: Tuesday 8 May 2012 10.32am
To: Justin Flecker
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Lamp

Dear Justin,

No, I did not take the light again. I relocated it again. Its current location may be discovered by deciphering the following set of clues to its whereabouts. Perhaps you could invite your friend Ryan over and treat it as a kind of treasure hunt:

1. It's in the letterbox again.
2. Look in the letterbox.

As I realise this probably won't narrow it down much for you, I will give you a third clue in the form of a riddle:

What burns with the light of a thousand suns and is in the letterbox?

Regards, David.

From: Justin Flecker
Date: Tuesday 8 May 2012 11.15am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Lamp

I put a smaller lamp in so you can shut the f0ck up now. Don't email me again and if you ever trespass on our property again I will press charges.

From: David Thorne
Date: Tuesday 8 2012 12.02pm
To: Justin Flecker
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Lamp

Dear Justin,

What if I have a barbecue and need to send you an invitation? Is it ok to email you then?

Regards, David.

From: Justin Flecker
Date: Tuesday 8 May 2012 12.18pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Lamp

No it's not ok.

From: David Thorne
Date: Tuesday 8 May 2012 12.27pm
To: Justin Flecker
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Lamp

Dear Justin,

What if I need to borrow your lawn-mower? I can't invite people over for a barbecue and expect them to stand in long grass. Someone might be bitten by a snake. It's a safety issue.

Regards, David.

From: Justin Flecker
Date: Tuesday 8 May 2012 3.26pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Lamp

F*ck off back to Austria.

Progress and Witches

  'Only in stories,' said Granny, examining the door hinges. 'And she thinks she's in charge of the stories. She bends them around herself. She thinks she's the good one.'
  'Mind you,' said Magrat, 'I don't like swamps. If it wasn't for the frog and everything, I'd see Lily's point–' 
  'Then you're nothing but a daft godmother,' snapped Granny, still fiddling with the lock. 'You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it's just a cage. Besides, you don't build a better world by choppin' heads off and giving decent girls away to frogs.'
  'But progress–' Magrat began.
  'Don't you talk to me about progress. Progress just means bad things happen faster. Anyone got another hatpin? This one's useless.'
  Nanny, who had Greebo's ability to make herself instantly at home wherever she happened to be, sat down in the corner of the cell. [*Greebo is a tomcat.]

  -- Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad, p.250

...

  'I heard this story once,' she said, 'where this bloke got locked up for years and years and he learned amazin' stuff about the universe and everythin' from another prisoner who was incredibly clever, and then he escaped and got his revenge.'
  'What incredibly clever stuff do you know about the universe, Gytha Ogg? said Granny.
  'Bugger all,' said Nanny cheerfully.
  'Then we'd better bloddy well escape right now.'

Poor make the rich richer

Poor and working people in this country are sent to kill poor and working people
in another country... to make the rich richer.
And without racism, soldiers would realise that they have more incommon with the Iraqi people
then they do with the billionaires who send us to war.
  -- Mike Prysner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Q08OnJvHKqg#!

WOTD: Elusive

e·lu·sive   /ɪˈlusɪv/ [ih-loo-siv]

hard to express or define

adjective
1. eluding clear perception or complete mental grasp; hard to express or define: an elusive concept.
2. cleverly or skillfully evasive: a fish too elusive to catch.

Synonyms
2. tricky, slippery, shifty; puzzling, baffling.

source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/elusive