Joining the "testmakers wear blinders" parade:
Coconut, as the only one with "hair", and also the only one used as a musical instrument
Grape, because it doesn't grow on trees (I suspect this is the answer being sought in the test)
Apple, as the only one approved by Fannee Doolee (i.e., has double letters)
Pear, because it's the only one whose initial letter isn't part of the musical scale
Banana, as having the fewest distinct letters in its name
95%. Two cases of just not thinking through the consequences of exact wording -- but it's careful perception that gets you places in science.
Kevin notes
money, class, education--you can be born into the first two, but you can also work your way into them, while education requires effort from everyone who gets it. There is respect accorded to those who get doctorates, the privilege that goes with that is by definition earned.
Education is NOT the same as possession of a degree. I know many individuals who are polymaths, voracious readers and creators, who for one reason or another don't have the Union Card of even a bachelor's degree. And also the opposite; there are lots of folks who do just what it takes (in some cases letting their families bully schools and/or professors with prestige or money as their levers) to get their degrees, and never learn a thing.
This is not to discount education and degrees entirely -- that's a kettle of worms of a whole other color -- but let's not equate them.
Leslie Turek said
And the band played "Waltzing Matilda"... I was recently present when a friend of mine heard this song for the first time and thought it was the most bitter and depressing song he'd ever heard.
Prophetically, the song ends:
"But as year follows year, more old men disappear
Someday, no one will march there at all."
And, in Real Life:
May 17 2002
The last of the Anzacs, Alec Campbell, died peacefully in Hobart last night. He was 103. . .
"Not only is he the last Australian Anzac, he is also the last known person anywhere in the world who served in that extraordinarily tragic campaign," [Prime Minister John] Howard told parliament last night.
We may never see their like again. I hope we may never have to.
Definitely a candidate for some destructionist criticism.
Or the Hall of Fame.
Sadly, I am not sure which is more appropriate.
This thread brings two things to mind:
1. I remember playing D&D and AD&D pretty much when they first became commercially available. And one of the most important things I remember from playing them is that they had lists of the books which influenced the games' creation (Jack Vance, Roger Zelazny, JRR Tolkien, etc.). And thanks to the authors for their inspiration.
I was psyched (to use the term of the day) to find those lists, because it added Good Stuff to my reading list. (Most of it really was.)
2. When LotR:FotR came out a couple of years ago, there were at least several reviews of the movie which started 'This movie is just like any other epic fantasy you've ever seen.' Made me wonder whether the reviewers had ever read the books, or noticed that they basically WERE the mold from which the other movies (or books, if they'd ever read any books, these being movie reviewers) had been cast.
I don't care what trimmings you put on my burger. I just want it to taste good, thanks ;-)
Teresa,
Thanks for the several recent history Particles. Here are two more for you:
That Wacky Millennium!
http://pw2.netcom.com/~rogermw/millennium.html
and
That Wacky Century!
http://pw2.netcom.com/~rogermw/century.html
And add another vote for wide dissemination of The Eater of Meaning. It's a good thing I work overnights, when the bankers don't come in much, when I first saw and tried it. (Where do you find such wonderful toys?)
| Year | Number of comments posted |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 8 |
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