Last week [August] a poll by the survey firm MORI identified Meldrews as a new social type — aged between 35 and 54, rebellious and with little time for authority, unhappy with their lives and the world around them, whose attitude can be summed up by “life’s a bitch and then you die”.
Theo Gray won the IgNobel Prize in Chemistry for his Periodic Table table (which I had mentioned recently).
In an advertisement for a new drug, I was mildly surprised to hear something to the effect that “Black people are more likely to have an adverse reaction.” Is this new?
I’ve long noticed that PSAs about hypertension tend to have a Black cast, though they don’t come out and say that Blacks have higher risk.
“a polite society” goes both ways
Craig Biggerstaff (quoted by Possum — and how come the permalink syntax is correct on the latter and wrong on the former?) writes:
I have considerable respect for the argument that past US interventions have created ill will abroad. But however we got here, here we are. I have little respect for the argument that we can simply “go, and sin no more” and expect the ill will to dissipate by itself. I have none for the argument that we can simply throw overboard everything or everyone that offends some foreign potentate and not simply whet said potentate’s appetite for further demands.
How about the idea that “we” retaliate thoroughly (but narrowly) for any actual attack on Us — and then “go and sin no more”, not because it might please some thug but because it’s the right thing for America even if it pleases some thug?
Otherwise, it’s only a matter of time until it all happens again: the politicians will piss off someone else, who will find a startling way to kill ten thousand Americans, and the cry will once again go up: “We didn’t want a war, but we’ve got one, so pipe down you appeasers.”
Somehow I’m reminded of the stereotypical petty criminal’s words to the victim-elect who shows a weapon: “Relax, lady, we don’t want no trouble.” No, “we” would much prefer to dictate to the world without resistance or repercussions.
Most people seem to read the Web in schoolmarmish Times Roman. I read it in friendlier Lucida Sans. I wonder what effect font has – when the reader chooses it – on the perception of tone in writing.
you don’t know where it’s been
For a moment I thought the sign at the garage said SNOG CHECK.
I trust you can follow my train of thought from there.
Lately I can’t pick up a bottle of stain-remover without thinking of its advertising slogan: “. . gets out what America gets into.” And I try to imagine nationalistic advertising for mass consumer products in other countries. “At last, a nonprescription analgesic worthy of Ecuador!”