Scientific Lie

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An awkward, unscientific lie is often as ineffectual as the truth.

On the Decay of the Art of Lying by Mark Twain

Note: See the review.

 

Giggle Book Award: Science of Bodily Functions

This month the award goes to a book that makes science fun: Belches, Burps and Farts, Oh My! written by Artie Bennett and illustrated by Pranas T. Naujokaitis.

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True to its title, the book delves into the word of gas, covering the expulsions of many animals (humans included) and providing a litany of fascinating facts in the form of lyrical poetry:

Snakes “cut one” to drive away
A predator in search of prey.

Fish fart to communicate.
The bubbles help them congregate.

Lonely beetles need a mate.
Tooting draws a candidate!
A chemical within each fart
Helps to win a beetle’s heart!

Combine these catchy science rhymes with fun illustrations and it’s one fun book!

Time Is Cruel

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“What a slut time is. She screws everybody.”

-The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Heroic Liar

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An injurious truth has no merit over an injurious lie. Neither should ever be uttered. The man who speaks an injurious truth lest his soul be not saved if he do otherwise, should reflect that that sort of a soul is not strictly worth saving. The man who tells a lie to help a poor devil out of trouble, is one of whom the angels doubtless say, “Lo, here is an heroic soul who casts his own welfare in jeopardy to succor his neighbor’s; let us exalt this magnanimous liar.””

On the Decay of the Art of Lying by Mark Twain

Note: See the review.

The Challenge of No

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“It’s not hard to say no. It’s hard to say it right. At the right time. For the right reasons.”

Nein. A Manifesto by Eric Jarosinski

Words Overheard – Football Ostracism

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Last week, I overheard the following conversation:

Mom: Did you just say you’re a Packer fan?
Daughter: (Long pause) Yeah…I support the packers.
Mom: That’s it. You’re cut off. I’m not paying for college.

Much laughter was had by all.

Learning the Moral Lie

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Lying is universal–we all do it. Therefore, the wise thing is for us diligently to train ourselves to lie thoughtfully, judiciously; to lie with a good object, and not an evil one; to lie for others’ advantage, and not our own; to lie healingly, charitably, humanely, not cruelly, hurtfully, maliciously; to lie gracefully and graciously, not awkwardly and clumsily…as being ashamed of our high calling. Then shall we be rid of the rank and pestilent truth that is rotting the land; then shall we be great and good and beautiful, and worthy dwellers in a world where even benign Nature habitually lies, except when she promises execrable weather.

On the Decay of the Art of Lying by Mark Twain

Note: See the review.

 

Lying is a Virtue

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I suspect that it goes without saying, but I shall say it anyway: Mark Twain is one of those rare authors who can actually get away with saying something like this. And, in true Twain fashion, if you read the entire work, you will find the quote means much more when read in context.

I wish I could write half as well.

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No fact is more firmly established than that lying is a necessity of our circumstances–the deduction that it is then a Virtue goes without saying.

On the Decay of the Art of Lying by Mark Twain