Bon mots from a few good women (dames, even, which is a whole other topic):
- When women go wrong, men go right after them. - Mae West
- I don't know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot. - Marilyn Monroe
- If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman. - Margaret Thatcher
Source: Brainy Quotes
After invading southern Greece and receiving the submission of other key city-states, Philip turned his attention to Sparta and asked menacingly whether he should come as friend or foe. The reply was "Neither." Losing patience, he sent the message:
If I invade Laconia, I shall turn you out.
The Spartan ephors again replied with a single word:
If.
Philip proceeded to invade Laconia, devastate much of it, and eject the Spartans from various parts.
Source: Plutarch, via Wikipedia
Me again. Saying "If" in response to some "if/then" statement that you want to be dismissive of is cool, but there are two points:
- It's a better story when the last sentence is left off. That "if" actually happened.
- Today I learned that laconic derives from Laconia, the city-state that Philip invaded.
Posted: Jun 06
Nice images Isabel. Come back in a few weeks after the eggs yet-to-be laid have hatched and it is neat to see the chicks sticking their long sharp beaks down the parent’s throat to obtain food.
Jim R – Stay tuned! I have one or two almost clear photos of the feeding. It triggers my gag reflex . . .
The only good thing that can be said about parent birds’ way of feeding their young is that it’s a lot more caring than the reptiles who simply abandon their offspring in the sand, on the shore, in the rushes, wherever. Bards are amazing creatures — their ability to operate in three dimensions, the sense of navigation, their ability to make tools, etc. — but their ways of feeding nestlings are not something I would recommend as an evolutionary example to follow.
Jim T
Jim T – Well, it seems to work for them, and *that’s* a good thing. And, like reading Nietzsche, I’m glad it’s not me.