Quotation of the day: The educational octopus

Carpe Diem

Every politically controlled educational system will inculcate the doctrine of state supremacy sooner or later. . . . Once that doctrine has been accepted, it becomes an almost superhuman task to break the stranglehold of the political power over the life of the citizen. It has had his body, property and mind in its clutches from infancy. An octopus would sooner release its prey. A tax-supported, compulsory educational system is the complete model of the totalitarian state. 

~Isabel Paterson from “The God of the Machine” (1943)

Advice from 1623: How to Drink Beer

Ask The Past: "Beere that is too bitter of the hop... hurteth the sinewes, offendeth the sight, and causeth the head-ach, by filling the ventricles of the braine with troublesome vapors... Here some may demand, Whether it be better to drink their Beere cold, or a little warmed, especially in the Winter season? Whereto I answer, that I see no good reason to approve the drinking thereof warme, as I know some to do, not only in the Winter, but almost all the yeere: for it is nauceous and fulsome to the stomack... Moreover, it doth not so well quench the thirst, temper the naturall heat, and coole the inward parts, as if it be taken cold." 

~Tobias Venner, Via recta ad vitam longam (1623)

Heh. Anthony Weiner Press Conference Draws ONE Reporter

More here.

Breaking Bad: The Middle School Musical

Ave Atque Vale David Frost

Hello, Good Evening and Welcome: Sir David Frost, broadcaster and writer, dies at 74.

Here's the BBC's retrospective on his life.

Here's the first part of his famous Nixon interview:

Here's a bit from That Was The Week That Was: