rattus rattus’ blog

Quotes from no liars taken from an ongoing lecture series on human ecology:

In ecology, anything is partially right and partially wrong, and everything else is also partially right and partially wrong.
— Markus Staudinger, 2006-11-28

And, at the end of today’s lecture:

Everything we have said here today is wrong. Wrong in the sense that it has been too short and not detailed enough, though, there is a chance to deal with it more closely.
— Alexander Haslberger, 2006-12-05

The translations were done by a liar who is at liberty to quote the original passages:

Wie bei allem in der Ökologie ist es so, dass das Eine teils wahr und teils falsch und das Andere auch teils wahr und teils falsch ist.
— Markus Staudinger, 2006-11-28

Alles, was wir hier jetzt gesagt haben, ist falsch. Falsch in dem Sinn, dass es viel zu kurz und zu wenig detailliert ist, dass es aber doch die Möglichkeit gibt, sich damit etwas genauer zu beschäftigen.
— Alexander Haslberger, 2006-12-05

Generally, one is better off judging others. But beware of generalizations if you cannot deal with self-reference.

Aus Janoschs Wörterbuch der Lebenskunst (München 1995):

Sprache

Wahrscheinlich gäbe es weniger Unheil auf der Welt, wäre dem Menschen nicht das Wort gegeben. Mit dem er lügt. Und verdreht. Ein Hund kann gar nicht lügen.

That that is is that that is not is not.

The following conversation took place at Calvin and Hobbes’ family (see today’s cartoon at gocomics). Calvin to his mother:

I want the last piece of pie. Don’t divide it up. I want it all to me.

Calvin’s mother:

Don’t be selfish, Calvin.

Calvin:

So the real message here is “be dishonest”?

Of course it is. That’s why we are :)

Arlo Guthrie performed a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia on November 10, 2006. At some point during the show, host Dan Reed quoted Arlo Guthrie’s website quote of the day:

The me I used to think of as being myself
has slowly been replaced by the self I seem to be today.
— Arlo Guthrie

Then, Dan asked Arlo: I think it deserves an explanation, perhaps!? And, Arlo explained:

Well, that’s nice of you. You know, if these things need an explanation there’s no point in doing them. I would have just put the explanation in and forgot the quote.

Dan: End of quote.

All our secrets they are tailored trouble
Draped loose now around your hips

The band Taking Back Sunday recently released their song “Liar (It Takes One To Know One)”.

I’m an addict for dramatics
I confuse the two for love

Tony Petrossian directed a wonderful video for the song which is available through the band’s website, and on YouTube – Liar (It Takes One To Know One).

It’s still a question of
How long will this hold?

[*]

[Ratta suggests not to move at all since Bertrand Russell said that all movements go too far, and this is certainly true. Those isolated better be independent, of course.]

Stop Making Sense, one of my favorite self-contradictory principles, is also the title of a wonderful video of Talking Heads‘ Stop Making Sense tour in 1983.

Since Ratta reminded us of who we are to do what we do as long as we do (make sense) I’d like to remind myself of the fact that I intended to confront my blog with some more posts about facts (as if this were possible). So, introductory, here is a list of facts about facts taken from lyrics of the video Stop Making Sense:

• Facts are never what they seem to be.
• Facts cut a hole in us.
• Facts are useless in emergencies.

• Facts are simple and facts are straight.
• Facts are lazy and facts are late.
• Facts all come with points of view.
• Facts don’t do what I want them to.
• Facts just twist the truth around.
• Facts are living turned inside out.
• Facts are getting the best of it.

• Facts are nothing on the face of things.
• Facts continue to change their shape.
• Facts don’t stain the furniture.
• Facts go out and slam the door.
• Facts are written all over your face.