"If you are not with us, you are against us."

From NY Times:

(http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/us/politics/12obama.html?_r=1)

Mr. Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, said: “We’re going to continue to make the choice clear. One course is do nothing and continue to shed millions of jobs and the other course is to begin to invest in creating 3.5 million jobs and American competitiveness. And to do it as quickly as possible.”

Mr. Emanuel's statement is an example of the false choice fallacy. Two alternatives are considered, when in fact there are other options. Politicians use the fallacy in an
attempt to force a choice, as in "If you are not with us, you are against
us."

Jousting

The Worst Car in Creation

Competition is tough for The Worst Car in Creation, but the Yugo easily trumps the others for unadulterated incompetence and unintentional hilarity.

The subcompact car was based on the Fiat 127 and 128 - not a good move it you intend to build a car for the ages, or even just something with 4 wheels and an engine. You might say the only thing wrong with the Yugo was everything.

Callers to “Click and Clack," the Tappet Brothers' radio show on NPR, summed up the Yugo experience like this:

“The Yugo’s first stop after the showroom was the service department: ‘Fill ‘er up and replace the engine!’”

Another caller said, “I once test drove a Yugo, during which the radio fell out, the gear shift knob came off in my hand, and I saw daylight through the strip around the windshield.”


www.minyanville.com/articles/index.php?a=18395

Meatball Bubble Gum - Gift for Idea for Xmas

These meatball-shaped, bubble gum flavored gumballs are super tasty and
extra chewy. If you don’t believe us, just look on the back of each
package where Manny the Meatball proclaims, “Atsa chewy meatball.” How
can you doubt the emphatic assertion of a talking meatball?

http://www.mcphee.com/items/11898.html

How to rule your empire.

Liddell Hart - Strategy:

"The peaceful nations are apt, however, to court unnecessary danger, because when once aroused they are more inclined to proceed to extremes than predatory nations. For the latter, making war is a means of gain, are usually more ready call it off when they find an opponent too strong to be easily overcome. It is the reluctant fighter, impelled by emotion and not by calculation, who tends to press a fight to the bitter end. Thereby he too often defeats his own end, even if he does not produce his own direct defeat. For the spirit of barbarism can be weakened only during cessation of hostilities; war strengthens it - pouring fuel on the flames."


Machiavelli - The Prince:

The ruler ". . . ought to examine closely into all those injuries which it is necessary for him to inflict, and to do them all at one stroke so as not to have to repeat them daily; and thus by not unsettling men he will be able to reassure them, and win them to himself by benefits. He who does otherwise, either from timidity or evil advice, is always compelled to keep the knife in his hand; neither can he rely on his subjects, nor can they attach themselves to him, owing to their continued and repeated wrongs. For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer.

Sun Tzu - The Art of War:
"The reason why an enlightened sovereign or a great general consistently wins military campaigns and achieves deeds beyond ordinary militarists is that he has acquired vital intelligence concerning the enemy well in advance.

This foreknowledge cannot be obtained from the spirits, it cannot be acquired from deduction based on past events and it also cannot be sought through astrological observation. It can only come from human beings, spies who possess sensitive information."