Modern Education and Intellect

[Guest guest]

Dr. Siff, on a lighter note in our pursuit of the truth, I found an interesting

article in today's

(12/29/01) Orlando Sentinel.

' " Blintz Krieg " of Bloopers is nothing new for students.'

A college professor gathers three decades of silliness from test and papers.

" Professor Anders Henriksson wants you to know that college kids today aren't

necessarily more stupid or

less informed than they were 30 years ago, and he offers an improbable book full

of proof.

The volume is NON CAMPUS MENTIS: non sequiturs, faux facts aned boneheaded

statements gleaned from

three decades of student tests and papers at universities and colleges across

North America. It has inched

onto the New York Times miscellaneous best seller list. And it certainly is

miscellaneous. "

The article goes on to state that he didn't make up the statements but has

received them from professors

at other universities and colleges after he published two compliations in

Quarterly. Some date back

to the 1930s, including Oxford, City College Of New York, and the US Military

Academy.

A sample---the airplane was invented and first flown by the Marx brothers;

Hitler's instrumentality of

terror was the Gespacho; Noah's wife was Joan Of Ark; Middle Eastern history was

written by Florence of

Arabia; the Soviets erected the Berlin Mall; Plato invented reality. He was the

teacher to Tottle,

author of The Republicans; Germany's II had a chimp on his shoulder and

therefore has to ride

his horse into battle with only one hand; The Germans took the bypass around

France's Marginal Line.

This was know as the 'Blintz Krieg " ; Corruptuion grew especially ripe in Zaire,

where Motutu was known

to indulge in more than an occasional[sic] little armadillo; The plurious of

wealth was therefore uneven.

The rural populous was reduced to tenement farming; The Boston Tea Party was

held at Pearl Harbor;

Americans...wanted no involvement in the French and Indian War because they did

not want to fight in

India; Moses was told by Jesus Christ to lead the people out of Egypt into the

Sahaira[sic] Desert. The book

of Exodus describes this trip...including the Ten Commandments, various special

effects, and the building

of the Suez Canal.

I am definitely going to get this book!!

Happy Holidays to all!!

Charlie Newkerk, C.S.C.S.

Rockledge, Fl

newkfit@...