"Who are you going to believe? Me or your lying eyes." Richard Pryor

The most believable lies seem to be the ones that are most unbelievable.  By that I mean that the real power in a lie is in fabricating unlikely details that take it from a typical, plausible situation to an atypical, implausible one, which strangely seems to carry more credibility.  I remember once, many years ago, when an old girlfriend called out of the blue (probably one of those drunk calls) and my brother happened to answer the phone.  I told him I didn't want to talk to her, so he goes on to have a conversation with her, inserting information such as that I was now married, and here comes the brilliant part, and had recently had twins, one of whom had a deformed arm which had been repaired by surgery and was now normal.  Now the twins part was pretty good, but the bad arm with a happy ending seemed utterly convincing.  Over the many years since then, I've paid more attention to what makes a "story" seem more believable, and it's not just details, but atypical details that seem to do the trick.   In the days when I used to write multiple choice questions, for the bluffs I'd often insert specific details, usually completely unrelated to the question, and these were the ones that students often fell for.  I'll bet that psychologists have an explanation for the believing of the unlikely over the likely.  Think of all the businesses that really on this.  Insurance companies, organized religion, political parties, advertisers, and so many more.  Lies, lies, everywhere lies.

It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways. Buddha

No explaining the horrible and horrific theater shooting outside Denver, where 12 (so far) have died, including a 6 year old girl, and 58 injured, including a baby, as there's no explaining crazy and evil.  So sad and tragic.  But why would anyone bring a 6 year old or a baby to a midnight showing of a Batman movie?

Is that a zucchini in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

We are nearing the time of year when people discover that they have planted way too many vegetables in their home gardens and that they will never be able to consume all of the great bounty.  Solution?  Foist all that they can on everyone they know, and if that still doesn't liquidate the produce, fill the communal refrigerator at work and leave an anonymous note with a smiley face.  But here's the thing.  Most people don't like vegetables all that much, though a fresh tomato or cucumber is OK.  But you can only eat so many tomatoes.  Ditto squash and all of its mutations.  And just what do you think I'm going to do with a couple of eggplants the size of Popeye's forearms and a bagful of malformed peppers?  I think these vegetable givers do believe they are doing a good deed, and to an extent they are, with the bonus that they get to show the world that they are Mother/Father Earth (though the aforementioned foodstuffs are essentially weeds in their propensity to grow with little care, especially when purchased as small plants that just need to be moved from a carton into the ground).  I certainly don't begrudge them the satisfaction of growing things, and I agree that gardening is relaxing and even fun in its own way.  But what these kind-hearted folks don't realize is that at some point, and that point arrives quite soon, your cornucopia of generosity becomes to us an obligation to abet your vegetable dumping.  Why don't you start growing Oreos?  We like Oreos.

image from the calloftheland.wordpress.com

Made in China

The London Olympics U.S. uniforms:  Made in China.  What a horrible gaffe for all the obvious reasons.  Yes, people should rightfully shake their heads in disapproval, but let's not go over the top on this, as somebody probably just used their normal sources of manufacturing without stopping to think about the meaning and consequences.  So it was a bad mistake but no lives were lost, so let's move along.  What people should be more upset about (but again, let's not go crazy) is the uniform itself.  It's ugly and expensive.  I looked up the costs out of curiosity:

• 
  Men:
  Beret - $55
  Tie - $125
  Belt - $85
  Shirt - $425
  Blazer - $795
  Trousers - $295
  Shoes - $165
  Women:
  Beret - $55
  Scarf - $58
  Belt - $85
  Shirt - $179
  Skirt - $498
  Blazer - $598
                  

The tie is OK, I guess; pretty tame and plain, but $125?  I understand the limited production run, but it looks like something you'd find at a low-end department store for 80% less.  The rest of the uniform is just embarrassing, as it looks like Skip and Buffy are heading to the yacht club (in 1982).  The double-breasted blazer would be fine if it didn't have the huge Lauren logo (I thought the Olympics frowned on corporate advertising- wasn't that a big issue with the "Dream Team" way back when?), didn't have what look to be white buttons, and didn't cost $800 (It looks like an off-the-rack blazer with buttons and logo substituted).  And really, a $425 white shirt?  Bet I could find one that was pretty much the same thing for a tenth or less of that.  Can't really see or comment on the belt, but again it looks like just a plain belt that one could buy for a fraction.  The white pants and white shoes are a matter of taste, I guess.  Skip and Buffy might like them, but probably few others.  The real atrocity is the hat.  Why always a hat?  At least it's not a cowboy hat this year, but the beret just looks ridiculous, especially on young athletes.  Similar comments for the distaff uniform.

It's ridiculous that the uniforms are made in China, but even more ridiculous that they're about $2000 each (and I don't know if this includes all of what Ralph and his people got) and make the athletes look like total geeks.