I've long been a Dictionary hound. Thank you Ms. Hypes, and Orwell too.

[1-Old-Man]

Way back when I took a course in College called "Words and Usage". It was an English class who's aim was to improve one's vocabulary and get some idea as to the derivation of words. It was taught by a Ms. Hypes, who to this day I think is one of my most treasured acquaintances.

Ms. Hypes, as she was known to all (an Assistant Professor who taught for decades with no Phd), once told me that 'you can never understand what a person is saying if you do not know what the words they are using mean'. What a simple and pure truth. I have not been without a Dictionary since hearing it.

War is not Peace. When one country bombs another the act can be called one of two things. It is either an act of war or it is an act of terrorism. What it can never be is an humanitarian act. Ms Hypes taught me that much just as Orwell taught me that 2+2 can never equal 5, no matter who says so.

[Xipe Totec]

1. There are Four Lights...

A Kardashian tortures Picard trying to force him to say there are five lights when there are only four....

[longship]

2. So that's how they got their own reality TV program! nt

[Xipe Totec]

3. No, these were the good Kardashians. nt

[unblock]

5. kardassians, actually, but a subtle distinction to be sure.

[woo me with science]

4. K&R

[unblock]

6. personally i think "war" vs. "terrorism" is a distinction without a difference.

which is to say it's already orwellian enough.

it best, the distinction is "war" means when we do it, "terrorism" is when they do it.

a much better term for terrorism, in fact, is asymmetric warfare -- the distinction is simply that these are the tactics available to a warring party that is greatly outmatched.

either way, it's war, and should be understood as such.