The terms "idiot" and "lunatic" were acceptable diagnostic terms in England up until 1959. "Imbecile" and "feeble-minded person" were, likewise, listed as official categories in the 1913 Mental Deficiency Act. England has always lagged a bit behind in discarding outdated terms for the disadvantaged. When I was there in 1980, it was still possible to shop for used clothing at the local Spastic Shop. That is, compared to the United States, where it takes, oh, about twenty-five minutes for a diagnostic euphemism to become a conversational faux pas.
Mary RoachThe paper does not provide the exact number of penises eaten by ducks, but the author says there have been enough over the years to prompt the coining of a popular saying: 'I better get home or the ducks will have something to eat.
Mary RoachMany people will find this book disrespectful. There is nothing amusing about being dead, they will say. Ah, but there is.
Mary RoachMasters points out that the heterosexuals were at a disadvantage, as they do not benefit from what he called โgender empathyโ. Doing unto your partner as you would do unto yourself only works well when you're gay.
Mary RoachThe nobility of the human spirit grows harder for me to believe in. War, zealotry, greed, malls, narcissism. I see a backhanded nobility in excessive, impractical outlays of cash prompted by nothing loftier than a species joining hands and saying โI bet we can do this.โ Yes, the money could be better spent on Earth. But would it? Since when has money saved by government red-lining been spent on education and cancer research? It is always squandered. Letโs squander some on Mars. Letโs go out and play.
Mary Roach