The one-eyed robot
May 3, 2013 – 8:05 amReal computer scientists concern themselves with sorting their balls.
New home for Zodiac cipher material
June 5, 2012 – 5:03 amThe years I’ve spent obsessing over the Zodiac ciphers have recently culminated in a new site, ZodiacKillerCiphers.com
Over forty years of analysis have yielded no viable solutions to three of the four cryptograms the Zodiac killer created to taunt the public. Do real solutions exist, or was the public hoodwinked by a master troll? Perhaps we’ll never know. Or perhaps someone will get lucky and figure out the “trick” that will unlock the mystery.
Scammer epilogue
May 31, 2012 – 7:12 amIn this old story about me baiting a scammer, I posted some of the photos the scammer was sending me to convince me of the authenticity of the photo. Here is a photo of “Mariam” at her father’s funeral:
It looked obviously photoshopped to include some model’s face. Today I located the original photograph:
More info about these kinds of scams: Advance Fee Fraud letters | Your utterance is reprehensible | Scamwarners
Eh? What’s that, Sonny?
May 31, 2012 – 5:05 amI’m no longer hosting AgainButSlower.com, but if anyone is looking for it, it can be found here:
Terrible beauty
December 22, 2010 – 10:50 am“The Patrician took a sip of his beer. ‘I have told this to few people, gentlemen, and I suspect I never will again, but one day when I was a young boy on holiday in Uberwald I was walking along the banks of a stream when I saw a mother otter with her cubs. A very endearing sight, I’m sure you will agree, and even as I watched, the mother otter dived into the water and came up with a plump salmon, which she subdued and dragged onto a half-submerged log. As she ate it, while of course it was still alive, the body split and I remember to this day the sweet pinkness of its roes as they spilled out, much to the delight of the baby otters who scrambled over themselves to feed on the delicacy. One of nature’s wonders, gentlemen: mother and children dining on mother and children. And that’s when I first learned about evil. It is built into the nature of the universe. Every world spins in pain. If there is any kind of supreme being, I told myself, it is up to all of us to become his moral superior.’”
Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals
Command-line debunker
October 27, 2010 – 4:28 amMy superstitious Facebook friends are posting this message:
October has 5 Fridays 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This happens once every 823 years. This is money bags. So copy this to your Status and money will arrive within four days. Based on Chinese FengShui. The one who does not copy….will be without money I cannot let that person be me …. Copy within eleven mins.
Sure enough, it is false. I wanted to try to prove it myself. So I came up with this Unix one-liner:
for x in {1950..2050}; do for y in {1..12}; do echo `cal $y $x | grep -v [a-z]|grep [0-9] | cut -c1-2,15-20 | tr ” ” “\n”|grep [0-9]|wc -l`: $x $y | grep ^15; done; done;
Result: Between 1950 and 2050, there are 101 months that contain 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays, and 5 Sundays. Can I still have money bags?
BTW here is the full list of months:
December 1950 May 1953 January 1954
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
October 1954 July 1955 March 1957
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
August 1958 May 1959 January 1960
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
July 1960 December 1961 March 1963
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
May 1964 January 1965 October 1965
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
July 1966 December 1967 March 1968
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
August 1969 May 1970 January 1971
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
October 1971 December 1972 March 1974
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
August 1975 October 1976 July 1977
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
December 1978 August 1980 May 1981
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
January 1982 October 1982 July 1983
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
March 1985 August 1986 May 1987
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
January 1988 July 1988 December 1989
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
March 1991 May 1992 January 1993
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
October 1993 July 1994 December 1995
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
March 1996 August 1997 May 1998
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
January 1999 October 1999 December 2000
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
March 2002 August 2003 October 2004
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
July 2005 December 2006 August 2008
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
May 2009 January 2010 October 2010
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
July 2011 March 2013 August 2014
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
May 2015 January 2016 July 2016
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
December 2017 March 2019 May 2020
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
January 2021 October 2021 July 2022
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
December 2023 March 2024 August 2025
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
May 2026 January 2027 October 2027
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
December 2028 March 2030 August 2031
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
October 2032 July 2033 December 2034
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
August 2036 May 2037 January 2038
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
October 2038 July 2039 March 2041
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
August 2042 May 2043 January 2044
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
July 2044 December 2045 March 2047
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
May 2048 January 2049 October 2049
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 1 2 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 31 31
July 2050
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Play Shinro puzzles for free in your Web browser
October 7, 2010 – 5:23 amNow you can try out Shinro puzzles in your Web browser!
There are 120 puzzles there ranging from easy to hard. Can you solve them?
PlayShinro.com launch
September 30, 2010 – 3:02 pmI’ve finally finished the web site for my new book of puzzles.
Go there and check out the book. You can even download a free edition!
Craft time
August 11, 2010 – 1:57 pmSomething I had to make during my lunch break.
Because seeing Totoro in Toy Story 3 was awesome.
Twain speaking about the “damned human race”
June 1, 2010 – 1:09 pm“There has never been a just one, never an honorable one - on the part of the instigator of the war. I can see a million years ahead, and this rule will never change in so many as half a dozen instances. The loud little handful - as usual - will shout for the war. The pulpit will - warily and cautiously - object - at first; the great, big, dull bulk of the nation will rub its sleepy eyes and try to make out why there should be a war, and will say, earnestly and indignantly, “It is unjust and dishonorable, and here is no necessity for it.” Then the handful will shout louder. A few fair men on the other side will argue and reason against the war with speech and pen, and at first will have a hearing and be applauded; but it will not last long; those others will outshout them, and presently the anti-war audiences will thin out and lose popularity. Before long you will see this curious thing: the speakers stoned from the platform, and free speech strangled by hordes of furious men who in their secret hearts are still at one with those stoned speakers - as earlier - but do not dare to say so. And now the whole nation - pulpit and all - will take up the war-cry, and shout itself hoarse, and mob any honest man who ventures to open his mouth; and presently such mouths will cease to open. Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception.”
- Mark Twain, The Mysterious Stranger