Friday, April 2, 2010

question of the (other) day

"I need a biography on the Boston Tea Party."

10 comments:

Mike W. said...

That's the sort of thing where you just stare in disbelief....

Jon said...

I'd be with Mike if I didn't know that the average person probably couldn't tell you what a biography IS, never mind that it applys to a person, not an event.

Vitriolic Virchow said...

Well, there is an author that uses the pen name "Boston T. Party" but he's also a privacy advocate and wouldn't want a bio written.

Clint said...

It's always interesting when someone asks a question in terms they can remember, rather than using the right words.

So what was said intrepid learner really asking for?

breda said...

No, really. A biography. I also had to explain to her that the Boston Tea Party was part of the American Revolution.

Lydia said...

I would have sent her back to school with a note explaining why a biography of the Boston Tea Party wasn't available.

stbaguley said...

Hey, c'mon the kid was in a library. The only goal should be to have such a one leave smarter than when they came in. The least of such knowledge should be that they came to the right place. I do not doubt that Breda did well by them.

Clint said...

“I signed. Where do you start explaining when a man's words show there isn't anything he understands about subject, instead is loaded with preconceptions that don't fit facts and doesn't even know he has?”
Robert A. Heinlein
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Page 163, copyright 1965,1966

Paul, Dammit! said...

Wow. I don't think Mr. Dewey's system was set up for that. Maybe it's on the shelf under the encyclopedia of Fidel Castro.

Anonymous said...

Well, some historical events take on a life of their own.