"E Pluribus Unum" is a fine motto. (I liked it especially in the Wizard of Oz.) "In God We Trust" has a craven touch to it.

And why is IGWT backwards? It should be WTIG. "Backward ran sentences until reeled the mind."

"E Pluribus Unum" -- "Out Of Many, One"

For those of us who aren't Brits or Catholics and didn't take Latin in school.

How about Mundus Vult Decipi, instead of IGWT? The World Wishes To Be Deceived.

Sure seems to be the case. It doesn't take great intelligence to be rational, just a desire to not be mentally lazy.

"E Pluribus Unum" -- "Out Of Many, One"

Are there reasonably educated Americans who don't know this?

There are a few of us who wonder why we're supposed to admire the sentiment... And then we got "One small step for man, a giant leap for mankind", and we were again dumbfounded...

How about, 'The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or one', translated into Latin, of course.

Amen Amy! ha ha. Here's something for you. You may already know about this site, http://www.afa.net/ The American Family Association. It is completely obsurd. Mostly everything on this site, especially the gay bashing, really pisses me off! My sis-in-law is obviously signed up on this site to receive letters and notices and she used to forward me emails that they would send to her. It really got me fired up every time. I complained to my husband everytime, he must have told her because she hasn't sent anymore. Check it out. Maybe you can sign up and they can send you super infuriating emails with topics that you can battle on your blog.

You think the coins are bad. The state of Indiana now has a free alternative plate that states In God We Trust. The BMV asks first if you want the God plate and you only get the standard plate if you say no.

There are a few of us who wonder why we're supposed to admire the sentiment...

Isn't it more of an aspiration? That a whole bunch of people with different ideas and experiences can somehow make up one functioning nation? That's how I take it, and it's not a bad motto IMO.

I'd prefer "Keep your hands to yourself."

I'd prefer "Keep your hands to yourself."

Depends on whose hands we're talking about.

I prefer "keep your religion to yourself" in all matters of government and state.

I'm always astonished that belief in god isn't an underground thing, something people are embarrassed about and only discuss in whispers with their closest friends.

Yeah, but even as an atheist I have to respect religion as the crazy hippie mother of science, law and philosophy--and also because I suspect she's yet to bestow her final offering. I don't know what the New Religion will look like, but Mahler's 3rd will definitely be in the canon.

No, Albinoni's Adagio in G minor.

Also, ...

> the crazy hippie mother of science,
> law and philosophy-

I'm going to steal that line, and you'll not be given credit.

But you should say it again until Amy here's it, she has issues.

Hears. Until Amy hears it. Listen, we're trying to work over here.

Listen, we're trying to work over here.

Is that what's going on here? Sweet. When do we get paid?

Would anyone respect alchemy as the crazy aunt of chemistry?

I don't know; you'll have to ask that crazy alchemist Isaac Newton.

Would anyone respect alchemy as the crazy aunt of chemistry?

Yup. Given that the man arguably possessed of the greatest scientific mind ever wrote more about alchemy than physics or math, it clearly wasn't only the fools seeking to turn lead into gold who were devoted to alchemy. It took crazy people experimenting a lot to start to understand chemistry. The theory was wrong, but it produced useful data that later lead to more successful models.

Anyone have a Ouija board?

Does any chemist take alchemy seriously today? Highly unlikely. Unfortunately, crazy hippie mother/religion is taken very seriously worldwide and to dangerous extremes.

As an atheist, I wouldn't respect religion. Personally, I am fascinated by it, but never respect.

I just like some of the icons, but I don't respect religion, or any system that encourages people to avoid thinking.

The modern state has turned a functioning government into a complete brouhaha of corporate fascism. Since they've effectively turned gold into lead, an award of professional anti-alchemism is appropriate, complete with citation for suppression of scientific evaluations and objectivity. Cupidity trumps stupidity.

All I can think about is the amazing similarity this has to the (very rare) circumstance of when I don’t spend enough time proofing an ad and all of sudden it goes to print and I realize the phone number I used hasn’t been in service for decades.