Dagli Annali della Ricerca Improbabile

Scusate ma non ho tempo per tradurvela...fate prima a impararvi l'inglese voi...

Ma "Arsenic is Natural" è formidabile!!!

2005-11-05 The Pursuit of the Vapid (Part 2)

The attempt to find the author of one famously vapid phrase (see
min-AIR 2005-03) may lead to the trail of the author of another,
equally lovely, vapid phrase. INVESTIGATOR TAMAR LASKI writes:

* * *

"The Monsanto slogan, 'without chemicals, life itself would be
impossible' bears some similarities to an advertising phrase used
by Alpharma, Inc. to promote their animal antibiotics which happen
to contain arsenic (and are fed to the chickens and are then eaten
by humans): 'Arsenic is Natural.'

"The two statements have in common their vapidity. However, the
writing style is quite different, and it seems unlikely that the
same author wrote both statements. The Monsanto phrase is
relatively complex (7 words) and begins with a fancy little
clause. The Alpharma statement is pure and elegant, 3 words,
subject, verb, adjective. It lingers in the mind with a profound
solemnity that counteracts its vapidity.

"This leaves me with the conclusion that there is more than one
author capable of such vapid statements (vapidity-capable), and
there may be others.

"The 'Arsenic is Natural' statement is preceded by the mellifluous
lead-in phrase, '3-Nitro is Safe for the Consumer and the
Environment.' Both can be found in Alpharma's Technical Bulletin
No.3-Nitro, January 19

99."


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