So Easy a Caveman can do it

Waiting on the world to change

I find that when I hear a phrase (or key word) at least 3 times from 3 very different sources, then the concept has gained traction in the community and tipped over into our social life. It may be short-lived (most of the time it is - until the next social phrase takes over) but while its around, the phrase adds to the talking points that make up this small corner of our history.

Two phrases are sticking out to me so far this semester.

1. Connecting the Dots. This term has been used way too much by our politicians in reference to our intelligence community. Most of them feel (or say they feel) we should have known about terrorist activities by paying attention to the information that was there. If we work backwards then it's predictable.

In the real world, intelligence is ambiguous and includes huge amounts conflicting and confusing information. No one wants ambiguity but there is rarely a clear path to make a prediction.

2. Zombies. Everyone is talking about, acting out and using zombies to make their point. Why now? I have huge hunks of students who celebrate the zombie in each of them. They have zombie parties and festivals. They dress up and talk about zombification. I even know well respected professors (fathers of children) that are including essential zombie attributes into their lectures and by doing so giving weight to the phrase, extending and codifying what it means and how it can be used.

I've heard "connecting the dots" on the PBS Newshour....I'm waiting for Jim Lehrer to open his program with a story about "zombies".