Flaming good school mottos

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This was published 4 years ago

Flaming good school mottos

George Zivkovic of Northmead writes: "Without meaning to cast aspersions in the direction of any school or schools in particular, I saw a motto on a school uniform last week that simply said Persist. The dictionary definition of the verb 'persist' is to 'continue in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition'. A curious choice. My own high school motto was Learn to Live, which is pretty ambiguous at the best of times too. I wonder how many school mottos, especially Latin ones, are relevant to students today. That said, Fax mentis incendium gloriae, is hard to beat."

We can inform David Low (C8) that there have been multiple local sightings of the Citroen Cactus. Robyn Hansen of Pennant Hills says: "I have seen a few in Sydney. They look very tough and robust." Melinda Whiles of Farrer (ACT) spotted one in the national capital and Adrian Lamrock of The Hill tells us they have been available in Australia since 2017: "I'm not sure how great the spike in sales has been, though, or if they have perforated public awareness particularly well." Pointed comments from all.

Nothing to report on Richard Stewart's static issue (C8), but Joy Cooksey of Harrington thinks it "sounds like that TAB may have a BAT on its radar."

Brian Jardine of Chatswood chimes in with another tale of a ringing public phone (C8): "One evening in 1962 we called through a public phone box in Queanbeyan, trying to locate a car repairer. No reply. As we were walking away the phone rang. It was the telephonist calling to say she had located the mechanic and would connect our call to his neighbour's house."

In the tradition of the fondly remembered Flesh Gordon (C8), Don Thompson of Running Stream says: "Some time ago, a relative with her young son and his school mate ventured into the city during Christmas holidays to see the latest children's movie. Unfortunately she left her run too late and it was booked out. In desperation she spied Midnight Cowboy and thought: 'What little boy wouldn't like a western?'" That's understandable. Everybody was talkin' about it.

"After reading what Fiat stood for (C8), I wonder. Does Italy have a mortgage on company acronyms? I was led to believe their national carrier Alitalia stood for 'Always Late in Takeoff Always Late in Arrival'," says Peter Miniutti of Ashbury.

Column8@smh.com.au

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