> > Similarly, earlier than that, there was an article written by someone else talking about solving overpopulation and hunger at the same time by eating the old. It was a very amusing piece, and *obviously* satirical. Yet, again, angry letters poured in demanding a retraction.
> >
>
> A bit o' Jonathan Swift there, eh? He was given hell for his "Modest Proposal" two centuries ago and now it's considered to be a great satirical work. Some things never change....

Here's one from the school where I used to teach.
Two 8th grade girls had a report due, but they weren't quite ready. They went to the teacher and asked for a two-day extention. It was Wednesday, so the teacher said, "Okay, take until Monday, but if it isn't ready then, heads will roll."
The uproar went on for weeks. Some people had never heard the expression. (That was 1960.)
Howard