Joined the Peace Corps. BRB.

My favorite website is Wikipedia. It’s my boredom killer, always ready to present a topic for me to learn each day. Sometimes it’s something useful, but most of the time, I learn about useless things like raccoons. Did you know that there’s such a thing as a crab-eating raccoon?
Today was definitely a “learning” day on Wikipedia as I learned about official state mottos of countries around the world. Here’s a few of my favorites:

Austria: none. But, formerly AEIOU, standing for Austriae est imperare orbi universo. That’s Latin for, “It’s Austria’s destiny to rule the world.” Understandable during Leopold I’s reign, but when you have to sue France for peace (even against Napoleon), then it’s time for a new motto.

Austria-Hungary: Indivisibiliter ac Inseparabiliter. Once again, Latin for, "Indivisible and inseparable.” New motto, same irony.

Botswana: Pula. In Tswana, that simply means, “Rain.” No jokes this time, just facts: Home to the Kalahari Desert, Botswana definitely needs rain, but with the world’s lowest life expectancy at 35 years (AIDS epidemic), it’s definitely in need of more than just water.

Luxembourg: Mir wëlle bleiwe, wat mir sin. In Luxembourgeois, "We want to stay what we are.” In a small sampling of Peace Corps volunteers in Osh, 0% could correctly identify Luxembourg on a map, so the Grandy Duchy is safe for now.

Switzerland: Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno. Latin for, "One for all, all for one.” But, but, but except in war! Or decision making of any type. And I thought the Three Musketeers were French?

North Korea: 강성대국. That reads, “Prosperous and great country.” See what I mean? I don’t even need to attach punch-lines for these to be funny.

That’s all for today, friends and enemies.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 at 2:27 AM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.