We have -
Moved To:
http://professor-howdy.blogspot.com/

Here are some actual label instructions on consumer products:

1. On a blanket from Taiwan -
NOT TO BE USED AS PROTECTION FROM A TORNADO.
2. On a helmet mounted mirror used by US cyclists -
REMEMBER,OBJECTS IN THE MIRROR ARE ACTUALLY BEHIND YOU.
3. On a Taiwanese shampoo -
USE REPEATEDLY FOR SEVERE DAMAGE.
4. On the bottle-top of a (UK) flavored milk drink -
AFTER OPENING, KEEP UPRIGHT.
5. On a New Zealand insect spray -
THIS PRODUCT NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS.
6. In a US guide to setting up a new computer -
TO AVOID CONDENSATION FORMING, ALLOW THE BOXES TO WARM
UP TO ROOM TEMPERATURE BEFORE OPENING.
(Sensible, but the instruction was INSIDE the box.)
8. In some countries, on the bottom of Coke bottles -
OPEN OTHER END.
9. On a packet of Sunmaid raisins -
WHY NOT TRY TOSSING OVER YOUR FAVORITE BREAKFAST CEREAL?
10. On a Sears hairdryer -
DO NOT USE WHILE SLEEPING.
11. On a bag of Fritos -
YOU COULD BE A WINNER! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. DETAILS INSIDE.
12. On a bar of Dial soap -
DIRECTIONS - USE LIKE REGULAR SOAP.
13. On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert (printed on bottom of the box) -
DO NOT TURN UPSIDE DOWN.
14. On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding -
PRODUCT WILL BE HOT AFTER HEATING.
15. On a Korean kitchen knife -
WARNING: KEEP OUT OF CHILDREN.
16. On a string of Chinese-made Christmas lights -
FOR INDOOR OR OUTDOOR USE ONLY.
17. On a Japanese food processor -
NOT TO BE USED FOR THE OTHER USE.
18. On Sainsbury's peanuts -
WARNING - CONTAINS NUTS.
19. On an American Airlines packet of nuts -
INSTRUCTIONS - OPEN PACKET, EAT NUTS.
20. On a Swedish chainsaw -
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO STOP CHAIN WITH YOUR HANDS.
 

Few influences in life are as dominant and faltering as the power of
culture. While we boast of individuality and freedom of thought, by nature
we often surrender to culture's demands. This absorbing effect of culture
is analogous to the heartbeat of a people. Let me illustrate this:

A medical doctor who is a friend of mine suffered a serious heart attack
while he was still in his thirties. He described the pain of that event as
different from any other pain he had ever felt. Every prior injury or
hurt, whether a broken arm or a sore knee, he had experienced as a hurt to
a part of his body. In some measure he could separate himself from the
pain. "But during my heart attack," he said, "I was in the pain. There is
no other way to describe it." The notion conveyed is instructive—that the
very organ that should have been pumping life was instead disseminating pain.

I can think of no better analogy to describe the all-consuming hold of
culture as it becomes the source of thinking and feeling in its members.
So engulfing is this power that we cannot discuss the essential themes of
our culture without being locked into it ourselves. We are in it, and are
hard pressed to find a fulcrum outside of it with which to leverage a shift.

An old Chinese proverb says if you want to know what water is don't ask the
fish. The fish does not know any other kind of life because it is
submerged in the monotony and single vision of a watery existence. To the
fish, no other environment is possible; hence, it can conceive of nothing
by which to measure its own existence.

Similarly, we need to recognize that proximity does not necessarily
guarantee an accurate perspective of the environment. Sometimes a culture
can so absorb and transmit ideas that it is hard for those within it to be
objective about its values and practices when measured against a
counter-perspective.

Undeniably, being part of a culture brings about a level of comfort with
the ways and means by which people live. But that familiarity does not
guarantee sensitivity or objectivity. For the Christian, then, to live
wisely in this age is to heed the words of the Apostle Paul: "We take
captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Otherwise we may
find that it is we who have become captives.

A Slice of Infinity is a daily radio by Ravi Zacharias program aimed at
reaching into the culture with words of challenge, words of truth, and
words of hope. A Slice of Infinity transcripts are also available on the Internet.
If you know of others who would enjoy receiving A Slice of Infinity in
their email box each day, tell them they can sign up on our Web site at
http://www.sliceofinfinity.org.