shhhhh….
epa (environmental protection agency) administrator scott pruit, is spending nearly $25,000 to construct a secure, soundproof communications booth for his office, according to government contracting records. he signed a $24,570 contract earlier this summer with acoustical solutions, a eichmond-based company, for a “privacy booth for the administrator.” he sought a customized version — one that eventually would cost several times more than a typical model — that he can use to communicate privately.
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when i read this i could not help but be reminded of
* ‘the cone of silence’ from the 1960’s spy comedy, ‘get smart,’
one of my all-time favorite shows.
except that this time it’s real.
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*The Cone of Silence is one of many recurring joke devices from Get Smart, an American comedy television series of the 1960s about an inept spy. The essence of the joke is that the apparatus, designed for secret conversations, makes it impossible for those inside the device – and easy for those outside the device – to hear the conversation. The end result being neither secret nor communication.
In popular culture, “cone of silence” is a slang phrase meaning that the speaker wishes to keep the indicated information secret and that the conversation should not be repeated to anyone not currently present. For example: “We aren’t inviting Cindy and her boyfriend to the movies because they embarrass us, but keep that in the cone of silence.”
“to silence criticism is to silence freedom.”
-sidney hook
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credits: nbc television, cbs television, wikipedia, @alt national park service
I remember Maxwell and 99 well….. the cone of silence indeed. There is an incredible amount of stupidity in our world today.
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😺
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Good lord. Amen to this. “to silence criticism is to silence freedom.”
>
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Zoinks!
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You are exactly right, Beth (except the cone of silence on Get Smart was funny).
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It so was!
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I think our EPA admin guy needs a new nickname, Beth. Scott shall now be called Max. Except his Cone of Silence is not so Smart for the rest of us.
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Exactly
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It’s just crazy out of control. And he’s one of three that is in the news. How many others are there line him?
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Many, it appears
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Gee, I wonder what he has to talk about in there? And will the listener/responder have a cone of silence too? Ye gods (as my mother would say) what’s next??
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Don’t ask)
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How do you communicate privately? Once you communicate, it’s not private anymore!
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So true!
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“to silence criticism is to silence freedom.” an awesome quote and one to live by on a day to day bases. ❤
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Absolutely
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Very interesting post 🙂 I love learning the origin of different words and phrases through your work.
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Thank you- I never fail to be fascinated by language-
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You are welcome 🙂
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Good grief, it’s the EPA, not the Oval Office!! Pruitt is one sick puppy.
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🐶
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“Get Smart” was one of my favorite shows, too! “Would you believe. . .?” and the shoe phone would crack me up!! 😀
Barbara Feldon was a great side kick (I may have misspelled this.)
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and the writing was incredible –
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It was one of a kind, Beth! Yes, great creative minds, those “Get Smart” writers. 😀
I’m kind of excited about the new little boy Sheldon show and “The Good Doctor” (autistic doctor) written by the “House” show’s writers.
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oh, i haven’t seen either, i’ll have to check them out )
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Get Smart aired on Nick at Nite during my teen years when I watched a lot of rerun TV. Loved the Cone, and always felt sorry for poor Agent 13…
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yes, it is kind of ageless
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The whole administration is a joke, and a poor one at best. It’s not funny; however, how these inept government fools use private jets, golf almost every weekend, and build “cones of silence.”
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the real thing is not funny at all, agreed –
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Your post was hilarious. I appreciate your sense of humor in the midst of insanity.
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thank you )
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As soon as the news came out I thought of the cone of silence from Get Smart. The comparison is funny – the reality not. I can’t help but wonder if Scott Pruitt talks to his shoe?
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it’s hard not to connect them. i would not be surprised if he did –
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Get Smart was so funny. They did everything but ‘get smart.’
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i loved it!
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