it's magic!

When I got to work today I found out that a guy there is going to Brazil next year on a church mission. So I asked him if he was studying Spanish, that's just my way of being funny.

That's called a misdirection, it's what magicians do. For links to articles about magic and misdirection you can check out the Misdirection Resource Center.

Of greater interest for the general theme of my articles is a page at Quackwatch.
More Ploys That May Fool You

Now this page has many of the phrases used by people who want to get your money. What might be said to you to convince you that you need to buy what they are selling.

I think many of us use some of these same phrases, and ones like them, on ourselves. "Think Positive" is on the Quackwatch page and I am a fan of that, but I always qualify the idea as not being one that will solely by itself carry the day.

Since I don't want this piece to run long I will finish by saying that you should be aware of what is said to you, because someone is trying to fool you, and you should be aware of what you say to yourself, for the same reason.