A mad, mad, mad world

In a world that tends to make us believe we are slowly going round the bend, it can help to laugh every now and then at our somewhat crazy terminology.

I came across a few statements (serious questions really) that made me think the world was not so bad after all. For example, why when traffic is at its slowest do we call this the rush hour? Why is abbreviated such a long word, and why do qualified doctors call what they do a practice? If the black box is so indestructible then why don't make the whole plane out of the same material, and if flying is so safe why do they call the airport the terminal?

Why is it when you want to stop Windows 98 you have to click onto "Start"? Consider if you will why we use the word apartments when in fact the accommodations are all stuck together. Apparently they sterilize the needle before giving lethal injections and why is that we don't have mouse flavored cat food?

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor and yet washing-up liquid is made with real lemons? Even Noah has something to explain as to reason why he never got rid of the two mosquitoes when he had a chance.

Perhaps George Bush could explain if con is the opposite of pro, then is Congress the opposite of progress. These are all burning questions that surely deserve answers. On an ending note, and as we are in Indonesia, why in England do they put L and R (left and right) on shoes when here they simply put a "K" on both?

DAVID WALLIS Medan, North Sumatra