Is it too good to be true? I don’t have an exact record of how many email chain letters I have received since the Internet was born, but it’s in the double digits for sure. This one, with the title: This Works! Don’t ask how - just do it!! was kindly passed on by my niece, who is desperate beyond reason for me to have good luck. It is a nicely designed PowerPoint presentation - each numbered sentence below corresponding to a slide:

It starts:

1. CHINESE PROVERB ABOUT MONEY
2. WITH MONEY YOU CAN: BUY A HOUSE BUT NOT A HOME
3. WITH MONEY YOU CAN: BUY A CLOCK BUT NOT TIME
4. WITH MONEY YOU CAN: BUY A BED BUT NOT SLEEP

OK, I was with you up to this point, but this part of the proverb is moot. I’m reasonably convinced that US company SelectComfort™ that manufactures the much publicized Sleep Number Bed would take issue with you here. And I am fairly convinced that a comfortable bed can engender sleep.

5. WITH MONEY YOU CAN: BUY A BOOK, BUT NOT KNOWLEDGE

Which completely disses my parent’s investment in Encyclopedia Britannica.

6. WITH MONEY YOU CAN: SEE A DOCTOR, BUT NOT GOOD HEALTH

Technically, one experiences rather than sees good health. I know I’m nitpicking here, but that’s the kind of pedant I am.

7. WITH MONEY YOU CAN: BUY A POSITION, BUT NOT RESPECT

Unless you buy a position in law enforcement. Then respect is pretty much guaranteed.

8. WITH MONEY YOU CAN: BUY BLOOD, BUT NOT LIFE

Technically speaking I don’t think you can buy blood directly, at least not in the US or EU.

9. WITH MONEY YOU CAN: BUY SEX, BUT NOT LOVE

Can’t buy me love, Everybody tells me so
Can’t buy me love, No, no, no, no

10. THIS CHINESE PROVERB BRINGS LUCK

An unlikely claim

11. IT ORIGINATED FROM THE NETHERLANDS

So it’s Chinese, how?

«- 1 2 3 -»

  Subscribe to HaveMacWillBlog in a reader