All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.

Big Brother is watching you.

Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.

In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act.

What English author, born in 1903, added these ideas and terms to our collective wisdom? Hint: If you’ve never read 1984 or Animal Farm, you should. Both books are directly applicable to current events. (Senator Dick Durbin: U.S. soldiers are Nazis. Terrorists are victims. War is peace. Freedom is slavery.)

Also born on this date, Eric Carle, author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Busy Spider, among other favorites. I noted last year on this date that The Grouchy Ladybug would make a great blog title. I couldn’t find a blog with that title on google, but I did find a list of Carmon’s (Buried Treasure) top ten picture books from 2003 which included The Grouchy Ladybug.