"Cogito, ergo zoom."

The sign was a take-off on the philosophical statement, "I think; therefore I am." In Latin, "Cogito ergo sum."

I looked it up and found that it's a quote from Descartes. I thought it was cute because it was so unexpected on the back of a motorcycle. I don't know the owner of the motorcycle, but it was in front of a the house of a youngish guy who has planted strawberries in his front yard and who often sits on his front porch reading.

In Vino Veritas

Jacta Alea Est

Vox Clamantis in Deserto


Thin

Descartes has been misappropriated before, notably in the closing line of Monty Python's Philosophers Drinking Song, "I drink therefore I am." Complete lyrics can be seen here http://www.wonderingminstrels.blogsp...ty-python.html in suitably bleery typeface.
However, others trace the comic misquote further back, to W.C. Fields, who certainly lived up to the slogan.

For many years "Cogito, ergo zoom." was the tagline or slogan used by magazine editor/publisher/journalist/car fanatic David E Davis. He was the editor of "Car and Driver" and founder of "Automobile" magazines and used the slogan as the tagline in his columns for years.

I read his stuff for years but haven't for a while... gave up reading car mags a few years ago... I did a quick lookup at Wikipedia and sadly, I see he's passed away. I don't know if he originated the phrase but he was an intelligent and witty man so it wouldn't surprise at all me if he did.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_E._Davis

Descartes was sitting in a cafe with a couple of friends when the waiter asked it they would like another round.

"I think I will", said one.

"I think so", said another.

"I think not", said Descartes - and disappeared.