Words to live and die by

Sum yourself up in six words. No more. No less. Exactly six words.

That’s the idea behind a contest inspired by the book, Freakonomics (A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything), by Stephen J. Dubner and Steven D. Levitt.

In just six words, what would be the perfect motto for the United States?

Well here’s the spinoff: the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, an educational non-profit in Florida, has challenged journalists to come up with six-word mottos for the news business.

Boy, talk about gallows humor. The finalists:

Doing more with less since 1690.

We’ll always have Paris … or Britney.

It’s how I change the world.

Get it right, write it tight .

They’ll miss us when we’re gone.

Feed the watchdog, euthanize the lapdog.

Who, what, when, where, why, Web.

Facts, schmacts … how is my hair?

Dirty commie latte-sipping liberal scum.

Please stop griping, now start typing.

There are more entries at the Poynter site. Of course, as the editor here at The Herald, I’ve always liked the “Tyrant’s Creed” popularized by cartoonist Matt Groening: “Hey you! Get back to work.”