Poet Poe pens nonsense verse. "Plus...phun," puns Uly, "I disburse." Its gamut runs from spam to worse. The po'sy posted...? Poe's diverse -- most, postcards from his universe, replies to grudges he must nurse. My summary...? Let me be terse: a mitzva, mostly. (Not a curse.)
Monday, September 9, 2024
Sunday, September 8, 2024
An Optimistic Outlook
BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, GOOD;
BAD, GOOD, BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, GOOD;
BAD, BAD, GOOD, BAD, GOOD, BAD, GOOD;
BAD, GOOD, BAD, GOOD, GOOD, BAD, GOOD;
GOOD, GOOD, BAD, BAD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD;
GOOD, BAD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD;
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD:
SEE...? THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME.
BAD, BAD, GOOD, BAD, GOOD, BAD, GOOD;
BAD, GOOD, BAD, GOOD, GOOD, BAD, GOOD;
GOOD, GOOD, BAD, BAD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD;
GOOD, BAD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD;
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD:
SEE...? THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME.
Saturday, September 7, 2024
De Diebus Natale
Today is day one of his 83rd year.
They cry, "Happy Birthday," but Gramps doesn't hear.
They hand him a card all his relatives sign'd.
Its greetings fall flat, though; he's legally blind.
No birthday cake's offer'd; he's watching his weight.
Some candle-topp'd broccoli's serv'd on a plate.
When ask'd for his key to life, what does he say...?
"I'll somehow contrive to survive through today."
Tomorrow's day two of his 83rd year...
(to be continued; a work in progress)
How Those Who's Whos Hold Their Hooch
The Pol Pot
The Manute Bowl
The Carafe Vaughn Williams
The Canteenflas
The Ed Decanter
The Johnny Cask
The Yogi Barrel
The Gertrude Stein
The Maurice Jar
The Kurt Vial
The Samuel Liter
The Elena Keg
The Flask Gordon
The J. Fred Muggs
The Sydney Carton
...and, with apologies,
The Gary Couper and
The Georgie Vessel
(More images to come:
a work in progress)
Friday, September 6, 2024
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
A Prehistory Of Standup Shtick: The Founding Fathers
I. Button Gwinnett & "Button's Fly"
II. Caesar Rodney & "Caesar's Salad"
III. Thomas Jefferson & "Tommy's Tuppence"
IV. Carter Braxton & "Carter's Spills"
V. Philip Livingston & "Philip's Screwdriver"
VI. Oliver Wolcott & "Oliver's Twist"
A Prehistory Of Standup Shtick: The Founding Fathers & "Caesar's Salad"
Continental Congressman from Delaware Caesar Rodney was once described by his brother Thomas as possessing "...a great fund of wit and humor...so that his conversation was always bright and strong."
No surprise, then, when the popular bachelor drew on this gift of gab to entertain fellow revolutionaries by mocking their hated monarch back in England, George III.
The king, already considered by many subjects to be more than several strawberry leaves short of a coronet, was further mocked by Rodney in a brutal monologue parodying the king's speeches to Parliament and his royal communications to the colonies regarding their grievances. The inane ramblings of the regent were only rendered more grotesque by Rodney's delivery of a tsunami of non sequiturs and verbal scraps -- a medley of minced nouns, diced verbs, chopped adjectives and julienned prepositional phrases.
Rodney's mimicry of George's ravings soon became known as "Caesar's Salad," and his recitation of this comic routine was often requested during recesses from talks of treason during the hot summer of '76.
Rumors that, in fact, the term "Caesar's Salad" was actually a reference to Rodney's disfigured countenance and to the green scarf he habitually wore to disguise this embarrassing feature suffered as a result of a severe facial cancer remain unverified.
No surprise, then, when the popular bachelor drew on this gift of gab to entertain fellow revolutionaries by mocking their hated monarch back in England, George III.
The king, already considered by many subjects to be more than several strawberry leaves short of a coronet, was further mocked by Rodney in a brutal monologue parodying the king's speeches to Parliament and his royal communications to the colonies regarding their grievances. The inane ramblings of the regent were only rendered more grotesque by Rodney's delivery of a tsunami of non sequiturs and verbal scraps -- a medley of minced nouns, diced verbs, chopped adjectives and julienned prepositional phrases.
Rodney's mimicry of George's ravings soon became known as "Caesar's Salad," and his recitation of this comic routine was often requested during recesses from talks of treason during the hot summer of '76.
Rumors that, in fact, the term "Caesar's Salad" was actually a reference to Rodney's disfigured countenance and to the green scarf he habitually wore to disguise this embarrassing feature suffered as a result of a severe facial cancer remain unverified.
Monday, September 2, 2024
The Managram In The Moon: Mini-Meter #15 Georges Remi
GEORGESREMI
EGGRISEMORE
EGGRISEMORE
While Moonrise
Tintin does explore,
Georges loves the lyric
'Eggrise' more.
"Destination Moon"
1950-1952
Georges Remi, cartooning
as Herge, has alter "eggo"
Tintin, in the comic strip
"Destination Moon," visit
earth's satellite via rocket
ship in fiction years before
folks did so in fact.
Friday, August 30, 2024
A Prehistory Of Standup Shtick: The Founding Fathers & "Button's Fly"
Most American Revolution buffs are familiar with Benjamin Franklin's memorable warning to his fellow signers of the Declaration of
Independence: "We must all hang together or we shall surely hang separately."
In fact, Franklin's frequent repetition of the iconic line, accompanied by his grabbing hold of his neck scarf, hangman's noose fashion, and
sticking out his tongue in a parody of political execution became a gag (pun intended) referred to as "Ben's Tie" and proved a comedic relief
much-requested by his fellow Founding Fathers during those tendentious days leading to the Declaration's signing.
In fact, Franklin's frequent repetition of the iconic line, accompanied by his grabbing hold of his neck scarf, hangman's noose fashion, and
sticking out his tongue in a parody of political execution became a gag (pun intended) referred to as "Ben's Tie" and proved a comedic relief
much-requested by his fellow Founding Fathers during those tendentious days leading to the Declaration's signing.
"C'mon, Franklin! Do "Ben's Tie" again," the pair of Adamses from Massachusetts would cry.
Less well known is the history surrounding one Button Gwinnett, a co-signer of the Declaration from Georgia. Not to be outdone by his fellow revolutionary Franklin, Gwinnett attempted to best his rival's joshing with a piece of schtick of his own devising, one consisting of the sticking of his hand down the front of his trousers, the thrusting of it
through the so-called French bearer and the wiggling of his thumb. This performance became known as "Button's Fly" but failed to achieve the comedic success of Franklin's achievement.
through the so-called French bearer and the wiggling of his thumb. This performance became known as "Button's Fly" but failed to achieve the comedic success of Franklin's achievement.
Some folks can tell 'em and some can't.
Materials for future postings
Presidents
Warren G. Harding "Warren's Piece"
Franklin Pierce "Franklin's Stove"
Grover Cleveland "Grover's Corners"
Theodore Roosevelt "Teddy's Bear"
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Anagramania
Text fragments due to be incorporated
into an improbable narrative concerning
the well-known deceased psychiatrist
Eugene David Glynn:
...seek'd a cranium...
...rum, saké and ice...
...i.e., a sane Mr Duck...
...I'm a cured sneak...
...(variant) I'm a snake, cured...
...makes Curia end...
...run Akademe (sic)...
...(variant) Akademe (sic) urn...
...i.e., cakes and rum...
...ruin Dean's cake...
..."A Mean Kid's Cure"...
...use red ink, Mac...
...Rice-Sneak Maud...
...I...? Me...? Under a sack...?
...(variant) Under a cask...? Me...? I...
...I cue mandrakes...
...rake mud (in case)...
...Ric and (eek!!) Maus...
...ramekin-caused...
...a mad cruise, Ken...
...Sendak, Maurice...
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