Whenever a great person passes, I trot out this honest-to-God true story:
I was a young writer in the communications department of a New York-based multinational insurance company (which has since gone defunct--ha!). Upon the passing of Hirohito, I was tasked with penning a suitable message for our Tokyo office to send as condolences. I had no idea what to write, so I played around for a while with a poem, and eventually came out with – as a joke!:
Violets are blue
Roses are red
So sorry to hear
Your emperor's dead.
I could not continue with that lodged in my brain and passed the assignment to a more serious-minded colleague. I took a very long lunch that day to recover.
I don't feel you were being flip, and thought your caption and photo of the Pope showed respect for his kindness. What was inconsiderate was Vance's visit to him after arguing with him about his stance on immigration policy and knowing how sickly the Pope was at the time. I feel sure that contributed to the stroke.
Oh, come on! Only two percent for the oyster? I suppose "ointment" isn't funny either? How about all those other archaic medical terms: Unguent, salve, and poultice?
On the issue of Gene’s use of doggerel (even if you don’t agree with me that F. would have liked it) it is a lot more respectful than this from Yahoo trending topics right now
"Please sir. Do not butcher our language ..." was what my supervisor in Vietnam heard when he traveled to France. And he had studied French at his University and had traveled all over Africa for years speaking French to people who found it to be a common language. French worked for him in Vietnam, too. And this leads me to a phrase some of us used in Vietnam who were poor at languages and still liked to play with them. In Vietnamese "chời ơi" was "my god" and a mild statement and we woud say "chời ơi vey" is a crude mix up of languaes. Made sense to me.
Unlikely to have made it into public awareness (until now...), beyond the WH photog and Demento's valet, is the momentous occurrence on Easter morning in the Executive Residence. Galumphing as joyfully as he could manage, the leader of the free world shouted, "It is risen!" to the astonishment of those invited to view and memorialize the historic event. While certainly the smallest erection by a standing president, unfortunately it was discovered to have been pharmaceutically aided, and thus, though allowing him to self-award a Medal of Honor and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, it will not make it into the official record without an asterisk.
I'm getting worried. I keep selecting answers which most everyone else does. I have to say, I have a better opinion of my intelligence & taste than that. Onward & (god willing) upward! Can't get no lower.
Oyster is fab, but I have such good memories of learning the word "dipthong" in what was otherwise an exceedingly dull language class that I had to give it some love.
Your alignment of Trump ridiculous Easter message with those of other Presidents is great journalism. Thanks for contributing....to truth, justice, and the American way.
Whenever a great person passes, I trot out this honest-to-God true story:
I was a young writer in the communications department of a New York-based multinational insurance company (which has since gone defunct--ha!). Upon the passing of Hirohito, I was tasked with penning a suitable message for our Tokyo office to send as condolences. I had no idea what to write, so I played around for a while with a poem, and eventually came out with – as a joke!:
Violets are blue
Roses are red
So sorry to hear
Your emperor's dead.
I could not continue with that lodged in my brain and passed the assignment to a more serious-minded colleague. I took a very long lunch that day to recover.
How much alcohol did that lunch require to erase the rhyme from your head?
Two beers and some chicken wings. Still, it was a day or two before I could write anything.
I'd be afraid of being required to meet with J.D. Vance. Therefore I stay subscribed.
And the Dalai Lama had the good sense to "quietly cancel" a planned meeting with Vance.
actually, that was satire (the Babylonbee). But I cannot blame you for thinking it was real.
Vance didn't really kill him. He just made the Pope wish he was dead.
I don't feel you were being flip, and thought your caption and photo of the Pope showed respect for his kindness. What was inconsiderate was Vance's visit to him after arguing with him about his stance on immigration policy and knowing how sickly the Pope was at the time. I feel sure that contributed to the stroke.
In the spirit of "before I kick the bucket" and "before I bite the dust," I offer you "before I meet JD Vance."
Oh, come on! Only two percent for the oyster? I suppose "ointment" isn't funny either? How about all those other archaic medical terms: Unguent, salve, and poultice?
Unguent, for sure.
Of course, you can add to that list elixir, tincture, and concoction.
I don't find any of the suggested words funny, but then again I subscribe to the Gene Pool's Gaelic edition
On the issue of Gene’s use of doggerel (even if you don’t agree with me that F. would have liked it) it is a lot more respectful than this from Yahoo trending topics right now
“Pope Francis live updates”
HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!!
Really?
Yes. I take it that there are certain things that are formulaic and not subjected to editing.
"Please sir. Do not butcher our language ..." was what my supervisor in Vietnam heard when he traveled to France. And he had studied French at his University and had traveled all over Africa for years speaking French to people who found it to be a common language. French worked for him in Vietnam, too. And this leads me to a phrase some of us used in Vietnam who were poor at languages and still liked to play with them. In Vietnamese "chời ơi" was "my god" and a mild statement and we woud say "chời ơi vey" is a crude mix up of languaes. Made sense to me.
Unlikely to have made it into public awareness (until now...), beyond the WH photog and Demento's valet, is the momentous occurrence on Easter morning in the Executive Residence. Galumphing as joyfully as he could manage, the leader of the free world shouted, "It is risen!" to the astonishment of those invited to view and memorialize the historic event. While certainly the smallest erection by a standing president, unfortunately it was discovered to have been pharmaceutically aided, and thus, though allowing him to self-award a Medal of Honor and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, it will not make it into the official record without an asterisk.
Ew. Just EW. That is NOT an image I need to have in my mind.
Dale, you can have my dinner now. I'll send it over. Yuck.
I'm getting worried. I keep selecting answers which most everyone else does. I have to say, I have a better opinion of my intelligence & taste than that. Onward & (god willing) upward! Can't get no lower.
"Colliewobbles" sounds like a Walt Kelly coining, even though it is not.
Trump tweeted about Francis' funeral, "We look forward to being there." What kind of emotionally wretched POS uses that tone to speak about a funeral?
I picked foible only because I think the "oi" sound is kind of funny in a word.
Agreed. And I believe that sound is why moist has been considered the most objectionable word in English.
Are you sure it's not because of its frequent connection to sexuality?
You like when the toide is hoigh? Like the old Outer Bankers used to say......
Syzygy.
Syzygy is intriguing, but not funny. Oyster is the funniest, IMO. That is an initialism that means "I, Mr. Octopus."
My favorite definition of "oyster" is "someone who uses a lot of Yiddishisms."
Oyster is fab, but I have such good memories of learning the word "dipthong" in what was otherwise an exceedingly dull language class that I had to give it some love.
I'm with you on that, Lynne. BTW, is "dipthong," a gesture that Monica Lewinsky made to initially get Bill Clinton's attention?
LOLOL!!!
I think Monica is actually a very different person these days.
Yes, she is much different. And Bill Clinton has yet to apologize for taking advantage of her.
Gotta say, well described.
That was my pick, too.
Ah, yes. I was introduced to the concept of diphthongs (giggle) in Portuguese language class. Probably at same same language school as you ... Blue U.
Yep, same school!
They are not wrinkling-up their nose like Arnold Ziffel when they say it. Oyster!
Sniffle. “Gobsmacked”…
I'm changing my vote to "gobsmacked."
I’m pro-gobsmacked…and I vote!
PTOOEY!
It would be a true foible to grunt my oysters without suitable collywobbles.
Your alignment of Trump ridiculous Easter message with those of other Presidents is great journalism. Thanks for contributing....to truth, justice, and the American way.