I voted the President Wilson one as funnier. While the second smacks you hard in the face like slapstick, it’s obviously a typo. The first at least suggests, through its suggestiveness, an element of subversive intentionality.
I enjoyed reading your reasoning for choosing the first one. I chose the second one because of the sheer unexpectedness of it. For me, humor of the unexpected is a great joy.
while the second typo is indeed shocking, I voted for the first one because it makes you giggle every time you read it, and the second one is a word I find so disgusting that it takes the humor out of the mistake.
Kids don't read newspapers (hardly any adults do nowadays), but some parents might have had to explain why they were giggling over a story in the October 9, 1993, Fairhope (Alabama) Courier. A front-page article headlined “Brick pavers on the way” described a Centennial project for personalized brick pavers to be placed on downtown streets. The first paragraph concluded: “We’ll let you know just when this is planned; I’m sure you’ll want to be on hand to watch your special prick being laid into place.”
Last year my teenage son expressed incredulity as he read aloud a vanity license plate: 99CNTS. “It says 99 CENTS,” I corrected him, “and you need to be real careful before you let that word out of your mouth ever again.”
It was at an auto show, the car was indoors, and I don’t know if it was truly a state issued license or not. And by now I’ve forgotten the state. I did see “TIH5 WA” on a plate on the road once, and couldn’t figure out what the owner thought he’d won by getting that through. Yes, I’m assuming it was a he.
I'm puzzled, too. Twice lately I've seen a local plate saying SYDVISH. Seems unlikely to be a Sid Vicious fan (and a far-fetched spelling), but I can't think of any other explanation. A Google search turns up some iffy-looking sites. A search for TISH WA finds someone named Tish Washington and obits for a Barbara Tish in Washington state.
I have read that President Wilson, who looked so dignified, was horny as all get-out. When he and Edith Bolling Galt were dating, apparently they couldn’t wait to hop into bed. As a result, the first typo is not only funny, but it has the benefit of being accurate.
I searched for Herman Gold obituary Florida. There are more than two Herman Golds (unsurprisingly). Can you lead us to the correct one? Sounds like an interesting guy!
Also, that poem. Damn.
I voted the President Wilson one as funnier. While the second smacks you hard in the face like slapstick, it’s obviously a typo. The first at least suggests, through its suggestiveness, an element of subversive intentionality.
Agreed. But I think it is close.
I did have to think about it.
They're both excellent. I too hesitated.
Hey, I like slapstick, too.
I enjoyed reading your reasoning for choosing the first one. I chose the second one because of the sheer unexpectedness of it. For me, humor of the unexpected is a great joy.
Excellent counterpoint.
while the second typo is indeed shocking, I voted for the first one because it makes you giggle every time you read it, and the second one is a word I find so disgusting that it takes the humor out of the mistake.
The second is funnier because the cutline will be read by children and their parents will need to explain
Kids don't read newspapers (hardly any adults do nowadays), but some parents might have had to explain why they were giggling over a story in the October 9, 1993, Fairhope (Alabama) Courier. A front-page article headlined “Brick pavers on the way” described a Centennial project for personalized brick pavers to be placed on downtown streets. The first paragraph concluded: “We’ll let you know just when this is planned; I’m sure you’ll want to be on hand to watch your special prick being laid into place.”
Last year my teenage son expressed incredulity as he read aloud a vanity license plate: 99CNTS. “It says 99 CENTS,” I corrected him, “and you need to be real careful before you let that word out of your mouth ever again.”
I'm surprised that passed the censors. I can't now remember where I read it, but I read an article recently about how [some state] employs [some large number of] picky people just to review requested vanity plates to make sure they don't say anything objectionable. Wait, here it is (it's Michigan and 25): https://view.nl.npr.org/?qs=0dcb7da4639ef085a537bed74035dc0b87a96971073ce644d2c7233acabf1bc9b07f9366a5ea768901a4f24ce58f0bc1377b7a6fec15136c50cba39b5e6ced2fb079a50adaeedbc495bb680823a63bf6
It was at an auto show, the car was indoors, and I don’t know if it was truly a state issued license or not. And by now I’ve forgotten the state. I did see “TIH5 WA” on a plate on the road once, and couldn’t figure out what the owner thought he’d won by getting that through. Yes, I’m assuming it was a he.
What was the problem with AA00A?
Beats me. Maybe if you make a big donation to NPR they’ll give you a hint.
I believe the plates used as an illustration are just samples, as shown at https://www.michigan.gov/sos/vehicle/license-plates (though the university plates shown at https://www.michigan.gov/sos/vehicle/license-plates/university-plate-options are now using SAMPL instead.
I do not understand this. Please give me a hint.
sdrawkcab ti daeR
I'm puzzled, too. Twice lately I've seen a local plate saying SYDVISH. Seems unlikely to be a Sid Vicious fan (and a far-fetched spelling), but I can't think of any other explanation. A Google search turns up some iffy-looking sites. A search for TISH WA finds someone named Tish Washington and obits for a Barbara Tish in Washington state.
Cut line?
Journo talk for byline.
Oh. Thought maybe it was missing an 'n'.
No, journo jargon for caption.
Sorry, that's what I meant!
Gad.
For me, The Count is funnier, hands down. The picture makes all the difference.
So did you cook the chicken?
Yep.
Good.
Yes, but first he had to choke it a few times.
oy vey
I don’t believe a correction was ever issued for the WWI headline "French push bottles up German rear"
I have read that President Wilson, who looked so dignified, was horny as all get-out. When he and Edith Bolling Galt were dating, apparently they couldn’t wait to hop into bed. As a result, the first typo is not only funny, but it has the benefit of being accurate.
You want horny? Here's horny for ya. It's quite a story.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1999/01/10/an-honorable-affair/6645f8aa-1660-43d2-a71b-151a224f87dc/
This may explain why Heinlein's main protagonist was Woodrow Wilson Smith. AKA Lazarus Long.
I searched for Herman Gold obituary Florida. There are more than two Herman Golds (unsurprisingly). Can you lead us to the correct one? Sounds like an interesting guy!
None of the ones that come up!
Is any more of Mr. Gold's writing online? The only relevant result of a web search for "herman gold miami herald" was this page.
There is. I will publish them over time.