We've had some requests for a page with the original, full-text "Speed Bump" cartoons, so that entrants can check to make sure that their ideas aren't too close to Dave Coverly's own jokes.
Here's our response:
We decided not to publish a link to the originals because we did not want people limited in their thinking by knowledge of the original joke. We realized this involved a trade-off. Some of you might innocently, independently come up with the same idea -- and, unfortunately, those can't get ink. (We will be publishing Coverly's originals.)
We also considered creating a "cheat sheet" for you all to check after writing, but before sending, your entries. But then we realized that would serve no practical purpose. We know all of you, and we know you are honorable and professional and that if you did duplicate the idea, it will have been your inspiration alone. You would have done the work anyway, so it's no extra burden on you, so why not send it in? That will give us something interesting to write about: How many people out-thought Coverly!
FYI, Dave thinks no one will, because his humor is kinda twisted. Let's see if he's right!
Exactly how close a "Friend of the Invitational" is Dave Coverly? A mere acquaintance of the humorously depraved who lurk here would immediately recognize "twisted" as being a common attribute. Btw, I looked up all the 'toons and as clever/sagacious as the gags or jokes are, I have faith in my fellow humoroids that they can come close to matching or even top the originals in several cases. A couple of my personal Coverly favorites.
An amazing week! I see now (we don't see names when we judge) that the Raffster had sent us 15 short poems -- of those, eight made our shortlist, and seven got ink. That's just a crazy percentage.
Jesse Frankovich has proved himself the master of the obit couplet. He's also had a run of ink with parodies of "The Raven," and had a good one this week as well. But we can't run everything!
“The turn of the century” is probably now best embellished with an extra word indicating which century, even if downstream clarification is forthcoming.
Mister Bunny was also the name of an ice cream firm run by a mob family in Glasgow in "Comfort and Joy,” an excellent Christmas movie starring Bill Paterson.
yes, but the quirkiness of the lesser known "Comfort and Joy" was my favorite. I remember the incessant ice cream truck music as the two warring Italian families fight for their turf. Definitely need a re-watch.
I get a lot of satisfaction from writing about the souls who passed during the year. The NYT referred to the pop artist as Mr. Loaf I believe, has that been covered here?
Contrary to almost universal lore, the New York Times never applied their quaint use of personal honorifics to the singer Meat Loaf, by calling him "Mr. Loaf." The bad news: They have called Snoop Dogg "Mr. Dogg."
Ah, editorial style (e.g."Mr. Bunny"), almost as intractable a discussion as whether a creative must also be a decent (human) being or, quite possibly, if a 'stachless Gene Weingarten would still be "Gene Weingarten." I should point out however, that any parties to this discussion must, of necessity, exclude the Empress who is a law unto Herself by virtue of divine right. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes --- style. The question is whether it's more important that style rules be consistent, however eccentric or (gasp!) old-fashioned or follow contemporary usage. For example, "The Gray Lady" (aka The New York Times), in addition to her quaint use of courtesy titles (Mr. Ms. Dr.), has this thing about acronyms --- decreeing that none longer than four letters may be rendered in capital letters so, instead of SEALs, you get what reads like the other sea-going mammals. Although to be fair, SEAL is not a true acronym, but you grok the idea. And while we're on the military, after a long battle, a marine finally became a Marine. The New Yorker, other than insisting on identifying itself with an initial capital "T," oddly (if charmingly...) retains the use of the nearly obsolete dieresis (or umlaut) over certain vowels. As for the AP and commas, well, the venerable wire service is merciless when it comes to serial or Oxford commas. No comma before its conjunction is the article of faith. And sew it goes.
In the last century, when Julius Erving, a star with the Sixers, was known as "Dr. J.", he and his wife attended a charity dinner and were referred to on the society page as "Dr. and Mrs. Julius Erving."
I have twice tried to skip while whistling. Or was it- I tried to whistle while slipping ?? I remember one because I knocked 2 teeth out,. and sounded like George Rock of the Spike Jones band. But I can't remember which is which, because I am 80 years old and
I just fell my shower and can't whistle for help !
We've had some requests for a page with the original, full-text "Speed Bump" cartoons, so that entrants can check to make sure that their ideas aren't too close to Dave Coverly's own jokes.
Here's our response:
We decided not to publish a link to the originals because we did not want people limited in their thinking by knowledge of the original joke. We realized this involved a trade-off. Some of you might innocently, independently come up with the same idea -- and, unfortunately, those can't get ink. (We will be publishing Coverly's originals.)
We also considered creating a "cheat sheet" for you all to check after writing, but before sending, your entries. But then we realized that would serve no practical purpose. We know all of you, and we know you are honorable and professional and that if you did duplicate the idea, it will have been your inspiration alone. You would have done the work anyway, so it's no extra burden on you, so why not send it in? That will give us something interesting to write about: How many people out-thought Coverly!
FYI, Dave thinks no one will, because his humor is kinda twisted. Let's see if he's right!
Exactly how close a "Friend of the Invitational" is Dave Coverly? A mere acquaintance of the humorously depraved who lurk here would immediately recognize "twisted" as being a common attribute. Btw, I looked up all the 'toons and as clever/sagacious as the gags or jokes are, I have faith in my fellow humoroids that they can come close to matching or even top the originals in several cases. A couple of my personal Coverly favorites.
https://cdn.alphacomedy.com/10/2023/11_04_23_cca74b364e3ce328a0a95037d624d98f.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F2C2c6mWUAA4QOR?format=jpg&name=small
Nice week for the excellent poet Mark Raffman.
An amazing week! I see now (we don't see names when we judge) that the Raffster had sent us 15 short poems -- of those, eight made our shortlist, and seven got ink. That's just a crazy percentage.
I love the FedEx one
The two-line obit for Pope Francis was the best of the lot, IMHO.
Jesse Frankovich has proved himself the master of the obit couplet. He's also had a run of ink with parodies of "The Raven," and had a good one this week as well. But we can't run everything!
My favorite of the obits is Fred Smith, the FedEx guy, from Mark Raffman. Excellent!
Mine too
Excellent obit poetry! Such cleverness! Congratulations to all.
Tying both “Annies” together was very clever
Mark Raffia crushed it today! Bravo
“The turn of the century” is probably now best embellished with an extra word indicating which century, even if downstream clarification is forthcoming.
Mister Bunny was also the name of an ice cream firm run by a mob family in Glasgow in "Comfort and Joy,” an excellent Christmas movie starring Bill Paterson.
I *love* that movie. I didn't think anyone else ever saw it except me and my siblings.
and me!
Oddball 1980s Scottish movie lovers, unite! I assume you have both seen and loved Local Hero, with Peter Riegert?
Enjoyed Local Hero; have C&J on DVD.
Loved "Local Hero"!
yes, but the quirkiness of the lesser known "Comfort and Joy" was my favorite. I remember the incessant ice cream truck music as the two warring Italian families fight for their turf. Definitely need a re-watch.
I get a lot of satisfaction from writing about the souls who passed during the year. The NYT referred to the pop artist as Mr. Loaf I believe, has that been covered here?
It has. They didn't.
From an early Gene Pool:
Contrary to almost universal lore, the New York Times never applied their quaint use of personal honorifics to the singer Meat Loaf, by calling him "Mr. Loaf." The bad news: They have called Snoop Dogg "Mr. Dogg."
I recall some joke about the NYT vs the WaPo, and the punchline was by the WP, “At least we don’t have to call him ‘Mr. Dahmer.’”
Ah, editorial style (e.g."Mr. Bunny"), almost as intractable a discussion as whether a creative must also be a decent (human) being or, quite possibly, if a 'stachless Gene Weingarten would still be "Gene Weingarten." I should point out however, that any parties to this discussion must, of necessity, exclude the Empress who is a law unto Herself by virtue of divine right. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes --- style. The question is whether it's more important that style rules be consistent, however eccentric or (gasp!) old-fashioned or follow contemporary usage. For example, "The Gray Lady" (aka The New York Times), in addition to her quaint use of courtesy titles (Mr. Ms. Dr.), has this thing about acronyms --- decreeing that none longer than four letters may be rendered in capital letters so, instead of SEALs, you get what reads like the other sea-going mammals. Although to be fair, SEAL is not a true acronym, but you grok the idea. And while we're on the military, after a long battle, a marine finally became a Marine. The New Yorker, other than insisting on identifying itself with an initial capital "T," oddly (if charmingly...) retains the use of the nearly obsolete dieresis (or umlaut) over certain vowels. As for the AP and commas, well, the venerable wire service is merciless when it comes to serial or Oxford commas. No comma before its conjunction is the article of faith. And sew it goes.
In the last century, when Julius Erving, a star with the Sixers, was known as "Dr. J.", he and his wife attended a charity dinner and were referred to on the society page as "Dr. and Mrs. Julius Erving."
No problem telling coins' heads from tails, and I'm older than you.
Two things I've found I'm unable to do: skip or whistle. So fewer ways to look happy-go-lucky.
Just tried. I can still skip and I can whistle but the "happy-go-lucky" look completely escapes me.
I have twice tried to skip while whistling. Or was it- I tried to whistle while slipping ?? I remember one because I knocked 2 teeth out,. and sounded like George Rock of the Spike Jones band. But I can't remember which is which, because I am 80 years old and
I just fell my shower and can't whistle for help !
Just don't try to play whist while tippling!
Oh, the usual invite form link is taken again this week I see.
Have the Times called Snoop Dogg Mr. Dogg? Meat Loaf Mr. Loaf? Ice-T Mr. T?
There’s only one Mr. T. I pity the fool who thinks otherwise.
Has Grandpa shown any behavior moderation since she's been spayed?
Fuck, i didn't realize so many people I liked died last year.