Speaking of putting things on resumes, one of my daughter’s grad school instructors mentioned in her bio that she was Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2006. To save you the Google, that was the year that “You” (as a computer and internet user) were Person of the Year.
Wondering about the mentality of the kinds of guys who feel compelled to plaster their names everywhere and put up monuments to themselves, my thoughts ranged from prolific graffiti artists like Cool Disco Dan (you have to have been around D.C. in the '90s to remember him) to the Roman Emperors in the years when the empire was dying and they had little to actually crow about. While contemplating some street graffiti with a friend who had grown up in a tough Baltimore neighborhood, I wondered why? Why the expense of the paint, the time and practice to learn how to make the more difficult and, yes, the artful works, and the risk of trouble with law enforcement while putting it up. His answer was simple. He said it was their way of saying, in a world where life's prospects are slim, "I AM HERE." Makes sense for someone living in poverty, feeling invisible to the rest of the world. But the Roman emperors and guys like Trump don't have that justification unless they, too, in spite of al the wealth and power they have amassed, still know that on the grand scale of history, they are still insignificant, here and gone in the blink of an eye, and the thought terrifies them.
Cool “Disco” Dan! Someone painted it on the CSX train bridge over the Potomac some years ago, but it was obviously not Dan because it lacked the distinctive quote marks around Disco.
I don't think you could get away with concupiscence, as I'm willing to bet that this White House has a ban on their employees using any words of more than two syllables.
The Kennedy Center Board cannot inscribe Donald Trump’s name anywhere on the building’s façade — even with explanatory or “contextual” language — without an act of Congress. Any such inscription would still violate the same statutory limits that made the original addition illegal. This is because the legal barrier is not about how the name is presented. It is about whether the Board has any authority at all to add presidential memorialization to the building’s exterior. It does not. The same statutory limits that bar adding his name to the façade also bar naming plazas, terraces, gardens, or exterior areas in a way that constitutes presidential memorialization.
Amendments to the interior might be a different matter: Having his name on the wall above the ass gasket dispenser in the lavatory stalls is OK by me. I'd even contribute. (And yes, I still refer to that other venue as Avery Fisher Hall.)
This is the brilliant writing that made me a fan when you were in the Style Section of the Post (whose editor was longtime friend, Ann Gerhart). You and Petula were the first things I read before turning to the funnies. Keep it up!
When attempting to introduce Mr. Barry to younger persons who may not be familiar with him, I always say that Dave is a professional idiot and I love him for it. I hope he's ok with that description.
Loved Samual Pepys. What a guy. He lime looking at women in church too. I did apaper on him i high school. So glad you have mentioned him. He was also Secretary of the Admiralty under Charles II. I hope he knew more than Pete Hegseth. Ooo…..put a huge wig on Hegserh and see if he can write a diary………
I'm going to claim that this piece was inspired by my past comment that you deserved to share awards because you edited both Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen. And I amend my poll answer to read that you are "the same lovable distinguished schmuck as ever."
You know you said the magic word here, Gene; Reagan. The guy who ripped the scab off of the festering wound that oozes racism, misogyny and supply side economics, deep in the heart of America.
Speaking of putting things on resumes, one of my daughter’s grad school instructors mentioned in her bio that she was Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2006. To save you the Google, that was the year that “You” (as a computer and internet user) were Person of the Year.
As Mr. Trump has pissed and crapped in and on the Kennedy Center, adding this to the plaque seems quite appropriate.
Given the Dear Leader's deterioration, I think that your press statement should be edited to say, "relentless incontinence."
Wondering about the mentality of the kinds of guys who feel compelled to plaster their names everywhere and put up monuments to themselves, my thoughts ranged from prolific graffiti artists like Cool Disco Dan (you have to have been around D.C. in the '90s to remember him) to the Roman Emperors in the years when the empire was dying and they had little to actually crow about. While contemplating some street graffiti with a friend who had grown up in a tough Baltimore neighborhood, I wondered why? Why the expense of the paint, the time and practice to learn how to make the more difficult and, yes, the artful works, and the risk of trouble with law enforcement while putting it up. His answer was simple. He said it was their way of saying, in a world where life's prospects are slim, "I AM HERE." Makes sense for someone living in poverty, feeling invisible to the rest of the world. But the Roman emperors and guys like Trump don't have that justification unless they, too, in spite of al the wealth and power they have amassed, still know that on the grand scale of history, they are still insignificant, here and gone in the blink of an eye, and the thought terrifies them.
"Romanes eunt domus" 😉
Cool “Disco” Dan! Someone painted it on the CSX train bridge over the Potomac some years ago, but it was obviously not Dan because it lacked the distinctive quote marks around Disco.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_%22Disco%22_Dan
I can't believe Dave Barry reads some of our crap! Maybe it is just when his name gets mentioned.
You are now a god of what journalism has become: a narcissistic and performative exercise in "keeping my name out there."
You have "kept pace" with the times while many of our kind mutter half-drunkenly about "honor" and "integrity."
Well done, Gene!
P.S.: Please feel free to polish this post.
I don't think you could get away with concupiscence, as I'm willing to bet that this White House has a ban on their employees using any words of more than two syllables.
The Kennedy Center Board cannot inscribe Donald Trump’s name anywhere on the building’s façade — even with explanatory or “contextual” language — without an act of Congress. Any such inscription would still violate the same statutory limits that made the original addition illegal. This is because the legal barrier is not about how the name is presented. It is about whether the Board has any authority at all to add presidential memorialization to the building’s exterior. It does not. The same statutory limits that bar adding his name to the façade also bar naming plazas, terraces, gardens, or exterior areas in a way that constitutes presidential memorialization.
Amendments to the interior might be a different matter: Having his name on the wall above the ass gasket dispenser in the lavatory stalls is OK by me. I'd even contribute. (And yes, I still refer to that other venue as Avery Fisher Hall.)
This is the brilliant writing that made me a fan when you were in the Style Section of the Post (whose editor was longtime friend, Ann Gerhart). You and Petula were the first things I read before turning to the funnies. Keep it up!
Petula has a substack! https://petuladvorak.substack.com/
I would have taken the first option in the poll but for the troublesome word "now." Truly, wasn't Gene always the god of journalism?
Of all the glowing adjectives one could apply to Barry's commentary, I have to say that "distinguished" was not the first to leap to mind.
When attempting to introduce Mr. Barry to younger persons who may not be familiar with him, I always say that Dave is a professional idiot and I love him for it. I hope he's ok with that description.
Isn't the Kennedy Center intrinsically a memorial to President Kennedy?
How about promising Trump that his name can go on it too as soon as his life is sufficiently past-tense to memorialize him? Encourage him to hurry ...
I could not vote in the poll. It was missing "I'm Scottish, and I am offended." Or maybe that's Dave. Anyway, the completist in me wanted more.
I'd imagine it was probably Gene who gave Dave Barry the idea for the "I'm Scottish" option in his polls in the first place.
And thereby deserves another Pulitzer.
Loved Samual Pepys. What a guy. He lime looking at women in church too. I did apaper on him i high school. So glad you have mentioned him. He was also Secretary of the Admiralty under Charles II. I hope he knew more than Pete Hegseth. Ooo…..put a huge wig on Hegserh and see if he can write a diary………
Looking at women in church?
Did that make him a Pepyng Sam?
Bazinga! Yes.
Samuel Pepys where others dare not glance.
Good one.
I should proofread. He liked not lime.
I'm going to claim that this piece was inspired by my past comment that you deserved to share awards because you edited both Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen. And I amend my poll answer to read that you are "the same lovable distinguished schmuck as ever."
You know you said the magic word here, Gene; Reagan. The guy who ripped the scab off of the festering wound that oozes racism, misogyny and supply side economics, deep in the heart of America.