Tag Archives: humour

So Playfully Valorized Seriousness

Posted on May 6, 2020 by JMN

[Wayne Koestenbaum] valorizes the intellectual seriousness of Sontag, and of the poet and translator Richard Howard, but also confesses his attraction to idleness and lassitude. Books are fine and good, but have you tried sex, or doughnuts? So this review … Continue reading →

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Acting SECNAV Wants More Fulsome Report

Posted on April 30, 2020 by JMN

Acting SECNAV Thomas B. Modly fired Capt. Bret E. Crozier, commander of the Theodore Roosevelt, when his plea on behalf of his crew after a coronavirus outbreak on the carrier went public. Adm. Michael M. Gilday, chief of naval operations, … Continue reading →

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If There’s a Heaven, It’s Parody

Posted on April 5, 2020 by JMN

Your neologismic servant, a spastic parodic — or is it “parodian” —, speaks his title. For one crowning moment, the Gray Lady really was “fake news.” An October surprise, so to speak. In September 1978, a strike by pressmen had … Continue reading →

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Dispatch from the Charwoman

Posted on March 17, 2020 by JMN

I’ve received from a political entity email that closes as follows: James, it’s never been more clear that the work we do at the HDCC matters a great deal. Our Democratic candidates are continuing to fight for health care coverage … Continue reading →

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Artyfacts, Booze Nicked from Posh Uni

Posted on March 16, 2020 by JMN

[Blotter summary courtesy of Nick Mansfield Branded Fictions and Hand-Me-Down Press] Break-in at purpose-built, Queen-opened Christ Church college netted burglars three high-value old pix described as “important cultural artefacts.” It’s a fresh-dealt blow to Oxford college already reeling from mysterious … Continue reading →

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Tenseness Sought in Firm Times

Posted on March 8, 2020 by JMN

But the president can still be reasonably held responsible for the urgency with which [etc.]… the speed at which [etc.]… the pressure brought to bear [etc.]… and the use of presidential rhetoric [etc.]…. Is it still necessary to point out … Continue reading →

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Queen’s English Profaned?

Posted on March 1, 2020 by JMN

“Voters of color will decide if Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden prevail.” (Headline to an article by Steve Phillips at theguardian.com, 3-1-20) There’s only the slightest chance that it should not be “prevails” instead of “prevail,” since the conjunction is … Continue reading →

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Balanced Learning

Posted on February 17, 2020 by JMN

The “science of reading” approach is based on phonics, which sounds out the letters of words: Bit. Buh! Ih! Tuh! The “balanced literacy” approach believes “exposing students to the likes of Dr. Seuss and Maya Angelou is more important than … Continue reading →

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“Military Common Sense Rules”

Posted on November 26, 2019 by JMN

“Aim towards the Enemy.” (Instruction printed on US M79 Rocket Launcher) Salute to GP Cox, Pacific Paratrooper. (c) 2019 JMN

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Magamobile

Posted on November 25, 2019 by JMN

1910 Ford Model T, 20 horsepower, top speed 40 mph — in any color, as long as it’s white. Henry Ford famously said “black”; however, things are rarely black-and-white except in Magaville. A Wiki-dip discloses the following: In his autobiography, … Continue reading →

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