OK,
here are some amusing tidbits that Mark has collected from friends in
cyberspace. Some of this has made the rounds on the internet, some of it may be
new to you. I've crudely grouped them by subject. My apologies for not posting
authorship on many since I simply don't know who wrote most of them. Oh, one
more thing… some of this is definitely NOT for children. This is a very long
page, so you may want to use the Table of Contents links/jumps (rather than
just scrolling down). Enjoy.
Contents
Gender, Sex &
the Age-old Male vs. Female Thing
Just Jokes
Generally Amusing Stuff (odds and
ends)
Computing, Science and/or Technology
Etch-A-Sketch Technical Support
Q: My Etch-A-Sketch has a
distorted display.
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: My Etch-A-Sketch has all of
these funny little lines all over the screen.
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: How do I turn my Etch-A-Sketch
off?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: What's the shortcut for Undo?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: How do I create an empty New
Document window?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: How do I Exit without Saving?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: How do I set the background and
foreground to the same color?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: What is the proper procedure
for rebooting my Etch-A-Sketch?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: My Etch-A-Sketch has lines that
prevent me from doing my art project.
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: How do I delete a document on
my Etch-A-Sketch?
A: Pick it up and shake it.
Q: How do I keep from losing my
Etch-A-Sketch documents in the middle of my work?
A: Stop shaking it.
THE RAVEN???
Once upon a
System manuals piled high and wasted paper on the floor,
Longing for the warmth of bedsheets,
Still I sat there, doing spreadsheets.
Having reached the bottom line,
I took a floppy from the drawer.
Typing with a steady hand,
I then invoked the SAVE command
But got instead a reprimand:
it read "Abort, Retry, Ignore."
Was this some occult illusion? Some maniacal
intrusion?
These were choices Solomon himself had never faced before.
Carefully, I weighed my options
These three seemed to be the top ones
Clearly, I must now adopt one -
Choose: "Abort, Retry, Ignore"
With my fingers pale and trembling,
Slowly toward the keyboard bending,
Longing for a happy ending,
hoping all would be restored.
Praying for some guarantee, finally I pressed a key -
But on the screen what did I see?
Again: "Abort, Retry, Ignore"
I tried to catch the chips off guard
I pressed again, but twice as hard.
Luck was just not in the cards, I saw what I had seen before
Now I typed in desperation, trying random combinations
still there came the incantation
Choose: "Abort, Retry, Ignore"
There I sat, distraught, exhausted,
by my own machine accosted.
Getting up, I turned away and paced across the office floor.
And then I saw an awful sight,
A bold and blinding flash of light
A lightning bolt that cut the night and shook me to my very core
The PC screen collapsed and died,
"Oh NO! My Database!" I cried.
I thought I heard a voice reply,
"You'll see your data nevermore."
To this day I do not know
The place to which our data goes,
Perhaps it goes to Heaven where
the angels have it stored.
But as for productivity, well
I fear it has gone straight to Hell.
And that's the tale I have to tell
Your choice, "Abort, Retry, Ignore"
THE DEATH OF A
PROGRAMMER (joke):
A programmer had
been missing from work for over a week when finally someone noticed and called
the police. They went round to his flat and broke the door down, where they
found him dead in the still running shower with an empty bottle of shampoo next
to his body. Apparently he'd been washing his hair.
The instructions
on the bottle said:
Wet hair
Apply shampoo
Lather
Rinse
Repeat
SOFTWARE
UPDATE INFORMATION
I'm currently
running the latest version of GirlFriend and I've been having some problems
lately. I've been running the same version of DrinkingBuddies 1.0 forever
as my primary application, and all the GirlFriend releases I've tried have
always conflicted with it. I hear that DrinkingBuddies won't crash if
GirlFriend is run in background mode and the sound is turned off. But I'm
embarrassed to say I can't find the switch to turn the sound off. I just run
them separately, and it works okay.
GirlFriend
also seems to have a problem co-existing with my Golf program, often trying to
abort Golf with some sort of timing incompatibility.
I probably
should have stayed with GirlFriend 1.0, but I thought I might see better
performance from GirlFriend 2.0. After months of conflicts and other problems,
I consulted a friend who has had experience with GirlFriend 2.0. He said I
probably didn't have enough cache to run GirlFriend 2.0, and eventually it
would require a Token Ring to run properly. He was right as soon as I purged my
cache, it uninstalled itself. Shortly after that, I installed GirlFriend 3.0
beta. All the bugs were supposed to be gone, but the first time I used
it, it gave me a virus anyway. I had to clean out my whole system and
shut down for while.
I very
cautiously upgraded to GirlFriend 4.0. This time I used a SCSI probe first and
also installed a virus protection program. It worked okay for a while until I
discovered that GirlFriend 1.0 was still in my system. I tried running
GirlFriend 1.0 again with GirlFriend 4.0 still installed, but GirlFriend 4.0
has a feature I didn't know about that automatically senses the presence of any
other version of GirlFriend and communicates with it in some way, which results
in the immediate removal of both versions.
The version I
have now works pretty well, but there are still some problems. Like all
versions of GirlFriend, it is written in some obscure language I can't
understand, much less reprogram. Frankly I think there is too much attention
paid to the look and feel rather than the desired functionality. Also, to get
the best connections with your hardware, you usually have to use gold-plated
contacts. And I've never liked how GirlFriend is totally
"object-oriented."
A year ago, a
friend of mine upgraded his version of GirlFriend to GirlFriendPlus 1.0, which
is a Terminate and Stay Resident version of GirlFriend. He discovered that
GirlFriendPlus 1.0 expires within a year if you don't upgrade to Fiancee 1.0.
So he did, but soon after that, he had to upgrade to Wife 1.0, which he
describes as a huge resource hog. It has taken up all his space, so he can't
load anything else. One of the primary reasons he decided to go with Wife 1.0
was because it came bundled with FreeSexPlus. Well, it turns out the resource
allocation module of Wife 1.0 sometimes prohibits access to FreeSexPlus,
particularly the new Plug-Ins he wanted to try. On top of that, Wife 1.0 must
be running on a well warmed-up system before he can do anything. Although
he did not ask for it, Wife 1.0 came with MotherInLaw 1.0 which has an
automatic pop-up feature he can't turn-off.
I told him to
try installing Mistress 1.0, but he said he heard if you try to run it without
first uninstalling Wife 1.0, Wife 1.0 will delete MSMoney files before doing
the uninstall itself. Then Mistress 1.0 won't install anyway because of
insufficient resources.
I suppose the
moral of the story is: know your system's hardware, it's software requirements
and compatibilities and be damn careful about what software you install and when
and how you upgrade.
How To Install
Software -- A 12-Step Program by Dave Barry
1. Examine the software packaging until you find a little printed box that
explains what kind of computer system you need to run the software. It should
look something like this:
SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS
2386 PROCESSOR OR HIGHER
628.8 MEGAHERTZ MODEM
719.7 MB FREE DISK SPACE
3546 MB RAM
432323 MB ROM
05948737 MB RPM
ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
2 TURTLE DOVES
NOTE: This
software will not work on your computer.
2. Open the
software packaging and remove the manual. This will contain detailed
instructions on installing, operating, and troubleshooting the software. Throw
it away.
3. Find the
actual software, which should be in the form of either a 3.5-inch floppy
diskette or a CD-ROM, located inside a sealed envelope that says:
LICENSING
AGREEMENT:
By breaking this
seal, the user hereinafter agrees to abide by all the terms and conditions of
the following agreement that nobody ever reads, as well as the Geneva
Convention and the U.N. Charter and the Secret Membership Oath of the
Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks and such other terms and conditions,
real and imaginary, as the Software Company shall deem necessary and
appropriate, including the right to come to the user's home and examine the
user's hard drive, as well as the user's underwear drawer if we feel like it,
take it or leave it, until death do us part, one nation indivisible by the
dawn's early light,... finders keepers, losers weepers, ...
4. Hand the
software to a child aged 3 through 12 and say, "(Name of child), please
install this on my computer."
5. If you have no
child age 3 through 12, insert the software in the appropriate drive, type
SETUP" and press the Enter key.
6. Turn the
computer on, you idiot.
7. Once again type
"SETUP" and press the Enter key.
8. You will hear
grinding and whirring noises for a while, after which the following message
should appear on your screen: The Installation Program will now examine your
system to see what would be the best way to render it inoperable. Is it OK with
you?
Choose one, and be honest:
+------+
+-------+
| YES | | SURE |
+------+
+-------+
9. After you make
your selection, you will hear grinding and whirring for a very long time while
the installation program does who knows what in there. Some installation
programs can actually alter molecular structures, so that when they're done,
your computer has been transformed into an entirely new device, such as a food
processor. At the very least, the installation program will create many new
directories, sub-directories, and sub-sub-directories on your hard drive and
fill them with thousands of mysterious files with names like
"puree.exe," "fester.dat," and "doo.wha.."
10. When the
installation program is finished, your screen should display the following
message:
CONGRATULATIONS
The installation
program cannot think of anything else to do to your computer and has grown
bored. You may now attempt to run your software. If you experience any
problems, electrical shocks, insomnia, shortness of breath, nasal discharge, or
intestinal parasites, you should immediately *!@!$)$%@&*^)$*!#$_$*^&
11. At this point
your computer system should become less functional than the federal government,
refusing to respond even when struck with furniture.
12. Call the
toll-free Tech Support Hotline # listed on the package and wait on the line for
a representative, who will explain to you, in a clear, step-by-step manner, how
to adopt a child aged 3 through 12.
What if Dr. Seuss Did
Technical Manuals?
Here's an easy game to play.
Here's an easy thing to say:
If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
And the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
And the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
Then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.
If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a
dash,
And the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash,
And your data is corrupted 'cause the index doesn't hash,
Then your situation's hopeless, and your system's gonna crash.
You can't say this?
What a shame sir!
We'll find you
Another game sir.
If the label on the cable on the table at your
house,
Says the network is connected to the button on your mouse,
But your packets want to tunnel on another protocol,
That's repeatedly rejected by the router down the hall.
And your screen is all distorted by the side
effects of gauss
So your icons in the window are all wavy, as if soused,
Then you may as well reboot, and go out with a bang,
'Cause as sure as I'm a poet, the sucker's gonna hang.
When the copy of your floppy's getting sloppy on
the disk,
And the microcode instructions cause unnecessary risk,
Then you have to flash your memory, and you'll want to RAM your ROM.
Quickly, turn off the computer, and be sure to tell your mom.
GENDER, SEX and the Age-old MALE vs. FEMALE
Thing:
COMMUNICATION
What a
woman says:
Cmon...This place is a mess!
You and I need to clean up.
Your pants are on the floor,
and you'll have no clothes
if we don't do laundry now!
What a man
hears:
C'MON....blah, blah, blah
YOU AND I blah, blah, blah
blah, blah ON THE
FLOOR
blah, blah, blah, NO CLOTHES
blah, blah, blah, blah, NOW!
The Guy
Test
Are You a Guy? (written by
Dave Barry)
TAKE THIS TEST AND
SEE.................................
1. Alien beings from a
highly advanced society visit the Earth, and you are the first human they
encounter. As a token of intergalactic friendship, they present you with a
small but incredibly sophisticated device that is capable of curing all
disease, providing an infinite supply of clean energy, wiping out hunger and
poverty, and permanently eliminating oppression and violence all over the
entire Earth. You decide to:
a. Present it to the
president of the United States.
b. Present it to the secretary general of the United Nations.
c. Take it apart.
2. As you grow older, what
lost quality of your youthful life do you miss the most?
a. Innocence.
b. Idealism.
c. Cherry bombs.
3. When is it okay to kiss
another male?
a. When you wish to display
simple and pure affection without regard for narrow-minded social conventions.
b. When he is the pope. (Not on the lips.)
c. When he is your brother and you are Al Pacino and this is the only really
sportsmanlike way to let him know that, for business reasons, you have to have
him killed.
4. What about hugging
another male?
a. If he's your father and
at least one of you has a fatal disease.
b. If you're performing the Heimlich maneuver. (And even in this case, you
should repeatedly shout: "I am just dislodging food trapped in this male's
trachea! I am not in any way aroused!")
c. If you're a professional baseball player and a teammate hits a home run to
win the World Series, you may hug him provided that (1) He is legally within
the basepath, (2) Both of you are wear- ing protective cups, and (3) You also
pound him fraternally with your fist hard enough to cause fractures.
5. Complete this sentence: A
funeral is a good time to...
a. ...remember the deceased
and console his loved ones.
b. ...reflect upon the fleeting transience of earthly life.
c. ...tell the joke about the guy who has Alzheimer's disease and cancer.
6. In your opinion, the
ideal pet is:
a. A cat.
b. A dog.
c. A dog that eats cats.
7. You have been seeing a
woman for several years. She's attractive and intelligent, and you always enjoy
being with her. One leisurely Sunday afternoon the two of you are taking it
easy-- you're watching a football game; she's reading the papers--when she
suddenly, out of the clear blue sky, tells you that she thinks she really loves
you, but she can no longer bear the uncertainty of not knowing where your
relationship is going. She says she's not asking whether you want to get
married; only whether you believe that you have some kind of future together.
What do you say?
a. That you sincerely
believe the two of you do have a future, but you don't want to rush it.
b. That although you also have strong feelings for her, you cannot honestly say
that you'll be ready anytime soon to make a lasting commitment, and you don't
want to hurt her by holding out false hope.
c. That you cannot believe the Jets called a draw play on third and seventeen.
8. Okay, so you have decided
that you truly love a woman and you want to spend the rest of your life with
her-sharing the joys and the sorrows, the triumphs and the tragedies, and all
the adventures and opportunities that the world has to offer, come what may.
How do you tell her?
a. You take her to a nice
restaurant and tell her after dinner.
b. You take her for a walk on a moonlit beach, and you say her name, and when
she turns to you, with the sea breeze blowing her hair and the stars in her
eyes, you tell her.
c. Tell her what?
9. One weekday morning your
wife wakes up feeling ill and asks you to get your three children ready for
school. Your first question to her is:
a. "Do they need to eat
or anything?"
b. "They're in school already?"
c. "There are three of them?"
10. When is it okay to throw
away a set of veteran underwear?
a. When it has turned the
color of a dead whale and developed new holes so large that you're not sure
which ones were originally intended for your legs.
b. When it is down to eight loosely connected underwear molecules and has to be
handled with tweezers.
c. It is never okay to throw away veteran underwear. A real guy checks the
garbage regularly in case somebody--and we are not naming names, but this would
be his wife--is quietly trying to discard his underwear, which she is frankly
jealous of, because the guy seems to have a more intimate relationship with it
than with her.
11. What, in your opinion,
is the most reasonable explanation for the fact that Moses led the Israelites
all over the place for forty years before they finally got to the Promised
Land?
a. He was being tested.
b. He wanted them to really appreciate the Promised Land when they finally got
there.
c. He refused to ask directions.
12. What is the human race's
single greatest achievement?
a. Democracy.
b. Religion.
c. Remote control.
How to Score: Give yourself
one point for every time you picked answer "c." A real guy would
score at least 10 on this test. In fact, a real guy would score at least 15,
because he would get the special five-point bonus for
knowing the joke about the guy who has Alzheimer's disease and cancer.
If Men Got Pregnant…
1. Maternity
leave would last for two full years with full pay.
2. There'd be a cure for stretch marks.
3. Natural childbirth would become obsolete.
4. Morning sickness would rank as the nation's number one health problem.
5. All methods of birth control would be improved 100% effectiveness.
6. Children would be kept in the hospital until they were toilet trained.
7. Men would be eager to talk about commitment.
8. They wouldn't think twins were so cute.
9. Fathers would demand that their sons be home from dates by 10:00pm.
10. Men could use their briefcases as diaper bags,
11. They'd have to stop saying "I'm afraid I'll drop him."
12. Paternity suits would be a line of clothes.
13. They'd stay in bed for the full nine months.
14. Menus at most restaurants would list ice cream and pickles as an entree.
HOW TO SATISFY A WOMAN
EVERY TIME
Caress,
praise, pamper, relish, savor, massage, make plans, fix, empathize, serenade,
compliment, support, feed, tantalize, bathe, humor, placate, stimulate, stroke,
console, purr, hug, coddle, excite, pacify, protect, phone, correspond,
anticipate, nuzzle, smooch, toast, minister to, forgive, sacrifice for, ply,
accessorize, leave, return, beseech, sublimate, entertain, charm, lug, drag,
crawl, show equality for, oblige, fascinate, attend, implore, bawl, shower,
shave, trust, grovel, ignore, defend, coax, clothe, brag about, acquiesce,
aromate, fuse, fizz, rationalize, detoxify, sanctify, help, acknowledge,
polish, upgrade, spoil, embrace, accept, butter-up, hear, understand,
jitterbug, locomote, beg, plead, borrow, steal, climb, swim, nurse,
resuscitate, repair, patch, crazy-glue, respect, entertain, calm, allay, kill
for, die for, dream of, promise, deliver, tease, flirt, commit, enlist, pine,
cajole, murmur, snuggle, snoozle, snurfle, elevate, alleviate, serve, rub, rib,
salve, bite, taste, nibble, gratify, take her places, scuttle like a crab on
the ocean floor of her existence, diddle, doodle, hokey-pokey, hanky-panky,
crystal blue persuade, flip, flop, fly, don't care if I die, swing, slip,
slide, slather, mollycoddle, squeeze, moisturize, humidify, lather, tingle,
slam-dunk, keep on rockin' in the free world, wet, slicken, undulate,
gelatinize, brush, tingle, dribble, drip, dry, knead, fluff, fold, blue-coral
wax, ingratiate, indulge, wow, dazzle, amaze, enchant, idolize and worship, and
then go back, Jack, and do it again.
HOW TO SATISFY A MAN EVERY
TIME
Show up
naked.
.
3 WORD JOKE
A man was sitting
at a bar enjoying an after-work cocktail when an exceptionally gorgeous and
sexy young woman entered. She was so striking that the man could not take his
eyes away from her. The young woman noticed his overly-attentive stare and
walked directly toward him.
Before he could
offer his apologies for being so rude, the young woman said to him, "I'll
do anything, absolutely anything, that you want me to do, no matter how kinky,
for $100 on one condition." Flabbergasted, the man asked what the
condition was. The young woman replied, "You have to tell me what you want
me to do in just three words."
The man considered
her proposition for a moment, withdrew his wallet from his pocket and slowly
counted out five $20 bills, which he pressed into the young woman's hand. He
looked into her eyes and slowly, meaningfully said, "Paint my house."
THE
ZOOKEEPER AND THE APE (joke)
The
local zoo recently acquired a very rare species of gorilla. Within a few weeks
of her arrival, the gorilla became very ornery and difficult to handle. Upon
examination, the zoo veterinarian determined the problem: she was in heat. What
to do? There was no male of this species available.
While
reflecting on their problem, the zoo administrators noticed Mike, an employee
responsible for cleaning the animals' cages. Now Mike, it was rumored,
possessed ample ability to satisfy any female, and he wasn't very bright. So
the zoo administrators thought they might have a solution. Perhaps they could
entice Mike to 'satisfy' the female gorilla.
So he was approached with a proposition: would he be willing to screw the
gorilla -- for five hundred bucks? Mike replied that he might be interested,
but said that he would have to think the matter over.
The
following day, Mike announced that he would accept their offer, but only under
three conditions:
"First," he said, "I don't want to have to kiss her."
"Second, I want nothing to do with any offspring that may result from this
union."
The zoo administration quickly acceded to these conditions, but what could be
the third stipulation?
"Well," said Mike, "You've gotta give me another week to come up
with the five hundred bucks."
Banana Loaf
2 laughing eyes
2 bowing arms
2 well-shaped legs
2 firm milk containers
1 fur-lined mixing bowl
1 banana
Look into laughing eyes, spread well-shaped
legs and slowly squeeze and massage milk containers gently until mixing bowl is
well greased. Check frequently with middle finger. Add banana and gently work
in and out until creamed. Cover with nuts and garnish with a sigh of relief.
Bread is done when banana is soft. Be sure to wash mixing utensils and do not
lick the bowl.
WARNING: If bread rises, LEAVE TOWN !!!!!!!!
LITTLE JOHNNY
AND HIS POCKET (joke)
Little Johnny
was sitting in class doing math problems when his teacher picked him to answer
a question.
"Johnny, if there were five birds sitting on a fence and you shot one with
your gun, how many would be left ?"
"None.", replied Johnny, 'cause the rest would fly away."
"Well, the answer is four," said the teacher. "But I like the
way you are thinking."
Little Johnny said, "I have a question for you now. If there were
three women eating ice cream cones in a shop, one licking her cone, the second
biting her cone, and the third one sucking her cone, which one is
married?"
"Well," said the teacher nervously, "I guess the one sucking the
cone?"
"No," said Little Johnny, "the one with the wedding ring on her
finger. But I like the way you are thinking.
Another day in
class the teacher brought a bag full of fruit. "Now class, I'm going to
reach into the bag and describe a piece of fruit, and you tell what fruit I'm
talking about."
"Okay, first: it's round, plumb and red." Of course, Johnny
raised his hand high, but the teacher, wisely ignored him and picked Deborah,
who promptly answered "An apple."
"No Deborah, it's a beet, but I like your thinking. Now for the second
one. It's soft, fuzzy, and colored red and brownish.
Well, Johnny is hopping up and down in his seat trying to get the teacher to
call on him. But she skips him again and calls on Billy. "Is it a
peach?"
"No, Billy, I'm afraid it's a potato. But I like your thinking.
Here's another: it's long, yellow, and fairly hard."
By now Johnny is about to explode as he waves his hand frantically. The teacher
skips him again and calls on Sally. "A banana," she says.
"No," the teacher replies, "it's a squash, but I like your
thinking."
Johnny is kind of irritated now, so he speaks up loudly. "Hey, I've got
one for you teacher; let me put my hand in my pocket. Okay, I've got it: it's
round, hard, and it got a head on it."
"Johnny!" she cries. "That's disgusting!"
"Nope," answers Johnny, "it's a quarter, but I like your thinking!
PINNOCHIO AND
SANDPAPER (joke)
Pinnochio was receiving complaints
from his girlfriend about consummating their passions.
"Every time we make love", she said " I get splinters."
So he went back to his maker, Gipetto, the carpenter, to ask his advice.
"Sandpaper my boy, that's what you need" was the carpenter's
response.
A couple of weeks later the
carpenter met Pinnochio, "How are you getting on with the girls now?"
he asked. "Who needs girls?" replied Pinnochio.
Vowels to Bosnia
Cities of Sjlbvdnzv, Grzny to Be First Recipients
Before an emergency joint session of Congress yesterday, President Clinton announced US plans to deploy over 75,000 vowels to the war-torn region of Bosnia. The deployment, the largest of its kind in American history, will provide the region with the critically needed letters A,E,I,O,U, and Y, and is hoped to render countless Bosnian words more pronounceable.
"For six years, we have stood by while names like Ygrjvslhv and Tzlynhr and Glrm have been horribly butchered by millions around the world," Clinton said. "Today, the United States must finally stand up and say 'Enough.' It is time the people of Bosnia finally had some vowels in their incomprehensible words. The US is proud to lead the crusade in this noble endeavor."
The deployment, dubbed Operation Vowel Storm by the State Department, is set for early next week, with the Adriatic port cities of Sjlbvdnzv and Grzny slated to be the first recipients. Two C-130 transport planes, each carrying more than 500 24-count boxes of "E's," will fly from Andrews Air Force Base across the Atlantic and airdrop the letters over the cities.
Citizens of Grzny and Sjlbvdnzv eagerly await the arrival of the vowels. "My God, I do not think we can last another day," Trszg Grzdnjkln, 44, said. "I have six children and none of them has a name that is understandable to me or to anyone else. Mr. Clinton, please send my poor, wretched family just one 'E.' Please."
Said Sjlbvdnzv resident Grg Hmphrs, 67: "With just a few key letters, I could be George Humphries. This is my dream."
If the initial airlift is successful, Clinton said the United States will go ahead with full-scale vowel deployment, with C-130's airdropping thousands more letters over every area of Bosnia. Other nations are expected to pitch in as well, including 10,000 British "A's" and 6,500 Canadian "U's." Japan, rich in A's and O's, was asked to participate, but declined.
"With these valuable letters, the people of war-ravaged Bosnia will be able to make some terrific new words," Clinton said. "It should be very exciting for them, and much easier for us to read their maps."
Linguists praise the US's decision to send the vowels. For decades they have struggled with the hard consonants and difficult pronunciation of most Slavic words. "Vowels are crucial to construction of all language," Baylor University linguist Noam Frankel said. "Without them, it would be difficult to utter a single word, much less organize a coherent sentence. Please, just don't get me started on the moon-man languages they use in those Eastern European countries."
According to Frankel, once the Bosnians have vowels, they will be able to
construct such valuable sentences as: "The potatoes are ready";
"I believe it will rain"; and "All my children are dead from the
war."
The airdrop represents the largest deployment of any letter to a foreign country
since 1984. During the summer of that year, the US shipped 92,000 consonants to
Ethiopia, providing cities like Ouaouoaua, Eaoiiuae, and Aao with vital,
lifegiving supplies of L's, S's and T's. The consonant-relief effort failed,
however, when vast quantities of the letters were intercepted and hoarded by
violent, gun-toting warlords.
40
RULES FOR GOODER ENGLISH
1.
Avoid alliteration. Always.
2. Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
3. Employ the vernacular.
4. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
5. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
6. Remember to never split an infinitive.
7. Contractions aren't necessary.
8. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
9. One should never generalize.
10. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations.
Tell me what you know." 11. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
12. Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary; it's highly
superfluous.
13. Be more or less specific.
14. Understatement is always best.
15. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
16. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
17. The passive voice is to be avoided.
18. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
19. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
20. Who needs rhetorical questions?
21. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
22. Don't never use a double negation.
23. capitalize every sentence and remember always end it with point
24. Do not put statements in the negative form.
25. Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
26. Proofread carefully to see if you words out.
27. Punctuation like capitalization is very important
28. If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of
repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
29. A writer must not shift your point of view.
30. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a
preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)
31. Don't overuse exclamation marks!!
32. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10
or more words, to their antecedents.
33. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
34. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
35. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
36. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
37. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in
their writing.
38. Always pick on the correct idiom.
39. The adverb always follows the verb.
40. Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; They're old hat; seek
viable alternatives.
NEW
EURO(GERMAN)-ENGLISH:
The European
Commission have just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official
language of the EU rather than German, which was the other possibility. As part
of the negotiations, Her Majesty's government conceded that English spelling
had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5-year phase-in plan that
would be known as "EuroEnglish": In the first year, "s"
will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil
servants jump with joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in favor of the
"k". This should klear up konfusion and keyboards kan have 1 less
letter.
There will be
growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the troublesome
"ph" will be replaced with the "f". This will make words
like "fotograf" 20% shorter.
In the 3rd year,
publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where
more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkorage the removal of
double letters, which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al
wil agre that the horible mes of the silent "e"'s in the language is
disgraceful, and they should go away.
By the 4th yar,
peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with
"z" and "w" with "v".
During ze fifz
year, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining
"ou" and similar changes vud of kors be aplid to ozer kombinations of
leters.
After zis fifz
yer, ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubls or
difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech ozer.
ZE DREM VIL
FINALI KUM TRU!! And zen ve vil take over ze vorld!!!
Politically
Correct Little Red Riding Hood
There
once was a young person named Little Red Riding Hood who lived on the edge of a
large forest full of endangered owls and rare plants that would probably
provide a cure for cancer if only someone took the time to study them. Red
Riding Hood lived with a nurture giver whom she sometimes referred to as
"mother", although she didn't mean to imply by this term that she
would have thought less of the person if a close biological link did not in
fact exist. Nor did she intend to denigrate the equal value of nontraditional
households, although she was sorry if this was the impression conveyed.
One day her
mother asked her to take a basket of organically grown fruit and mineral water
to her grandmother's house. "But mother, won't this be stealing work from
the unionized people who have struggled for years to earn the right to carry
all packages between various people in the woods?" Red Riding Hood's
mother assured her that she had called the union boss and gotten a special
compassionate mission exemption form. "But mother, aren't you oppressing
me by ordering me to do this?" Red Riding Hood's mother pointed out that
it was impossible for womyn to oppress each other, since all womyn were equally
oppressed until all womyn were free. "But mother, then shouldn't you have
my brother carry the basket, since he's an oppressor, and should learn what
it's like to be oppressed?" And Red Riding Hood's mother explained that
her brother was attending a special rally for animal rights, and besides, this
wasn't stereotypical womyn's work, but an empowering deed that would help
engender a feeling of community. "But won't I be oppressing Grandma, by
implying that she's sick and hence unable to independently further her own
selfhood?" But Red Riding Hood's mother explained that her grandmother
wasn't actually sick or incapacitated or mentally handicapped in any way,
although that was not to imply that any of these conditions were inferior to
what some people called "health". Thus Red Riding Hood felt that she
could get behind the idea of delivering the basket to her grandmother, and so
she set off.
Many people
believed that the forest was a foreboding and dangerous place, but Red Riding
Hood knew that this was an irrational fear based on cultural paradigms
instilled by a patriarchal society that regarded the natural world as an
exploitable resource, and hence believed that natural predators were in fact
intolerable competitors. Other people avoided the woods for fear of thieves and
deviants, but Red Riding Hood felt that in a truly classless society all
marginalized peoples would be able to "come out" of the woods and be
accepted as valid lifestyle role models.
On her way to
Grandma's house, Red Riding Hood passed a woodchopper, and wandered off the path,
in order to examine some flowers. She was startled to find herself standing
before a Wolf, who asked her what was in her basket. Red Riding Hood's teacher
had warned her never to talk to strangers, but she was confident in taking
control of her own budding sexuality, and chose to dialogue with the Wolf.
She replied,
"I am taking my Grandmother some healthful snacks in a gesture of
solidarity." The Wolf said, "You know, my dear, it isn't safe for a
little girl to walk through these woods alone." Red Riding Hood said,
"I find your sexist remark offensive in the extreme, but I will ignore it
because of your traditional status as an outcast from society, the stress of
which has caused you to develop an alternative and yet entirely valid
worldview. Now, if you'll excuse me, I would prefer to be on my way."
Red Riding
Hood returned to the main path, and proceeded towards her Grandmother's house.
But because his status outside society had freed him from slavish adherence to
linear, Western-style thought, the Wolf knew of a quicker route to Grandma's
house. He burst into the house and ate Grandma, a course of action affirmative
of his nature as a predator. Then, unhampered by rigid, traditionalist gender
role notions, he put on Grandma's nightclothes, crawled under the bedclothes,
and awaited developments.
Red Riding
Hood entered the cottage and said, "Grandma, I have brought you some
cruelty free snacks to salute you in your role of wise and nurturing
matriarch." The Wolf said softly "Come closer, child, so that I might
see you." Red Riding Hood said, "Goddess! Grandma, what big eyes you
have!"
"You
forget that I am optically challenged."
"And
Grandma, what an enormous, what a fine nose you have."
"Naturally,
I could have had it fixed to help my acting career, but I didn't give in to
such societal pressures, my child."
"And
Grandma, what very big, sharp teeth you have!"
The Wolf could not take any more of these specist slurs, and, in a reaction
appropriate for his accustomed milieu, he leaped out of bed, grabbed Little Red
Riding Hood, and opened his jaws so wide that she could see her poor
Grandmother cowering in his belly.
"Aren't
you forgetting something?" Red Riding Hood bravely shouted. "You must
request my permission before proceeding to a new level of intimacy!" The
Wolf was so startled by this statement that he loosened his grasp on her. At
the same time, the woodchopper burst into the cottage, brandishing an ax.
"Hands off!" cried the woodchopper.
"And what
do you think you're doing?" cried Little Red Riding Hood. "If I let
you help me now, I would be expressing a lack of confidence in my own
abilities, which would lead to poor self esteem and lower achievement scores on
college entrance exams."
"Last
chance, sister! Get your hands off that endangered species! This is an FBI
sting!" screamed the woodchopper, and when Little Red Riding Hood
nonetheless made a sudden motion, he sliced off her head.
"Thank
goodness you got here in time," said the Wolf. "The brat and her
grandmother lured me in here. I thought I was a goner."
"No, I
think I'm the real victim, here," said the woodchopper. "I've been
dealing with my anger ever since I saw her picking those protected flowers
earlier. And now I'm going to have such a trauma. Do you have any
aspirin?"
"Sure,"
said the Wolf.
"Thanks."
"I feel
your pain," said the Wolf, and he patted the woodchopper on his firm, well
padded back, gave a little belch, and said "Do you have any Maalox?"
Ways to Say Someone Is
Stupid
Not the sharpest knife in
the drawer.
A few clowns short of a circus.
A few fries short of a Happy Meal.
An experiment in Artificial Stupidity.
A few beers short of a six-pack.
Dumber than a box of hair.
A few peas short of a casserole.
A couple sandwiches short of a picnic.
The wheel's spinning, but the hamster's dead.
One Fruit Loop shy of a full bowl.
One taco short of a combination plate.
A few feathers short of a whole duck.
The porch light's on, but nobody's home.
All foam, no beer.
Has an IQ of 2, but it takes 3 to grunt.
Warning: Objects in mirror are dumber than they appear.
Couldn't pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel.
An intellect rivaled only by garden tools.
Elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor.
His antenna doesn't pick up all the channels.
Missing a few buttons on his remote control.
No grain in the silo.
Receiver is off the hook.
Several nuts short of a full pouch.
Skylight leaks a little.
PANTS!
Ever
noticed how famous lines from Star Wars gain extra, uh, force if you substitute
the word "pants"? Try it!
Your
pants betray you, Luke.
That
blast came from those pants. That thing's operational.
Governor
Tarkin - I recognized your foul pants when I was brought on board.
The
pants may not look like much, kid, but they've got it where it counts.
Pants
me, Obi-wan Kenobi! You're my only hope!
Jabba
doesn't have time for smugglers who drop their pants at the first sigh of an
Imperial Cruiser.
I
find your lack of pants disturbing.
Don't
worry. Chewie and I have gotten into a lot of pants more heavily guarded than
this.
Han
will have those pants down. We've got to give him more time!
A
tremor in the pants. The last time I felt this was in the presence of my old
master.
These
pants contain the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it.
Top ten things
that sound dirty in golf but aren't: (Letterman)
10. Nuts...my shaft is bent
9. After 18 holes I can barely walk
8. You really whacked the hell out of that sucker
7. Look at the size of his putter
6. Keep your head down and spread your legs a bit more
5. Mind if I join your threesome?
4. Stand with your back turned and drop it
3. My hands are so sweaty I can't get a good grip
2. Nice stroke, but your follow through has a lot to be desired
1. Hold up...I need to wash my balls first
PLUCK YEW!
The 'Car Talk'
show (on NPR) with Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, have a feature called
the 'Puzzler', and their most recent 'Puzzler' was about the Battle of
Agincourt. The French, who were overwhelmingly favored to win the battle,
threatened to cut a certain body part off of all captured English soldiers so
that they could never fight again. The English won in a major upset and waved
the body part in question at the French in defiance. The puzzler was:
What was this body part? This is the answer submitted by a
listener:
Dear Click and Clack,
Thank you for the Agincourt
'Puzzler', which clears up some profound questions of etymology, folklore and
emotional symbolism. The body part which the French proposed to cut off of the
English after defeating them was, of course, the middle finger, without which
it is impossible to draw the renowned English longbow. This famous weapon was
made of the native English yew tree, and so the act of drawing the longbow was
known as "plucking yew". Thus, when the victorious English
waved their middle fingers at the defeated French, they said, "See, we can
still pluck yew! PLUCK YEW!"
Over the years some 'folk
etymologies' have grown up around this symbolic gesture. Since 'pluck
yew' is rather difficult to say (like "pleasant mother pheasant
plucker", which is who you had to go to for the feathers used on the
arrows), the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually
changed to a labiodental fricative 'f', and thus the words often used in
conjunction with the one-finger-salute are mistakenly thought to have something
to do with an intimate encounter.
It is also because of the
pheasant feathers on the arrows that the symbolic gesture is known as
"giving the bird".
And yew all thought yew knew everything!
World
Ideologies as explained by reference to cows:
- FEUDALISM
You
have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
- PURE SOCIALISM
You
have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with every one
else's cows. You have to take care of all the cows. The government gives you a
glass of milk.
- BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM
Your
cows are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens
the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much
milk and eggs the regulations say you should need.
- FASCISM
You
have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and
sells you the milk.
- PURE COMMUNISM
You
share two cows with your neighbors. You and your neighbors bicker about who has
the most "ability" and who has the most "need". Meanwhile,
no one works, no one gets any milk, and the cows drop dead of
starvation.
- RUSSIAN COMMUNISM
You
have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the
milk. You steal back as much milk as you can and sell it on the black
market.
- PERESTROIKA
You
have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the Mafia takes all the milk.
You steal back as much milk as you can and sell it on the free"
market.
- CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM
You
have two cows. The government takes both and shoots you.
- DICTATORSHIP
You
have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.
- PURE DEMOCRACY
You
have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.
- REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY
You
have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the
milk.
- BUREAUCRACY
You
have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and
when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. Then it takes both,
shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires
you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.
- CAPITALISM
You
don't have any cows. The bank will not lend you money to buy cows, because you
don't have any cows to put up as collateral.
- PURE ANARCHY
You
have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try
to take the cows and kill you.
- ANARCHO-CAPITALISM
You
have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.
- SURREALISM
You
have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica
lessons.
- OLYMPICS-ISM
You have two
cows, one American, one Chinese. With the help of trilling violins and state of
the art montage photography, John Tesh narrates the moving tale of how the
American cow overcame the agony of growing up in a suburb with (gasp) divorced
parents, then mentions in passing that the Chinese cow was beaten every day by
a tyrannical farmer and watched its parents butchered before its eyes. The
American cow wins the competition, severely spraining an udder in a gritty
performance, and gets a multi-million dollar contract to endorse Wheaties. The
Chinese cow is led out of the arena and shot by Chinese government officials,
though no one ever hears about it. McDonald's buys the meat and serves it hot
and fast at its Beijing restaurant.
LIST OF AMERICAN SLOGAN TRANSLATIONS INTO FOREIGN
LANGUAGES
- When Braniff
translated a slogan touting its upholstery, "Fly in Leather," it
came out in Spanish as "Fly Naked."
- Coors put its slogan,
"Turn It Loose," into Spanish, where it was read as "Suffer
From Diarrhea."
- Chicken magnate Frank
Perdue's line, "It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken,"
sounds much more interesting in Spanish: "It takes a sexually
stimulated man to make a chicken affectionate."
- When Vicks first
introduce its cough drops on the German market, they were chagrined to
learn that the German pronunciation of "v" is f - which in
German is the guttural equivalent of "sexual penetration."
- Not to be outdone,
Puffs tissues tried later to introduce its product, only to learn that
"Puff" in German is a colloquial term for a whorehouse.
- The Chevy Nova never
sold well in Spanish speaking countries. "No Va" means "It
Does Not Go" in Spanish.
- When Pepsi started
marketing its products in China a few years back, they translated their
slogan, "Pepsi Brings You Back to Life" pretty literally. The
slogan in Chinese really meant, "Pepsi Brings Your Ancestors Back
from the Grave."
- Then when Coca-Cola
first shipped to China, they named the product something that when
pronounced sounded like "Coca-Cola." The only problem was that
the characters used meant "Bite The Wax Tadpole." They later
changed to a set of characters that mean "Happiness In The
Mouth."
- A hair products
company, Clairol, introduced the "Mist Stick", a curling iron,
into Germany only to find out that mist is slang for manure. Not too many
people had use for the manure stick.
- When Gerber first
started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as here
in the USA - with the cute baby on the label. Later they found out that in
Africa, companies routinely put pictures on the label of what actually is
inside the container since most people can not read.
- Chicken-man Frank Perdue's slogan, "It takes a
tough man to make a tender chicken," got terribly mangled in another
Spanish translation. A photo of Perdue with one of his birds appeared on
billboards all over Mexico with a caption that said: "It takes a hard
man to make a chicken aroused."
ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT:
Thou shall not
comfort thy rod and thy staff.
Unified Field Theory
In the beginning there
was Aristotle,
And objects at rest tended to remain at rest,
And objects in motion tended to come to rest,
And God saw that is was boring.
Then God created Newton,
And objects at rest tended to remain at rest,
And objects in motion tended to remain in motion,
And energy was conserved, and momentum was conserved, and matter was conserved,
And God saw that is was conservative.
Then God created Einstein,
And everything was relative,
And fast things became short,
And straight things became curved,
And the universe was filled with inertial frames,
And God saw that it was relatively general, but some of it was especially
relative.
Then God created Bohr,
And there was the principle,
And the principle was quantum,
And all things were quantified,
But some things were still relative,
And God saw that it was confusing.
Then God was going to
create Furgeson,
And Furgeson would have unified,
And he would have fielded a theory,
And all would have been one,
But it was the seventh day,
And God rested,
And objects at rest tend to remain at rest.
[By Tim Joseph]
The
Dark Sucker Theory (courtesy of rec.humor NG)
For years,
it has been believed that electric bulbs emit light, but recent information has
proved otherwise. Electric bulbs don't emit light; they suck dark. Thus, we
call these bulbs Dark Suckers. The Dark Sucker Theory and the existence of dark
suckers prove that dark has mass and is heavier than light. First, the basis of
the Dark Sucker Theory is that electric bulbs suck dark. For example, take the
Dark Sucker in the room you are in. There is much less dark right next to it
than there is elsewhere. The larger the Dark Sucker, the greater its capacity
to suck dark. Dark Suckers in the parking lot have a much greater capacity to
suck dark than the ones in this room.
So
with all things, Dark Suckers don't last forever. Once they are full of dark,
they can no longer suck. This is proven by the dark spot on a full Dark Sucker.
The dark which has been absorbed is then transmitted by pylons along to power
plants where the machinery uses fossil fuel to destroy it.
A
candle is a primitive Dark Sucker. A new candle has a white wick. You can see
that after the first use, the wick turns black, representing all the dark that
has been sucked into it. If you put a pencil next to the wick of an operating
candle, it will turn black. This is because it got in the way of the dark
flowing into the candle. One of the disadvantages of these primitive Dark
Suckers is their limited range.
There
are also portable Dark Suckers. In these, the bulbs can't handle all the dark
by themselves and must be aided by a Dark Storage Unit. When the Dark Storage
Unit is full, it must be either emptied or replaced before the portable Dark
Sucker can operate again.
Dark
has mass. When dark goes into a Dark Sucker, friction from the mass generates
heat. Thus, it is not wise to touch an operating Dark Sucker. Candles present a
special problem as the mass must travel into a solid wick instead of through
clear glass. This generates a great amount of heat and therefore it's not wise
to touch an operating candle. This is easily proven for lightbulbs too. When
you compress a gas, it gets hot, right? So the light bulb gets hot because of
all the dark being squished into the wires.
Also,
dark is heavier than light. If you were to swim just below the surface of the
lake, you would see a lot of light. If you were to slowly swim deeper and
deeper, you would notice it getting darker and darker. When you get really
deep, you would be in total darkness. This is because the heavier dark sinks to
the bottom of the lake and the lighter light floats at the top. This is why it
is called light.
Finally,
we must prove that dark is faster than light. If you were to stand in a lit
room in front of a closed, dark closet, and slowly opened the closet door, you
would see the light slowly enter the closet. But since dark is so fast, you
would not be able to see the dark leave the closet. So next time you see an
electric bulb, remember that it is not a light emitter but a Dark Sucker.
The
following line doesn't quite fit into the theory but almost does : - Ever seen
the blue glow in vacuum tubes? That's because electrons are blue.
Campground Facilities
Inquiry
A rather
old-fashioned lady, quite delicate especially in her language, wanted to
inquire about the restrooms at a Wisconsin campground. However, she
didn't quite know how to ask about the toilet facilities. She could not bring
herself around to writing the word "toilet" in the letter, so she
finally came up with the term, "bathroom commode". This, too, she
thought was a bit forward, so she again re-phrased her letter and referred to
the bathroom commode simply as "BC".
Dear Sir,
"Does the campground have its own BC?", she wrote.
Now, the owner wasn't old-fashioned at all, but couldn't figure out what the
woman was talking about. He finally came to the conclusion that she was
asking about the location of the local Baptist Church and wrote the following
reply:
Dear Madam,
I take pleasure in informing you that a BC is located just nine miles north of
the campground, and is capable of seating 250 people at one time. I admit
it is quite a distance if you are in the habit of going regularly, but no doubt
you will be pleased to know that a number of people pack a picnic lunch and
make a day of it. The last time my wife and I went was six weeks ago, and it
was so crowded we had to stand up the whole time we were there. It may interest
you to know that right now there is a supper planned to raise money for more
seats. If you decide to come down to our campground perhaps I could go with you
the first time you go, sit with you and introduce you to all the other folks.
Remember, this is a very friendly community.
GENERALLY AMUSING STUFF (odds and ends)
When Good Dogs Go and
Crossbreed:
Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet
Kerry Blue Terrier + Skye Terrier = Blue Skye, a dog for visionaries
Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs, a puzzling breed
Pekinese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso, an abstract dog
Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel = Irish Springer, a dog fresh
and clean as a whistle
Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever = Lab Coat Retriever, the choice of
research scientists
Newfoundland + Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound, a dog for financial advisors
Malamute + Pointer = Moot Point, owned by... oh, well, it doesn't matter anyway
Collie + Malamute = Commute, a dog that travels to work
Deerhound + Terrier = Derriere, a dog that's true to the end
Cocker Spaniel + Rottweiller = Cockrot, the perfect puppy for that philandering
ex-husband
Bull Terrier + Shitzu = Bullshitz, a gregarious but unreliable breed
NOTED DOUGH
BOY DIES
Veteran Pillsbury spokesman Pop N.
Fresh died Monday of a severe yeast infection. He was 71. He was buried Friday in
one of the biggest funerals in years. Dozens of celebrities turned out
including Mrs. Butterworth, the California Raisins, Hungry Jack, Betty Crocker,
and the Hostess Twinkies. The graveside was piled high with flours, as longtime
friend Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy, describing Fresh as a man who
"never knew he was kneaded".
Fresh rose quickly in show
business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a
smart cookie, and wasted much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Still, even
as a crusty old man, he was a roll model to millions.
Fresh is survived by his second
wife. They had two children...and one in the oven.
QUOTATIONS:
Giving money and power to Government is like
giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. -- P.J. O'Rourke
Capital punishment is our societies recognition
of the sanctity of human life. -- Orrin Hatch, Senator from Utah.
It is now quite lawful for a Catholic woman to
avoid pregnancy by resorting to mathematics, though she is still forbidden to
resort to physics or chemistry. -- H. L. Mencken
I think that the undecideds could go one way or
the other. -- George Bush, 1988
We may be finding that in some blacks, when the
choke hold is applied, the veins or arteries do not open up like in normal
people. -- Daryl Gates, former L.A. police chief and complete idiot.
Honest businessmen should be protected from the
unscrupulous consumer. -- Lester Maddox, then governer of Georgia, on why his
state should not create a consumer protection agency.
I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward
more freedom and democracy. But that could change. -- Vice-President Dan Quayle
I was not lying. I said things that later on
seemed to be untrue. -- Richard Nixon, discussing Watergate in 1978
Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a
very important part of your life. -- Brooke Shields, on why she wanted to
become spokesperson for a federal anti-smoking campaign.
I love California. I grew up in Phoenix.
--Vice-President Dan Quayle
Bite the wax tadpole. -- Coca-Cola name as
originally translated into Chinese (later changed to "May the mouth
rejoice").
Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave.
-- Ad slogan "Pepsi comes alive" as initially translated into
Chinese.
They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist… --
Last words of Union commander General John Sedgwick, spoken as he was watching
enemy troops at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House.
Facts are stupid things. -- Ronald Reagan
Without censorship, things can get terribly
confused in the public mind. -- General William Westmoreland on why the media
should be controlled in wartime.
I stand by all the misstatements. -- Dan Quayle,
then vice-presidential hopeful, defending his verbal gaffes
Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving
kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love to be skinny
like that but not with all those flies and death and stuff. -- Mariah Carey
Question: If you could live forever, would you
and why?
Answer: I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if
we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot
live forever, which is why I would not live forever. -- Miss Alabama in the
1994 Miss Universe contest
I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail
to comply with the law. -- David Dinkins, New York City Mayor, answering
accusations that he failed to pay his taxes.
I've never had major knee surgery on any other
part of my body. -- Winston Bennett, University of Kentucky basketball forward
Outside of the killings, Washington has one of
the lowest crime rates in the country. -- Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, D.C.
Beginning in February 1976 your assistance
benefits will be discontinued... Reason: it has been reported to our office
that
you expired on Jan 1,1976.-- Letter from the Illinois Dept of Public Aid
The Holocaust was an obscene period in our
nation's history... this century's history... We all lived in this century. I
didn't live in this century. -- Dan Quayle, then Indiana senator and Republican
vice-presidential candidate during a news conference in which he was asked his
opinion of the Holocaust
The streets are safe in Philadelphia. It's only
the people who make them unsafe. -- Frank Rizzo, ex-police chief and mayor of
Philadelphia
I've always thought that underpopulated countries
in Africa are vastly underpolluted. -- Lawrence Summers, chief economist of the
World Bank, explaining why we should export toxic wastes to Third World
countries
As soon as the front arrives and the white stuff
starts to fall, we will have a 100 % chance of precipitation. - Scott Mayo,
Chief Meteorogilist, KMTV, Omaha
ANTI-REJECTION LETTER
Dear Mr/Ms,
Thank you for your letter of (insert month
and day here). After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I
am unable to accept your refusal to offer me a job in the position you
advertised in your department. This year I have been particularly fortunate in
receiving an unusually large number of rejection letters. With such a varied
and promising field of candidates, it is impossible for me to accept all
refusals.
Despite (insert company name here) outstanding qualifications and
previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does
not meet my needs at this time. Therefore, I will assume the position in the
job advertised in your department this (insert month here). I look
forward to seeing you then.
Best of luck in rejecting future applicants.
Sincerely,
THE NEW &
IMPROVED 10 COMMANDMENTS!
10. Thou shalt
register thine weapon so that in the event thou dost kill, thou shalt be easily
found and reminded of the original "Thou shalt not kill" commandment.
And also, it provides ample time to knit thou a lovely gun cosy for Xmas.
9. Thou shalt still
honour the Sabbath, but in the event thou art scheduled to work, thou mayest
swap Sabbaths with someone of a differing religion which has it's Sabbath on
thine day off. And also, thou can play cards, drink, and generally be sinful,
as long as thou promise to swap penance with someone who's built up a glut of
"Heaven Things."
8. Thou shalt honour
thy legal guardians, unless of course thine therapist suggests they're too
dysfunctional to be worth the bother. Also, thou can put them away in a home
any old time thou feels like it, but thou should at least try to visit once in
a while. OK, how 'bout a phone call? No? Thou art a jerk.
7. Thou shalt not
covet thine neighbour's spouse, nor their lover that they've taken for the
Summer, nor their relatives, nor them either. Thou should buyest a magazine.
6. Thou shalt not
steal...unless it's antiperspirant. In that case, please dost.
5. Thou shalt not
covet thy neighbour's baked goods, nor their gardening supplies, nor their
camper, nor their rotten children, nor that expensive bottle of scotch thou
gavest them for Xmas, nor anything that belongs to them. Thou mayest, however,
"borrow" any of these items and then conveniently "forget"
to take it back - unless it's a perishable food item like coleslaw.
4. Thou shalt not
take the Lord's name in vain, with the following exceptions:
a) Thou hast inadvertently made an appointment with whomever did Tori
Spelling's last hairdo.
b) Thou hast been saddled with co-workers who useth "action" as a
verb.
c) It's the second coming and the Lord has returned, but only if the Lord seems
confused and has wandered aimlessly onto your estate and they don't look like
they're about to do any yardwork.
3. Thou shalt not be
tiresome in thine conversation, nor in thine choice of clothing, nor in thine
work habits. Thou may, however, go jump in the lake.
2. Thou shalt not pay
a lot for this muffler.
1. I am the new
improved "Lemon Fresh God" and thou shalt have no Gods before me, not
a "Potpourri God" nor a "Meadow Fresh God" nor even a
"Double Action Blammo Dirt To Hell God."
God's Total Quality Management
Questionnaire
God would like to thank you for your belief and patronage. In order to better serve your needs, He asks that you take a few moments to answer the following questions.
Please keep in mind that your responses will be kept completely confidential, and that you need not disclose your name or address unless you prefer a direct response to comments or suggestions.
1. How did you find out about God?
__ Newspaper __ Other Book __ Television __ Divine Inspiration __ Word of mouth __ Near Death Experience __ Bible __ Torah __ Other (specify): _____________
2. Are you currently using any other source of inspiration in addition to God? Please check all that apply.
__ Tarot __ Lottery __ Horoscope __ Television __ Fortune cookies __ Ann Landers __ Self-help books __ Sex __ Biorythms __ Alcohol or drugs __ Mantras __ Insurance policies __ None __ Other: _____________
3. God employs a limited degree of Divine Intervention to preserve the balanced level of felt presence and blind faith.
Which would you prefer (circle one)?
a. More Divine Intervention
b. Less Divine Intervention
c. Current level of Divine Intervention is just right
d. Don't know
4. God also attempts to maintain a balanced level of disasters and miracles. Please rate on a scale of 1 - 5 his handling of the following (1=unsatisfactory, 5=excellent):
a. Disasters (flood, famine, earthquake, war) 1 2 3 4 5
b. Miracles (rescues, spontaneous remission of disease, sports upsets) 1 2 3 4 5
5. Do you have any additional comments or suggestions for improving the quality of God's services? (Attach an additional sheet if necessary):
Thank you!
The Psychiatrists
23rd Psalm
The Lord is my
external-internal integrative mechanism, I shall not be deprived of
gratification for my viscerogenic hungers or my need-dispositions. He motivates
me to orient myself toward a non-social object with affective significance, He
positions me in a non-decisional situation, He maximizes my adjustment.
Although I entertain masochistic and self-destructive id impulses, I will
maintain contact with reality, for my superego is dominant. His analysis and
tranquilizers, they comfort me. He assists in the resolution of my internal conflicts
despite my Oedipal problem and psychopathic compulsions. He promotes my group
identification. My personality is totally integrated. Surely my prestige and
status shall be enhanced as a direct function of time, And I shall remain
sociologically, psychologically and economically secure forever.
Dynamic Deity Management Ltd.
Date :- 3rd May 0023
TO: Messrs Matthew, Mark, Luke & John (Publishers).
Dear Sirs,
It is Mr. Christ's understanding that you are planning to write and publish
a biography of him in the near future. Such a biography would, he is sure you
would realize, be entirely unauthorized and if it were published in the form
you suggest he would be forced to take the matter up with the highest
authority.
However he can fully understand your wish to write about his life and will
sanction such a project a number of conditions:
1) That the title of the book be 'The Holy Bible' and not as you propose, 'Hot and Salty - Our Sexy Savior's Saucy Story'.
2) That you do not mention the name of his natural Father (Elvin Roxenby-Toke) who, for legal reasons, contests paternity. He suggest you utilise the 'virgin birth' scenario. Mr. Christ realizes that this is entirely ludicrous but suggests that no- one ever went bust underestimating the credibility off the average religious zealot.
3) That all references to the incident involving the members of members of the Bethlehem Boys Club, olive oil and a wooden spoon to be excised forthwith.
4) That the death scene to be 'pepped up' as it were. The actual circumstances that you mention are simply not dramatic enough. An accident with a wine jar and a stray fish just does not have the theatrical impact of say, a crucifixion with the full atmospheric effects of a large cast.
5) That the book not to be dedicated, as it is at the moment, to 'My dearest Wooly-Boo with all my love squiggles.'
6) That a fictional character, possibly a twelfth disciple, be introduced to give him away to the authorities. The reality of the case, that he was shopped by his Mother and done for indecent exposure, should on no account be discussed.
7) And the so called 'Parable of the Leather Undergarment' be removed or at least modified.
As long as these guidelines are followed he can see no reason why you should not write and publish your proposed biography although he doesn't see it as a success himself. He informs me that he enjoyed your previous books, especially 'Murderburger Hell-High' and 'Slutslaughter - Slashin' the Winded'. Your suggested biography of him appears to be in the same vein and it is for this reason that he must reject your offer of a profit sharing scheme in return for his appearing to promote the book. In any case Mr. Christ is at the moment fully occupied with his promotion for 'Shake 'n' Vac'.
Yours sincerely.
Adam G Smith.
cc Jesus H Christ
END