Posts Tagged ‘humor’
So I wake up this morning, turn on the news, and lo and behold U.S. Forces finally caught and killed Osama Bin Laden. There are a lot of links out there with the story, and as I am writing this, details continue to emerge. However, I tend to be interested in the more quirky and curious angles of the story. I suppose at the end of the day, this is a small way for me to remember the event, in case anyone asks me where was I sort of thing. For the record, I was at home, getting ready to go to work. I first found out when I turned the tv first thing in the morning to one of the local channels to get the usual weather report and quick local headlines. I usually keep my weekends as free of hard news as possible. Given how crappy news tend to be as of late (not to mention that I can’t stand most of the talking heads and pundits that pretend to be journalists), I try to keep myself blissfully distracted over the weekend.
So, here are some links that may be of interest:
- A sampling of advertisements that featured Osama, usually to hawk some product. I think the condom one could become a classic. (Via Copyranter)
- Can you get an obituary of Osama? Sure, go ahead and ask your friendly librarian. (Via Your Librarian Hates You)
- The Newseum had their online front page exhibit as usual. However, they got one hit too many today. You can get a small sampling of the front pages of newspapers today with some photos via Mashable.
- And via The Atlantic Wire, a sampling of headlines from the Arab world. There is a bit of a contrast if you look closely.
- The blog Circling the Lion’s Den looks at a CRS Report on the cost of the wars on terror since 9/11. This may give a little perspective on the real cost of killing the guy.
- John Scalzi had some thoughtful comments about the event on his blog Whatever.
- Did you miss the end of Sunday’s Celebrity Apprentice because Obama preempted it so he could make the big announcement? Jezebel has the video with the ending here.
- Do you wish to learn more about Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and the region? The New York Times has put together a small reading list.
- UN Dispatch has the most significant story out of Pakistan today, and no, it is not about Osama Bin Laden.
- And according to The Borowitz Report, after today, both U.S. political parties agreed to cancel the 2012 elections. Read for details and enjoy a little humor.
- Via Global Voices, you can get some Pakistani reactions to the event.
- Also via Global Voices, not everyone is rejoicing that Osama was killed. In the Arab world, some are mourning him and even see him as a martyr or hero.
- (Update note: 5/3/2011): Global Voices now has a full section of coverage on Osama Bin Laden’s death.
- (Update note: 5/10/2011): I was meaning to link this one sooner. ProPublica has put together a pretty good Bin Laden Reading Guide. One to help you cut through the nonsense and pundits and get to what is important to know.
Mark Twain clearly could combine humor and insult flawlessly when he wrote. The guy would have been quite the blogger today. This is a letter where he labels a snake oil salesperson as an idiot of the 33rd degree, but he does it oh so well. You can click on the link not only to see the letter’s text, which I am transcribing below for reference, but the original letter, which has been scanned. You can also get some context. All I saying is I wish I could write like that. There are people in my life who deserve this kind of reply.
The letter’s text:
Nov. 20. 1905
J. H. Todd
1212 Webster St.
San Francisco, Cal.Dear Sir,
Your letter is an insoluble puzzle to me. The handwriting is good and exhibits considerable character, and there are even traces of intelligence in what you say, yet the letter and the accompanying advertisements profess to be the work of the same hand. The person who wrote the advertisements is without doubt the most ignorant person now alive on the planet; also without doubt he is an idiot, an idiot of the 33rd degree, and scion of an ancestral procession of idiots stretching back to the Missing Link. It puzzles me to make out how the same hand could have constructed your letter and your advertisements. Puzzles fret me, puzzles annoy me, puzzles exasperate me; and always, for a moment, they arouse in me an unkind state of mind toward the person who has puzzled me. A few moments from now my resentment will have faded and passed and I shall probably even be praying for you; but while there is yet time I hasten to wish that you may take a dose of your own poison by mistake, and enter swiftly into the damnation which you and all other patent medicine assassins have so remorselessly earned and do so richly deserve.
Adieu, adieu, adieu!
Mark Twain
My favorite line: “scion of an ancestral procession of idiots stretching back to the Missing Link.” Now that is a lot of idiots.
A hat tip to Pharyngula.
(Crossposted from my professional blog, The Gypsy Librarian).
I will be heading out to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season. This is a quick note to let my three readers know that blogging here will pretty much pause until next year. It is also a chance to wish all of you out there a merry and safe holiday season, whatever the holiday you choose to celebrate. Please, I beg of you folks, if you drink, do not drive. If you drive, please put the cellphone down and pay attention to the road. We do not need unnecessary tragedies this season or just a bad situation on the road. In fact, two days ago, we had an 8 car or so pile-up in South Broadway Avenue (the area I live in), and it was basically due to a combination of tailgating and impatience. Please, be careful out there. Have a good time. Peace to all.
In the meantime, I have done my traditional holiday posting. You can find my holiday posts over at The Itinerant Librarian. So go on, stop by, and be amused for a while.
- "The Opening Salvo." Trivia, facts, and things to amuse and entertain you.
- "You are still NOT done shopping?" Plenty of ideas and advice on shopping, with a little humor. Of course, if you are not done yet, maybe you should read this later and hop to it.
- "The Reader's Edition." Stuff about books and reading. I am a librarian, what did you expect? There had to be something about books and reading.
- "Where we look at what the hell happened last year." My version of the obligatory annual end of year summary. I think mine is better.
