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Category Archives: Lists

Update: Most Intriguing Opening Paragraphs of Real News Stories Involving People Stuffing Things in Their Pants

TEMPE, Ariz.–A man was caught at a pet shop near University Drive and Dorsey Lane stuffing tarantulas into his pants. (myfoxpheonix.com, 2/1/12) Note: A pattern is beginning to emerge concerning Germans, lizards, and New Zealand. MEXICO CITY–A Mexican man was arrested upon arrival in Mexico City after flying from Lima, Peru with 18 titi monkeys [...]

What Music Will Waft Through Boomer Nursing Homes?

A new game. Uber-boomers–the very brightest twinkles in the eye of World War II–are beginning to retire, collect SS as well as Actual Health Benefits (as opposed to spending so much  money on private health insurance that you can’t afford doctor visits), and, well, die.  This process won’t be pretty and, for most of us, [...]

Edit That Copy!

A new list.  These have to be current and from cited sources.  I’ll start. “The entire show was basically a puzzle which led back to Red John, who was trying to track down former CBI head Madeleine Hightower, who was on the lamb after being falsely accused of murdering a suspect in CBI custody.” http://www.wral.com/entertainment/blogpost/9639299/

Headlines One Regrets Are Real

Search continues for man lost in Michigan river while celebrating failed Rapture prediction

Ways in Which the Human Race Can Be Divided into Two Groups

New list.  Please suggest and defend the above Ways.  That point is that everybody, without exception, must fall into one category or the other.  I’ll start. 1. You’re passing by a closed door and hear your name mentioned.  People in the next room are apparently talking about you.  Group A: You stop and listen.  Group B: You [...]

Wonderful stories, not my own

These are free and flawed by format and the occasional typo, and they are among my favorites.  Please feel free to suggest additions Adam and Eve and Pinch Me, by A.E. Coppard Captain Murderer, by Charles Dickens The Storyteller, by H.H. Munro

Microsoft Word 2003 Spell-Checks My Work in Progress

(A struggle ensues.)  With nod to Jon Stewart (see his Famous Pictures of Naked People), here’s a brief selection of Word’s “suggested substitutions” to suspect words in my new novel, which I swear to god will be finished this year.  Original                              Microsoft Word Improvement CARROLLIAN                     CAROLINA, CARROLL  IAN UNCELEBRATION            ACCELERATION PUCKISH                              PECKISH CRUMPACKERS                 CRUMP ACKERS KRONKHEIT                       CONCEIT, CRUNCHIEST, CRUNCHIER [...]

Headlines that One Hopes are Real

Greek police smash violent doughnut ring THESSALONIKI, Greece — It took an undercover operation, but Greek police have blown a hole in a ring of alleged crooks who had cornered the doughnut market in a beach resort. It started with complaints that two Bulgarian men and a former Greek wrestling champion were using violence to [...]

Pointless Quiz No. 2

What kind of phobic are you?   Your favorite section of the paper is classifieds funnies coupons obits op-eds If you had to die accidentally, you'd prefer to crunch down on a blowfish ovary choke on a cube of raw wagu electrocute yourself in a set tub pass out from sunstroke while gardening in Ecuador [...]

Another Time-Wasting Idea for Writers: The Pointless Quiz

You can make them up yourself, then con strangers into wasting their own time taking them.  Here’s the first:  What obscure body part are you? A really cute guy/girl asked you out!!! You tell him/her you’re old enough to be his/her grandmother/grandfather wake up call the police say “sure” and then prank him so that [...]