Lyndon Hood - blatherskite, Wellington
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Not least because, having thought of it (and realised it could still be vaguely current, though not realising they were debating the tagging bill last night till they started) I had to write it...
New Hood: The Adventures Of Tom Tagger
It probably helps if you're familiar with Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, which you're not. FWIW, here's this from the preface to Tom Sawyer:
New Hood: The Adventures Of Tom Tagger
It probably helps if you're familiar with Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, which you're not. FWIW, here's this from the preface to Tom Sawyer:
Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in.While we're quoting this particular genius, here's a nice bit of Parliamentary language from The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg:
"And so, if the Chair will examine the test-remark in the sack, we shall know which of these two frauds--[The Chair. "Order!"]--which of these two adventurers--[The Chair. "Order! order!"]--which of these two gentlemen--[laughter and applause]--is entitled to wear the belt as being the first dishonest blatherskite ever bred in this town--which he has dishonoured, and which will be a sultry place for him from now out!" [Vigorous applause.]"
Labels: classics, crime, graffiti, Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain, satire, Tom Sawyer
Lyndon Hood - power user, Wellington
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
New Hood: The [Previous] Week Incoherence
Pics of the Weeks: May 2008
I've been reading Mark Twain. The compilation has some "opening remarks" from Kurt Vonnegut at the start of it - I believe they were published when he was alive but given it refers to a couple of pieces that aren't in the compilation it doesn't seem to have been written specially. Vonnegut notes a slew of US satirists who started in the newspapers with a juicy quote I add here when I have the volume to hand.
[Viz:
Anyhow, in wondering if this reading would influence my output it did strike me that if Tom Sawyer et al were around today the would be tagging something. When I put this idea to the office it was pointed out that Tom Sawyer would have everyone else tagging things for him.
Pics of the Weeks: May 2008
I've been reading Mark Twain. The compilation has some "opening remarks" from Kurt Vonnegut at the start of it - I believe they were published when he was alive but given it refers to a couple of pieces that aren't in the compilation it doesn't seem to have been written specially. Vonnegut notes a slew of US satirists who started in the newspapers with a juicy quote I add here when I have the volume to hand.
[Viz:
So many of America's funniest writers have come up through newspapers [he rolls off a few names] that it may be correct to think of them as editorial writers gone berserk.He doesn't specifically mention Ambrose Bierce, more or less comptemporary to Twain. But then, Bierce probably didn't crack - I gather he was like that the whole time.]
It is as through they had written solemnly and respectfully about mankind's problems year after year. And then, one day, they couldn't stand it any more. Nothing would do but that they jeer at their luckless readers for belonging to such a stupid and vain and unlucky and greedy species.
Hi ho.
Anyhow, in wondering if this reading would influence my output it did strike me that if Tom Sawyer et al were around today the would be tagging something. When I put this idea to the office it was pointed out that Tom Sawyer would have everyone else tagging things for him.
Labels: graphics, Mark Twain, satire
