As a woman, who spent the vast majority of her adult life as a single woman in Washington, DC, those questions, but especially “is he smart or did he just go to Georgetown?” will save you lots of headaches. And before you say I’m bitter about Georgetown, I got in for grad school , but went to the UofMN for free. Because going to Georgetown to work in government is the definition of not smart.
I remember a night, about 15 years ago, when I was reading in my room and heard my oldest daughter laughing hysterically from the front room. "Hey, mom," she called, "this guy is really funny. Have you ever heard of George Carlin?" Moments like that assured me that I was bringing my children up well.
A Shakespeare authorship joke AND a Henry VIII joke? Today's newsletter was written specifically for me.
Anne Boleyn did become a Marquess and then received a coronation and became an anointed queen so hell yeah she racked up those promotions! This joke officially checks out.
Dear Liz- you write about some very serious and very important shit… and I’m here for it , but mostly I’m here for laughs (Is he smart or is he just four “Well actuallys” in a trench coat?) and to learn new words. (Ouroboros). Thank you for expanding my mind on so many levels!
My Dingus is CBS Mornings where today they covered extensively how Trump wants to make tips tax-free, but have not covered his bizarre Hannibal Lecter c********** speech and all the other bizarre things he says at his rallies. The legacy media continue to absolutely fail at covering him.
This was very satisfying to read. I, in fact, did know the name William English, because I encountered him as an undergrad at Duke. His name is memorable, but his type was unfortunately exceedingly common in my experience there. Coincidentally or not, he was in the same graduating class as Aileen Cannon, the judge handling the Trump documents in case in Florida who received similarly prominent treatment in the NYT yesterday. I promise not all Duke alums are terrible conservatives, but I'll admit the evidence in my favor is hard to muster.
Along the lines of "Is he smart or...." I keep seeing my friends on IG share reels of what may be the same man, but most likely is the same _kind_ of man, sharing DEEP THOUGHTS on what it means to be A MAN and he has a nicely trimmed longish beard, often a baseball cap (crisp & new not worn in) and large biceps. Routine usually mentions having Emotions, surrounding yourself with like-minded people who want to GRIND, and going to the gym just after taking mushroom capsules. While none of these ideas are inherently bad, or even new ideas, even some of my not-men-friends are sharing these reels on the regular. Who are these men? Why are they on a stage or talking into that mic? I wish I could selectively mute this stuff.
Reminds me of when our family went to the local ice cream shoppe a few weeks ago. Another young family came up, three kids, youngest still in car seat being awkwardly carried by dad. Dad had the exact same description as your IG reel, deep thinking man above. Wife was very much a trad wife. Dad saw an elderly man with a Korean War hat, and very loudly proclaimed, "God bless you for your service! Did you serve in Korea? God bless you. Bless you." Like why are you talking so loud? Because everyone has to hear you? Shut up and eat your kids' ice cream.
To connect your Dingus essay with Euro2024 and international soccer: So having a British accent may not make you smarter than others, but it definitely means you’ll be a smarter and better soccer, sorry, FOOTBALL commentator. Those of us who love the game are treated to poetic phrases and the elevation of routine plays to something special simply by the narrative descriptions of British announcers like Peter Drury and Scots like Derek Rae. The only American equivalent that I can think of was the great baseball announcer, Vin Scully, who made listening to a baseball game as enjoyable as reading a good book. This was especially so when I was a kid and only heard him on the radio, for all we had then were the word pictures painted by him.
I've recently been enjoying the NWSL matches and for the commentary on both ION and Prime Video, they have actual soccer players who know what they're talking about (even if they aren't as excitable as some of our wonderful British commentators :)
10 years ago, my late father quoted some unrealistic statistic to me about gun owners preventing crime, like this English dude.
It was a wild enough number that I asked him a) if he’d ever prevented a crime or b) if he knew anyone who had. He said no to both, and didn’t bring it up again. I never changed his mind on any of his conspiracy bullshit, but I was very good at shutting it down.
This English guy seems to have hit the sweet spot with it being like, 1 in 300 Americans. Large enough of a group that you think it’s plausible that you know someone who has done it, without actually being able to think of anyone.
Glad that your son is feeling better. When our youngest was 1, she got dehydrated over the July 4th weekend while we were visiting my parents. We did a similar two-step dance from Urgent Care to the ER. Nothing worse than four or five nurses trying to get an IV started in a dehydrated 1-year-old with super small veins. On the other side of things, I've now been to the ER enough with our youngest that it doesn't stress me out (too much) anymore. "I've been here before. She's been okay. We can do this." Which helped me cope when she got croup in Miami and we needed to go to Urgent Care.
Wow! Another great start to my Friday! Re LA and the 10C, Anthony Borowitz skewered the new law big time by saying that the impetus behind it was to give school children a quasi-roadmap to follow in their quest to “be best,” or at least more like Donald. The 10C would function like a classroom checklist for kids to record every transgression (large or small) committed by the “Orange One!” (I actually read The Borowitz Report before I saw the real news story in the NYT- I had a very difficult time determining which one was “fake!”)
As a woman, who spent the vast majority of her adult life as a single woman in Washington, DC, those questions, but especially “is he smart or did he just go to Georgetown?” will save you lots of headaches. And before you say I’m bitter about Georgetown, I got in for grad school , but went to the UofMN for free. Because going to Georgetown to work in government is the definition of not smart.
I also should have added “Is he smart or was his great grandfather a robber baron?”
I remember a night, about 15 years ago, when I was reading in my room and heard my oldest daughter laughing hysterically from the front room. "Hey, mom," she called, "this guy is really funny. Have you ever heard of George Carlin?" Moments like that assured me that I was bringing my children up well.
I hope someone runs for Governor of Florida on a platform that promises to install the ten commandments just outside Mar-A-Lago.
oh, yeah. agree completely.
A Shakespeare authorship joke AND a Henry VIII joke? Today's newsletter was written specifically for me.
Anne Boleyn did become a Marquess and then received a coronation and became an anointed queen so hell yeah she racked up those promotions! This joke officially checks out.
Thank you for your support!!
It was the yellow wallpaper for me.
Dear Liz- you write about some very serious and very important shit… and I’m here for it , but mostly I’m here for laughs (Is he smart or is he just four “Well actuallys” in a trench coat?) and to learn new words. (Ouroboros). Thank you for expanding my mind on so many levels!
Amen! I had to go to the Dictionary!
My Dingus is CBS Mornings where today they covered extensively how Trump wants to make tips tax-free, but have not covered his bizarre Hannibal Lecter c********** speech and all the other bizarre things he says at his rallies. The legacy media continue to absolutely fail at covering him.
they've had a few runner ups recently, as well. Methinks Tony is going to make the list.
This was very satisfying to read. I, in fact, did know the name William English, because I encountered him as an undergrad at Duke. His name is memorable, but his type was unfortunately exceedingly common in my experience there. Coincidentally or not, he was in the same graduating class as Aileen Cannon, the judge handling the Trump documents in case in Florida who received similarly prominent treatment in the NYT yesterday. I promise not all Duke alums are terrible conservatives, but I'll admit the evidence in my favor is hard to muster.
Along the lines of "Is he smart or...." I keep seeing my friends on IG share reels of what may be the same man, but most likely is the same _kind_ of man, sharing DEEP THOUGHTS on what it means to be A MAN and he has a nicely trimmed longish beard, often a baseball cap (crisp & new not worn in) and large biceps. Routine usually mentions having Emotions, surrounding yourself with like-minded people who want to GRIND, and going to the gym just after taking mushroom capsules. While none of these ideas are inherently bad, or even new ideas, even some of my not-men-friends are sharing these reels on the regular. Who are these men? Why are they on a stage or talking into that mic? I wish I could selectively mute this stuff.
Oh my god. Especially if they are saying this like performatively feminist stuff and I’m like “boooooooooooooooo” it bothers me too
Reminds me of when our family went to the local ice cream shoppe a few weeks ago. Another young family came up, three kids, youngest still in car seat being awkwardly carried by dad. Dad had the exact same description as your IG reel, deep thinking man above. Wife was very much a trad wife. Dad saw an elderly man with a Korean War hat, and very loudly proclaimed, "God bless you for your service! Did you serve in Korea? God bless you. Bless you." Like why are you talking so loud? Because everyone has to hear you? Shut up and eat your kids' ice cream.
To connect your Dingus essay with Euro2024 and international soccer: So having a British accent may not make you smarter than others, but it definitely means you’ll be a smarter and better soccer, sorry, FOOTBALL commentator. Those of us who love the game are treated to poetic phrases and the elevation of routine plays to something special simply by the narrative descriptions of British announcers like Peter Drury and Scots like Derek Rae. The only American equivalent that I can think of was the great baseball announcer, Vin Scully, who made listening to a baseball game as enjoyable as reading a good book. This was especially so when I was a kid and only heard him on the radio, for all we had then were the word pictures painted by him.
This is fair, but I'd also add this for youth soccer, er, football:
*Can he actually coach at a high level or does he just have a British accent and cool track suit?
Good point. Although someone who grew up in a soccer country will almost by accident be more competent than an equally unqualified American.
I've recently been enjoying the NWSL matches and for the commentary on both ION and Prime Video, they have actual soccer players who know what they're talking about (even if they aren't as excitable as some of our wonderful British commentators :)
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
I'm just going to drop this delightful little interview here for folks to enjoy: https://www.bbc.com/videos/c3gxwe2nnxvo
"There's some people on the pitch -- they think it's over! ... It is now!"
I was raised on George Carlin, and I'm eternally grateful.
A Yellow Wallpaper and Henry VIII reference in one newsletter? Chef’s kiss
I’m out here in the word mines working hard for you all
Four “Well, actuallys” in a trench coat was the guffaw I didn’t know I was capable of this Friday morning of what has been a stressful week. Thanks!
10 years ago, my late father quoted some unrealistic statistic to me about gun owners preventing crime, like this English dude.
It was a wild enough number that I asked him a) if he’d ever prevented a crime or b) if he knew anyone who had. He said no to both, and didn’t bring it up again. I never changed his mind on any of his conspiracy bullshit, but I was very good at shutting it down.
This English guy seems to have hit the sweet spot with it being like, 1 in 300 Americans. Large enough of a group that you think it’s plausible that you know someone who has done it, without actually being able to think of anyone.
Glad that your son is feeling better. When our youngest was 1, she got dehydrated over the July 4th weekend while we were visiting my parents. We did a similar two-step dance from Urgent Care to the ER. Nothing worse than four or five nurses trying to get an IV started in a dehydrated 1-year-old with super small veins. On the other side of things, I've now been to the ER enough with our youngest that it doesn't stress me out (too much) anymore. "I've been here before. She's been okay. We can do this." Which helped me cope when she got croup in Miami and we needed to go to Urgent Care.
Wow! Another great start to my Friday! Re LA and the 10C, Anthony Borowitz skewered the new law big time by saying that the impetus behind it was to give school children a quasi-roadmap to follow in their quest to “be best,” or at least more like Donald. The 10C would function like a classroom checklist for kids to record every transgression (large or small) committed by the “Orange One!” (I actually read The Borowitz Report before I saw the real news story in the NYT- I had a very difficult time determining which one was “fake!”)
“Is he smart or is he just four “Well actuallys” in a trench coat?”
I chortled!