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watch Your Phraseology

There are numerous roadblocks to my intended series: “Is This Still Funny?” wherein I would look over the work of the stand-up comics of my boy days and figure out whether their work stands up. One is that a certain amount of comedy carries an expiration date. Jokes about Warren G. Harding, for example,Continue reading “watch Your Phraseology”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XLVII

Bott, tapping one foot, leaned a shoulder against a strut of the Dragonshelf’s ;loading ramp. He had shouted twice without result, and lacked further options, Without knowing whether one of his remaining grenades was knockout gas, he hated to waste it. And even if it was, that meant either abandoning his crew or luggingContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XLVII”

Di Decides

Diane was born at a different time and a different place. About the time she was photographed with a book, she was thinking how weird it was that she and her best friend were not allowed to drink from the same drinking fountain in the park, or use the same restroom. When she grewContinue reading “Di Decides”

MIDWEEK FICTION: Chronoleap

“Greetings, Human of 2026.” “Hi. This is, um, 2025, by the way.” “This does not matter for our purposes. I seek the one you call Liz Vrbcka.” “That’s the second office on your left when you go out this door.” “I must kill her so her unborn daughter does notContinue reading “MIDWEEK FICTION: Chronoleap”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XLVI

Sitting on the soft, brown sofa left her centimeters above the floor, lower than any exhibits in this, the deepest, dimmest, dustiest section of the Rhododendron’s museum. Leaning back, the Sherriff looked up at the pictures of her father, with a younger Taw Brust, in rooms of a bygone design. There were even picturesContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XLVI”

Booklet Classics

So before we had Interwebs to do this sort of thing more cheaply, publishers would release pocket-sized little volumes with brief essays or stories suitable for giving or carrying around in a pocket or purse. It was the equivalent of the 45 RPM single of our record days, as opposed to a LP, orContinue reading “Booklet Classics”

Doggy Domiciles

It is hardy the job of this blog to critique architecture, but I a as ready and equipped to give advice on the matter as anybody else who dispenses information on the Interwebs. So today we will consider some of the principles in constructing a useful dachshund domicile, collie cottage and other dog housesContinue reading “Doggy Domiciles”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XLV

In utter darkness, flesh met flesh, sharply and without compromise. “This is for our Facilities Director! This is for our Assistant Facilities Director!” His Imperial worship, whom Nubry had expected to bellow and roar and give orders, just stayed bent over the arm of his chair, whimpering and crying for someone heContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XLV”

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days

So maybe you’re not the sort of person who notices this, but it has been rather warm lately. Or maybe you’re one of those people who enjoys the warmth that allows you to broil steaks on the hoods of the cars in the parking lot. But comedy is not made from people who areContinue reading “Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days”

REVENGE OF THE JINGLER

All right, all right. I apologize. The last pop quiz about music videos stuck in between television programs (what some people insist on calling “commercials”) apparently disappointed some people who expected the question to deal with the product, rather than the lyrics themselves. Still, there are plenty of golden oldie pop singles—okay, “jingles”—whichContinue reading “REVENGE OF THE JINGLER”