Chris Nicholson's Writing Weblog
January 26, 2005 • Wednesday
Anyone who agrees that the United States' Federal Communications Commission has gotten a bit heavy-handed will appreciate a new article from the humor publication The Onion: "U.S. Children Still Traumatized One Year After Seeing Partially Exposed Breast on TV."
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January 14, 2005 • Friday
By no means do I want this blog to become a tribute to Dave Barry. I like plenty of other writers, too, such as ... none are coming to mind right now.
That said, here are a couple bits about Barry:
1) My friend Deb forwarded me an article about Barry's "retirement" that appeared on Slate.com: "Elegy for the humorist." The article retrospects on Barry's career, with a focus on his humorous treatments of serious political matters.
2) The Miami Herald has blocked non-subscribers from accessing Barry's last column on their website (therefore, the link I posted on Jan. 3 is broken). The Washington Post, however, has not blocked access to the column, so I suggest you read it there instead. Besides, the Washington Post wrote a better headline for it anyway: "The Last Laugh."
(Side note: It's very difficult to simultaneously update a blog and eat cereal. In case you ever need to know.)
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January 12, 2005 • Wednesday
While watching television today I saw the relatively new commercial for M&M candies. In the ad, actress and vocalist Megan Mullally signs about the various colors of M&M's. One line mentions that there's no word that rhymes with "orange."
As a writer and editor (and former fact-checker), I'm going to be picky (and punchy) and point out that the sung statement is untrue.
The word "orange" does have a rhyme: "sporange." It's a biological term. You can look it up. (But I'm not sure where.)
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January 11, 2005 • Tuesday
Proof that the World Wide Web is a great place, along with the world it resides in: "130,000 Wishes Come True."
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January 10, 2005 • Monday
This weekend I read F.X. Toole's short story "Million $$$ Baby." The story is the basis of Clint Eastwood's new boxing film Million Dollar Baby, and is part of Toole's book Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner.
Toole's only published book (he was 70 years old when it was released), Rope Burns has passed the critical tests of some of America's toughest reviewers: The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker and Washington Post Book World have all lauded the prose of the new writer. Unfortunately Toole passed away at 72 before finishing his second book, which was to be his first novel.
I've been reading the stories in Rope Burns on and off since last spring, when Michael McNulty, a friend of mine who writes magazine articles and film scripts from his home in Los Angeles, recommended it. Mike and I trade book and film recommendations so regularly that it's become a pillar of our friendship. His suggestions have yet to disappoint me.
I hurried to read "Million $$$ Baby" before seeing the film in theatres. I'm interested to see what Eastwood, as director, and Paul Haggis, the script writer, have added to the short story for its translation into a feature-length film.
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January 03, 2005 • Monday
Yesterday the Miami Herald published what may be humor writer Dave Barry's last column: "The last word, for now; humorist gives jokes a rest."
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