Japan’s Biggest Elvis Fan
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan giving an Elvis impersonation during a tour of the house of his emotional King. This must be one of the most honest moments in the life of a politian that I have ever seen. His amused audience are, besides George Bush, the former wife and daugher of Elvis.
Continue Reading“I am Still Alive, for Christ’s Sake”
For millennia writers have employed mistaken identities as a tool to create drama and surprise. This morning I learned that real life tragedy resorts to the same device. The story that follows also shows one more time that the line between comedy and tragedy is often razor sharp.
Weeks After Accident, a Twist of Fate
By CHRISTOPHER MAAG (NYT) CALEDONIA, Mich., June 2
Everyone can be a Novelist
At least Chris Bay thinks so in his new handbook, No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress High Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days. Bay tells us in the opening pages of his treatise that he once believed that you needed several things to start writing a novel in descending order of importance: lots of coffee, plot, character, and setting. But Bay now thinks this is all wrong. All you really need is one thing: a good deadline. Because many people are bad keeping deadlines without external help, Chris has even organized an annual event, the National Novel Writing Month. Last year 60,000 aspiring novelist participated. Some of the novels produced in this speedy fashion were already published by reputable houses. The novel writing month is scheduled again for this November. What are you waiting for?
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Sex Offenders Get Medicaid-Paid Viagra
When I planned my humor weblog, I had no idea that I would frequently encounter promising entries that would be funny and very serious at the same time. Here is another piece of black humor. It is far too early to tell what the fallout of this bureaucratic snafu will be. Unsatisfied Bob Doles?
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer
Nearly 800 convicted sex offenders in 14 states got Medicaid-funded prescriptions for Viagra and other impotence drugs, according to a survey by The Associated Press. The majority of the cases were in New York, Florida and Texas. Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor, is administered differently in every state. Thus, while some states allowed Medicaid payments for prescriptions for the drugs Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, other states did not.
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On the Trials and Tribulations of ‘Old Money’
It can be dauntingly difficult to be rich. Here is another chapter in the humilations rich people can experience from their nouveau riche imitators.
Rich vs. Richer In Palm Beach, The Old Money
Isn’t Having a Ball
Influx of New Wealth Sparks Spat Over Red Cross Event;
Inheritance’s Smaller Role
A 1930s Landmark Is Razed
By ROBERT FRANK
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
May 20, 2005; Page A1
PALM BEACH, Fla.—For nearly a half-century, the Red Cross Ball was the most prestigious party for old Palm Beach society. Then Simon Fireman took over.
Continue ReadingStanding Ovation during the First Day on the Job
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales received a large round of applause when he appeared at the Justice Department for his first day of work. Did the employees at the department break out into spontaneous applause when the new boss showed up because John Ashcroft was so bad? Or did they simply want to preserve their chances for promotion? I was told a long time ago: “If you have been installed by someone else to lead a bunch people, don’t fall into the trap of believing that the applause you get on the first day is sincere! They will clap will clap again when the next boss shows up.”
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