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Jury Duty

From First Thoughts

So the jury administrator cries out: “If anyone has a problem with the English language, please step up and form a line here.” So I raised my hand and said, “Yeah, I have a problem with the English language: ough —what’s up with that? I mean, bought, through, dough . . . . Continue Reading »

$60 Billion and Bored as Beans

From First Thoughts

One of the talking-head morning shows has predicted that N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg will announce his candidacy for the presidency in April. Pat Buchanan says he will only hurt Clinton/Obama and help the GOP by putting New York into play. If Bloomberg becomes president, you will not be able to . . . . Continue Reading »

Anne Rice, Call Your Office

From First Thoughts

Protesters in Gaza say President Bush is a vampire . But a recent study proves that vampires don’t exist . Therefore, President Bush doesn’t exist. In which case, it’s foolish for Palestinians to get so riled up. I’m so confused. . . . . Continue Reading »

BREAKING NEWS

From First Thoughts

The Dutch have stopped growing . Holy jumping dust bunnies! Where does your candidate stand on this? (If he or she is stumping in the Netherlands, probably on a box.) By way of Slate . . . . . Continue Reading »

The Goose Is Booked

From First Thoughts

for Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame . And Mark McGwire remains steady at a pathetic 128 votes . And Clemens remains angry . And Jim Bouton, author of Ball Four , which exposed players’ abuse of speed back in the early seventies, says ban em, for life . And if it remains a he said/he . . . . Continue Reading »

Clerical Drips

From First Thoughts

One of our esteemed writers pointed me hither: Uwe Siemon-Netto’s disturbing experience at an English countryside Christmas church service . It sounds like a Monty Python sketch. The only thing missing is the vicar’s pulling out a set of plates and smashing them on the pulpit to get the . . . . Continue Reading »