JACK'S BLOG
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Today's ChuckleAccording to Wikipedia, "a pun, also known as a paranomasia, is a form of wordplay that suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect." The citation also goes on to say that "The Roman playwright Plautus is famous for his tendency to make up and change the meaning of words to create puns in Latin." Unfortunately, my professor of Latin in law school never appreciated my efforts to emulate Plautus. The humor in many of Bizarro's comic strips depend on puns. On Sundays, he frequently features "Sunday Punnies" based on suggestions from fans. I enjoy puns. Indeed, the oldest piece of humor that I can dredge up from memory is a pun that I read in my mother's Reader's Digest when I was about twelve years old... "Three pregnant American natives lay on three different animal hides when it came time to birth their children. The first lay on the hide of an elk and gave birth to an infant son. The second lay on the hide of a bear and gave birth to an infant son. The third lay on the hide of a hippopotamus and gave birth to twin sons. "The point? The squaw of the hippopotamus is equal to the sons of the squaws of the other two hides." [Hint: It's trigonometry] One of my favorite guests on the Tonight Show during the time when it was hosted by Johnny Carson, was Jose Feliciano. (That name may bring a smile of recollection to some and furrow the brows of others in consternation: Jose who?) I'll close this posting with a video of Jose performing one of his more famous compositions to help those who have never had the pleasure of seeing or hearing Feliciano perform. Before I do, let me recollect that after singing for the audience, Jose would sit in the guest seat reciting puns while Carson attempted to interview him. He had an insatiable appetite for puns.
2 Comments
1/8/2014 10:58:02 pm
A close friend of mine, Jerry Flemmons, was travel editor of a major newspaper. He loved sneaking puns into his stories. He wrote about sitting on the beach, watching the terns run around he incoming tide. The tern's mate had already left, but this tern would not leave until cold weather hit. Jerry ended his story, writing that he hoped the cold came soon because one good tern deserves a norther.
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Jack Durish
1/9/2014 08:50:40 am
Thanks for reminding me that I forgot to explain what a "groaner" is. You provided an excellent example...
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