Comments on: Genteel Wherewithal

By: Doug K

Doug K — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:16:58 +0000

ogmb: we have a perfectly good Denver mayor name of Hickenlooper. He was in the running for Ken Salazar’s senatorial seat, but for some inexplicable reason Gov. Ritter appointed the so-far entirely featureless Michael Bennett. I think Mayor H. would have made a fine Senator. Bennett is now ensconced and well-funded unfortunately.

By: ajay

ajay — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:43:29 +0000

In the intro to one of his books, PG Wodehouse says that the only way he was able to eat as a young man was that the Saturday Evening Post used to buy his stories, and he was convinced that they only did so, in those days of mighty three-decker names, because an ingenious agent submitted the first one under his full name of

PELHAM GRENVILLE WODEHOUSE

and after that there was no stopping him.

By: nickhayw

nickhayw — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:40:27 +0000

…I love Achewood.

By: ogmb

ogmb — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 09:24:34 +0000

Sorry, but Hickenlooper is still the best Senatorial name ever.

By: e julius drivingstorm

e julius drivingstorm — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 05:29:11 +0000

Zsheesh. I think I’ll just go home now.

By: Bloix

Bloix — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 05:14:42 +0000

The author of the Book of Genteel Wherewithal seems to have been blissfully unaware of the original Horatio Nelson.

By: Buce

Buce — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 04:14:11 +0000

Recall how Joe McCarthy was careful to give all State Dept targets three names so they would sound like cookie pushers. John Carter Vincent, John Stewart Service, John Kenneth Fairbanks, etc.

By: John Holbo

John Holbo — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:49:54 +0000

“Staff Sergeant Piously Gidget the White Geodesist”

The old trick of giving people adverbial names is, indeed, often a good one. This one, however, cries out to be but one installment in a series of morally improving boy’s adventure titles

Private Piously Gidget and the Itching Amulet
Corporal Piously Gidget and the Whispering Washroom
Staff Sergeant Piously Gidget and the White Geodesist

And so on up through the ranks until our hero becomes a 4-star general. (But he never marries the girl.)

By: John Holbo

John Holbo — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:39:00 +0000

“Isaiah Oleta the Zany Mailman”

I loved that book as a kid. (Memories, memories.) Postman Pat is a pale pale imitation.

By: Substance McGravitas

Substance McGravitas — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:31:14 +0000

You’ve gotta find an old copy of JanusNode or some other text mangler. Look:

Kowjoyd Rafethok the Calm Scissor-Tail Rasbora
President Weejdillon Convicts-Mammalian
Staff Sergeant Piously Gidget the White Geodesist
Isaiah Oleta the Zany Mailman
Kneeling Canto-Deirdre the Grayling
Zelmatha Amulets-Certification

Et cetera.

By: John Holbo

John Holbo — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:57:23 +0000

I’ve never watched CSI Miami, john b. Which is to say: you are making a joke, and I’m not getting it. This is an intolerable situation. (I’m just a plain man. I will thank you to address me in a plain manner. None of your tricks.)

By: john b

john b — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:54:11 +0000

I’m concerned you may be slating the work of televisual and cinematic genius that is CSI Miami. That just isn’t on.