or Powell's or me• • •
"Mike and Jon, Jon and Mike—I've known them both for years, and, clearly, one of them is very funny. As for the other: truly one of the great hangers-on of our time."—Steve Bodow, head writer, The Daily Show
•
"Who can really judge what's funny? If humor is a subjective medium, then can there be something that is really and truly hilarious? Me. This book."—Daniel Handler, author, Adverbs, and personal representative of Lemony Snicket
•
"The good news: I thought Our Kampf was consistently hilarious. The bad news: I’m the guy who wrote Monkeybone."—Sam Hamm, screenwriter, Batman, Batman Returns, and Homecoming
September 16, 2005
Great Moments In The Non-Comprehension Of Acronyms
I understand some people are irritated whenever someone says:
I have to go to the ATM machine.
...since they're actually saying:
I have to go to the Automatic Teller Machine machine.
That doesn't really irk me that much. However, I was deeply irritated and/or amused to see this sentence in Thomas Friedman's latest column:
...although its fourth and eighth graders already score at the top of the Timss international math and science tests, Singapore has been introducing more innovations into schools.
...because, given what TIMSS stands for, Friedman was writing:
...although its fourth and eighth graders already score at the top of the Trends in International Math and Science Study international math and science tests, Singapore has been introducing more innovations into schools.
Read it out loud for the most funniness.
By the way, in addition to my in-depth knowledge of the Iraqi WMD programs and Social Security, I also know a great deal about international educational comparisons.
How my life turned out like this is a sad and tawdry tale.
Posted at September 16, 2005 04:29 PM | TrackBackAC current. ABS brakes. Where will it all end?
Posted by: Spotty at September 16, 2005 07:09 PMIt will end in a sports stadium, where the people sent to save us won't let us out, and won't let help in.
Posted by: Harry at September 16, 2005 10:05 PMIt will end in a sports stadium, where the people sent to save us won't let us out, and won't let help in.
Yes. And as they torment us, they'll keep saying, "We're from the Federal FEMA Agency."
Posted by: Jonathan Schwarz at September 17, 2005 09:36 AMYou know, Tom Friedman is the Robin Leach of globalization. But please don't tell Robin Leach I said that.
Posted by: Jonathan Versen at September 17, 2005 03:01 PMThe fact that I am Singaporean and I am here must prove Tommy is right for once. Frankly the net is a wonder, and people have come up to me telling me I know more about American affairs than most Americans...
Posted by: En Ming Hee at September 18, 2005 07:41 AMI don't mean to pee on your parade, En Ming Hee, but I think our national ignorance is part of our cultural heritage.
I've been passing out information on John Roberts along with our senator's office number right in front of the school library--
and tall guys with "Party Naked" t-shirts and girls with low-rider jeans are asking me WHAT ROE V. WADE IS.
And this is a mid-sized public university in a big city. What other Americans don't know, at smaller and more secluded colleges, is terrifying.
Posted by: Sully at September 18, 2005 09:04 AMtall guys with "Party Naked" t-shirts and girls with low-rider jeans are asking me WHAT ROE V. WADE IS.
Rational ignorance is going way too far when it keeps you from even understanding the joke about "Bush's opinion on Roe vs. Wade? He doesn't care how black people want to get out of New Orleans."
Posted by: Noumenon at September 18, 2005 02:11 PMFriday, a student of mine was boasting a T-shirt that read: "I am for gay marraige if both chicks are hot..." No comment.
Posted by: Elayne at September 19, 2005 12:13 AMThen there's PIN number.
Posted by: cavjam at September 19, 2005 06:19 AMThank you; much appreciated.
Complimenting isn't enough for a clever joke, I have to try to extend it.
Posted by: Noumenon at September 20, 2005 09:54 AMWho can I contact to get more information about international educational comparisons?
I want to educate myself on this very important subject.
Posted by: stephanie maltz at September 21, 2005 11:41 AMOnly the hoi polloi make mistakes of this kind.
Posted by: Simbaud at September 21, 2005 11:39 PMstephanie maltz,
This is a difficult question, one which has puzzled the sages for millenia.
*clears throat, points at self*
Simbaud,
Agreed. We need more newspaper columns written by royalty.
Posted by: Jonathan Schwarz at September 22, 2005 07:21 AMAh, the umpteenth person to have used "the hoi polloi", to quote "Dead Poets Society"...
MEEKS The hoi polloi. Doesn't it mean the herd?
KEATING Precisely, Meeks. Greek for the herd. However, be warned that, when you say "the hoi polloi" you are actually saying the the herd. Indicating that you too are "hoi polloi."
Posted by: En Ming Hee at September 22, 2005 10:43 AMEn Ming Hee,
Thanks for this explanation. As you can tell, the royal joke went nine miles over my head.
Posted by: Jonathan Schwarz at September 25, 2005 12:53 PM
