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
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"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
May 05, 2008
Cinco De Arturo
Happy birthday to Arthur Silber, who turns sixty today. I suspect he wouldn't say no if you were moved to send him some money.
CINCO DE WHY-O?: Three years ago I wrote a post about the geopolitical origins of Cinco de Mayo, which are pretty damn interesting in their own right as well as relevant to our situation in America today.
—Jonathan Schwarz
Posted at May 5, 2008 01:32 PMHAPPY BIRTHDAY Arthur Silber!!!
Posted by: Mike Meyer at May 5, 2008 04:13 PMImagine a parallel universe where Arthur had been friends with Obama and got his 15 minutes of fame on national TV. That's worth daydreaming about.
I can't quite imagine Arthur staying friends with a slick politician like Obama, but no need to let that spoil things.
Posted by: Donald Johnson at May 5, 2008 09:12 PMI'm with you, Donald.
Posted by: Save the Oocytes at May 6, 2008 02:38 AMSome of the best writing about the noxious bubble of gas that most American politics take place in comes from people on the fringes, some of whom like Arthur, are in straits more or less dire. Crimmins and Perrin (et tu Jon?) seem to do it tough too, but manage despite (or perhaps because of) their world-weariness, to pierce the bubble - whereas the Kossacks and their penumbra just add more hot air to the bubble, from a different direction than usual.
Hats off to Arthur, a man of whom it can truly be said 'he has the power of facing unpleasant facts.'
Posted by: Glenn Condell at May 6, 2008 03:36 AM
