Friday
In my youth, we libbos used to go to P.J. O'Rourke for American libbo laughs. Now that mantle - of American, deceptively profound, politically right on the money laughs - has passed on to IMAO man Frank J. Fleming, whose book, Obama: The Greatest President in the History of Everything is coming out quite soon now.
Good recent Frank Jism:
Things often overwhelm and underwhelm, but seldom do things just whelm.
You see? It's funny (I think), but it also gets you thinking. Where did the word "overwhelm" come from, from which the word "underwhelm" has recently been derived (because as soon as you say "underwhelm" everyone immediately understands)? "Overwhelm" means that "whelm" must once upon a time have meant something too. But what? Is it an upper class mispwonouncing of "realm"? Does "whelm" have a future, as a word? I'm not trying to be funny (although that is one of the standard methods of actually being funny). I'd really like to know.
This is good too:
I support double standards. I expect better behavior out of conservatives than I do liberals.
And this:
You know how everyone has their idea of what a fair tax plan is? Well, I have now unveiled the "Frank J. Fleming Super Double Extra Fair Tax Plan" at PJ Media and it is the fairest of them all. I mean, it’s crazy fair. You’ll recoil in horror and scream, “No! Too fair!” That’s how fair it is.
I need something to end this with, now. I know. Here's my funny yet deceptively profound and right on the money tax plan: The Top Rate of Income Tax Should Be Cut To Zero. If FJ's tax plan is too fair for you, that might be just right.
Good recent Frank Jism
A hyphen there would probably have led to less tittering.
Posted by Phlip Scott Thomas at November 4, 2011 01:31 PM
"Whelm" according to Shorter Oxford meant in 1555, amongst other meanings ´to cover completely with water so as to sink' (my paraphrase). Pretty much what 'overwhelm' literally means today. I think 'underwhelm' is neat as opposite to figurative overwhelm, how else would you express that so succinctly ?
Posted by Robbo at November 4, 2011 02:53 PM
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/whelm
whelm
/ʰwɛlm, wɛlm/ [hwelm, welm]
verb (used with object)
1. to submerge; engulf.
2. to overcome utterly; overwhelm: whelmed by misfortune.
verb (used without object)
3. to roll or surge over something, as in becoming submerged.
Origin: 1250–1300; Middle English whelme, apparently blend of dial. whelve (Old English gehwelfan to bend over) and helm2 (v.) (Old English helmian to cover)
Posted by JSC at November 4, 2011 04:06 PM
Frank J. is excellent - I'll have to get that book for sure. Maybe it's time to get a kindle.
I like your tax Brian, I'd like it better though if I was in the top bracket :)
I think maybe if you taxed civil servants at 50% and politicians at 80% it would be a winner ;p
But as too much thinking about tax does my head in - I think I shall head for a nice relaxing bath where I go and practice whelming myself and my rubber ducky :D
Posted by Hmm at November 4, 2011 05:33 PM
I've seen Frank J pieces occasionally but never paid him much attention. Thanks for rubbing my nose in it; the man is funny. And his book is priced at $1.99 (Kindle version) on Amazon, which is precisely how they should be pricing ebooks. (Publilshers, take note!) I've already ordered a copy (for delivery 11/15).
Posted by Laird at November 4, 2011 05:53 PM
The Whelm was the name of the consolidated space navy in some of the novels of Jack Vance. Vance had an interesting style, among other things he liked recycling obsolete words for effect.
Posted by buwaya at November 4, 2011 06:01 PM
Vance had an interesting style, among other things he liked recycling obsolete words for effect.
- although he wasn't so keen on the effect he had on British audiences when he called one of his books, "Servants of the Wankh".
Back to the Frank J-isms...
Posted by Simon Jester at November 4, 2011 09:06 PM
buwaya: The Whelm was the name of the consolidated space navy in some of the novels of Jack Vance.
To be specific, it was the name of the armed forces (not just the navy) of the Connatic, ruler of three thousand planets of the Alastor Cluster. It is mentioned occasionally in Vance's three "Alastor" novels, which other than the setting are not connected.
Posted by Rich Rostrom at November 4, 2011 11:17 PM
JSC brings us this:
Origin: 1250–1300; Middle English whelme, apparently blend of dial. whelve (Old English gehwelfan to bend over) and helm2 (v.) (Old English helmian to cover)
Literal translation, to bend over and 'cover'. Or from the recipients perspective, "BOHICA". In light of this new found understanding of the word, it appears to me that our elite rulers are doing a lot of whelming.
Posted by Midwesterner at November 5, 2011 01:55 AM
Don't forget ept. (Etymologically, inept is actually the negative of apt.)
Posted by Dr. Weevil at November 5, 2011 04:25 AM
And "gorm", as in "..less", or "he has plenty of gorm"
Posted by Stephen Willmer at November 5, 2011 08:53 AM
Back on topic?
Book Description
It's hard to remember the dark days before 2008. It was a time of hatred, racism, violence, obese children, war, untaxed rich people, and incandescent light bulbs -- perhaps the worst days we had ever seen. And at the heart of it all was a thuggish, thoughtless man, George W. Bush, who lashed out angrily at whatever he didn't understand -- and he understood so very little. Then there was that laugh of his -- that horrible snicker that mocked everything intelligent and nuanced. Also, he looked like a chimp.He seems to have forgotten the part where The Saviour walked on the face of the ocean from one continent to another, to get that noblest prize he so much deserved by the virtue of his very existence - but it could be in the book itself? Good stuff.It seemed like the end for the United States of America. We would crumble in the hands of vicious, superstitious dimwits determined to hunt "ter'ists" or other figments of Bush's rotten mind. There was nothing left to do but head to Whole Foods to prepare our organic, sustainable, fair-trade last meal as the country ended around us. Despair had overtaken us, and we wondered aloud whether we could ever feel hope again.
And then a man emerged who firmly answered, "Yes we can!"
Oh, but Barack Obama was no mere man. He was a paragon of intelligence and civilized society. A savior to the world's depressed. A lightbringer. A genius thinking thoughts the common man could never hope to comprehend. And his words -- his beautiful words read from crystal panes -- reached down to our souls and told us all would be well. With the simple act of casting a ballot for Barack Obama, we could make the world an immeasurably better place -- a world of peace, of love, of understanding, of unicorns, of rainbows, of expanded entitlements. This was his promise. And now, having had him as president for more than two years, we can say without reservation that he has delivered all his promises and more and is the best president this country -- or any country -- has ever had or could even imagine to have.
Posted by Alisa at November 5, 2011 01:05 PM
