People Are Talking
Published: July 13, 2009
Writing can be a lonely and thankless undertaking. Even on good days it requires dedication, sacrifice, and an unwavering ability to remain focused on your craft in the face of scant evidence that anyone reads your words. But sometimes people do read them, and occasionally they react to them. The internet makes it easy to sow savage scorn, and to reap it. It also makes it abundantly clear when you’ve made an impact. Today we’ll take a look at what people have been saying about what Wordsmokers have been saying.
In the aftermath of Sarah Palin’s surprise resignation, William Jacobson, a conservative professor from Cornell Law School, penned an essay decrying the vilification of Trig Palin, which he claimed demonstrated the moral bankruptcy of the left. “I do know why the left hates her so much. And it keeps coming back to Trig.” It probably has a lot more to do with Palin’s calculated and disingenuous use of her family as PR props when it suits her purposes, but I think we can agree that photoshopping pictures of Trig was uncalled for. He goes on to cite numerous unkind comments in the blogosphere, concluding with VirusWithShoes’s “did Trig Palin write this speech for her?” Our intrepid editor and publisher is referred to as “the intellect in charge” around these parts, to which few of his acolytes would object. Jacobson’s article was reprinted here and here, and may even have lead to this love letter to Virus.
Jesus’ General published an essay from “Sarah Palin” in which she calls Virus a “Howard Stern asshat wannabe” while giving the real reason for her resignation:
Alaska and I are parting ways for one reason and one reason only: if you love something wild, you must set it free. And then you shoot it and mount it on your wall… I shot it and now I’m going to mount it on my wall of the accomplishments that prove I’m ready for the presidency.
This was also reprinted here.
On a less belligerent note, Virus’s throwaway reference to the “little ice age” in his otherwise grossly unremarkable Private Messaging upgrade post was picked up by a “Climate Change” website that mostly links to scary-hard articles on sunspot activity and global warming “debunking.” Way to go, fooling all those search engines, asshat wannabe! I mean, boss! [I hope you enjoyed your author status while you had it. - Ed.]
But enough about that guy. Way back in February, KoraInHell reevaluated childhood menaces such as (shudder) books, along with her parents’ woeful parenting skills, in light of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). Her essay was cited on Overlawyered, but with a “rude language” warning. Kora’s post was also cited here, with yet another language warning. The George Carlin quote at the bottom was probably the reason for all this e-washing of her e-mouth with e-soap.
Sproing’s essay on the tribulations of a working reporter facing his public was cited by The Grey-Beard Loon, who called it “pretty funny.” “Uproariously acerbic” would have been more accurate; it would easily make my Top 10 list of Wordsmoker posts for the year.
In March, a recovery site quoted the first installment of samuraipandapoetry’s heartfelt and moving series on AA and atheism.
Back during Wordsmoker’s Cro-Magnon period, urlesque called Adam Streeter’s much missed Monday Morning Maya feature delightful and brilliant. Amen to that.
samurainoutono cited lawyergay’s take on the murder of Dr. George Tiller. But it was in a foreign language and someone will have to help me out because I am but an ignorant American. It might be in Italian, and I think it’s favorable, because the hyperlink says “esse delicioso post.” Seriously, I haven’t a clue. You’d be impressed if you saw my bookshelf lined with books, tapes, and comics in Latin, Greek (ancient and modern), Mandarin, Hindi, and Urdu. You’d be far less impressed it you tried to engage me in conversation in any of the above.
The Gray Falcon (not to be confused with the Grey-Beard Loon) argued that former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s Serbian heritage was irrelevant to the discussion of his corruption scandal, if for no other reason than he had disowned it. A commenter there cited Rosa Luxembourgeoise’s article from late last year as a good attempt to make the same argument.
Remember when that other site shilled 24/7 for its noxious, albeit pretty, creation, Julia Allison? Trixie from Toronto’s Julia’s On My Couch: Calling Dr. Bombay from January was linked by one commenter at Reblogging Nonsociety, and called “comedic gold” by another. You can also find that here.
Also in January, Aaron Altman’s Flight 1549 As… Metaphor for the United States? was cited by Frank H. Jump on his Fading Ad blog, which is devoted to media, cultural movements, and urban archaeology. There are lots of great pictures over there. Check it out.
In response to my latest Conspiracy Corner offering, That’s Right Nate vowed to tackle left-wing bastions such as Wordsmoker. The site seems mostly tongue-in-cheek, but this didn’t stop Wordsmoker Extraordinaire BigLeggedWoman from marching straight over there to stir up some drama. This instigated three dozen comments, which is two to three dozen more then Nate usually gets. One of his commenters even put in an appearance on Wordsmoker during the skirmish. Welcome, Dollface! Do come again.
I mentioned James Harbeck and his wonderful language blog, Sesquiotica, in a Word of the Day column. This polymathic (and probably evil) genius manages to publish an insightful and gemlike definition almost daily, and he added Wordsmoker to his Blogroll after I left a couple of comments over there. Do yourself a favor and have a look.
Speaking of Blogrolls, here are a few other blogs that think Wordsmoker has the right stuff. I’ve excluded shout-outs from the blogs of identifiable Wordsmokers. (There’s incest with your cousin, and then there’s incest with your sister.)
- Art Matters
- The Hour Badly Spent
- Le Front Onaniste (does that mean what I think it does?)
- Political Party Girl
- Tomorrow Land
Now be good netizens and visit these fine folks, OK? And if you know of any citations of Wordsmoker that I’ve overlooked, be sure to note them in the comments. Or if you’ve heard anyone talk smack about us at a dingy nail salon, drunken pool party, or professional sporting event. Voices that only you seem to hear don’t count.
Image of Alexander Graham Bell speaking on the phone, 1892, via the Gilbert H. Grosvenor Collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.
Image of Sandra Dee via fanpix.net.
Image of woman in pool via telephoneart.com
What a great feature! Thanks for doing the legwork, Mr. Sance.
@BC: Agreed. And I personally know he’s been working on this post since January!
That’s medication – sorry – dedication for you!
WHO WEARS HIGH HEELS WHILE LYING ON AN AIRBED IN A POOL WHILE TALKING ON THE PHONE?
I CALL SHENANIGANS!!!!
Look here, Virus: how I spend my Mondays is my business, okay?
I’d better paddle over to the edge so I can check out Thatsrightnate!
@VirusWithShoes: Someone who wants to get electrocuted while still lookin good? I mean, it’s an old school phone so there’s gotta be a chance this could happen, right? I’m too young to fully know/care/understand phones with chords – except the one at my office that always becomes tangled and pisses me off.
Excellent work, Sance. Now will someone please tell me when you were going to spring it on me that this was a left-wing bastion?
@That’s Right Nate: If you can read this, I have been seduced by these liberals. They hooked me in with their women of loose morals and promises of awards unaccompanied by monetary compensation. My God, they even had me ready to grave rob in a harlequin costume. I feel so dirty.
ChillbearLatrigue: I am not a women of loose morals. Although I do have a loose molar.
Now admit to the nice man that you post here just to antagonize us, and then you can have an ice cream.
Sance, I haven’t heard anyone talk smack about you but sometimes I make sure to call your name out in bed. By “in bed” I mean “blog circle jerk” but without the blogging or the circle, so the shout-out probably doesn’t help you much, but I just thought it would be nice to tell you.
@Chill: who you calling loose? From now on, all your rewards are gonna cost you, Officer (for the record, that is not a solicitation).
That’s what liberals do. They use loose women to lure you in and the next thing your flying high on goofballs, listening to James Taylor records, and running around barefoot. They are free with money as long as they can tax us hardworking people to get it. Don’t be a patsy.
As for the site administrator, the only reason I don’t get more comments on my blog is because people are intimidated by my intelligence. It is not like I don’t get any comments. I make several everyday myself using other accounts to back me up and support me. Now if you’ll excuse me after posting in this disgusting den of depravity, I need to go shower.
@Thatsrightnate: Hello “Nate”, if that’s even YOUR REAL NAME. Even if your name’s “Ambrosia” or “Peter Andre”, WELCOME.
YOU GRACE US WITH YOUR NATEFUL PRESENCE!
EVERYONE GO OVER TO NATE’S SITE AND DO THINGS. THINGS.
http://thatsrightnate.com/
Did anyone else notice how mesmerized Nate was with me? Plus it looks like I might have a new bff (former Miss Ohio)!
Welcome to slinkers (hadn’t seen you ’round here before) — and a belated welcome to Dollface!
@thatsrightnate: now, now mister. That kind of talk is not going to get you a peek at my tits or Unfuns ass.
@M-rash:This is the most blatant example of trying to win a female body part Smokie that I’ve ever seen. However, where you fell short was the lack of visual aids.
@Chill: It’s only Monday.
Awwwwyeahhhh! I’m famous in Italy! Smell ya later, bitches!
But seriously, thanks for compiling this, RS! I love our little home on the web.
Welcome, slinkers! Everyone, say “Hi!’ to slinkers. The Hour Badly Spent, cited in the post, is slinkers’s blog.
@BC: Thank you! You are most welcome.
@Chill: Thank you, too!
@Nate: You should come around more often so that we can discuss why you don’t want to date our BigLeggedWoman. Do you think you’re too good for her? Don’t you like girls? That’s OK, too. As you’ve noticed, we’re mostly liberals around here, so we have few moral qualms and are OK with just about anything.
@lg: Think of it as my birthday present to you! (And, I love it too.)
Chill, are you Argentinian? You sound just like that evil temptress who tempted Mark Sanford. I hope he is successful in falling back in love with his wife. I get my kicks above the waist line sunshine.
Rene: that’s all right. Somehow Nate knew ‘Kate’ was over 28. It just isn’t fate. You don’t need to hate.
Rene, my principles on dating are fairly simple. I am actively seeking an attractive preferably blonde conservative evangelical woman between ages 20-28. She must have very good financial prospects either because of her parents’ wealth or because of her own talents. I am not one of those old fashioned guys who will not let his woman work outside the home. As long as my house is well taken care of and dinner’s on the table when I get home, she can do any job she wants. Strong values are a must.
That’s funny, Nate, because I could have sworn you were just flirting with Chill who, take it from me, is ALL man.
Nice work!
And I’ll have you know that those “rude language” warnings have been added to my resume under the category of “Honors and Awards.”
Monkey: Republicans always fall for cops in the end. Take it from Mr. Craig.
@Nate: I work my liberal-subversive magic over at the Metropolitan Republican Club on Park and 83rd, in red lipstick, a tight satin dress, seamed stockings and high heels. The men ardently discussing strict Constitutional interpretation and non-intrusion of government go down like Roberto Duran in the eighth. How do you get right wingers to speak Spanish, the language of illegal aliens? You torment them till “no mas, no mas” sounds just like “uncle.”
My name is BookishLookish. I break neocons.
Oh, Bookish: you render me speechless. Teach me, Sensei.
@BLW: I believe you are ready, but you must travel far, Grasshopper. Wait for the speckled dove with the black lace ribbon around its neck to land on your windowsill. Untie the ribbon and read the missive.
Then book your flight to Newark Liberty International, I’ll pick ya up in my hooptie and we’ll head to Rutt’s Hut in Clifton for rippers and beer and all will be revealed.
Oops, that was meant for you. I’m sorry I don’t like reading and there are a lot of words in this thread now.
Ah New York Republicans. You’ll find we’re made of stronger stuff in the Midwest Hussy.
GET A ROOM YOU SLUTS.
A BIG ONE.
WITH WEBCAMS.
TRN: I am not Argentinean, but I have seduced a Republican governor. He/She had an accent. That should narrow down your guessing by about 10%. Okay, it was Kay Bailey Hutchison.
However, I am a man. I’m pretty sure Mark Sanford’s mistress was a woman. I’ve only seen one photo.
Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. People read wordsmoker?
Rene: Thank you for this. I was surprised to see which of my posts was floating out there beyond these wordsmoker walls. Of all my posts, I have always had doubts about those ones. Doubts that there’s any interest beyond my own self serving purpose with it. I always question, “Do people really care about hearing about a drunkard who defames the Christian approach to sobriety?” Apparently the answer is yes.
To be honest, after seeing that, I got a little emotional.
Again, thank you. Keep it up, you internet darlings.
@thatsrightnate:
Is that Congressman Kimble a member of the “special” congress. He seems to have an, um, rudimentary (to put it kindly) understanding of precedent. But this quote was the kicker, per Jack Kimble (R) Moronville. I believe with all my heart that the role of a Supreme Court Justice is to be follow the values and principles of our founding fathers. You don’t need a fancy law book or even a Constituion to do that. Um, no Jack. You do need the Constitution to do that. Seances really don’t work and judges have to go back to the actual document.
Seriously, this is the kind of thinking that impresses you?
@mediahohoho: Uh, der. Who’s all Bonzai Kitten now, huh?
Yay, everyone! Nice job, Rene.
Trixie from Toronto, why have you forsaken us?
Mock him if you will, but he’s one of the top young voices of the GOP who is fighting to bring back a Republican majority in 2010. Congressman Kimble was the first person who pointed out that Sotomayor’s reliance on precedence made her a liberal, but I have seen that echoed at several other conservative sites recently.