He goeth before a fall . . .

Kpop Herald reporter Ahn Sung-mi interviews Kpop singer Kang Daniel on his yet to be released, much-anticipated solo debut album, and she opens by asking him to talk openly about this album, which he does (July 25, 2019):

The solo debut album Color On Me was inspired from the second track "Color" a lot. I thought it would be great if my unique color can captivate many people. I want to open up my infinite potential and show my diverse side.

That's the way, Mr. Kang Daniel, keep expectations low. Be the soul of prudence.

One last critique . . .

Enough of the strange porn critiques. Nobody seems to understand them, anyway. I don't understand them. But I do understand that the word "porn" attracts more visitors than I normally receive. I wonder why . . .

et cetera . . .

Concerning porn,
free expression
is
proof-read session.

Nor this amiss . . .

Concerning porn,
free expression
is
breed regression.

And this . . .

Concerning porn,
free expression
is
freed repression.

And Also Heard . . .

Concerning porn,
free expression
is
freeze expression.

Or so I've heard . . .

Concerning porn,
free expression
is
free sexpression.

Technologies of Expression

The pen is mightier than the sword, but is the pencil mightier than the pen? And various other technologies of expression?

Generally, Free Expression

Free press is a handful,
but never an eyeful.

Now, I remember!

"Fear Itself." That's our only fear.

But what's that mean? Let's analyze the expression.

The word "Fear" is semantically already broken down to its most basic form.

The word "Itself," however, can be either "It Self" or "Its Elf."

But what would "It Self" mean? Can "It" have a "Self"?

Perhaps "It" can. Neuter objects are parallel to Masculine and Feminine ones, and each of the latter two has a "Self." But let's leave this for future consideration.

We can dismiss rather promptly the weird expression "Its Elf."

Something possesses  an "Elf." But elves do not exist. Something therefore possesses nothing.

Yes, yes, this is B.S.

Fear

"We have nothing to fear but . . . but . . ." Well, I fear I can't remember what we have to recall to fear.

Free to Speak, Free to Not Listen

Free speech is a mouthful,
but never an earful.

Free Speech is a Mouthful

I overheard somebody say something like this once:

"The best response to hate speech is freak speech."

I agree with that sentiment, and I repeat it when it's called for, even though I get odd looks . . .

Query of the Century

Might Frosty the Snowman actually be the Abominable Snowman in disguise?

Think about it.

Yes. Think about It.

Just as It was the public face of something far worse, so might Frosty be the public face of something far more abominable.

Memri Report on Threat to Jews

According to Memri Special Dispatch Number 8169 (July 15, 2019), Hamas official Fathi Hammad has called for attacks on Jews this coming Friday:

Hamas Political Bureau member Fathi Hammad said in a July 12, 2019 speech at a March of Return rally that aired on Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas-Gaza) that Israel has until the following Friday (July 19) to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip and implement its understandings with Hamas, lest the Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and all over the world use the "many methods and means" that are "up their sleeves" to "powerfully explode" in Israel's face. He said that, contrary to what Israel thinks, the Gazans are not rational, and that if they die, they will do so honorably while cutting off the heads of Jews and killing them with explosive belts, which he said Hamas has been actively manufacturing in factories. Calling on the seven million Palestinians abroad, whom he said have been "warming up" and "preparing," Hammad said: "Enough warming up... We must attack every Jew on planet Earth and slaughter and kill them." Hammad also encouraged Palestinians in the West Bank to purchase knives in order to cut the necks of Jews, saying that knives only cost five shekels. He added: "We will die while exploding and cutting the necks and legs of the Jews. We will lacerate them and tear them to pieces, Allah willing!"

This sounds rather violent, but do not be alarmed, for Mr. Hammad has already explained that those who carry out the attacks "will do so honorably while cutting off the heads of Jews and killing them with explosive belts."

The honor in this is not entirely clear to me, but it seems to have something to do with the necessity of killing each Jew twice: once by beheading and once more by explosive belts.

Oddly enough, Mr. Hammad does admit that this is not rational: "the Gazans are not rational."

According to rational actor theory, I suppose . . .

Semantics of Prepositions: in and on

Importance of a Preposition:

in principle - the "in" introduces a hypothetical state: "In principle, I would not allow men to teach about women."

on principle - the "on" introduces a real state: "On principle, I do not allow men to teach about women."

I think everyone can see the difference.

Wreck Commendation

Ms. Professor Doctor Marginal Fringemon Writes a Wreck Commendation

Under my close supervision, Dr. Hodges collected research data, which I interpreted, and I also filled in all the missing data, which happened once and which therefore might have happened many, many times.  Moreover, I do not allow men to teach about women, so I cannot strongly support this application. Make of this what you will, I  will not write another letter.

Ms. Professor Fringemon on Principle

Here stands Ms. Professor Fringemon on Principle:

Ms. Professor Fringemon announces: "I am on principle opposed to men teaching courses on women in religion."

I ask: "Why? Are you a feminist essentialist?"

Ms. Professor Fringemon responds: "I do not have to explain my reason. Also, do not respond to this email."

Almost an Advertising Jingle

Coca Cola went to town.
Pepsi Cola knocked him down.
Dr. Pepper fixed him up.
Now we all drink Seven Up.

Overheard in my childhood . . .

Nattering Nabobs of Negativism

Blogpost title uttered by Spiro T. Agnew, but coined by William Safire . . . I think.

Assonance, consonance, alliteration.
We're the best of any nation.
When we act with determination
We create a sensation.

. . . Unlike those nattering nabobs of negativism.

Who are these nabobs? I don't know. I thought everybody else knew.

Natal Nationalism?

Consider the expression "Natal Nationalism." Isn't this more catchy than, say, "Ethnic Nationalism"?

But it's perhaps less specific. I meant for it to mean "Ethnic Nationalism." But it could mean that any person born in a particular country will automatically belong to that nation. A bit like in the U.S.

Mary McCarthy on Lillian Hellman

"Every word she writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the.'"

Great, witty quip by Mary McCarthy, but did she catch the devil from Hellman for it?

Pat Young, Fellow NoZe Brother

A NoZe was blown "up yonder" on June 24, 2019 for Pat Young, one of my fellow NoZe Brothers from way back in my Baylor days. Several of us Brothers signed tributes to an email sent around. I posted these words:

"I'm very sorry to hear this. I think I last saw Pat in 1984. He was one of the naturally funniest guys I've ever known, and he was anti-PC before it was PC to be anti-PC."

Pat's death was unexpected, and he was still young, only a year older than I am.

Here's one obituary I've found.

Null Set?

The null set can be represented as {}.

What is this: {{}}?

The set of the null set? The set of the concept of the null set? I'm just asking.

Missematics

Missematics: the Mismeasure of all things

Massematics

Massematics: the Measure of Mass

Empty Set?

"There's a whole lot of nothing in the empty set."

M.D. Repellant?

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

"Evil Apple" "Mălum Mālum"

We bit the apple, but the bite mauled us.

Jeff's Quips: Nr. 4

Jeff's Quip Nr. 4:
"What goes up must come down, so why go up?"

Jeff's Quips: Nr. 3

Jeff's Quip Nr. 3:

If this is really going to hurt you more than it hurts me, why don't we just dispense with the whole masochistic thing?