I received a word of the day (I forget the source, maybe Dictionary.com) just now that’s kind of interesting: shambolic. As you see in the snippet, it means very disorganized, messy, or confused. The example given is rather mundane. Personally, for an example, I would have twisted this into some type of hyperbole: I am a master of shambolism, which is not quite true, but it sounds good.
The sound of this word just appeals to me somehow. It has a certain ring or je ne sais quois to it.
If you haven’t seen the Epic Rap Battles of History Channel on YouTube, you are missing out on one of YouTube’s most enjoyable channels. Here are two of today’s most famous fictional characters in a duel to the musical death.
I ran across this still (I think from the Peter Lorre classic “M”) last week, and, being Monday morning, came up with a quick caption. What do you think?
Writing at Starbuck’s in Farmington, circa October 12, 2015.
Here’s a link to an neat, entertaining article on Timothy McSweeney’s Internet Tendency about some good, sound,basic advice on how to write anything better. I recommend printing these out and sticking them on your refrigerator, stapling them to your forehead, or tattooing them to your forearm.
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Truth Serum”:
Phil Slattery at a literary costume part for charity in 2015, dressed as Lovecraft’s Herbert West, Re-animator
Ben Huberman poses an interesting question: “You’ve come into possession of one vial of truth serum. Who would you give it to (with the person’s consent, of course) — and what questions would you ask?”
I would not give it to anyone with their consent. Their permission implies they are telling me the truth anyway or would if I asked for it.
For a blog specializing in horror, It would be better to ask the following:
Who would you give it to without their knowledge, and by implication, without their consent?
Who would you give it to, without their consent, but with their knowledge? For example, the s.o.b. you hold in the most contempt is duct-taped in a chair or is strapped onto a surgical table under blinding lights.
Now, under these conditions, what questions would you ask?
I ran across this still (I think from the Peter Lorre classic “M”) last week, and, being Monday morning, came up with a quick caption. What do you think?
Phil Slattery, Writer, Publisher 