Archive for the ‘Media Humor’ Category
Friday, May 24th, 2013
I sure hope your Memorial Day weekend weather’s better than ours, here in New York.
Beached Plans (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Though Memorial Day is upon us,
Winter clothing continues to don us.
So I plead and beseech:
Kindly stop talking “beach.”
New York media’s trying to con us.
Tags: Holiday Humor, May Holidays, Media Limerick, Memorial Day, New York Beaches, Outdoors Humor, Spring Limerick, Weather Limerick, Winter Clothing
Posted in Holiday Humor, Media Humor, Outdoors Humor, Seasons Humor, Weather Humor | 12 Comments »
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
This feels vaguely appropriate for Mother’s Day:
Freelance Mothering (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Be it newspapers, Web, magazines,
Mistakes are in print and on screens:
Though I’ve NO kids to nag,
I once learned in a mag:
I’m the very proud mother of teens.
True story: Many years ago I wrote several freelance humor columns for Family Circle Magazine, one of which was a “humorous contract” between parents and their teen about learning to drive.
I’ll never forget standing on a long line at the supermarket and spotting the issue I was scheduled to appear in, near the cash register. I grabbed the magazine, turned to the back page and excitedly started to read.
Everything look great … until I got to the bio note, which should have read: “Madeleine Begun Kane is a New York-based freelance humor columnist and lawyer.”
Instead, it read, “Madeleine Begun Kane is the mother of teens.”
And no, I do NOT have any children … unless, of course, you count my hubby Mark.
Tags: Children Humor, Freelance Writing, Media Limerick, Mother's Day Limericks, Mothering Humor, Mothers & Fathers Humor, Parenting Humor, Print Magazines, Teens, Writing & Publishing Humor
Posted in Car & Driving Humor, Children Humor, Family & Relatives Humor, Family Verse, Limericks, Media Humor, Mothers & Fathers Humor, Writing & Publishing Humor | Comments Off on Freelance Mothering
Monday, February 25th, 2013
Many people were offended by Seth MacFarlane’s “Saw Your Boobs” at last night’s Oscars. But, at the risk of damaging my feminist cred, I’m not one of them.
Of course, I do understand the negative reaction. However, the song didn’t bother me because I viewed it as parody, rather than misogyny.
But what did bother me at the Oscars was everybody pretending that the Les Misérables cast can sing.
Limerick Ode To Miserable Singing
By Madeleine Begun Kane
There are folks who appear up in arms:
For the “boob song,” they sound the alarms.
But to me, here’s what riled:
Dreadful singing gone wild
In Les Miz — kindly call les gendarmes.
Tags: Award Shows, Bad Singing, Bare Breasts, Boobs, Breasts Humor, Cops & Police, Entertainment Limerick, Feminism, Film Limerick, Les Miserables, Movie & Play Humor, Oscars, Saw Your Boobs, Seth MacFarlane, Singing Humor, TV Humor
Posted in Actors & Actresses, Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Limericks, Media Humor, Movie & Play Humor, Music Humor & Verse, Music Reviews, Oscars Humor, Physical Appearance, Public Figures, Television (TV) Humor | 12 Comments »
Thursday, February 7th, 2013
Does Consumer Reports really need to rate beef jerky and meat sticks?
Jerky Review (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Consumer Reports, what a waste:
Judging jerky and meat sticks for taste.
They’re all loaded with salt
And deserve a “Gevalt!”
Will you next rate the flavor of paste?
UPDATE: June 12 is National Jerky Day.
Tags: Beef Jerky, Consumer Ratings, Consumer Reports, Cured Meat, Food Humor, Food Verse, Health Limerick, June Holidays, Meat Sticks, Media Humor, National Jerky Day, Odd Holidays, Salt
Posted in Food & Drink Humor, Health & Medical Humor, Health Verse, Limericks, Media Humor, Odd Holidays, Shopping Humor | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013
Every time I sign on to Facebook, I’m confronted by stupid questions from Facebook, meant to prompt me to post. Alas, they’re more likely to prompt me to scream.
Dear Facebook: Enough With The Questions! (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Facebook, don’t ask how I’m doing,
Or feeling or even what’s brewing.
“How’s it going?” will rile me.
Don’t try to beguile me
With gimmicks, or brace for some booing.
Tags: Facebook Humor, Facebook Limerick, Social Media Poetry, Social Networking Humor
Posted in Facebook Humor, Limericks, Media Humor, Social Media Humor | 4 Comments »
Friday, June 8th, 2012
From time to time, somebody annoys me with bald assertions like this: “I don’t own a TV; they rot the brain.”
I usually ignore them, but NOT this time:
In Defense Of TV (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
There is good stuff and bad on TV.
Some will rot out your brain, I agree.
(Fox News comes to mind.)
But there’s great stuff to find.
Just be choosy and spurn the debris.
Tags: Brain Humor, Fox Television Humor, Intelligence, Media Humor, Mental Health Humor, TV Humor
Posted in Limericks, Media Humor, Mental Health Humor, Television (TV) Humor | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
Here’s the limerick review I wrote about the Lewis Black-hosted News Quiz USA. I heard it on WNYC radio in NYC, and it was hilarious, featuring panelists Andy Borowitz, Kathleen Madigan, Todd Barry and Ted Alexandro. You can hear it here.
Right now it’s apparently a one-off, an experimental American version of the UK’s BBC News Quiz. Here’s hoping they’ll decide to turn it into a weekly show.
Lewis Black & The News Quiz USA — A Limerick Review
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The News Quiz with host Lewis Black
Was hilarious. Please bring it back.
We need satire fare
Like this on the air.
For great humor, this team has a knack.
Tags: Andy Borowitz, BBC, BBC News Quiz, Comedians, Comedy Limerick, Entertainment Limerick, Kathleen Madigan, Lewis Black, Limerick Review, Media Limerick, News Quiz USA, NPR, Radio, Reviews, Standup Comics, Ted Alexandro, Todd Barry, WNYC
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Limerick Reviews, Limericks, Media Humor, Public Figures | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012
The Encyclopaedia Britannica is the latest victim of the Digital Age:
Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. announced Tuesday it will stop publishing print editions of its signature product for the first time in its 244-year history. In an acknowledgment of the shifting media landscape and the increasing reliance on digital references, the company said its current encyclopedia – the 32-volume, 129-pound 2010 edition – will be unavailable once the existing stock runs out. (If you’re interested, it’s yours for $1,395 and there are only 4,000 sets left.) The digital version of the encyclopedia, however, will live on.
This news saddened me. And it also reminded me about the obsolete, hand-me-down encyclopedia I grew up with in the Fifties and Sixties:
Limerick Ode To The Encyclopedia
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Britannicas, World Books and more
Were common in households of yore.
But not in my home—
Just a hand-me-down tome
With entries, I swear, like “World War.”
Tags: Books Humor, Business Poem, Computers Verse, Digital Age, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopedias Humor, Internet Humor, Library Poetry, Media Limerick, Print Media Humor, Reference Books, Technology Humor, Web Humor
Posted in Books, Business Humor, Computer Humor, Internet Humor, Limericks, Media Humor, Technology Humor | 6 Comments »
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
If Facebook’s trying to annoy its users, it’s doing a really good job of it.
Lots of people (including me) have been wondering why their Facebook posts have been getting fewer comments and “likes.” Turns out that most people aren’t seeing the latest posts. Why? Because the “powers that be” at Facebook are morons!
To be more specific, Facebook’s News Feed default setting is now delivering old posts, referred to in polite company as “Highlighted Posts.” Want to see fresh posts, like a normal, sane person? Then you have to click on “Sort” and then select “Recent Stories First.”
To make matters worse, selecting “Recent Stories First” must be done routinely. Why? Because Facebook doesn’t allow you to permanently change its “Ancient Stories That You’re Really Sick Of & Never Want To See Again” default.
My Facebook rant wouldn’t be complete without a limerick, would it?
Yet Another Facebook Rant
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Facebook, I wish you would halt
Your News Feed’s annoying default:
It’s simply not sporting
To make us do sorting
To see posts that are fresh. Oy gevalt!
Tags: Facebook Humor, Facebook Limerick, Social Media Poetry
Posted in Facebook Humor, Limericks, Media Humor, Social Media Humor | 10 Comments »
Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
The New Yorker Festival is holding a limerick contest, and the winner gets a batch of Festival tickets for two. Here’s my entry:
Limerick Ode To The New Yorker Festival
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The New Yorker is hosting a fête —
A must-see for the erudite set.
Famous people galore
Shall be speaking full-bore,
And no intellect’s need goes unmet.
Tags: Contests, Intellectual Humor, New York City Verse, New Yorker, New Yorker Festival, Writing Contests
Posted in Contests, Limerick Writing Contest, Limericks, Media Humor, New York Limericks & Haiku | 2 Comments »
Friday, April 29th, 2011
I’ve gotten several emails and Facebook messages asking me why I haven’t written a limerick or haiku about the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Here’s your answer:
It’s Royally Over!
By Madeleine Begun Kane
I’ve no int’rest in all the ado
Over wedding fetes royal. So sue!
I don’t care if some Brit
Who’s a prince will commit
To a commoner. Boring! So shoo!
Tags: Brits, Great Britain, Kate Middleton, Marriage Limerick, Media Limerick, Nuptials, Prince William, Royal Wedding, Wedding Humor
Posted in Marriage Humor, Media Humor | 17 Comments »
Monday, March 28th, 2011
Newsy Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
Restricting your diet of news
To outlets endorsing your views
Reinforces beliefs
And bias and beefs.
Why bother? You might as well snooze.
(Prompted by this circular poetry writing prompt.)
Author’s Note: I just realized that this limerick could just as easily fit in my other blog where I post political humor and satire.
Tags: Advice Limerick, Biases, Circular Reasoning, Current Events, Media Limerick, Media Outlets, News Limerick, Opinions, Political Humor, Prejudices, Viewpoints
Posted in Advice Humor & Poems, Limericks, Media Humor, Political Satire, Social Satire, Television (TV) Humor | 7 Comments »
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
Limerick Ode To Print Newspapers
By Madeleine Begun Kane
It appears that print papers are dying,
Cuz few are subscribing or buying.
Print magazines too
Keep saying adieu.
Who’s happy? The trees — they’re highflying.
(Written for Theme Thursday’s paper prompt and Miss Rumphius Effect’s tree prompt.)
UPDATE: May 16th is “Love A Tree Day.”
Tags: Business Humor, Dying Industries, May Holidays, Media Limerick, Money Verse, Odd Holidays, Print Magazines, Print Media Humor, Print Newspapers, Trees
Posted in Business Humor, Communication Humor, Limericks, Media Humor, Money & Finance Humor, Odd Holidays, Outdoors Humor | 16 Comments »
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
American Idol Not Idyllic (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane
I watched Idol last night — wasn’t dandy.
They gave compliments out just like candy.
And something is wrong
When with song after song
The toughest of judges is Randy.
(Linked in I Saw Sunday)
Tags: American Idol, Contestants, Fox TV Humor, Idol Judges, Jennifer Lopez, Music Humor & Verse, Music Limerick, Randy Jackson, Singing Voice, Steven Tyler, Talent Contests, Television Review
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Contests, Entertainment Humor, Limericks, Media Humor, Music Humor & Verse, Television (TV) Humor | 9 Comments »
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
After flunking (badly) The Guardian’s Who Said This — Gaddafi or Charlie Sheen quiz, I forced myself to watch ABC’s entire 20/20 Charlie Sheen interview conducted (I’m not sure how) by Andrea Canning. Yikes!
I’m no shrink, but if Sheen isn’t certifiable, I can’t imagine who is. Yet Sheen’s suing CBS and Warner Bros. for canceling Two and a Half Men. CBS and Warner Bros. should keep a copy on hand of ABC’s interview. Because that show gives CBS all the ammunition it needs to defeat Sheen’s case. We’re talking loony-tunes-uninsurable!
And so, Charlie Sheen has earned himself two “Dear Charlie” letter limericks. Here’s the first:
Dear Charlie, you’re acting bizarre.
We don’t need yet another sick star.
You appear on the brink
Of a breakdown, yet think
You’re not crazy, which proves that you are.
And here’s my second limerick:
Dear Charlie, you’re losing your sheen.
Once funny, you’re now turning mean.
It’s clear that you’re sick.
Get some help. Do it quick!
And stop wasting your comedy gene.
(You can find more letters at Write A Letter.)
Tags: ABC, Andrea Canning, CBS, Celebrities, Charlie Sheen, Entertainment Limerick, Guardian, Interview Humor, Legal & Lawyer Humor, Media Limerick, Mental Health, Muammar Gaddafi, TV Humor, Two and a Half Men, Warner Bros.
Posted in Behavior & Personality, Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Health & Medical Humor, Health Verse, Insurance Humor, Legal & Lawyer Humor, Letter Limericks, Limericks, Media Humor, Television (TV) Humor | 18 Comments »
Monday, February 7th, 2011
Ode To AOL’s Huffington Post Acquisition
By Madeleine Begun Kane
The Huffington Post has been bought.
In AOL’s lair it’s been caught.
Will its death there be quick,
Or will some readers stick?
And will payment for scribes remain naught?
Here’s the New York Times on the acquisition and Huffington’s announcement.
Tags: AOL, Business Verse, Huffington Post, Internet Humor, Media Limerick, Money & Finance Humor, Money Poems, Publishing Humor, Writers
Posted in Business Humor, Limericks, Media Humor, Money & Finance Humor, Writing & Publishing Humor | 2 Comments »
Sunday, February 6th, 2011
Once again, it’s Limerick-Off time. And that means I write a limerick, and you write your own, using the same first line. Then you post your limerick here and, if you’re a Facebook user, on Facebook too.
So I hope you’ll join me in writing a limerick with this first line:
A man who reported the news…
Here’s mine:
Newsy Limerick
By Madeleine Begun Kane
A man who reported the news
Had some very odd habits and views.
He’d rant and he’d rave
And refuse to behave.
And when caught in a lie, he blamed booze.
Please feel free to write your own limerick using the same first line and post it in my comments. And if you’re on Facebook, I hope you’ll join my friends in that same activity in my Facebook Limerick-Off post.
To receive an email alert whenever I post a new Limerick-Off, please send me an email requesting the alerts. You’ll find my email address on the upper right sidebar, in the “Author” section just below my Limerick-Offs button. Thanks!
Tags: Bad Behavior, Bad Habits Humor, Booze Humor, Media Limerick, News Limerick, Personality Verse, Poetry & Prompts, Reporters Humor, TV Humor, Writing Prompts
Posted in Behavior & Personality, Communication Humor, Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Limerick-Offs, Limericks, Media Humor, Poetry & Prompts, Television (TV) Humor | 27 Comments »
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
This week Big Tent Poetry provides a bunch of word prompts, urging us to use one or more in our poems. I used three of them in my haiku (remote, function, handle) and one in a limerick (remote.)
First, my limerick:
I’m tempted to hide the remote
From my spouse in a closet or coat,
Cuz he flicks ev’ry station
In rapid rotation.
Missing show after show gets my goat.
*****
And now my haiku:
Dysfunctional spouse
Wields remote ADD-style.
Wife can’t handle it.
Tags: ADD Haiku, ADD Humor, Battle of the Sexes, Husband Wife Limerick, Marriage Verse, Television Limerick, TV Humor, TV Remote
Posted in Anxiety & Stress, Battle of the Sexes, Behavior & Personality, Entertainment Humor, Family & Relatives Humor, Haiku & Senryu, Leisure Time Humor, Limericks, Marriage Humor, Media Humor, Obsessions Humor, Television (TV) Humor | 21 Comments »
Monday, January 3rd, 2011
This question will probably make me sound ageist and grumpy. In my preemptive defense, let me say:
1) I’ve been tossing AARP’s annoying magazine for years; and
2) I am grumpy.
So here’s my question: Have you ever noticed that Andy Rooney isn’t funny anymore?
I used to be a fan and would never turn 60 Minutes off until Rooney’s monologue was over. I even owned one of his humor collections. But I can’t remember the last time Andy Rooney made me laugh … or even giggle. These days his commentaries make me cringe.
Now to those who may argue that I’m not funny either, I say:
CBS doesn’t pay me a gazillion bucks a year to not be funny!
And no, this limerick isn’t funny either:
Have You Ever Noticed…
By Madeleine Begun Kane
At the risk of incurring some ire:
Andy Rooney should really retire.
It’s not that he’s old,
And I don’t mean to scold,
But he’s funny no more, and it’s dire.
Tags: 60 Minutes, AARP, Andy Rooney, CBS, Celebrities, Humorists, TV Humor
Posted in Celebrity Humor, Entertainment Humor, Limericks, Media Humor, Public Figures, Television (TV) Humor | 5 Comments »
