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Oddly Enough Blog

News, but not the serious kind

August 24th, 2009

My armadillo needs a pillow…

Posted by: Robert Basler

Blog Guy, I have a recipe for armadillo. Do you know a place to buy good ones?

Sure, I go down to Brazil and get mine from Leonardo’s Armadillos.

Leonardo? Didn’t he used to have a shop in Amarillo?

Yes, but Leonardo’s Amarillo Armadillos got closed down for certain peccadillos.

Say no more, I’ve heard all about those armadillo peccadillos! How does Leonardo sell his armadillos?

By the kilo.

Yummy! Armadillo by the kilo! So if I go down to Brazil, how will I know Leonardo?

He’ll be smoking a cigarillo…

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Leonardo Lima da Silva, 17, offers for sale to passing vehicles an armadillo that he and his brother hunted to earn cash, near Maraba in the Brazilian Amazon region, August 18, 2009. REUTERS/Paulo Santos

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August 22nd, 2009

Exploding wieners, run for cover!

Posted by: Robert Basler

Blog Guy, I’m afraid this suicide bomb trend is spreading, and it scares me.

Me too. There are way too many kinds of explosive gadgets. I saw this photo of a woman wearing a device made of an alarm clock and sausages.

Sausages? They don’t even explode, do they?

Sure. In many parts of the world they’re also called bangers.

But if you look at the real caption, you’ll see she’s actually protesting on the right side of an issue.

Maybe, but she could still have terrorist links…

Links? LINKS? I get it, Blog Guy. You’ve hit rock bottom.

I know, but it’s a Saturday in August. So if you want frank news in the wurst way, look no furter….

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Activist wearing belt with sausages and an alarm clock takes part in rally protesting Afghanistan’s “Family Law,” in Kiev, August 21, 2009. Afghan authorities passed a law allowing men to deny their wives food if they refuse to obey their husbands’ sexual demands. REUTERS/Konstantin Chernichkin

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August 19th, 2009

Tail from the Crypt?

Posted by: Robert Basler

Hey Blog Guy, sometimes I see funny stuff in the news and I’m sure you’ll use it in your blog, but then you don’t. Do you take bribes to ignore certain things?

Well sure, but folks don’t try to bribe me nearly often enough, even though it’s not hard to do. The truth is, I ignore some stuff because it’s just too obvious, and I do have some pride.

For instance, see this shot below of President Obama? It’s a very funny photo, so I didn’t use it. I’ll leave it to the hacks.

And then there was a story about a widow selling her husband’s burial spot directly above Marilyn Monroe’s crypt. Give me a break.

Sure, some guys went with headlines like Want to Lie with Marilyn Monroe Forever? or The Long Sleep, with Marilyn Monroe… Let ‘em do that if they want.

But you won’t see some cheesy Monroe movie reference like “Gentlemen Prefer Bones” under some smirking double entendre headline here, not as long as Bob Basler is doing this blog!

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Above: The crypts of Marilyn Monroe and Richard Poncher are pictured in Westwood, California August 17, 2009. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Below: President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to Joe Medicine Crow - High Bird during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House, August 12, 2009. REUTERS/Jim Young

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August 3rd, 2009

I’m not walkin’ down all these stairs!

Posted by: Robert Basler

Blog Guy, I was reading a history book and saw a word I didn’t know, defenestration. Rather than look it up, I thought I’d ask you what it means.

Defenestration is throwing something out a window. As in, “Close that damn refrigerator door! You’re defenestrating my hard-earned money!” Or like, “Here comes the parade, let’s defenestrate this ticker tape on them!”

Why would that be in a history book?

Centuries ago, in what is now the Czech Republic, angry mobs defenestrated people from tall windows. The events are still celebrated today. Check out this old painting and this new photo reenactment.

Wow! That looks TOO realistic. Um, what happened to that poor guy in the photographs?

Our caption doesn’t say. I fear he may have become a…

Don’t say it!

Too late. A bounced Czech. Or worse.

Worse?

A canceled Czech.

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Re-enactment of a defenestration in Prague, July 31, 2009. The 1419 event began when demonstrators demanded the release of some prisoners but were refused. The outraged crowd burst into the building and threw officials out the windows. REUTERS photos by David W Cerny

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July 27th, 2009

Palin leaves office with relish?

Posted by: Robert Basler

What’s wrong, Blog Guy? I don’t understand!

Huh? You don’t understand what?

I’ve been seeing pictures of former governor Sarah Palin yesterday serving hot dogs as she left the governor’s job.  Isn’t that a natural for you? Why aren’t you all over it?

Oh, that. It’s just too obvious. Too easy. What would I even say?

Come on, straighten up, Mister! You’d say like, Sarah Palin’s wurst job? Or look at the buns on that governor? Or losers and wieners? Or I know, Sarah the Redhot Mama?

Those are awful. I wouldn’t stoop that low, to be frank.

Frank? I get it! I knew I’d see a smile on that face. Now slap a goofy headline on this sucker, and you’re done for the day. It’s like putting lipstick on a pig!

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Alaska Governor Sarah Palin serves hot dogs to well-wishers at the annual Governor’s Picnic in Fairbanks, Alaska, July 26, 2009. Former Republican U.S. Vice-presidential candidate Palin stepped down as Alaska governor on Sunday. REUTERS/ Nathaniel Wilder

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July 27th, 2009

Derringer a harbinger? Don’t shoot the messenger!

Posted by: Robert Basler

Blog Guy, I just saw that Johnny Depp movie “Public Enemies.” Somebody told me they were auctioning off one of John Dillinger’s real guns.

Yep, it sold on Saturday, for $95,600.

Wow! What kind of gun was it?

A derringer.

Are you kidding me? The Dillinger Derringer?

I don’t kid. They wouldn’t identify the winning bidder, but it may have been actor Tom Berenger.

Making it the Berenger Dillinger Derringer? Did Dillinger ever shoot anybody with it?

He slightly wounded a dog with it. In the derriere.

Gasp! Shot in the derriere by the Berenger Dillinger Derringer? What kind of a dog?

A terrier. Oops, sorry, the Word Police are here to take me away for going too far. Excuse me, officer, may I have a Perrier?

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Above: The Dillinger Derringer. REUTERS/Heritage Auction Galleries/Handout

Right: Cast member Johnny Depp arrives for a screening of “Public Enemies” in Chicago, June 18, 2009. REUTERS/John Gress

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July 23rd, 2009

A box of castanets for my pink bird, please…

Posted by: Robert Basler

Blog Guy, like many of your readers I have very special fashion needs. I dance the flamenco.

You mean those festive pink birds like I have in my front yard?

No, those are flamingos. I dance the flamenco. You know, with castanets.

That candy you get at the movies?

No, those are Raisinets! Please try to follow me. I clap my hands and stamp my feet a lot.

Yeah, my son used to do that when I wouldn’t buy him a box of castanets.

You seem like a very stupid person, Blog Guy.

Maybe, but I’m not the one who wants to dress like a lawn ornament.

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Above: Flamingos crowd in a restroom at Miami’s Metro Zoo for protection from a hurricane in 1998 file photo.

Right: Models present creations by Lina during a Flamenco Fashion Show on Triana bridge in Seville, July 20, 2009. REUTERS/ Marcelo del Pozo

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July 19th, 2009

A dozen decent docents?

Posted by: Robert Basler

Blog Guy, I read your item about the Goofy Face Museum and Doughnut Shop. Are you hiring qualified museum guides? What’s that fancy word for people who do that?

You’re thinking of “docent.” Yes, we can always use a decent docent.

If I work at the museum would I have to agree with you on everything?

Yes. I don’t tolerate docent dissent.

Does my own opinion interest you?

It doesen’t. You’re a docent.

Does that mean museum visitors can disrespect us?

No. We don’t allow dissing decent docents.

I can’t start right away. I have diarrhea and inflammation of my lower bowels.

Sounds like you’ve got a dose of docent dysentery.

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Above: Men take part in a zombie parade in Frankfurt, July 18, 2009. REUTERS/ Johannes Eisele

Left: Docent gives a tour of the flight deck to tourists on the aircraft carrier USS Midway in 2004 file photo. REUTERS/ Fred Greaves

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July 4th, 2009

Abe Lincoln, the Big Cheese!

Posted by: Robert Basler

Happy July 4th, Blog Guy. I just saw an Abe Lincoln statue made of cheese. Isn’t that disrespectful?

No. If you know your history, you know Lincoln was a passionate cheese enthusiast.

It was Abe who pushed the bounds of home entertaining by rolling up cheese and pecans together, creating the popular cheese log.

HE did that?

Sure. He called them Lincoln Logs.  He also pioneered new forms of smelly Limburger Cheese, making his own pungent recipe.

Uh-oh. What was that called?

What do you think? “Stinkin’ Lincoln.”

Apart from the “Gettysburg Address,” Lincoln’s most famous speech was his 1863 “Homage to Fromage.” And, his 1864 presidential campaign slogan was ”He’s not just gouda, he’s grate!”

You’re right, I do recall something about that. What was that phrase he used to predict the mass popularity of cheese?

He called it a “feta compli.”

Gosh Blog Guy, you seem to know quite a few cheese-related puns.

Well, I don’t like to boast, but they do call me the “Münster Punster.”

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Cheez-It commissioned 700-pound life-size cheddar cheese carving of Abraham Lincoln, on display near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, July 3, 2009. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine/Cheez-It/Handout

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June 28th, 2009

Just block my damn spam!

Posted by: Robert Basler

“I have protected your site from 80,526 spam comments already, but there’s nothing in your spam queue at the moment.”

I get regular personal messages like this one from the tool I use to produce my blog, telling me he is protecting me from spam. Of course, these regular messages seem like a form of spam.

Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for what he does. But there’s something sort of creepy about him.

Excuse me, Bob, this is me, your Blog Tool speaking…

You again? What do you want now? Is there anything in my spam queue?

Your what?

My spam queue.

What?

SPAM QUEUE!!

You’re welcome.

Ouch. Is that your idea of a joke, Blog Tool?

Yes. I’ve got a million of  ‘em. I’ll be back soon, Bob…

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