Friday, April 24, 2015
The Existence of the Chinese Palindrome
“Is there even such a a thing?” asks Marcy Chang of
Hong Kong TV, after A man, a plan, a canal--Panama!
Mr ‘Mystery’ replied by smiling. He proved more forthcoming
about the other mottos and proverbs lining his wall.
He translated the one in Spanish to English and to Chinese.
He who is bent on revenge should dig two graves.
“Are there any fun ones?”
“Not really. Some quite grim, but most inspirational in the
American style.”
Every day in every way I'm getting better and better!
Her audience liked that sort of thing the best, so she
pressed sweetly.
But Mr Mystery said that proverb very nearly ended
his life. He had destroyed a previous room because of
his inability to live up to it.
“That much passion! If you'll excuse my saying so, you
don't look...”
“There had been some drinking.”
“And is there now?”
“None! A day at a time.”
“Are you AA?”
“No, but Mr Mystery is.”
A fire in Kowloon, so Marcy had to wrap it up.
Labels: AA, Chinese, English, Hong Kong, Kowloon, palindrome, provrb, saying, Spanish, TV
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Wuzawoowuz!
“I sold rights to it to Charlie Hokk. He put it on T-Shirts, mugs,
the whole smear!
Would you believe that then I had to pay him a thousand each
time I said it in the act? And it was once my trademark phrase!
I tried others, of course, but came back to it. Adoring public!
So, I made a mistake. And the million he paid me was all pissed
away anyhow. C’est la...whatever. Win some, lose some. Others
called off due to Acid Rain! Hey! Wuzawoowuz!-–can say it cuz
it cost me nothing in private conversation.
How did I become a comedian?
Everybody laughed at me growing up! Got to like the sound.
That’s AT me, not with me?
So what? Who gives a shit? You wear yourself out worrying
about crap like that.
Wuzawoowuz!
Can I put it on my tombstone? Well, that’s advertising medium too!
Maybe he’ll relent to acknowledge the public’s love of me.
Yeah, love. Don’t act so shocked!”
Labels: comedian, comedy, laughing, saying
