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Max the Magnificent
They say that when we get a computer that truly understands this ... then watch ...
Frank Eory
Don’t bandy paraprosdokians with me!
Clive Maxfield
2/11/2012 3:56 PM EST
As I pen these words I’m sitting in the airport at Washington DC with my 17-year-old son Joseph. We’re waiting for our flight to Copenhagen, Denmark, and from there to Trondheim, Norway (see also Just call me Max the Viking!)
I just received an email from EDA Analyst and all round "good egg" Gary Smith (GarySmithEDA.com). I’m on his “jokes list”, which means I never know what’s going to appear in my “Inbox”. Anyway, Gary just send the following, which caused me to grin more than once…
A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part.
"Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a paraprosdokian.
Winston Churchill loved them.
Also, Click Here to see a previous column I penned on this topic…
If you found this article to be amusing and/or of interest, visit Programmable Logic Designline where – in addition to my blogs on all sorts of "stuff" (also check out my Max's Cool Beans blog) – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to programmable logic devices of every flavor and size (FPGAs, CPLDs, CSSPs, PSoCs...).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
I just received an email from EDA Analyst and all round "good egg" Gary Smith (GarySmithEDA.com). I’m on his “jokes list”, which means I never know what’s going to appear in my “Inbox”. Anyway, Gary just send the following, which caused me to grin more than once…
A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part.
"Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a paraprosdokian.
Winston Churchill loved them.
- Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
- The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.
- Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
- If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.
- We never really grow up; we only learn how to act in public.
- War does not determine who is right – only who is left.
- Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
- Evening news is where they begin with “Good Evening,” and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.
- To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal ideas from many is research.
- A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.
- I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.
- Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, “In case of emergency, notify…” I put “DOCTOR.”
- I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
- Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.
- A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.
- You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive more than one time.
- Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.
- There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.
- I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.
- You're never too old to learn something stupid.
- To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
- Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
- Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
- Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
- Where there's a will, there are relatives
Also, Click Here to see a previous column I penned on this topic…
If you found this article to be amusing and/or of interest, visit Programmable Logic Designline where – in addition to my blogs on all sorts of "stuff" (also check out my Max's Cool Beans blog) – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to programmable logic devices of every flavor and size (FPGAs, CPLDs, CSSPs, PSoCs...).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
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Max the Magnificent
2/11/2012 4:11 PM EST
So, which is your favorite? I like #1, #2, and #3 ... also #20 and #21 ...
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ReneCardenas
2/12/2012 5:31 PM EST
12, 8, & 6 are my favorites, so much wisdom in so few words ;-)
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David Ashton
2/12/2012 10:23 PM EST
In view of your evident disdain for fellow paraprosdokian-bandiers, I'm not sure I should comment....but anyway....
I like no 5, goes along with my philosphy of "It's never too late to have a happy childhood" which in itself would qualify as a paraprosdokian I think?(Why did they have to use such a difficult-to-type name?)
And I had a friend who, if you were telling him a story of something that went spectacularly wrong, would say: "I know what you mean. Everything in your favour was against you..."
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zeeglen
2/12/2012 10:53 PM EST
Like 'em all, learned a new word.
Would you know if phrases like these have a name other than pun?
"I have diamonds, clubs, and spades." said Tom heartlessly.
"I hate this Chardonnay!" Tom whined.
"Don't you have any oranges?" Tom asked fruitlessly.
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Max the Magnificent
2/13/2012 1:18 PM EST
Yes -- there is a name for this, but it escapes me at the moment...
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David Ashton
2/13/2012 4:58 PM EST
How about "Very bad Pun"?? ;-)
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majortom84
2/14/2012 2:25 PM EST
The only name I've ever seen for them is "Tom Swifties." They were so labeled in one or two joke books I had as a kid. Since then I've assumed they were named for the one that always appeared first on the list: "'I'm back already!' said Tom swiftly."
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Max the Magnificent
2/15/2012 12:24 AM EST
Actually, that sounds about right -- I sort of remember the term "Tom Swifties" ... sort of...
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altme
2/16/2012 11:55 AM EST
A special format for Wellerisms called a Tom Swifty incorporates a punning adverb that modifies the manner in which the statement was related. Tom Swift is a series of books for kids whose sometimes adverb-heavy, suggested a name for a type of adverbial pun promulgated in the 1960s, the "Tom Swifties".
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Mohit.arora
2/14/2012 11:28 AM EST
#1, #20, #10 is just awesome
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Max the Magnificent
2/15/2012 12:25 AM EST
Every time I look at this list I find I have another favorite :-)
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SteveD_Aus
2/14/2012 5:27 PM EST
#5 is the best for me; such a succinct way of putting it!
#2 had the most unanticipated conclusion, though. Fortunately I was between sips of my coffee...
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Max the Magnificent
2/15/2012 12:25 AM EST
I must admit that I did like #2
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Frank Eory
2/16/2012 12:17 PM EST
How about this Einsteinian quote from Groucho Marx:
"Time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like a banana."
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Max the Magnificent
2/22/2012 3:19 PM EST
They say that when we get a computer that truly understands this ... then watch out (see my column on the forthcoming Robot Apocalypse :-)
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