The Old Gringo

Story #50, In which Ambrose Bierce reaches his destination.

To hear the story, talk to the skull.



To read the story, blow out the candle.


Happy 164th birthday to Ambrose Bierce.

To celebrate, here are two new Bierce-related links:

Did you all know Bierce wrote fables? I didn't until Indie mentioned it sometime back. Here's a Collection.
and, The Devil's Dictionary Defiled, by S.R. Brubaker. Brubaker's site is a well-designed and funny page including definitions by Bierce and Brubaker.


This week in The Prattler, Unheard Of, the challenge to the Voting Rights Act.

The Modern Mariner

Story #49, In which Doug detassels corn in the year of the floating hog.

To hear the story, jump up on the detasseling machine.






To read the story, come to the seed corn field (this one using a 2x6 male to female pattern)




This week in The Prattler, An Open Letter to Dennis Hastert A Note to soccer fans: Dennis Hastert is Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress

Oh, and Happy Independence Day to our Icelandic friends, Minka, Mo'a and, I think, Terry.

The Court Stenographer

Story #48, In which justice is served.

Oyez! Oyez!
















Transcript follows

This week in The Prattler, Needless Things

Pansi's G-String

Our friend Logo sent Pansi a letter ("G"), with instructions to write about ten words that started with "G." Pansi is not much of a wordsmith, but Mrs. Weirsdo encouraged her and Diamonelle helped,

Diamonelle
Originally uploaded by weirsdo.

and here are the results:

The print version is here.
We hope Mall Diva will let Pansi participate in the library story hour again, and we applaud Doug (AKA P-Doggy) for purveying her talents in this space.

Weirsdo's definition: wordsmith (n.): The smith a mighty person she,
With large and sinewy brain
With the muscles of her scrawny arms
She hurls down words like rain.

Her brow is wet with nervous sweat,
She seldom cooks a meal,
She looks her husband in his face
And says, "You make the veal."

Day in, day out, from noon till night,
You can hear her clicking keys,
Like rats' feet on a sinking ship
Despite her children's pleas.

Thanks, thanks to thee, O worthy smith
For the lessons thou hast taught!
That on the glowing screen of life
Our Fortune is our Thought.

The Program

A contribution by Kyahgirl.


To hear the story encourage Laura/Kyahgirl.











To read the story, salute Laura's friend Nancy.

La Chienne Chanteuse

Story #47 (yeah, yeah, Sar,) because if you want to call a tune, you got to pay the piper.

To hear the story, rosin up the fiddle


To read the story, walk the dog




This week in The Prattler, The Liberal Memorial suggested by this post on Wonderland or Not.