We needed tough lessons as children. An occasional playground fight was expected as the norm, and if we complained to our mother that we were being teased, we were treated to this glorious aphorism: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” My mom used to say that all the time, one of the seemingly endless adages she had at her disposal to deal with any of life’s problems. To this day I think long and hard about the practical application that dogma had on my life.
The idea that you could actually choose whether or not to be hurt by words: that was huge for me. Even though it has been repeated ad nauseam for generations, “sticks and stones” really is a powerful bit of philosophy to a kid. That’s one of the great things about being a parent: you can spout nothing but clichés, and yet, to your child, you come off as one of the great thinkers in Western culture.
–from MEAN DADS FOR A BETTER AMERICA, by Tom Shillue
Yesterday’s video failed to upload. We’ll see how this one does.it was called “by the fire…with no fire”
Thank you for reminding me. I wanted to talk about our post-show hangout in Memphis and here it is:
For those of you who didn't have time to watch Tom's posted video, he should be a guest on "Gutfeld!" tonight (Mon) and filling in for Guy Benson and Jimmy Failia on their radio shows one day this week. Sounds like he will be on Friday on Jimmy F's radio show.
“Why a duck?”
What do you call it?
Duck tape, Duct tape, or 100 MPH tape?
What is your favorite all time use for it?
I’ve called it all three names, 100 MPH was common military jargon in the 70’s and 80’s. My time period.
My favorite ever use?
When my son was 8 he started playing Little League football. The pads and uniforms were all too large. So in order for him to keep is pants on, we wrapped him around the top of his hip pads twice, with white Duck Tape.
His entire team had to do it…
Here is the ‘Why a duck?’ Routine from the Marx bros movie ‘Cocoanuts’;
Groucho: Well, we'll Passover that...You're a peach, boy. Now, here is a little peninsula, and, eh, here is a viaduct leading over to the mainland.
Chico: Why a duck?
Groucho: I'm alright, how are you? I say, here is a little peninsula, and here is a viaduct leading over to the mainland.
Chico: Alright, why a duck?
Groucho: (pause) I'm not playing "Ask Me Another," I say that's a viaduct.
Chico: Alright! Why a duck? Why ...
