Posts filed under “Press Clippings”

LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

Sir: I asked for a cup of tea at the coffeehouse around the corner, not the one where they have the mimes, but the other one, and they handed me a foam cup with a teabag in it, and the teabag had a tag dangling from it. And this was the message on the tag: “Trust your identity; be in touch with your reality.” Well, my reality never calls. It never even sends a postcard. My reality and I haven’t spoken since 2014, when I told my reality to take a hike. And my identity was stolen by Slovenian hackers last October, so I certainly don’t trust that. So I think we should tell these big tea companies, first of all, you can just keep out of my personal life, thank you very much, and in return we won’t ask you about your relatives. And second, it’s not “tea” unless it’s made from Camellia sinensis, okay? So don’t go telling me peppermint and licorice root and dogbane and lawn clippings all stuffed into a little bag make “tea,” because you’re not fooling anybody but yourselves. —Sincerely, Name Withheld Against My Will.

IN THE NEWS.

French scientists at the Académie des Sciences Improbables announced yesterday that their laboratory had for the first time achieved a successful thermidorian reaction. A spokeswoman for the Académie cautioned that, although this is an important breakthrough that definitely deserves EU funding, the reaction so far is not stable.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

Sir: It is clear that whoever runs the National Weather Service is a complete incompetent. Yesterday it snowed. In December! Yes, there was free crushed ice all over the ground—in the middle of December, when the temperature was twenty-eight degrees outside. I don’t need ice everywhere when it’s cold outside, for Pete’s sake. I need it in August, when it’s hot as blazes. But no—every August I end up having to buy my own ice. Then December rolls around, and they start giving it away for free. No wonder the government runs on a deficit. I’m tired of paying taxes for giant entitlement programs that benefit literally no one. I wrote my Congresswoman at the Capitol, but the letter was returned marked “NOT KNOWN AT THIS ADDRESS,” so I’m writing you instead. Either we should sort out the mess at the National Weather Service and get the right weather to the right places at the right times, or we should just give up on weather and let private enterprise take care of it. Also, if it’s not too much trouble, could you run a missing-persons ad for my congresswoman? —Sincerely Zimmerman P. Zummer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Canning, Duck Hollow University.

TODAY’S TOP SEVEN CLICKBAIT HEADLINES

You Can’t Actually Click On.

Are headlines in question form destroying our democracy?

New government program may be worth millions to everyone who breathes air.

The 14 things you’re doing wrong when you floss.

Bad things happened to Edgar. They will make you angry.

Did you drink cola between 2007 and 2015? Here’s what your intestines look like.

Stop global warming, end hunger, and create lasting world peace with this one weird trick.

We opened a can of condensed tomato soup. What we found probably won’t surprise you.

POLICE BLOTTER.

Officers were called to a domestic disturbance in the 2300 block of Boulevard Way this afternoon. Upon arrival, officers heard a loud argument in progress, in which the name of Hegel was repeatedly mentioned. Officers called for backup and surrounded the building, but did not attempt entry until the city philosophy squad had arrived. Two Duck Hollow University professors were taken into custody.

IN LEGAL NEWS.

A lawsuit was filed today in the Court of Unusual Pleas on behalf of the heirs of the late Roberta Plinkmann against Jean-Louis-Lucrèce-Antoine’s Parisian Brasserie. According to the filing, Mrs. Plinkmann died shortly after consuming a croque madame sandwich purchased at the plaintiff’s establishment. It is the contention of the restaurant, which is represented by the Culinary Law Practice of Rufinus & Rufinus, that “the potential effects of the comestible in question are so plainly laid out in the very name on the menu that a patron who orders it must be regarded as having assumed the risk.”

MISSING PERSON ALERT.

Officer Chad Welladay of the Missing Persons Department has not shown up for work since Thursday. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is requested to call the Parking Enforcement Division, since the phone at Missing Persons is just going to voice mail and the inbox is full.

IN BUSINESS NEWS.

Scandal rocked the world of carbonated beverages yesterday when, only days after the announcement of the special limited-edition “Fruit Quake” flavor of Mountain Dew, a discontented employee at PepsiCo leaked a list of limited-edition flavors planned for future promotions:

Guavalanche

Figferno

Currycane

Chickensoupnami

Buckthornado

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD.

There are still six unclaimed veterans from the Veterans’ Day Raffle. The Blandville Veterans’ Lodge reminds you to check your ticket against the numbers posted on the door.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit has asked us to remind passengers on the Red Line to board only authorized trolleys. Pittsburgh Regional Transit will not be responsible for damage or loss incurred on unauthorized trolley runs.

This year’s Blandville Lite-Up Nite parade will feature an appearance by the Royal Canadian Mounted Sanitation Engineers, who are touring the States to raise awareness for something or other.

Horace Hinckel’s Penny Candy Emporium has agreed to sponsor this year’s Bland Street Christmas wreaths, which have been obtained from the Edwards Street Wreath Rental Corporation of Beltzhoover. Mr. Edwards said that it was the first time he had ever seen $15,000 in pennies.

City Councilwoman Stacey Whatsername has opened a satellite office on Bland Street next door to her regular Bland Street office. Stop in and welcome her to the neighborhood!

IN BUSINESS NEWS.

The De Fitte Motors Corporation has announced a “December to Remember Sales Event,” which its marketing department hopes will spur enthusiasm and lead to higher figures in what has been a disappointing quarter for the company in comparison to its competitors. Analysts are optimistic that the campaign may have more success than last month’s “October to Get Ober Blowout.”