Clotheslineable.
The art of clotheslining appears simple to the innocent novice (i.e. freshman) who finds a copy of the Chronicler in his mailbox, reads the bizarre, provocative, or whimsical quotes enshrined therein, and thinks, "This is something I can get in on!" I remember thinking that myself last year. And indeed, it is not hard to pick up a baker's dozen of baffingly odd remarks in a single week at Christendom - if you have a pen about you, which you usually don't. Most clotheslines die on the air and never find immortality in print. Lately, however, the clothesline has been sagging with random bits of discourse that are really unremarkable. People, some advice:
With that said, on to the clotheslines I've gleaned for this week.
"The universe is the teacup ride at Walt Disney World." - Dr. Andres
"Teaching consists in lying to your students in an effective way." - Dr. A.
"I feel like metaphysical ideas are big rocks and I keep throwing them at you." - Dr. A.
"Was it an effective killing? All right!" - Mr. O'H.
"Even before baseball, they knew there was something sacred about the number three." - Dr. S.
"I gotta get the Beatific Vision because it's the greatest show on earth." - Dr. C.
"There is a great image of a guardian angel in the Terminator." - Fr. H.
"God is not a thug." - Dr. M.
"The Holy Spirit doesn't say to the Father and Son, "I'm gonna go... are you guys coming?" - Mr. J.
"What? They didn't have anime in the Middle Ages?!" - Yours Truly.
"No. St. Francis Xavier discovered anime when he went to Japan." - S.B.
"I lost my course syllabus due to the Ablative of Forgetfulness." - J.M. (sundry Latin-crazed students begin laughing maniacally and somewhat desperately.)
"My socks are made by an Alaskan slave boy purchased on Ebay." - M.A.
"I hope you achieve the highest level of friendship with Kate Turabian." - S.W. (Never!)
"Latin isn't dead... it's just in a persistent vegetative state." - J.L.
1. If it doesn't condense to something strikingly epigrammatic, it's not a clothesline.
2. If it requires the rarefied camaraderie of Mr. J.'s Theology 101 class to be funny, it's not a clothesline. Not that Mr. J. doesn't say clotheslinable things, but you need to select a quote that can amuse without context.
3. Don't be afraid to edit your quote so that it is more euphonious. (Hey, I'm not pursuing a career in journalism... I like to make things sound good.)
With that said, on to the clotheslines I've gleaned for this week.
"The universe is the teacup ride at Walt Disney World." - Dr. Andres
"Teaching consists in lying to your students in an effective way." - Dr. A.
"I feel like metaphysical ideas are big rocks and I keep throwing them at you." - Dr. A.
"Was it an effective killing? All right!" - Mr. O'H.
"Even before baseball, they knew there was something sacred about the number three." - Dr. S.
"I gotta get the Beatific Vision because it's the greatest show on earth." - Dr. C.
"There is a great image of a guardian angel in the Terminator." - Fr. H.
"God is not a thug." - Dr. M.
"The Holy Spirit doesn't say to the Father and Son, "I'm gonna go... are you guys coming?" - Mr. J.
"What? They didn't have anime in the Middle Ages?!" - Yours Truly.
"No. St. Francis Xavier discovered anime when he went to Japan." - S.B.
"I lost my course syllabus due to the Ablative of Forgetfulness." - J.M. (sundry Latin-crazed students begin laughing maniacally and somewhat desperately.)
"My socks are made by an Alaskan slave boy purchased on Ebay." - M.A.
"I hope you achieve the highest level of friendship with Kate Turabian." - S.W. (Never!)
"Latin isn't dead... it's just in a persistent vegetative state." - J.L.
posted by Meredith at 9:55 PM
4 Comments:
Ah, Closelines. They make me happy. Although I am befuddled, because I can't figure out who is 'J.M.' Alas.
I would guess, phantom one, that "J.M." is none other than Ambrose, unless Mr. Moliter has been more talkative than I've ever seen him, ever.
-The Hich
I figured it was probably some Frosh.
We should stick this in The Rambler for more circulation, at least among those freshmen who don't come to Fiddleback every day and keep hitting the refresh button for more Catholic goodness.
(. . . what, you mean you guys don't do that?)
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