Archive for July, 2008

Bob Newhart Names “Mad” Kane Winner of 2008 Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Back in June I was thrilled to announce that I was a 2008 Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor Competition finalist. (The humor column that got me onto the finalists list is Guide For The Opera Impaired.) 

Well, I’m now beyond thrilled because Bob Newhart, the finalists judge, picked me as the FIRST PRIZE winner.

Mr. Newhart even sent me a handwritten personal note (reproduced below) explaining why he named me for the top Robert Benchley Society humor award.

Right now I’m verging on euphoria —a dangerous condition for a satirist.  But just to be mentioned in the same sentence as Mr. Benchley and Mr. Newhart is almost beyond comprehension.

Here’s Mr. Newhart’s note. (Needless to say, I plan to frame the original.)

Bob Newhart Letter

UPDATE: I’m very pleased that my award has generated a fair amount of publicity.  This article in Gannett’s Journal News is probably the best of the stories.  And it has a fun companion video of me reading one of my humor columns.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Bob Newhart, Contests, Humor Columns & Humorous Essays, Robert Benchley Society, Writing & Publishing Humor | 11 Comments »

Gray Matters (Limerick)

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Please stay tuned for a big announcement, which is coming in the next day or so.  But in the meantime, I’ve been prompted to write about getting older.  So here’s my Gray Matters limerick:

Gray Matters
By Madeleine Begun Kane

Though young when I started to gray,
I refused to say, “Gray, go away!”
In the decades gone by
I have never used dye.
Mess with nature?  My answer is “Nay!”

     
My best wishes to LA’ers who’ve been through an earthquake today. Fortunately, so far at least, the damage hasn’t been bad.  I still have vivid memories of the really scary 1971 LA earthquake.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Aging Humor & Verse, Limericks, Physical Appearance | 12 Comments »

Vacation Verse (Limerick & Haiku Prompt — through July 31st)

Monday, July 21st, 2008

Sorry for the delay, but though my cast is finally off, I’m still having wrist problems.

Today’s limerick, haiku, and senryu theme is vacations. First, my limerick, which was inspired by my husband Mark:

Vacation Verse
By Madeleine Begun Kane

My husband is swimming outdoors.
I expect he’ll be back when it pours,
Which it threatens to do
Ev’ry day, so he’s blue.
Yes, vacations are rain guarantors.

And now my haiku (senryu):

I’m on vacation,
Yet here I am writing verse.
Give it a rest, brain.

Now, of course, it’s your turn. Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to write some verse about vacations. When you’ve posted your poem(s), please return here and add a direct link to your themed poetry, using Mr. Linky. There’s no rush, by the way, because you have until August 1st to post it.

Limerick and Haiku Prompts Participants

1. Noah
2. Noah
3. Granny Smith
4. Bev
5. Bev		 6. Shark Girl
7. Michelle
8. Linda – Nickers and Ink
9. The Mane Point
10. Beaman’s World		 11. MomCat
12. Random Short Stories
13. Mrs. Brownstone @ XBOX Wife

UPDATE: Mr. Linky is now closed, but you can still add links to your vacation-related verse in the Comments. And if you’d like to participate in a new poetry prompt, you can always find my latest one here.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Family Verse, Haiku & Senryu, Holiday Humor, Leisure Time Humor, Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Limericks, Marriage Humor, Outdoors Humor, Poetry & Prompts, Sports Humor, Vacation Humor, Writing & Publishing Humor | 11 Comments »

Versifying About Satire & Law On My Other Blog

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

I’ve written a couple of posts & poems on my political humor blog that readers of this blog might find interesting.

The first is about New Yorker Magazine’s Barack Obama cover controversy.  My poem about the challenges of creating satire begins:

A Humorist’s Lament
Madeleine Begun Kane

A humorist like me sure knows
How tough it is to write, compose,
And sketch satiric toons and prose
And poems.  It’s not without its woes.

For instance, Barry Blitt’s lampoon,
New Yorker’s well-intentioned toon, …

The other is about a federal judge who lambasted plaintiff’s lawyer via judicial limerick.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in General, Legal & Lawyer Humor, Social Satire, Writing & Publishing Humor | Comments Off on Versifying About Satire & Law On My Other Blog

Bugged

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

Bugged
By Madeleine Begun Kane

Mosquitoes are on the attack.
They have bitten my arms and my back.
You may call ’em God’s creatures —
These venomous  leechers — 
I’m tired of being their snack.

(I’ve been bugged by mosquitoes before.)

(Inspired by Manic Monday’s “bug.”)

Update: August 20 is World Mosquito Day.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Insect Humor, Linky Love, Odd Holidays, Outdoors Humor, Poetry & Prompts, Seasons Humor | 4 Comments »

Dear Newbie (Limerick & Haiku Prompt)

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

Today’s limerick, haiku, and senryu theme is blogging. First, my limerick, which was inspired by The Ominous Comma’s request for humorous advice for new bloggers:

Dear Newbie
By Madeleine Begun Kane

Dear Newbie, I feel for your plight —
You are anxious for links to your site.
But please do not send
Link requests, when you’ve penned
A mere pittance of blog posts, all right?

And now my haiku (senryu):

My blog bullies me,
Demanding ideas, words, wit.
This will have to do.

Now, of course, it’s your turn. Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to write some verse about blogging. When you’ve posted your poem(s), please return here and add a direct link to your themed poetry, using Mr. Linky. There’s no rush, by the way, because you have until July 18th to post it.

Limerick and Haiku Prompts Participants

1. Noah the Great
2. Noah the Great		 3. Deviant Cynic
4. Connie		 5. Bev
6. Bev

UPDATE: Mr. Linky is now closed, but you can still add links to your blogging-related verse in the Comments. And if you’d like to participate in a new poetry prompt, you can always find my latest one here.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Advice Humor & Poems, Blogging Humor, Limerick & Haiku Prompts, Poetry & Prompts, Writing & Publishing Humor | 8 Comments »

My Confession

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

My Confession (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane

I’m married, but still like to date.
It’s good for my marriage — no, great!
Now don’t be perturbed
Or concerned or disturbed.
The fellow I date is my mate.

(You can find more of my marriage humor and verse here.)

UPDATE: I’ve just learned that May is Date Your Mate Month. Of course my husband Mark and I like to celebrate it all year round. :)

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Battle of the Sexes, Dating Humor, Limericks, Marriage Humor, Relationship Humor | 6 Comments »

Loose Change Exchange (Limerick)

Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

Loose Change Exchange
By Madeleine Begun Kane

“Oh, please do you have some loose change?”
Said a beggar all covered with mange.
“Yes I do,” said a guy,
As he passed him right by,
Cuz literal people are strange.

(Prompted by “loose change)

(You can find more of my money humor and verse here.)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Behavior & Personality, Limericks, Money & Finance Humor, Poetry & Prompts | 1 Comment »

Tempo, Tempo

Monday, July 7th, 2008

Prompted to pay special attention to tempo and pacing, I’ve written a tanka made up entirely of Italian musical tempo terms. (At long last my Cal Arts BFA in Music Performance pays off.)

Tempo, Tempo
By Madeleine Begun Kane

Largo, andante,
Allegro ma non troppo,
Accelerando,
Vivace, rallentando,
Allargando al fine.

(You can find more of my musical verse and humor here.)

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Music Humor & Verse, Poetry Forms, Tanka | 6 Comments »