Will Rogers was a master of paraprosdokians. Martha shares a favorite, as well as one from comedian Mitch Hedberg. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Paraprosdokian Quotes” We’re going to have more paraprosdokians, those statements...
Martha shares two more paraprosdokians about money. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Money Paraprosdokians” Grant, we were talking earlier in the show about paraprosdokians. Those statements that start out one way and then take a...
Why not have collective nouns for plants, like a “greasing of palms,” or a “pursing of tulips”? Martha shares some others collected on the site of food writer Gary Allen. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Collective Names for...
Martha shares more clever collective plant names, including a “mommy of poppies.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Mommy of Poppies” We were talking earlier about collective nouns for plants. Oh, you’ve got more? I have plucked a...
“They shot the white girl first.” That’s how Toni Morrison’s novel, Paradise, begins, and it’s a great example of an irresistible first line. Martha shares others sent in by listeners. She also reads from a Michael Cunningham essay about why a first...
If you’re not yet old enough to understand homophones, you can wind up with some funny misunderstandings. Martha shares a listener’s story about avoiding cotton candy as a child, fearing that it was literally made of cotton. This is part of a...
