Say What?

I have something that may bring a smile on this Thursday, July 17, 2008. I see headlines all the time in both print media and online that makes me pause and say, “What?” Back in the late 1960’s I worked in the public affairs office of a U. S. Army post. One of the fellows there worked on our newspaper staff. He had been drafted into the army and had come to our office from a major city newspaper. As a degreed journalist his previous job had been as a fulltime headline writer. That’s right, a headline writer. Perhaps this was how they worked their way up but we are all aware that headlines are crafted to get our attention so we will be compelled to read the story or article. Over time I have to wonder if they still use professionals to write headlines because some of them end up being real doozies. The word doozy is thought to be an amalgamation of daisy and the luxury car, the Dusenberg from the 1920’s and 30’s. It eventually became slang for something extraordinary or bizarre. At any rate, there are some really funny headlines floating around.

I want to share some I found that may give you a chuckle for the day, and we all know we could use a chuckle now and then. “SOMETHING WENT WRONG IN JET CRASH, EXPERTS SAY.” “POLICE BEGIN CAMPAIGN TO RUN DOWN JAYWALKERS.” “FARMER BILL DIES IN HOUSE.” “TEACHER STRIKES IDLE KIDS.” “MINERS REFUSE TO WORK AFTER DEATH.” “ASTRONAUT TAKES BLAME FOR GAS IN SPACECRAFT.” “NEW STUDY OF OBESITY SEEKS LARGER TEST GROUP.” “SEX EDUCATION DELAYED; TEACHERS REQUEST MORE TRAINING.” "TWO SISTERS REUNITED AFTER 18 YEARS AT CHECKOUT COUNTER.” “DEAF MUTE GETS NEW HEARING IN KILLING.” “GRANDMOTHER OF EIGHT MAKES HOLE IN ONE.”

Some of these may take a little time but I actually didn’t choose those that were even sillier and easier to pick up on. Of course many who read headlines like these may already have an idea of what is being talked about. For instance, the one saying the farmer bill died in house most likely appeared in a political context and most people would have known intuitively that it referred to a piece of legislation involving farm matters that failed to pass in the House of Representatives. Context is always critical to any particular story but I see funny headlines literally every single day and they do bring a smile.

Some headlines are funny because they state the blatantly obvious. “MAN IS FATALLY SLAIN.” “BLIND WOMAN RECEIVES KIDNEY FROM DAD SHE HAS NOT SEEN IN YEARS.” “COLD WAVE LINKED TO TEMPERATURES.” Okay that’s enough already but don’t neglect to find little things like an odd headline to initiate and exercise that funny bone that most likely gets way too little use in these tough times we’re living in. God had to know when He made us that we would need some smiles along our journey. I do hope today’s blog brought at least a bemused expression if not a big broad smile. Have a great day and may God bless. Amen. …..More later.