Top Ten Tools for Writing Humor – Writing
Top Ten Tools for Writing Humor
David Leonhardt
Ever want to write a funny book or a humor column Or add spice to your newsletter editor or web page so that people read beyond the typical drivel that sends otherwise eager-to-spend customers into a boredom-induced coma
Here are my top ten favorite humor tools for you, along with real live examples from my own humor column.
Threading a theme through the text.
Are you into practical jokes Try sewing a single thread of bright red wool across Uncle Henrys new green golf shirt. Or sew a thread through your text.
My Parenting Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe is actually a delicious recipe. But I assumed there is a little helper around, and I threaded her through the text, making for sort of a running gag.
OK, time to up-tempo the laughs. Mid-way through, I run a second thread, renaming the cake with each mistake. The thread within a thread multiplies the humor.
See http://thehappyguy.com/pumpkin-cheesecake-recipe.html
Contrast what should be with the obviously deficient reality
I use this technique in Home Of The Year. Most people will agree that a home is more than just a house.
I contrast the reality of my I-survived-the-hurricane home with the Martha Stewart image of how a home should look -- the old little-miss-perfect Martha Stewart image, not the new-and-not-improved, scandal-defying, corporate shark image.
Notice I also use the threading tool in this piece
Ten Customer Service Secrets to Win Back Customers – Stress Management
Ten Customer Service Secrets to Win Back Customers
Ed Sykes
Recently I was facilitating an Outstanding Customer Service program and broke for lunch. Knowing that the restaurants in the area had much to desire as far as service I gave the students an extra fifteen minutes for lunch.
Sure enough a group of four students came rushing into the classroom with their lunches in hand. They sincerely apologized and quickly explained that they receive poor service at a restaurant This restaurant is part of a national chain. Hint: its name references a day in the week. I can
TOP TEN Pound 4 Pound Best Boxer Ever – Recreation
TOP TEN Pound 4 Pound Best Boxer Ever
Gary Whittaker
Before we start our list, I wanted to take some time to comment on 2 fighters that may have strong support in certain communities for being among the best ever, but truly do not have a place on the list.
NOT RANKED
Rocky Marciano - Won 49 Lost 0, 43 KO
Ask any Italian who the greatest boxer ever was, and you will never hear the names Ali, Louis or Sugar. Nope. You will only hear the name Rocky Marciano, the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated. To his credit, Rocky Marciano did make a habit of beating up his opponents in the ring. Add the fact that his most notable victory was over his childhood idle, Joe Louis, whom he sent back into retirement. But Joe was well past his prime. He also beat Archie Moore, but he also was already in his early forties. So to the entire nation of Italy and her children I say to you, Rocky Marciano could not beat any of the champions in my Top T.E.N.
Lennox Lewis - 41 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, 32 KO
Lewis will most likely go down as one of the most intelligent, calculated champions ever. But that is not what pound for pound is based on. Lennox was able to capitalize on Tyson