Which book is this? I gots to know.
In high school, I used to throw the word ‘cabbage’ in the middle of a sentence, out of context, to see if my teacher was actually reading it. Through all of high school, I had one teacher actually mark a question mark next to it. At least she was an english teacher.
Nice to see this thread back again. I’m amazed at how quickly the term ‘helicopter’ managed to catch on here. I blush with pride.
Chuck Barris is reported to have used one similar to Eve’s Mae West example: he noticed that the network censors would always cut one act from The Gong Show, so he started adding one gratuitously obscene act to every show for the censors to take out, in order to keep the ones he wanted. The notorious “Popsicle Twins” episode was supposedly a case of this backfiring when they chose an act other than the helicopter to take out.
“This sentence contains cabbage six words.” - Douglas Hofstadter
Not really.
I’ve played this game enough times that when someone pays me a consultant’s fee, then ignores the advice , information, and experience for which they paid me, I just shrug.
Then again, my name has never gone on the finished product, either.
Maybe it’s true what Heinlein said: “The editor always likes the flavor better after he pees in it.”
In case you’re wondering what “The Popsicle Twins” act was about, you can read an excerpt from Chuck Barris’ bio here (no pictures, though).
Explicit language, but no rude words (unless you count blow job).
There is a low quality video capture here…
http://thegongshow1976.com/movie.htm
I don’t think they were very cute.
Months later, I still don’t know the answer.
Ah yes… when I needed a new computer system at work, I made two proposals–one with the exact specifications I wanted, and one with twice the specs for twice the price. Imagine my surprise when they bought my “fake pitch”!
I wouldn’t be surprised by that. Irritated maybe, but I’d guess it’s the old “we need to spend the budget now or we’ll be cut next year” practice. Not that the people who are doing the spending are in the wrong, rather the people who make it necessary.
As seal_cleaner suggests above, we should observe Mama Tiger’s Cardinal Rule: Choose your helicopters wisely.
Otherwise you might have wound up with your original computer hardware plus a gross of crickets frozen into fudgesicles.
Mmmm…Fudgecrickels.
Since we’re talking about helicopters here and Eve mentions movies…
I was sitting in a lecture given by Czech director Jiri Menzel where he stated that a trick they used to extend their budget past what tight-wad producers would allow was to always include 1) huge crowd scene and 2) helicopter shots in their films. They’d get the script and budget approved, then cut the scenes out and use the money in other places…
In city work, we call helicopters, “jutch.”
Ah, sheesh. Something pulled me back into this thread a year later and I realized I’d been asked a question I never responded to. Sorry about that!
Michael, it was in my book, Alternative Realtime Careers (about realtime accessibility technologies for deaf and hard-of-hearing people). Amazon doesn’t have much to say about the book, but my Web site does (select “books” from the menu–it’s the third one down).
The full disclaimer in question reads:
The author and publisher of this book have expended their best efforts to assure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Neither the author nor the publisher, however, make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book, and specifically disclaim any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose, and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. Under no circumstances is any information in this book to be construed as legal advice, and all information is subject to change. This book is not recommended for use as a hangover cure. Possible side effects of using this book include blurry eyes, confusion, dizziness, and uncontrollable finger movement when watching television. No baby harp seals were harmed in the production of this book. The typesetting and word processing for this book was done using all recycled electrons.
Sorry about the incredibly slow response.
I heard that Max Miller (UK comedian) told this one 50 years ago at a Royal Command performance:
“I was walking along a narrow mountain trail when I met a lady coming the other way. I didn’t know whether to toss myself off, or block her passage.” 
:eek:
And a female friend of mine told me that some men had stared at her on a train. I sympathised, found out the full circumstances, then explained why eating a ‘Mars’ (= double layer chocolate bar) by slowly licking the outer surface off will attract attention.
InvisibleWombat, would you mind telling me what book that was? I swear I’ve read that in one of the disclaimers in a book I’ve read recently and I can’t for the life of me remember where. If you don’t want to post it publicly, and you don’t mind emailing me instead, that’s fine - if you don’t even want to do that, it’s fine too.
And if I’d read the thread all the way through first I wouldn’t have had to injure that poor hamster with a superfluous post. Sorry about that…