Yes, Virginia,
There Is No Sanity...
But there is a hilarious contract negotiation scene in the Marx Brothers' A Night At The Opera. A scene that exists as certainly as Groucho and Harpo and Chico exist... okay, even Gummo and Zeppo, too. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no contract negotiation scene, and no George Kaufman to write it! A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, it will continue to make glad the hearts of moviegoers and humor connoisseurs...
Groucho Marx: Now I've got something here you're bound to like, you'll be crazy about it.
Chico Marx: No, I don't like it.
Groucho: You don't like what?
Chico: Whatever it is, I don't like it.
Groucho: Well don't let's break up an old friendship over a thing like that. Ready?
Chico: OK. Now the next part I don't think you're going to like.
Groucho: Well your word's good enough for me. Now then, is my word good enough for you?
Chico: I should say not.
Groucho: Well I'll take out two more clauses. Now the party of the eighth part --
Chico: No, that's no good, no.
Groucho: The party of the ninth part --
Chico: No, that's no good too. Hey, how is it my contract is skinnier than yours?
Groucho: Well, I don't know, you must have been out on a tail last night. But anyhow, we're all set now, are we? Now just you put your name right down there, then the deal is legal.
Chico: I forgot to tell you, I can't write.
Groucho: Well that's all right, there's no ink in the pen anyhow. But listen, it's a contract isn't it? We've got a contract, no matter how small it is.
Chico: Oh sure. You bet. Hey wait, wait. What does this say here, this thing here?
Groucho: Oh that? Oh that's the usual clause, that's in every contract. That just says, it says, 'If any of the parties participating in this contract are shown not to be in their right mind, the entire agreement is automatically nullified.'
Chico: Well, I don't know.
Groucho: It's all right, that's in every contract. That's what they call a sanity clause.
Chico: You can't fool me, there ain't no sanity clause. (GH)
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Natalie Bennett (You can email me at natalieben AT gmail DOT com)
Comics and Graphic Novels Editor: Bill Sherman (email)
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Recent Books Articles
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Book Review: Mary Jane – Her Book by Clara Ingram Judson— Mary Jane – Her Book depicts the glittering, dancing joy of the endless, timeless days that make up childhood.
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- Dec 1, 2008
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Book Review: Gothic Art Now by Jasmine Becket-Griffith— A chimerical showcase of gothic talent that spans the realms of painting, sculpture, mixed media, and multimedia art forms.
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Book Review: Baby Beanies by Amanda Keeys and Knitted Finger Puppets by Meg Leach— Two knitting books with great gift ideas for little ones. Excellent for leftover yarn.
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Interview with J.L. Miles, Author of Divorcing Dwayne— "Never make career decisions while waiting on a man with a knitting needle who intends to stab you in the mouth with it."
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The Early Word: New Books for the Week of December 1, 2008— Cornwell, Jance, Elizabeth Peters, Steve Berry, Beedle the Bard, Tila Tequila, Yes They Did, Rise of the Rich, Talkin' 'Bout Boys - Yea Yea Boys...
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- Nov 30, 2008
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Book Review: Crafting Jewish by Rivky Koenig— Chanukah crafts and recipes are just for starters in this new, beautifully illustrated book.
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Twilight and the Potter Derangement Syndrome: "But There're No Vampires in That Kid's Book!"— 'Twilight' and 'Harry Potter': A gonzo look into the world of literary obsessions and denials.
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Interview with Career Strategist and Author Robert Patterson— "The main message I am attempting to convey with this book is that finding a job is a full-time job."
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Book Review: Raucous Royals - Test Your Royal Wits: Crack Codes, Solve Mysteries, And Deduce Which Royal Rumors Are True by Carlyn Beccia— Catherine the Great didn't die beneath her horse? Oh dear - looks like I've been guilty of spreading a 200-years-old rumor.
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Graphic Novel Review: The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror: Dead Man's Jest— An unimpressive collection of a dozen Simpsons Halloween tales
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- Nov 29, 2008
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Book Review: McTeague by Frank Norris — Norris makes it so you can believe people like this would exist, and such is the sign of an excellent writer.
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Interview with Humor Writer Kelly Epperson, Author of When Life Stinks, It's Time To Wash the Gym Clothes— "Readers and editors kept suggesting that I make a compilation of columns in book form."
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Book Review: President Lincoln - The Duty of a Statesman by William Lee Miller— The author uses Lincoln as an example that statesmen are not born but made. Future young leaders can find inspiration.
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Book Review: Pragmatic Thinking and Learning - Refactor Your Wetware by Andy Hunt— Streamline your thinking!
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Book Review: Brisingr by Christopher Paolini— The saga of Eragon and Saphira continues!
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Interview with Mayra Calvani, Author of The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing— Not only are two universities using Calvani’s ‘Slippery Art’ as a textbook, it's also National Best Books Award Finalist in the Writing & Publishing category.
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An Interview with Author Orson Scott Card— “I have to write stories I believe in…I wouldn't know how to write any other way. Each book then must find its own audience.”
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