Thank You For Applying for a Position at the New York Times

Leading from behind in diversity for over a century

Leading from behind in diversity for over a century

Dear applicant:

Thank you for applying for a position at the New York Times.  As you may be aware the position of Executive Editor was recently vacated by Jill Abamson, after it was discovered that she was a real woman and not one of the fake ones we in the newsroom enjoy hanging out with.

While Ms. Abramson’s firing may us make look bad in the short run, we’d like to assure all applicants that the New York Times is committed to diversity, as this recent photo of our newsroom makes clear.

See that guy in the back?  He might be eastern European!

See that guy in the back? He might be eastern European!

Yes. That person in the blue shirt.  No not that one.  The other one.  While not a negro this mystery person in the blue shirt may possibly be of Eastern European origin or even Italian.  As we like to say in the newsroom, he was displaying “negro-like tendencies.”

So don’t let the recent firing of this pushy bitch lower your opinion of the brand name that is the New York Times.  As President Obama likes to lead from behind, the Times likes to lead from behind when it comes to diversity.

We at the Times love women.  Many of our reporters have screensavers that feature scantily-clad young, beautiful women.

So let us reiterate that the New York Times in no way, shape or form, condones prejudice or intolerance in the workplace.  Unless you are conservative.  Or a pushy bitch.

As an applicant to the Times your application will be “blind-reviewed” by experts in the field of journalism.  

Your skin color, race, gender and sexual identity will be unknown to them.  Though if your cover letter contains no spelling errors, run-on sentences, grammatical mistakes or even expresses a coherent thought we will assume that you are writing from a position of “White privilege” and you will be disqualified. 

You might be asking about our publisher, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.

This white male is conflicted

This white male is conflicted

 Is he a white male of northern European origin as has been rumored?

Yes.  It is true.  Arthur Sulzberger Jr., is white.  He has always been white and, not being Irish, sees no reason to hide his whiteness, his white privilege or his ableism.

But, in Mr. Sulzberger’s defense, he has always been conflicted about this.

In fact Mr. Sulzberger has recently started a program in the newsroom where white reporters are encouraged to discuss their racism and privilege in front of a “Truth and Reconciliation” committee composed of several minority cooks from our commissary.

This program has proven to be very successful.  And it is catered!

So once again, dear applicant, let us assure you that the New York Times will review your credentials fairly and impartially.

Signed,

The Editorial Board of the New York Times

(701)

Star Fleet Confidential: Captain Picard Orders Level III Diagnostic; Gets Pushback from Engineering

I don't know.....it's slow.  I can't give specifics.  Just fix it.  Make it so!

I don’t know…..it’s slow. I can’t give specifics. Just fix it. Make it so!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard, commander of the Starship Enterprise of the United Federation of Planets, concerned over what he believed to be “anomalies of some sort” ordered a ship-wide Level III diagnostic of all computer systems.

Sources say that Picard, concerned that his Microsoft Outlook profile would not load and that some of his desktop items were missing contacted Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge and ordered a diagnostic of all systems.

“Dammit Geordi, something’s wrong!” a panicked Picard said.

“So I remote into Picard’s desktop to take a look” explains La Forge.

First off, this isn’t even my job.  We have desktop support personnel for this but the bald bastard always calls me.  So I take a look and of course he’s logged into the wrong domain.  His computer is on the old Starfleet domain, which is being phased out by the new DisneySpaceFleet Domain.  It’s technical but after Disney bought Star Fleet they wanted to put all us on their domain.

After La Forge told Picard that he had to log out and log into the correct domain Picard told him he didn’t have time to do that.

So the old French bald-headed bastard tells me that he can’t do that. Really? You don’t have a minute to log out and log back in? No he says. “A starship captain’s life is filled with solemn duty. I have commanded men in battle. I have negotiated peace treaties between implacable enemies. I have represented the Federation in first contact with twenty-seven alien species.  I’m a busy man.  Fix the problem.”  Well how the hell am I going to fix the problem without his password, which he won’t give to me.

Annoyed that still couldn’t get his email or his background image of Sherlock Holmes, Picard then ordered a ship-wide level III diagnostic of all computer systems.

“There is something seriously wrong with this ship” said the captain when issuing the order.

A level III diagnostic would entail the Enterprise heading back to base for weeks of testing.

Convinced that this was not necessary, La Forge took the unprecedented step of raising his concerns with Star Fleet.

There’s nothing wrong!  All he has to do is log into Disney’s domain.  It’s simple!  But will he do that?  No.  He wants to take us out of commission.  It’ll be a vacation for him.  He’ll sit in a chair and read romance novels

I wonder how that level III diagnostic is coming along?

I wonder how that level III diagnostic is coming along?

 while we crawl around the Jeffries Tubes.  There is no need for a diagnostic.  Do you know when a Level III diagnostic is necessary?  Every time I catch Commander Riker in engineering getting his freak on with an alien girl.

So you come here often?

So you come here often?

 One time I found him with a lizard and I had to clean lizard fluid off the systems.  I needed a level III diagnostic for my stomach after that!

Despite La Forge’s complaint, the Level III diagnostic has been ordered.

“We at Disney value our new acquisition of Star Fleet”  read a memo released by Disney regarding the controversy.

We value the safety of our Star Fleet officers as much as we value the safety of Mickey, Pluto and Minnie.  Disney has a proud tradition of customer service.  While we are sensitive to engineer La Forge’s concerns we must allow the diagnostic to be performed.

Fearing that La Forge’s presence would demoralize the Enterprise, Disney has reassigned him to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Disney World.

“I’ll do it.  I’m a career officer and I follow orders” said La Forge.  “But If I see any bald-headed bastards I won’t let them on the ride!”

(987)

Lucy Van Pelt Victim of the Patriarchy!

I am a victim of the patriarchy!

I am a victim of the patriarchy!

Today at Manhattan Infidel it is my pleasure to interview Lucy Van Pelt, who will talk to me about her relationships with her brother Linus as well as Charlie Brown and Schroeder.

MI: Good afternoon Miss Van Pelt.

LVP: Miss?  Miss?  You start out this interview by insulting me with your sexist language?

MI: Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.

LVP: I am Lucy Van Pelt.  I am a proud, independent woman and I don’t need you to insult me like this.

MI: Okay, okay!

LVP: I am woman hear me roar.  Or, at least I will be a woman once I develop some secondary sexual characteristics.  I’m only eight you know.

MI: Right.  Let’s talk about your brother Linus.

LVP: You mean my younger brother?  Isn’t that just like the patriarchy?  Typical of our male-dominated society that you interview me yet your first question is about a man.  Well, Linus will become a man in a few years once his testicles drop.

MI: Um –

LVP: Ask me about his stupid blanket.  Go ahead ask me.  It’s a substitute for a vagina. Typical of rape-crazed men.  And why can’t I have a blanket?  I want the comforting love of another vagina.  Why can’t I, a woman, enjoy the love of a vagina?  You know me and Peppermint Patty have begun experimenting after school.

MI: Okay, I don’t to hear that! Let’s talk about Charlie Brown.

LVP: Why can’t I kick the football?  Why does it always have to be Charlie Brown? Why?  Because he’s a man?  Does it make him feel like he’s a member of the patriarchal order?  I have athletic ability! My hairless vagina wants to kick that ball!

MI: You seem quite angry.

LVP: I am angry.  Don’t I have reason to be angry?  Haven’t you read any feminist literature?  We are at war with the patriarchy.  It’s no coincidence that penises are shaped like rockets.  They bring war and destruction.

MI: Can we change the subject? I’m not comfortable talking about penises with an eight-year old girl.  You know when my sister was eight she played with dolls.

LVP: Dolls?  Dolls?  Is that your patriarchal view of women?  We are only good for playing with dolls and being raped?

MI: No!  I just mean that – okay can we move on?  Let’s talk about your love interest Schroeder.

LVP:  My love interest?  My love interest?  What the hell is wrong with you?

MI: Um, perhaps I should be going.

LVP: My parents set us up.  Their generation are slaves to the patriarchal paradigm. I won’t let Schroeder touch me.  All heterosexual sex is rape!

MI: Oh Christ. Where the hell are we going with this?

LVP: PIY sex.  Penis in vagina!  Penetration.  It’s rape.  It’s insulting.  It’s patriarchal and it should be illegal.

MI: I’m just going to back away slowly.

LVP: I’d burn my bra in protest of the patriarchy but I don’t have breasts yet.  Isn’t that just like our patriarchal God to deny me breasts?

MI:  You’re only eight.  Your breasts will come with time.

LVP: Yeah, you’d like to see that wouldn’t you. You want to see my breasts?

MI: No!

LVP: This woman has no interest in slaking your sexual desire.  The only thing I desire is the warm, soft caress of Peppermint Patty.

MI:  I’m going now.

LVP: Down with the patriarchy! You will get no milk from my breasts.  No sucking at the teat for you.

MI:  I am out of here.  I’m going to go take a shower.

LVP: I’m not joining you.

MI: For Christ’s sake I’m not asking you to join – okay bye.

LVP:Pig!

Wow.  Kids.  They grow up so fast these days.

(1232)

The Gospel of Barack Obama According to Chris Matthews (Part XVII)

And Barack shineth in the darkness

And Barack shineth in the darkness

These things Barack spoke, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said:  Father, the hour is come, glorify thy son whom you met only once or twice, that thy son who has daddy issues may glorify thee.

As thou has given him power over all flesh since I am President and know no restrictions on my power, that he may give eternal redistribution to all whom vote Democratic.

Now this is eternal redistribution:  That they may know thee, my only true father, better than I knew thee since I only met you once or twice.

And now glorify thou me, absentee father, with the glory which I had, before I became President, even though the time before I became President is not important.

I have manifested the name of socialism to the men thou has given me.

Now they have known, that all things thou has given me, have been redistributed from others.

Because the possessions which thou gavest me, I have redistributed them; and they have received them, and promised to vote Democratic.

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou has given redistributed gifts.

And all gifts of the Federal government are mine, and I am glorified in them.

While I was with them, I kept them voting Democratic by promising free redistributed goods; and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition who votes Republican.

These things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy when they receive free stuff.

I have given them socialism, and the world hath hated them, because they are not of socialism but are of capitalism.

I pray not that thou shouldn’t take them out of the world, for how would they then vote Democratic?  But thou should keep them from Republicanism.

Sanctify them in socialism.  Socialism is truth.

And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through redistribution shall believe in me.

And the glory of socialism which thou has given me, I have given to them.

Just father, whom I met only once or twice, the world hath not known redistribution.

And I have made known redistribution to them, and will make it known by auditing all my political opponents if need be; that the redistribution wherewith thou has redistributed, may be in them, and I in them.

Or I’ll audit them.

(To be continued)

(496)

Yankees, Mets Battle for Mediocrity Bragging Rights

“Little league baseball is very good because it keeps the parents off the streets” ~ Yogi Berra

This is what a real stadium looks like, Met fans

This is what a real stadium looks like, Met fans

And so on a May night in The Bronx I went to see the Yankee play that other team that resides within the confines of New York City.  I believe they are known as the Mets but this cannot be confirmed.    And please, don’t call it “interleague” play because that phrase is meaningless since the two leagues (conferences?) play each other regularly now.

Returning to Yankee Stadium for the first time since signing a multi-year contract with the Mets was none other than Curtis “Should I strike out again” Granderson.   Granderson was a popular and productive player with the Yankees even though his last full year with the Yankees he struck out 195 times.  After signing with the Mets Granderson ensured the enmity of Yankee fans by saying that “All true baseball fans in New York are Met fans.”

So how was the game? Without putting too much of a negative spin on it, the Yankees suck this year.  A week before Memorial Day and the Yankees are a .500 club and show no signs of getting any better.  It’ll be a long hot Summer in the Bronx.

The Yankees Started Vidal “Gonna wash myself right out of the starting rotation” Nuno (1-1 6.43) and the Mets started Zach Wheeler (1-3 3.89).

The Mets scored in the top of the first.  After walking the first two batters David “Pretty Boy” Wright singled home Eric Young, Jr.  The next batter, former Yankee Curtis “King of Strikeouts” Granderson then hit a three-run home run to right field.  I guess Curtis misses the right field porch more than he wants to admit.  4-0 Mets after half an inning.

In the bottom of the first after singles by Brett Gardner and Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann hit a three run home run.  4-3 Mets after one.

Aha I thought.  The Yankees will chip away and win!

Let me put it this way.  4-3 was the closest the Yankees came to the lead all night.

Looking at my scorecard (woe is me!) the Yankees lost.  The final score was 12-7 Mets.

I’ll spare you the details.

Notes on the game:

It must be said:  The sight of Jacoby Ellsbury patrolling Center Field for the Yankees frightens me almost as much as a Democrat interpreting the Constitution.

The Yankees Yangervis Solarte is the first Yangervis in the big leagues since Yangervis Ruth.  Many may remember Yangervis’ famous called home run during the 1932 World Series.  When asked why he called the home run, he said, “I like to show up the white man.”

That’s a baseball fact.  You can look it up.

I saw someone I knew at the game today.  They said, “Hey, how are you?”  I was briefly excited, thinking that the person in question actually cared about how I felt. Instead it was all a ruse.  So I punished them by saying, “Not so good, I just had an accident in my pants. Can you accompany me to the bathroom and help me tidy up?”  This will ensure that the person is punished and never asks me this deceptive question again.

Celebrity sightings:

There were no celebrities at the game.  Perhaps our Hollywood elite, between bouts of boy raping, were too busy protesting the Beverly Hills Hotel and its owner, the Sultan of Brunei to attend the game.

Your Manhattan Infidel heckle of the game:

My heckle of “Hey Curtis Granderson, Donald Sterling wants to take you to a Clippers game” almost got me beaten up.  By nuns.

What?  Too soon?

Yankee manager Joe Girardi was thrown out of the game.  Perhaps he just didn’t want to stick around for the end either.

Reader mail:

L.K of New Jersey writes, “Your Donald Sterling heckle personally offends me!”

This from a man has a tattoo of Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus on his butt cheeks.

A.P of Poughkeepsie writes, “When a problem comes along you must whip it/before the cream sits out too long you must whip it/When something’s going wrong you must whip it.”

Are you saying we should whip the Yankees?

Recommended reading material:

Dog Days:  The New York Yankees Fall from Grace and Return to Glory, 1964-1976 by Philip Bashe.

And so my record this year stands at 0-3.  My next game is Friday, May 30th against the Minnesota Twins.

I apologize for the short post.  But my hips cannot lie.  I’m tired and the Yankees are making me depressed.

But on the bright side, the New York Rangers won and now advance to the finals.

Go Yankees!

(724)

5 Comments

Clay Aiken Kills Again!

Cold blooded murderer Clay Aiken in a campaign photo.

Cold blooded murderer Clay Aiken in a campaign photo.

Clay Aiken, American Idol runner up, homosexual activist and cold blooded mass murderer has done it again.  Aiken who ran for congress from North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district against Keith Crisco, murdered his opponent today after Crisco refused to concede the election.

Crisco, 71,

The latest victim of Clay Aiken's blood lust

The latest victim of Clay Aiken’s blood lust

was found dead in his home, the victim of an apparent fall.

Officially the death has been labelled an accident by the coroner though everyone knows it was murder.

“It was Aiken.  Definitely Aiken” said the coroner.

Ever look into the eyes of Clay Aiken?  They are cold, lifeless eyes.  The eyes of a killer.  When he came here to run for congress I knew someone was going to die. This is only the beginning.  Once Aiken’s blood lust has started it’s impossible to stop.  God help us all.  I’m leaving the state and going into hiding.

Crisco’s body was found at the bottom of his stairs, his head torn off and nailed to the railing.  The words “Don’t mess with Clay” were written in blood on the wall.

Pat McCrory, governor of North Carolina, has declared a state of emergency and has asked for calm.

Citizens of North Carolina, stay in your homes, stay off the streets. Lock your doors. Clay Aiken is on the loose. Pray for our state.

The popular but blood thirsty Aiken has killed over 300 people in his reign of terror.  His first confirmed kill came during American Idol when he murdered Ryan Seacrest and ate his body. Desperate to avoid scandal or affecting ratings, the producers of American Idol replaced Seacrest with a Japanese robot.

“Fortunately Seacrest wasn’t very lifelike to begin with so no one noticed” said one of the show’s producers.

After killing his way through Hollywood, Aiken became bored and returned to North Carolina seeking new victims.  Seeing a political campaign as good cover he set his sights on Crisco.

Said Crisco’s grieving widow, “I begged him not to run against this monster.”

He laughed at me and said, “He seems like a very nice young man.  What are you talking about?”  I knew then that I would be a widow before long. Lord God of hosts, deliver us from Clay Aiken!

As to what can stop Aiken, the army have been in talks with the Japanese about borrowing Godzilla.

“Aiken is impervious to bullets” said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin E. Dempsey.  “Godzilla might be our only option.”

Crisco’s widow plans to sue the producers of American Idol.

“They are responsible for this.  I don’t understand.  If Aiken wants to murder why didn’t he move to Chicago?

(885)

Spam (The Consensual Edition!)

Spam I am.

Spam I am.

Who doesn’t love Spam?  Spam between consenting adults is still legal in most states. (Thank God those right-wing Republicans and their family values haven’t triumphed!)

And so without further delay enjoy the consensual spam edition.

Louboutin Pour Homme writes:

Sometimes close my eyes.

I get that a lot from women.  Something about the “shame” of being with me.

Jiuexmetd writes:

Fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.

That’s probably why the women close their eyes when they are with me.  I mean, you would think a prostitute would be more professional.

Louboutin Pas Cher Femme writes:

Poke open a hole first.

Whatever floats your boat pal.  Personally, I’m not into virgins.  Too messy.

Lucretia writes:

A person should be conscious.

Ideally, yes.  But if an opportunity presents itself, go for it.

Truch Clash of Clans writes:

My younger sister is analyzing herself.

May I watch?  Masturbation is nothing to be ashamed of.  As a blogger I’m an expert in this field.

Keli Kaarlela writes:

Remarkably descriptive!

I like to be explicit. Were you turned on?  Maybe I can call you?

Turkish Zash writes:

That increases your risk of getting a disease.

But I can’t feel anything when I wear a condom.  Besides, I trust her.

Picyou writes:

You touched my heart!

Thank you.  Unfortunately your breasts were in the way.  I hope my hands weren’t cold.

Regency Executive writes:

So many females let their knees fall inward.

I know!  How am I supposed to pleasure myself in motel rooms when they are showing that kind of porn.

Company site writes:

Would you be interested in writing a guest post?

That depends.  Would you be interested in touching it?

Anello Tiffany writes:

Swallow mouth is full of bitter.

But it’s good for your complexion.

Smucker writes:

Your individual understanding and kindness in handling the subject was very helpful.

Don’t mention it.  Your erectile dysfunction could be a question of blood flow.

Louboutin Soldes writes:

Very helpless hearing my sister’s pleas for help.

Look, for the last time it was consensual.  She wanted it.

Nelson Bird writes:

Can I just say, what a relief it is to find someone that actually knows what they’re talking about online!

I’m very experienced.  Very, very, very, very experienced.  Do you think your wife would be into it?

And finally, Battagliadipavia writes:

Stepmother came.

I hear you.  Nothing like a hot stepmother to add to the excitement.

There you have it.  In the immortal words of Casey Kasem, “Keep your feet on the ground.  I’ll mount you from behind.”

Um.  I think he said that.

 

(563)

EPA Declares Atlantic Ocean a Wetland

You shall obey puny humans!

You shall obey puny humans!

In a ground-breaking and historic decision, the Environmental Protection Agency today declared the Atlantic Ocean a “protected wetland.”

“This is a great day for the EPA” said its administrator, Gina McCarthy.

This is why President Nixon founded the Environmental Protection Agency:  To protect and defend Mother Earth.  Under our new regulations the Atlantic will be pure, pristine, unaffected by opportunistic parasitical organisms such as mankind.

Effective immediately the Atlantic Ocean will be off limits to all human activity.  Humans who are seen interfering in any way with the Atlantic will lose all water drinking privileges for six months.

All water borne traffic will be denied egress to the Atlantic.  This means that all ships of any nation, from the U.S. Navy to cruise lines to cargo ships will not be allowed on the Atlantic.

After completing our  highly scientific study, we at the EPA also became concerned about the level of biological waste in the ocean.  It seems that fish have nowhere to go to relieve themselves and so have to do it in the ocean itself.  This is unacceptable and unscientific.

The EPA will be placing “Fish Comfort Devices”, aka, portable urinals, at five thousand feet of depth every ten miles.  It is expected that the fish will take advantage of the new comfort stations, which will be automated and self-cleaning, to deliver their waste material, thereby dramatically improving the quality of water in the Atlantic.

We also are very concerned as to the diet of the fish in the ocean.  We have found that this diet is heavy in fish. This may lead to health problems for the inhabitants of the Atlantic.  We at the EPA are willing to work with the fish.  We have already sent several regulators, health administrators really, into the Atlantic as part of our “Sleeps with the Fishes” program.  They will work with the fish to diversify their diets.

Fish who do not diversity their diet or found to be in poor health will be encouraged to visit special “Fish Panels” set up by the EPA.  These panels will have the power to make recommendations as to the future well being of non-compliant fish.

Naturally we want all fish to live long happy lives.  But some may have to be sacrificed.  It’s for the good of the planet.  It’s for our children.

Despite the almost universal good will the regulations are expected to generate there has been opposition, mainly from the Navy. Administrator McCarthy expressed surprise at this.

None of what we are proposing will prevent the Navy from doing whatever the Navy does  Why do they need ships to be in the Atlantic anyway? I just don’t understand why our Navy doesn’t care about the environment.

Despite opposition from the Navy the EPA expects to easily enact its regulations.

“We are the regulatory arm of the United States Government” said McCarthy.  “The Constitution gives us the power to do what we want.”

(1684)

The Gospel of Barack Obama According to Chris Matthews (Part XVI)

And Barack shineth in the darkness

And Barack shineth in the darkness

These things I have spoken to you, that you may not be scandalized.  But really, what are the chances of a scandal happening with my disciples in the MSM to protect me.

Yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will probably be a right-wing gun owner.  The nuts!

And these things will they do to you; because like me they have not known the father.  I mean I met him a few times.  Seemed like a nice guy.  He always had to head back to Africa.  To be with his other five wives he told me.

But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath filled your heart.  A sorrow deeper than when you were forced to fly coach instead of first class, which befits elite such as yourself.

But I tell you the truth (for a Democrat cannot lie): it is expedient to you that I go:  for if I go not, I cannot get that show on MSNBC; but if I go, I get the show and will have you as my guests.

And when I have that show on MSNBC, I will convince the world of the sin of the Republicans, and of the justice of redistribution, and of the judgement of history upon the Red States.

Of sin: because they used 100-watt light bulbs that lead to global warming. 

And of justice:  because I’ll be on TV which means I am right.

And of judgement:  because they are stupid.

I have yet many things to say to you:  But you cannot bear them now.  I’m still writing the speech.  Did I mention I am a better speech writer than my speech writers?

A little while, and now you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me. Because MSNBC is part of every basic bundled cable package.

Then some of his disciples in the MSM said to one another: What is this that he saith, a little while? We know not what he speaketh.  Is his show on MSNBC being put on hiatus?

And Barack knew that they had a mind to ask him: and he said to them:  Of this do you inquire among yourselves, because I said:  a little while, and you shall not see me?  Amen, amen I say to you, that you shall lament and weep when my show on MSNBC is put on hiatus, but the world shall rejoice because I will then get my own podcast.

His disciples in the MSM say to him:  Behold, now thou speakest plainly so Joe Biden will understand you.

Now we know that thou knowest all things, and thou needest not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth for redistribution.

Barack answered them: Do you now believe?  Behold the hour cometh, and it is now come, that you shall be scattered every man to his own private home for you are elite and own your own homes, and shall leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because Michelle is with me.  Always with me.  Always.  Thanks guys.

These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you shall have distress once the midterm elections go against us: but have confidence, I have overcome the Republicans and will have Attorney General Holder audit their asses.

(To be continued)

(1532)

Nigerian Schoolgirls Kidnapped by Procol Harum!

The bastards!

The bastards!

In a move that has united the world in outrage, progressive British rock band Procol Harum kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria and is threatening to sell them for 12 dollars each.

“This is very disturbing” declared the United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

I have no idea why Procol Harum would do this.  I mean I know it’s been over 40 years since Whiter Shade of Pale but do they need the money that badly?  Whatever happened to their royalties?  They are still touring.  My wife and I attended one of their concerts last year.  After the show I met them and asked what their future plans were.  They talked a lot about rehab, Viagra, Flomax and hair plugs but nothing about kidnapping Nigerian schoolgirls.  I personally feel betrayed.

One of the Nigerian girls who was lucky enough to escape told reporters that “five old white guys showed up and told us not to worry.”

We thought they were maybe soldiers and that they would shoot us.  We were very frightened.  But one of them said, “Don’t worry girls.  We won’t harm you.  We are a progressive English rock band.  Then he started singing “We skipped the light fandango/turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor/I was feeling kind of seasick/but the crowd called out to kidnap some Nigerian Schoolgirls.”  Well I ran.  I ran very very fast. I prefer Kanye West anyway.  Maybe they should kidnap our grandparents?  I think they might like their music.

President Obama has called upon Procol Harum to release the schoolgirls.

I call upon this band to release these girls immediately.  Late ’60s and early ’70s progressive rock was the Rock of Peace.  If I may quote one of their best known songs:  “She said there was no reason/and the truth is plain to see/But I wandered through my playing cards/and would not let her be/One of sixteen vestal virgins/who were leaving for the coast/and although my eyes were open/they might just as well’ve been closed.”   Yes, Procol Harum, the truth is plain to see and the eyes of the world are open:  Release these girls!

As to why Procol Harum kidnapped the Nigerians there is speculation that perhaps they had run out of groupies.

“Who knows. Musicians are odd anyway” said a source at the UN.

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Breaking News  Breaking News  Breaking News  Breaking News  Breaking News

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My producer has just informed me that it is in fact an Islamist group called Boko Haram, and not the progressive rock band Procol Harum that has kidnapped the schoolgirls.

Being in the news industry as I am I sadly must admit that mistakes like this sometimes do happen.  I apologize to the members of Procol Harum and look forward to seeing them on their next tour.

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