contests

Zeugma contest, Sept 2008:

Prompt: "I have decided to hold a contest for all of you to be able to try your luck at writing zeugmas. Those zeugmas can be either in Latin or English (though special consideration will be granted to those written in Latin), and you may submit as many as you like throughout the next week. The deadline for submissions will be next Saturday evening, and the winner (and honorable mentions if the submissions warrant them) will have their zeugma featured as the sententia for next week's weekly word of the day on Sunday."

And the winner is...Lara Howerton, with the following zeugma:

Sententia: Lumina montesque caligaverunt.

Her eyes and the mountains were misty.

Honorable mention (Latin): Harold Jaffe, with "Probatur zeugmam carminae insaniamque discipulorum Latinae./He studies the zeugma of the poem and the madness of Latin students."

Honorable mention (English): Meghan Nelson, with "When the pre-seismic strike hit Pompeii, knocking over Caecilius's prized vase, both he and Mt. Vesuvius erupted."

Honorable mention (English): Monica Mowery (who is not even in Latin!!), with "

I jumped out of my skin and the bed when the doorbell rang."

All entries:

Harold Jaffe

“ Probatur zeugmam carminae insaniamque discipulorum Latinae.”/ “He studies the zeugma of the poem and the madness of Latin students.”

Lara Howerton

"lumina montesque caligaverunt" /"her eyes and the mountains were misty"

"urna mensque fregerunt"/"the pot and her mind broke."

"iudicium igne iudiceque"/"trial by fire and with a judge"

Monica Mowery

As the waters rose, the boat and my heart started to sink.

I jumped out of my skin and the bed when the doorbell rang.

Meghan Nelson

I wait for my mother in agony and jail.

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On the first date in the county fair, I had difficulty finding my way through love and the corn maize.

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When the pre-seismic strike hit Pompeii, knocking over Caecilius's prized vase, both he and Mt. Vesuvius erupted.

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Hades walked to the concierge's desk at the five star hotel on his one week vacation to Japan. The nervous receptionist had just received word from her boss that the hotel had sustained serious damage from the recent monsoon, and that they would have to turn away all guests. Never haven given such bad news before - especially to such an imposing guest - she tried to quickly sugarcoat the words: "Hello Sir, It'sveryniceyoudecidedtostayherebutunfortunatelyweareclosedforrepairs forthenextfewmonths. So, where do you come from?"

To which Hades, as he said often, replied, "Oh Hell."

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A taxidermist's job is the art of of perseverance and preserving

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The independent monkey swung both right and left.

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The baseball player swung right into the umpire's face, destroying his career off the bat.

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It was a horrific scene. The investigative and clean up crews had finally arrived, but the police, ambulances and press had been there for over twenty minutes. Inside the auditorium flyers were hanging for "Seniors Ladies Night! Come for fun!" - it was anything but. Women were strewn on the sides of the walls, some arrested, some with black eyes and bruises - some with both. "It was a huge brawl" one woman said as Anthony the detective took down notes. "There was nothing we could do to stop it - the die had already been cast."

Nodding, Anthony closed the notepad as the chief of police Elizabeth walked over. Frustrated, she let out her anger to Anthony. "I've never seen anything like it, such old women in such an uproar? Surely there was a cause that started this all?"

With certainty he responded: "Bingo."

Dr. Glover

"McCain picked his nose and his running mate."

"Sen. McCain scratched his ass and his afternoon appointments.”

"Your Resident Conservative" (i.e. Sam Pell)

Obama wants change for this country but not in your pockets.

Sarah Palin is packing her suitcase and a wicked punch. Watch out, Washington!