Oil: Black or Red?

Rising gas pump prices have consumers seeing red.

How about the human cost of oil? It has me seeing red - in a different way.


The petrol I pour in my car looks red
From a war that claims its weekly dead,
Will our appetite for the oil
That springs from blood-soaked soil
Forever curse an innocent mother's head?

Jason Bourne: "Run as job one"

This week I am writing a limerick for an actor in one of my three favorite film trilogies. Matt Damon became the unexpected success in the Bourne franchise and redefined the action genre with his portrayal of Jason Bourne - an intelligent, vulnerable and kinetic action hero on the run. The hunter and the hunted.

If you have not, I fully recommend seeing all 3 movies. Or see them again. The latest one won 2 Oscars in 2008.

Here's one for Matt Damon.

The Bourne trilogy has achieved a feat uncommon
Made a star-celebrity of 'baby-face' Matt Damon,
No longer chained is the action-hero
To cracking skulls at climes sub-zero
Appearing vulnerable is an emotion, he too can summon.

Ben Shalom Bernanke: "He's Nobleman Banker"

(March Madness or Work Insanity. March was a wash due to a heavy workload. Or was it writer's block? Catching up now.)

With the bleak economy on the front page, "Doctor" Bernanke has his work 'cut out for him.'


His brows furrowed, his mind sharp for action
A troubled outlook, he readies for a contraction.
"Should I utter the "R" word,
While falling on my sword?
And move quickly for a chop-chop C-section."

Angst About French Cinema

I watched a French movie called La Moustache recently. The entire movie dwells on a man and his (missing) moustache.

Now mind you, the critics have loved it. Here is the limerick it inspired...


In French movies, the practice is widespread
To examine characters while not much is said,
They angst about the mundane
And dwell over the inane,
The abrupt endings leave me scratching my head.

Sir Edmund Hillary: Mind Hardily Rules

Reaching any mountain's summit is a triumph of mind over body.

Sir Edmund Hillary("Mind Hardily Rules") was the first man, with Tenzing Norgay, to climb Everest on May 29, 1953. He died recently on January 10, 2008.

I had thought of writing a limerick in his honor and finally got around to it.


Raising my head in respect, is something necessary
For a man whose achievement is quite legendary,
It was his purposeful determination
That captured our imagination,
When first on Everest's summit, stood Sir Edmund Hillary.

Laphroaig: Single Malt Gestalt

Sometimes my friend calls me up and says, "let's have some of that smoky stuff...". I know what he has in mind. Here's to the old smoky!


Here's an ode to THE seductive single malt
From a scotch drinker that's worth his salt,
With it's smoky taste from peat
And just a touch of sweet,
Laphroaig is the choice; my default.


Visit the official site here.

Angular Alexander

A limerick in the 'classic' style for this week.


There was a skinny lad called Alexander
Who cheerfully bought a chest expander,
On gaining great results
Enlarged his pectorals to exult,
And knocked down an innocent bystander.

Get one!

Kindle: "Catch Fire" or "A Chic Fret"

Amazon introduced a new electronic book device called Kindle in November 2007.


Just a fuss or an elegant hobby reshaper?
This new world without the crinkle of paper,
Will this novel device called Kindle
Cause my library trips to dwindle?
If it stores enough ebooks to fill a skyscraper?



More information in wikipedia here.

Get Kindle.

Sound for the Inner Ear

Gotye Will Tickle Your Cochlea!

I discovered some very interesting music by an Australian band called Gotye (pronounced "gaw-tee-yeah"). Now imagine the prospect of writing a limerick about them. How do you make something rhyme with Gotye?


Here it is. I got a kick out of it. Hope you do too.


Looking for something to tickle your cochlea?
An aural sensation with edges non-linear?
Then hear the distinctive sound
It's the only way around,
Yield to the vibration of the down-under Gotye.


Gotye on MySpace.

An amazing, amazing video on YouTube here.

Get Like Drawing Blood

One final fascinating fact: Gotye is a one-person band. Wally created all the vocals and sounds on this album.

(She Says:) "Men - Draft Ale, Beer?"

Anagram of "Female Bartender"

Recently, India overturned a law that banned women bartenders. See the New York Times story here



The Indian Courts have cleared the stage
Ruling against a woman's disadvantage
The judges were quite keen
Since it's not 1914,
On making female bartenders the new rage.

New Year Resolution: Keep Rolling

Happy New Year and best wishes for a great 2008.

I missed posting a limerick last week. So, there are two that will be published this week.

It seems "weight loss" is the number one goal after the holidays. Here are my thoughts.


Facing the burdensome goal of weight loss
On New Year's day, I sat with legs crossed,
And scaled my mind's summit
To seek advice from the wise hermit,
Who offered,"A rolling stone gathers no moss."