Conclusion Jumping

Remember "Mad" magazine?

Founded in 1952, this satirical humor magazine is still going strong and recently published its 500th issue. It's like The Simpsons, The Daily Show, and The Onion all rolled into one.

Along the way, it has contributed several iconic figures and strips and images into our societal consciousness. Like its mascot, Alfred E. Neuman. The Spy vs. Spy series. Cartoons in the margins. Don Martin's work. Every issue has a spoof of some television show or popular movie.

But what I'm sending you today is a link to some of the classic Al Jaffee "Fold-Ins" that used to grace the inside of the back cover each issue. Probably still do. Man, those were creative.

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Dick Innes shared this story in Executive Speechwriter some years ago:

"Speedy Morris was the basketball coach at LaSalle and they were having a pretty good season. One morning as he was shaving the phone rang. His wife answered and called upstairs to him that someone from Sports Illustrated wanted to talk with him.

"Coach Morris was so excited that his team was apparently about to receive national recognition in this famous sports magazine that he cut himself with his razor.

"Covered now with blood and shaving lather, he dashed down the stairs, only to trip halfway down and tumble the rest of the way down the steps. Finally, bleeding, bruised and out of breath, he got to the phone and breathlessly said, 'Hello?'

"The voice on the other end said, 'Is your name Speedy Morris?'

" 'Yes,' Speedy replied.

"The voice continued, 'Mr. Morris, I've called to offer you a one-year subscription to Sports Illustrated for just seventy-five cents an issue.' "

[courtesy of Wit and Wisdom]

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WISDOM for YOUR WEEK: "Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2)

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