In my latest National Post column I praise Prince Philip for his character, modesty and acid wit, three things the modern world needs badly.
"We have a very weak supply of words of praise as compared with our rich and varied output of terms of abuse." G.K. Chesterton, "Both sides of the Looking Glass" in The Spice of Life, quoted in Gilbert Magazine Vol. 8 #1 (September 2004)
In my latest National Post column I say if the Senate can write silly patronizing children's books for adults, I can too. Please send me money.
"as messed up as a soup sandwich." Al LaPointe in a letter to the Wall Street Journal OpinionJournal July 14, 2004
"Deja voodoo, the feeling that you have been cursed before." R.G. McGillivray, Oakville, Ont., in "SMILE" in Globe and Mail April 19, 2002
"cool as a trout" George Macdonald Fraser in Flashman in the Great Game
"'Tasteful' does not begin to describe it." Dave Barry in The Ottawa Citizen June 19, 2004 [from my cherished compilation of hidden insults; the specific reference was competitors in the human-powered aircraft "Flugtag" competition in Miami whose contraption intentionally resembled a giant cow giving birth - I am not making that up]
"the unwelcome mat…" Expression used in an editorial in Globe and Mail July 28, 1999