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Reading The Onion Seriously

Combining irreverent humor and acerbic critique, a handful of new media outlets — including The Onion — are transforming American politics and culture, writes Theodoe Hamm, in his new book The New Blue Media.

By Theodore Hamm

After 9/11, The Onion stopped its presses for one week. The hiatus allowed the paper to show its respect for the gravity of what had happened in lower Manhattan. But it also enabled its staff to come up with the paper’s quite poignant reaction to the terrorist strikes. It was announced by a large banner headline that read, “Holy Fucking… return to article

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    Page 1 of 1 pages

    The Onion’s finest moment:

    God Angrily Clarifies ‘Don’t Kill’ Rule
    http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28151

    United Kingdom Posted by monkyhead on Jun 26, 2008 at 11:14 AM

    I call you, my dear....

    Like a magical
    fear, in my heart,
    there’s always
    a footprint that
    now disappears in
    the light of a pathway,
    and there my
    desire gives an
    attention to some
    beautiful birds.

    Francesco Sinibaldi

    Italy Posted by Sinibaldi on Jul 5, 2008 at 2:24 PM

    The trees and the mountain.

    In the centre
    of the valley, and
    when a blackbird
    comes back in
    the sound of a care,
    I see that desire,
    already the sunshine
    and a timid idea
    now reflecting the
    youth....

    Francesco Sinibaldi Italy/Usa.

    Italy Posted by Sinibaldi on Jul 11, 2008 at 1:54 PM

    Facing the sea…

    A delicate and
    soft wind is
    blowing near an
    empty space,
    while the curtain
    covers a silky
    notepaper describing
    a picture and the
    love for the youth;
    I call you my
    darkness, I wait
    for a dream......

    Francesco Sinibaldi

    http://forums.liverpoolecho.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=40213

    Italy Posted by Sinibaldi on Jul 19, 2008 at 2:42 PM

    At the first opportunity…

    In this period,
    and in its true
    light, the sound
    of a picture forgets
    and emotion in
    the care of a faith;
    a candle reappears,
    a delicate silence
    remembers a river
    and then, at the
    first opportunity,
    I’ll love you my
    darling.....

    Francesco Sinibaldi

    Italy Posted by Sinibaldi on Aug 2, 2008 at 2:49 PM

    Aurora cristiana.

    S’apre la vallata,
    in sul nascer
    del mattino: odo
    un canto palpitare,
    onde lieto e
    quinci allegro
    cinguetta il passerotto,
    come augello
    canterino che nel
    chiaror si desta
    e per la via festeggia;
    ridente e viva
    apparmi la montagna,
    in sul fiatar del
    sole, e ancor pe
    l’arie fugge al
    dė costante il suon
    della novella rima,
    sė soave e quasi
    in candido rumore.
    Codesto in cantilena,
    nel fior che nasce
    onde fulge l’avvenire,
    nei suoni dolci
    del passato, e ancor
    nel canto, d’amabil
    sorte e d’umano pianto. 

    Francesco Sinibaldi Italy/Usa.

    Italy Posted by Sinibaldi on Aug 9, 2008 at 3:58 PM

    Collection of flowers.

    The right rose
    appears in my mind,
    and everywhere
    shines when the
    soft wind remains
    in the light of
    a flower; the cold
    leaf is dead
    and here there’s
    a shadow, the
    delicate dark and
    a loving profile.

    Francesco Sinibaldi

    http://amicipoesia.mondoweb.net/topic814.html

    Italy Posted by Sinibaldi on Aug 16, 2008 at 3:01 PM

    Listening to you.

    In the cool
    celerity of a
    diffident young
    bird I try
    to forget a dying
    behaviour, the
    sound of a picture
    and a luminous
    care, easily,
    like an earnest
    desire.

    Francesco Sinibaldi

    Italy Posted by Sinibaldi on Aug 30, 2008 at 3:01 PM

    As for the poignant 9/11 reference, ask the terrorist in Blair House about not activating NORAD.

    He’ll be power-behind-the-Oval-Office for another few months. Officially. Maybe longer unofficially. Bastard.

    Venezuela Posted by Galt on Sep 2, 2008 at 9:31 PM

    Devoted to you.

    It’s night, the
    fall of an absent
    caprice leaves
    in the country
    a sullen behaviour,
    the sound of
    a fancy and
    always that care,
    like a beautiful
    fortune.

    Francesco Sinibaldi

    http://forums.canadiancontent.net/canadian-culture/74142-long-vigils-night.html

    Italy Posted by Sinibaldi on Sep 13, 2008 at 2:59 PM
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Also by Theodore Hamm
  • Reading The Onion Seriously
    Combining irreverent humor and acerbic critique, a handful of new media outlets -- including The Onion -- are transforming American politics and culture, writes Theodoe Hamm, in his new book The New Blue Media.
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