What's So Funny?
Russell Gayer, author speaker
Mesa Nerdy
I had a great exchange earlier this week with JB Hogan about historical figures using social media. Here are some sample posts.
GEORGE WASHINGTON: I chopped down Dad’s favorite cherry tree today. He was really pissed until I told him the about new set of dentures we were having made for him. Now, he thinks I’m the best son ever. – LOL
NERO: Party at the palace tonight. Togas optional. Bring your own fiddle or play mine. 🙂
HENRY VIII: My wife lost her head last night. Updated my profile from married to single (again).
If you’re new to Friday Flash Fiction, our carhop on roller skates who always delivers the good stuff is Margo Sue Ellen Wisoff-Fields. If you’d like to participate in this exercise in madness, head over to her blog for step-by-step instructions. To view the FFF Hollywood Squares Authors Block click here.
Hi, my name is Calvin. Aren’t you in math club?”
“Yes. I’m Leslie.” She bit her lower lip and avoided eye contact.
“Leslie. What a cool name. I can spell it on my calculator.” He flashed a buck-toothed grin and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “My friends and I have a big house off-campus. We’re having a party and I was . . . wondering if . . . you might like to come?”
“What kind of party?”
“Pizza and video games, watch reruns of Big Bang Theory, and discuss the virtues of nanotechnology.”
“Cool, a night out with the Nerd Herd.”
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My favorite nerd quote;
“It’s a lazy Saturday afternoon, there’s a couple lying naked in bed reading Encyclopedia Britannica to each other, and arguing about whether the Andromeda Galaxy is more ‘numinous’ than the Resurrection. Do they know how to have a good time, or don’t they?” – Carl Sagan
52 Comments on “Mesa Nerdy”
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What's So Funny? 
I guess I’d be the one studying before the party!
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Good idea. You never know when these guys are going to throw a pop quiz at you.
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Dear Calvin,
What girl could resist an invitation lie that? Should I bring my own fiddle? Fun stuff. I can always find myself here. Skating off now.
Shalom,
Margo Sue Ellen
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Who indeed? Leslie is in for the time of her life.
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Russell, I’d say that house looks a bit off-campus. 😀 Nerds were and are my favorite people. In fact, I married one. Being Indian, I don’t think he knew the term. Funny and well written yet again. 😀 —Susan
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I thought of cliff dwellers when I saw the photo and things just went downhill from there.
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😀
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Somewhere, this is missing a “Bazinga!” 😀
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Where did I put that darn thing?
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One thing’s for sure – George Washington didn’t use Twitter. And next to Calvin, you and me look like cool …. nah, just kiddin’ ya. We still look like nerds! Funny opening, funny story, great excursion into the world of nurd-dom! Thanks, Russell.
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Boomer nerds are way cool, Perry.
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A great party idea … I’d run at the invite!
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Just wait till they break out the quantum physics board game.
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Ah … now that should be interesing …
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My colleague, Godsend, would love to meet a guy like Calvin. Maybe they could listen to her family’s 8 track tape collection together?
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That’s almost as good as reading the encyclopedia to each other.
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What, no beer with the pizza? What sort of party is that? 😀
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Well, this is Nerdville we’re talking about.
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A guy who can spell a girl’s name on his calculator. What more could you ask for? The Nerd Herd is a great catchphrase too. 🙂
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Calvin knows how to pick up girls, that’s for sure.
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Hey.. I have been to parties like this.. when I was doing my PhD in Physics for sure.. (and my wife has a PhD too…) sometimes when we are among physicists we can go into endless discussions about obscure physic things.. my favorite quote from the move “the Mosquito coast” : “it’s not magic – it’s science”
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I wish had known. I would have named the guy Bjorn.
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We have a shower curtain with the periodic system at home 🙂
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Spelling your name on a calculator? That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. I DEMAND someone woo me in this way. I need to find me a nerd …
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He’s a little socially awkward, but has a great pick-up line.
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Love all the details that let me see Calvin so clearly. Great writing, Russell.
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Thank you, Karen. He’s nervous around girls except when discussing science or math.
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Social media in the past (as Abe Lincoln said in his last posting about the internet being the best invention since Ex-Lax) would have worked well.
“In deep doo-doo.” #dreyfussconvictedsendbagelswithfileinit
“I’m a man, I don’t need to ask for directions” #columbuslefthomewithouthisgps
“All I ate were almonds, that make me a hypocrite?” #richestfoodsourceinindiamahatma
“I’m REALLY in deep doo-doo!” #whatsthatmakemonicasbluedress?
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You kill me. I nearly fell out of my chair laughing. You could make a living writing stuff like that. Color me envious.
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I’d say “inspired” thanks to you. 🙂
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Oh boy! This does sound like a er fun party. Real fun! I enjoyed all your quotes. Ha ha. To each his own, I suppose. That sentiment seems to be coming out of this prompt!
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Which party? The one Nero is throwing or the nerds?
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Fun stuff through and through, Russell. I hope Leslie gets over herself and joins in the fun.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Oh, I think she’s one of them. No problem.
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Oh Leslie, Leslie. Nerd is where the future lies! Why didn’t Calvin think to say young Billy Gates was going to be there.
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Why didn’t he say Hobbes would be there? That would have been even better.
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Dear Russell – OOops! I love “The Big Bang Theory” and watch it often. Love your story and we’re nerds too – I feel most comfortable around them. Funny story and we all lived off-campus too! My son Steven (oldest) used to tell this story about all the cool people in Hollywood and their total wealth was listed in a magazine – then they had Steve Jobs and Bill Gates and then all my kids would sing “NERDS RULE! NERDS RULE! NERDS RULE!”
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Yes, nerds do rule. I think most writers have a considerable amount of nerd in them.
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Yes, this house would be perfect for some nerds I know.
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Names, I want names . . . .
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very funny. it hit a nerve. I had so much fun reading it. 🙂
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Thanks, I had fun writing it too. Although, it took longer than most FF I’ve written..
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I bet there’s no internet that far out in the wilds!
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Oh, yes there is. We live out in the sticks and have a little dish that picks up the internet from a tower.
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Nerdtastically done. If only he was named Kelvin then he would be an oK person to know. Leslie just needs to beware of geeks bearing gifts.
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Kelvin is a great name. Then he could be known as the Kelvinator.
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What a fun story, Russell. And all the comments say so. Thanks for the smile.
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Thanks, Alicia. Smiles is what we’re after.
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Aw, Calvin… Such an endearing little nerd! I once had a guy tell me, upon hearing I was taking Statistics, that if I ever wanted “to get together and talk statistics…” He was cute and nice and I guess I’ll never know if that was supposed to be a pick-up line or a confession of his inner nerd, but I hope Leslie gives Calvin a chance!
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He’s the kind of boy she can take home to Mama.
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It may be telling, but that sounds like a good party to me! 😉
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It sounds like a magnificent party … wish I’d been invited …!
And the Carl Sagan quote at the end — like a sweet dessert. 😀
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