And how this could happen to you! — I imagine most people who write on here think they’re funny, otherwise they’d be writing for a serious publication like Politically Speaking. I used to write for them, before it shut down. That’s what they told me, anyway. But I think they wanted to get rid of me, so told…

Or did — but forgot! — You could argue that every movie is based on another, because every movie is intrinsically the same. Something happens. Someone has to fix it. And in doing so either kills someone, gets killed, or falls in love. Normally a mix of all three. Think of any film. Ghostbusters — Evil…

How I became Mr. Average — When I was young, the word mediocre never touched me. I didn’t even know what it meant. Nothing is ordinary when you’re young. Everything is amazing. A train, a tractor, the sky, the clouds, even a seagull stealing your chips from your plate. Everything is amazing. Nothing is mediocre. So…

When was the last time you had a really good talk about death? — Since the death of my father last year, I’ve been thinking about death a lot. Why wouldn’t I? If I’m going to think about it, the death of a parent is as good a time as any. But it isn’t the first time. My father died in 2022. My mother…

Doctor Funny’s fortnightly rumble in the jungle — Short Boring Introduction So, it’s my turn at last to write a newsletter for this chaotic publication run by Big-Mac-cheeseburger-and-chips-with-bacon-on-the-side-and-a-large-portion-of-fries, Michael Burg, MD (Satire Sommelier). This Month at Doctor Funny! This month we had over four million submissions from writers as diverse as Tucker Carlson, Martin Amis (before he died), Joe Biden, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Humpty Dumpty, and Wolverine…

Three French novels to make you think and dream — After living in France for nearly 12 years now, I’m finally able to read a novel in the language. It’s been a hard slog, I’m not a natural linguist like my wife, who picks up languages like one might pick up groceries in a store. I’ve read about 20 French…

How bitter rivalry can inspire your writing — One of my best friends on here is maverick Medium entrepreneur Smillew Rahcuef. I keep calling him Maverick Medium Entrepreneur (or MEE) because like the Maverick character in Top Gun, he never gives up, despite the unbelievable odds stacked against him. Not only does he fly fighter planes in his…

And become a comic genius like me — I’m not funny. If you ever meet me, you’ll think I write funeral speeches for a living. “Why do you always look so serious?” my wife regularly asks me. “Life’s a serious business,” I reply seriously. I think a lot. I think a lot about the stars, the planets, the…

Why can’t recruiters use plain language in their job postings — I haven't applied for a job for nearly fifteen years. All the jobs I’ve had over the past one and a half decades have been by word-of-mouth or through contacts. I’m not a high-flyer by any stretch of the imagination — I’m a groundsman in France — but I’ve always…