The 8th installment of Jim Kacian’s Haiku Primer 
is presented here. Technical difficulties (of unknown origin) have
delayed this month’s unveiling; sorry for the inconvenience .
Last month Jim discussed writing haiku;
this month he offers A (Very) Brief History of Haiku.
To read all installments to date, click here.
I’d like to use this opportunity to note that Jim Kacian is stepping downas editor of frogpond (with the Fall 2004 issue, vol. XXVII:3), the most-respected English-language
haiku journal, after seven years of exceptional service. Thank you, Jim.
The 8th installment of Jim Kacian’s Haiku Primer
is presented here. Technical difficulties (of unknown origin) have
delayed this month’s unveiling; sorry for the inconvenience .
Last month Jim discussed writing haiku;
this month he offers A (Very) Brief History of Haiku.
To read all installments to date, click here.
I’d like to use this opportunity to note that Jim Kacian is stepping down
as editor of frogpond (with the Fall 2004 issue, vol. XXVII:3), the most-respected English-language
haiku journal, after seven years of exceptional service. Thank you, Jim.
When it comes to Truth-In-Tagline issues, it’s the news media that’s gotten all the attention this year.
[mostly them, from guys like him, but also from myself] However, a little column in this month’s Harvard
Magazine has suggested that another segment of snappy sloganneers may need closer scrutiny: institutions
currently has 550 taglines in its searchable database and is seeking more.
Stamats is a “higher education integrated marketing solutions company.” It’s
tagline, promises kept, is explained here.
Harvard Magazine, Nov-Dec 2004):
The directional. Seton Hill University, Pennsylvania: “This Way Up.”
The hortatory. University of Houston, Downtown: “Get a Life!”
The pecuniary. Amarillo College, Texas: “Give yourself a raise…Education Pays!”
The ominous. Boyce College, Kentucky: “The harvest is ready. Are you?”
The sassy. University of Alaska, Fairbanks: “Latitude with Attitude.”
Here are the thirteen law school taglines in the Stamats Collection. You can judge for
yourselves the efficacy and veracity of the slogans. And, wonder along with your Editor just what
some of these folks are hoping to accomplish — and, whether a misleading tagline can be the basis
When it comes to Truth-In-Tagline issues, it’s the news media that’s gotten all the attention this year.
[mostly them, from guys like him, but also from myself] However, a little column in this month’s Harvard
Magazine has suggested that another segment of snappy sloganneers may need closer scrutiny: institutions
currently has 550 taglines in its searchable database and is seeking more.
Stamats is a “higher education integrated marketing solutions company.” It’s
tagline, promises kept, is explained here.
Harvard Magazine, Nov-Dec 2004):
The directional. Seton Hill University, Pennsylvania: “This Way Up.”
The hortatory. University of Houston, Downtown: “Get a Life!”
The pecuniary. Amarillo College, Texas: “Give yourself a raise…Education Pays!”
The ominous. Boyce College, Kentucky: “The harvest is ready. Are you?”
The sassy. University of Alaska, Fairbanks: “Latitude with Attitude.”
Here are the thirteen law school taglines in the Stamats Collection. You can judge for
yourselves the efficacy and veracity of the slogans. And, wonder along with your Editor just what
some of these folks are hoping to accomplish — and, whether a misleading tagline can be the basis
Ah, back to haiku — our job #1.
autumn evening –
yellow leaves cover
the plot reserved for me
Cold autumn twilight –
the garden slope’s stepping stone
edging out of line
”Autumn evening” — Modern Haiku XXX:2
election over
dirty laundry
awaits
[Nov. 4, 2004]
one-breath pundit
- Interesting: The Future of Marriage ”Matrimony today isn’t what we thought it was–
and will likely evolve still more in light of powerful demographic, economic, social, and
legal trends” by Harbour Fraser Hodder (Harvard Magazine, Nov-Dec 2004).
was a surprising success. But that outcome does not support the case for further restrictions,”
by Scott Winship and Christopher Jencks (Harvard Magazine, Nov-Dec 2004).
Ah, back to haiku — our job #1.
autumn evening –
yellow leaves cover
the plot reserved for me
Cold autumn twilight –
the garden slope’s stepping stone
edging out of line
”Autumn evening” — Modern Haiku XXX:2
election over
dirty laundry
awaits
[Nov. 4, 2004]
one-breath pundit
- Interesting: The Future of Marriage ”Matrimony today isn’t what we thought it was–
and will likely evolve still more in light of powerful demographic, economic, social, and
legal trends” by Harbour Fraser Hodder (Harvard Magazine, Nov-Dec 2004).
was a surprising success. But that outcome does not support the case for further restrictions,”
by Scott Winship and Christopher Jencks (Harvard Magazine, Nov-Dec 2004).
We could sure use another Will Rogers in America — his sharp-but-gentle humor and
insights were enjoyed and appreciated by the entire Nation (except the pols). Rogers
was born 125 years ago today — November 4, 1879. It’s not hard to image what he
would have thought of this last election.
`Nowadays it is about as big a crime to be dumb as it is to be dishonest.’
`This country is not where it is today on account of any one man. It is here on account of the real common sense of the Big Normal Majority.’
`I don’t care how little your country is, you got a right to run it like you want to. When the big nations quit meddling then the world will have peace.’
`People talk peace. But men give their life’s work to war. It won’t stop ’til there is as much brains and scientific study put to aid peace as there is to promote war.’
`You can be killed just as dead in an unjustified war as you can in one protecting your own home.’
`All I know is what I read in the papers.’
`Live your life so that whenever you lose, you are ahead.’
`No man is great if he thinks he is.’
`It’s great to be great, but its greater to be human.’
`People are marvelous in their generosity if they just know the cause is there.’
`We’ll hold the distinction of being the only Nation in the history of the world that ever went to the poor house in an automobile.’
`We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.’
Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘Nice doggie’ until you can find a rock.
On account of being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the
world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does.
There’s no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you.
We are all here for a spell; get all the good laughs you can.
The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has.
You know everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.
p.s. See Part II on Will Rogers and the Risk Pool.
We could sure use another Will Rogers in America — his sharp-but-gentle humor and
insights were enjoyed and appreciated by the entire Nation (except the pols). Rogers
was born 125 years ago today — November 4, 1879. It’s not hard to image what he
would have thought of this last election.
`Nowadays it is about as big a crime to be dumb as it is to be dishonest.’
`This country is not where it is today on account of any one man. It is here on account of the real common sense of the Big Normal Majority.’
`I don’t care how little your country is, you got a right to run it like you want to. When the big nations quit meddling then the world will have peace.’
`People talk peace. But men give their life’s work to war. It won’t stop ’til there is as much brains and scientific study put to aid peace as there is to promote war.’
`You can be killed just as dead in an unjustified war as you can in one protecting your own home.’
`All I know is what I read in the papers.’
`Live your life so that whenever you lose, you are ahead.’
`No man is great if he thinks he is.’
`It’s great to be great, but its greater to be human.’
`People are marvelous in their generosity if they just know the cause is there.’
`We’ll hold the distinction of being the only Nation in the history of the world that ever went to the poor house in an automobile.’
`We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.’
Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘Nice doggie’ until you can find a rock.
On account of being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the
world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does.
There’s no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you.
We are all here for a spell; get all the good laughs you can.
The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has.
You know everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.
p.s. See Part II on Will Rogers and the Risk Pool.
And, a few more, from 