July 22, 2004
Cheney vs. Leahy
The New Yorker pokes fun at the Washington Times' description of the Cheney/Leahy incident on the Senate floor. Of course I've already given it away, but when I began to read it (via the Political Theory Daily Review), I wasn't aware that it was satire until the second paragraph.
I proclaim this to be the most whimsical jove of the season.
Brilliant. Literally, LOL. I do wonder what the New Yorker's likely sizeable 60+ demographic thought of it, though.
Quite the brilliant satire, but I fear I must correct your Simpsons "quote", dear chap. Jove is, as we all know, a mythic god. I believe the word for which you sought must be either "jape" or "joke", for surely both fit more closely the intended meaning.
Well I tried to look up the quote before I posted it, but I couldn't find it. It sounds like Homer is saying "whimsical jove" and jove can mean frivolity (cf. "jovial"), so I figured it may be some archaic or styleized usage.
Good try though.
True, but since there's *no* mention of that online, but there are findings for "most whimsical joke of the season" along with the fact that the line comes immediately after Homer plays a practical joke, it seems more likely that's the proper line and that you've misheard it. Furthermore, even if "jove" is short for "jovial", it still wouldn't make sense. The only way it would make sense is if "jove" means "joviality" which is even less likely and still a highly awkward construction. With a heavy British accent, a fast pace, and the inherently poor sound quality of most televisions, doesn't it seem more likely that the "k" in "joke" comes across softened, leading you to have misheard the line?
I probably did mishear the quote, but I stand by my mishearing because it's funnier. Anyway, "jove" meaning "good-humored" or "convivial" would be an adjective, not a noun. Like I said, I figured it was some silly or unique usage that rather fit the style of that scene in the Simpsons.