Joseph Tartakovsky explains that you can like a thing even though you may be ambarassed by it. Also, Shakespeare and Burke liked puns. The simpler ones are, as Charles Lamb said, “a pistol let off at the ear; not a feather to tickle the intellect.” But there are complex ones, from Richard Whateley: “Why can a man never starve in the Great Desert? Because he can eat the sand which is there. But what brought the sandwiches there? Why, Noah sent Ham, and his descendants mustered and bred." Good essay. Best thing in the New York Times today, and I say that because I read it all, smoking a good Cuban, sitting in the morning sun on Decatur St in New Orleans. Perfect morning to write, and I tried, but it was pointless, my pencil was broken.
The pen(cil) is mightier than the sword until you take a stab at it, and discover which of the two best keeps a point.
In all seriousness...as opposed to just some of it...nevertheless it could be said that Tartakovsky sets out to discover the pun and discovers instead the pundit: "Some stricken with pun-lust sink so far into their infirmity that their minds become trained to lie in wait for words on which to work their wickedness."
What was outstanding in Tartakovsky, now stands outside the Whitehouse with microphones...(and in studios with phones)where Barney Frank will speak Frankly.
Speaking of Frank talk and being sure, reminds me of franc talk and being sur.
I had to learn french as a child and was as horrible at french grammar as english grammar...my french teacher would stand over my shoulder and point at what I had written asking: "Etes-vous sûr?"(Are you sure?)
Well, I would be frustrated, and not sure at all...but the best way around this was a subtle mangling of the french language...my favorite apple being granny smith's...I knew that it was advertised by the french as a "sure" apple...
So my reply to the question of certainty at a young age was always...Je suis sure.
So the french teacher would ask: "Etes-vous sûr?"(Are you sure?) And I would reply francly: "Je suis sure"(I am sour/tart)...Of course it sounded the same, and was an honest answer to boot...Je suis sure come une pomme(I am tart like an apple).
It isn't the greatest pun, but I think it might serve the pundits right in present circumstances. Pundit/reporter: "Congressman X, Are you sure that Geithner and his economic plan will work and be to the best interest of the nation?"
Congressman X: "Speaking Francly,(as the french might) the way it was all layed out, leaves me sure(sour/tart) about the economic future of the united States."