Comments on: The Economy and Neurosyphilis

By: Bragging on some friend redux « Jill of All Trades, Master of One

Bragging on some friend redux « Jill of All Trades, Master of One — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:25:08 +0000

[...] say, Mary also writes for The Nervous Breakdown. Check out her first (hysterical and gross) piece here. Ronlyn’s newest is a must. [...]

By: Kimberly M. Wetherell

Kimberly M. Wetherell — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 07:32:30 +0000

As I’ve often said… If I can help enlighten just one person out there, then everything I’ve gone through will be worth it.

Who knew this would be my life’s calling?

By: Mary McMyne

Mary McMyne — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:25:02 +0000

Ha! I would like to be at that table, so I could be party to the ensuing conversation in which Grandma pipes up, clearing her throat, her voice faltering, “Pardon me Erika but what did you say you were thankful for? I don’t think I heard you correctly. Let me turn my hearing aid up.” Erika: (long pause) “I said God bless us, Grandma. Pass the cranberry sauce.”

By: Mary McMyne

Mary McMyne — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:16:19 +0000

Sounds like a hell of a read. I’ll keep my eye out for it.

By: Mary McMyne

Mary McMyne — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:14:38 +0000

OK, I cannot believe I did not know about the merkin before this morning. How could I possibly have lived this long and simply been unaware of such a strange phenomenon. THANK YOU FOR EDUCATING ME, KIMBERLY! This is important information!

By: Mary McMyne

Mary McMyne — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:03:01 +0000

Come back and check it out from a faster connection. I’ve seen a lot of pictures of Nietzsche, but this one takes the cake. (Which would, naturally, promptly get stuck for days in that mustache!)

By: Erika Rae

Erika Rae — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 06:49:22 +0000

A hearty STD free welcome to the ranks! Great post. I, too, am immensely thankful for the absence of neurosyphilis. It will be what I say next year around the Thanksgiving table. I am thankful that I have escaped neurosyphilis. God bless us. Everyone.

By: Autumn

Autumn — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:19:58 +0000

Eeew is right. I learned about syphilis reading Frank Norris’s Vandover and The Brute.

The idea was Flossie (a hooker) gives Vandover syphilis, but of course he doesn’t know it. I don’t think it’s ever openly stated in the text, but it’s obvious what it is. By the end of the novel he’s a madman, foaming at the mouth, howling at the moon.

Which should be sad, except the guy was a bastard.

By: Kimberly M. Wetherell

Kimberly M. Wetherell — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:10:29 +0000

Good lord, this was awesome! Welcome to the fold, Mary!

I guess the only thing I have to contribute, of course, is to relay my own disturbing fascination with the disease - not for the disease itself, but its relationship to the invention of the merkin which was created to disguise the aforementioned Condyloma lata or as we call ‘em, the “scabbies”.

And after reading this, I hope never, ever to be called that redhead again. Ew.

By: Autumn

Autumn — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:40:31 +0000

I try to rock as a rule. As a public service of sorts.

I will certainly keep my eyes and ears open for WAIT and SONG OF BLACKBIRDS. I’ll keep my Christmas wish-listing spots open for both of them.

By: Irene Zion in New Orleans

Irene Zion in New Orleans — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:14:07 +0000

Darn Motel computer! Neither the picture of Nietzsche’s face, nor his mustache, shows up.

I am personally happy that people don’t ordinarily get neurosyphilis anymore. Sounds pretty icky.

By: Mary McMyne

Mary McMyne — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:43:00 +0000

>Nietzsche foresaw the future…

Is that why his eyes were crossed?

Neurointernetitis.

Sheesh.

I’m gonna go walk my dog myself!

By: Mary McMyne

Mary McMyne — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:39:20 +0000

That ain’t debbie downer, that’s the truth!
And how cool of you! Unfortunately, SONG OF BLACKBIRDS is not yet available for purchase. My agent and I decided to put it on hold last summer so we could go out with WAIT as my first book. But SONG should be my second, and things are progressing well for WAIT (although no news yet), so hopefully it’ll be available for Christmas wish-listing &c. soon! Thank you muchly for the kind words and encouragement! You rock!

By: jmb

jmb — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:11:09 +0000

Nietzsche forsaw the future, a newer strain of neurosyphillis that made the old look tame:
neurointernetitis.
An entire generation of peoples tethered to an instrument by what seems to be the tiniest of leashes, their brains engaged yet damaged, staring into flickering, poisoned screens, lethargic yet caffeinated, stirred yet indifferent, inactive yet infected and infecting, dead-eyed and desperate, wanting everything and nothing, gobbling information and hemorrhaging insight, legions of the living dead.

Oof. I need to take a walk.

By: Autumn

Autumn — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:18:27 +0000

I don’t mean to be a debbie downer but neurosyphilis sounds like a real drag.

Also, I think I’ll be adding Song of Blackbirds to my Christmas wish list. Or I’ll stop being so cheap and just go buy it.

By: Mary McMyne

Mary McMyne — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:40:33 +0000

Ha, ha. I didn’t even read those yet! I guess it is just the night for blisters and brothels. I’ve honestly just been obsessed, obsessed I tell you, with neurosyphilis. I’ve been reading Shakespeare’s Wife by Germaine Greer. It all started with curiosity about the infamous “second best bed.” Anyway, pleasure to make your acquaintance, moxie miss!

By: Josie

Josie — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:28:19 +0000

Girl if your book’s timing is as good as your TNB debut I’d say you’re golden. Your post seems to combine RD and Reno’s for a perfect theme entry. Bravo my lady.

And may I add gratitude to that good luck of lack you contemplate. I used to ponder my good grace to lack consumption and the vapors.

I should warn you, I do have a touch of moxie…

By: Mary McMyne

Mary McMyne — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:57:50 +0000

Thanks. My agent is hopeful!

Testing, one, two, three. Here, little gravatar…

By: Brad Listi

Brad Listi — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:46:47 +0000

Forgot to add: Another hearty welcome!

And best of luck with the book.

I have faith that you will buck the trend.

And: If you want your photo avatar to show up next to your comments, go to gravatar.com, sign up for a free account, and upload your photo. That’ll fix her.

By: Mary McMyne

Mary McMyne — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:41:20 +0000

No, but this is.

Mustachius Erectus!

By: Brad Listi

Brad Listi — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:31:16 +0000

Is that a real picture of Nietzsche?

That mustache is a mammal.