The movie Blazing Saddles used everything and anything to get a laugh. When the African American sheriff, newly assigned to a rural town, patrolled the main thoroughfare he happened upon an elderly lady and greeted her kindly. She gave him a deadpan look then said, “Up yours, nigger!”. The racial slur, having long lost most of its punch at the point in the movie wasn’t nearly as funny as the “up yours” portion. Without speculating on the what of “yours” the speaker is referring too, when did saying “up yours” start being used?Green’s Dictionary of Slang cites usage examples from early ‘30s:up ...

The Jester: Masters of Merriment and MirthOnce upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away (or maybe just down the street—let's not get bogged down in geography), there lived a figure so extraordinary, so flamboyant, and so downright entertaining that they were the life of every royal court, tavern, and village square. No, not a stand-up comedian or a circus performer, but the Jester! These colorful characters weren't just about telling jokes—they were the ultimate multitaskers of humor, serving as entertainers, satirists, and, believe it or not, social commentators (who knew, right?).Now, you might imagine a jester as someone ...