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Swift
Written by James Randi   
Sunday, 08 November 2009 13:57

Years ago, I won a prize in a limerick contest sponsored by Isaac Asimov's magazine. The verse had to incorporate the name of a celestial constellation and deal with the future. I submitted two. This one won me the prize:

An angry young student from Reticulum,
Annoyed at their crazy curriculum,
Said, "They teach biorhythms, Ψ,
And a rational ∏.
I hear Asimov's set to ridicule 'em."

(In case your Greek is a bit rusty, those letters are "psi" and "pi.")

Okay, but I'm haunted by the fact that I've quite forgotten the last line of the non-winner that I also sent in:

Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
???

So, I'm offering a prize to the reader who comes up with the best last line... I'll figure out the prize when I get the winner decided...

 

 

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...
written by JeffWagg, November 08, 2009
"..now they're a feature in Rio"

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written by csnowden, November 08, 2009
"...so they hired a guy for a trio."
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Votes: +5
Rude Astronomy?
written by the bible is useless, November 08, 2009
"Such beautiful full moons!" cried Gallileo.
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...
written by Rustylizard, November 08, 2009
They'll be featured in National Geo.
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...
written by Careyp74, November 08, 2009
so big they became mucho frio
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...
written by csnowden, November 08, 2009
"...and gave us too much to see-oh!"
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...
written by Ian Osborne, November 08, 2009
As they blurted out 'O Sole Mio'.
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written by brianeoneill, November 08, 2009
And made atheists cry, "dios mio!"
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written by Ernie M, November 08, 2009
'Til Jeff Wagg pointed out - scam - like Miss Cleo.
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written by cullen, November 08, 2009
As in furniture, not their underware, neo.
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written by Insert clever name here, November 08, 2009
"...You'll never hear them on the radio"
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Votes: +2
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written by harpman, November 08, 2009
James, I think this was your full version:

Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together, not well, but con brio.
Their very loud roars
Brought rents to their drawers.
Said their agent (from Spain) "hace frio?"
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written by wallacej14, November 08, 2009
Then each lad cried, "I'll make it a trio!"
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written by Insert clever name here, November 08, 2009
"...Ergo duo staccato infinito"
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...
written by Bullet, November 08, 2009
And caused a blush on a statue in Rio
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...
written by Ruprecht, November 08, 2009
And a flash fit to upstage scorpio

(U scorpii is a fast erupting, recurring nova)
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...
written by Mark P, November 08, 2009
"... and deal with the future"

Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers
People! please read the scenario!
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...
written by Urmensch, November 08, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
And one listener to bleed from his earhole.
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...
written by Nickelking, November 08, 2009
"Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers, "
On finding Pluto was KBO
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...
written by Paul Claessen, November 08, 2009
Through Google:
1992!!

----------------
From: James Randi
Subject: More Asimov...
Message-ID:
Date: 07 Apr 92 19:06:23 EDT

Sorry, but I'm sort of bummed out by the loss of Isaac. Just wanted to
share one more anecdote with you....

I won the second prize in one of his limerick contests. The limerick had
to contain the name of a constellation, and had to deal with the future
or a science fiction theme. This was my effort:

An angry young student from Reticulum,
Annoyed by the crazy curriculum,
Said, "They've biorhythms, psi,
And a rational pi.
I hear Asimov's set to ridicule 'em!"

I couldn't find a better line for this one:

Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together, not well, but con brio.
Their very loud roars
Brought rents to their drawers.
Said their agent (from Spain) "hace frio?"

This is sort of my celebration of Isaac having been here. He was
something else, and I hope you'll pardon my preoccupation with the
subject. JR
----------------
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All dressed up in Spandex
written by Rustylizard, November 08, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
They’ll be singing at TAM 9 in Reno.
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...
written by jcwept, November 08, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together, not well, but con brio.
Their very loud roars
Brought rents to their drawers.
Proving God's existence a posterio
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written by MartyL, November 08, 2009
And complaints from as far as Scorpio.
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...
written by monstrmac1, November 09, 2009
They both left a lingering B.O
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...
written by jaredboutwell, November 09, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
and the contents went via con dio.
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...
written by tmac57, November 09, 2009
They're American Idol's next zero.
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Votes: +1
...
written by Wave, November 09, 2009
And stirred the deceased Padre Pio.
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...
written by Dumb All Over, November 09, 2009
Revealing one lass was mi tio!
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...
written by Slewson, November 09, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
And dents in the doors of their Geo.

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...
written by Dropofahat, November 09, 2009
"Last line to be revealed in 2-0-3-0."
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;-)
written by CasaRojo, November 09, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
And erected Lyon's Bernard Pivot
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;-)
written by CasaRojo, November 09, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers
Which gave I Robot his very first shmio
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...
written by Random, November 09, 2009
Their next show will be Ontario
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written by minusRusty, November 09, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
Crooned sir Isaac, "In flagrante delicio!"
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...
written by pxatkins, November 09, 2009
"Don't worry, I have my bicycle with me"
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Votes: -3
...
written by jer, November 09, 2009
But they took off before we coult see, though.
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...
written by iiwo, November 09, 2009
"So they ran off the stage to a-peal"

(read it out loud)
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...
written by minusRusty, November 09, 2009
What, only one vote? I mean come on, I've got a reference to the Good Doctor himself, his penchant for the ladies, and even an Asimovian pun!

Besides, I want the Good Magician to send me a signed book! *hint* *hint* :-)

-Rusty
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closing line
written by metamorphium, November 09, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
as they laughed at Browne's portfolio.
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...
written by Son of Rea, November 10, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
This can't rhyme with line four or line three-o.
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...
written by tracer, November 10, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
...
But then, blinded by the light shone in its face, the zombie stared back dazed at its would-be meal. A sitting duck now, Ash's shotgun made quick work of this animated pile of rotting flesh. He'd have to hurry, though; every moment, somewhere out there in the dark, a zombie was making a new zombie ally by killing one of his neighbors and reanimating him. They'd have to be gunned down fast if he didn't want to run out of shotgun shells before ...



Oh. Sorry.
I thought we were doing Army of Darnkess fanfiction.
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written by Phd.Hyper D, November 10, 2009
Oh my again,Ah yes the more "Prop-ah"answer to that end is that "Good Boys cause no noise,and those with rents in their drawers ,have hyperdimension on all of their floors...... Care for a science explanation,Mssr. Randi?
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written by tmac57, November 10, 2009
Said S. Browne, "I'll predict this tomorrow!"
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...
written by Rustylizard, November 11, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
New menu, ascetic venue, fruity jello.
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Votes: -2
...
written by zombie47362, November 11, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
Their tails best left for Muse Clio.



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written by bobertp, November 11, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers.
Of no help was their love of o-reos.
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...
written by 50hawken, November 11, 2009
and their piles swung about in the breez-o
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...
written by tmac57, November 14, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers.
"This bears watching!" said Ursa to Scor-pi-o.
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Votes: +1
:)
written by Son of Rea, November 14, 2009
Clever, tmac57
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...
written by Able, November 14, 2009
Making faster than light travel real
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To Son of Rea
written by tmac57, November 15, 2009
Thank you.
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written by Rustylizard, November 16, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
No horoscope predicted that scenario.
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...
written by tmac57, November 16, 2009
Two lusty young lasses from Leo,
Sang together - not well - but con brio.
Their sonorous roars
Caused rents in their drawers,
But their rents were not due till day 3-O.
(Sorry, I couldn't resist)
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Votes: +2

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Last Updated on Sunday, 08 November 2009 14:30