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Below Deck in a Storm at Sea Ted pursued a Ph.D. in English literature at Oxford for awhile, but dropped out when he decided that his studies were “astonishingly irrelevant.”   In 1950, Ted invented the word “nerd”. In 1984 he won a Pulitzer prize. After dropping out of Oxford, Ted worked 9 years for Standard […]

This is going to be a new thing each week but I need you to send stuff in for it. Email Daniel@WizardAcademy.org and he’ll forward it to me.  If it’s awesome, I’ll use it. Be sure to include your whole name. I like to give credit where credit is due. – Indiana Beagle GOALS: This is where I’ll fling […]

A wonderful storyteller tells a fascinating story, brought to our attention by Vice Chancellor Whittington, definitely worth the 6 minutes. As a matter of fact, it may be the quickest 6 minutes of your life.

A Masterpiece of Kitsch This old madame –  a warmly satirical blend of comic book illustration, figurative realism, and character study – needs a name. Madame_________? The wizard is sometimes impulsive when it comes to art, and it turns out that he is now the new owner of this one-of-a-kind, original, 42-inch oil-on-canvas masterpiece. 1. Suggest a […]

This graffiti slingshot art is the work of Os Gêmeos, “The Twins” – identical twin brothers Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo. Born in 1974 and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, The Twins have been decorating the great cities of the world since the age of 13, which, as every 13 year-old boy knows, is precisely the correct age to launch one’s career […]

Kitsch – art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way. “The lava lamp is an example of sixties kitsch” Would you like to become a better writer? The key is to listen to common things made interesting. Poets have […]

Will you share your opinion? I got the shock of my life this week. Did you know that Boz Scaggs is WHITE? I’m talkin’ Ivory Soap here, folks. Beagles got it all. We’re a little bit white, a little bit black, and a little bit brown. We’re MultiDogs. Here’s where I need your opinion: 1. […]

We’re flying in Baños, Ecuador, today. This BuzzFeed photo is from api.ning.com.

This is the last one, number 8. Thanks for helping us with your vote! – Roy

“All anybody needs to know about prizes is that Mozart never won one.” – Henry Mitchell

Whose Dog Are You? In 1738, Alexander Pope gave a dog to Frederick, Prince of Wales. Engraved on the dog’s collar were these words: “I am his Highness’ dog at Kew; Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?” Alexander Pope hitched his wagon to Prince Frederick, a rising star. If you’ve seen the Masterpiece Theater television […]

Travis Jacobs is Wizard Academy and this, his newest video, is worth your time.

 The first time you saw this monkey, he was praying to his Iron Goddess of Mercy. You knew that because you read it on the label of the tea container. We now remove the tea container and reveal the desire of the monkey’s heart. All it takes is a quote from Tolstoy.

 

A moment of confusion, but then you begin to connect this with that and possible interpretations emerge.  

Self-talk is what you say to yourself in the privacy of your mind. Self-talk propels you forward or holds you back. Motivational speakers and positive-thinking gurus have made a meal of this – a banquet, really – for many years. I don’t doubt that a lot of people have been helped by them but there are also a lot of people who were […]

Do you remember this French Motorcycle from last week? I asked whether you loved it or hated it and promised to report the results of the poll: exactly twice as many people loved it as hated it.   Here’s an interesting email from our buddy “Slick Foot” Eustace: William, my seven-year-old, was asking about a […]

    If you’ve heard Whittington’s new album of cover songs, Bring the Dark, you know his special talent for making cheery, perky, bubblegum songs into something magically melancholy. I’m thinking he should bring the dark to this hit song by the Cowsills. (video below) What say you? We’re in the early stages of crafting next […]

“I CAME HERE TO EAT KIBBLE AND” “Shut up, McDinkus. There will be no ass kicking today.” “Is that you, Indy?” “It’s me.” “So I came here only to eat kibble?” “You came here to eat kibble and meet m’lady.” “Is she Scottish?” “Does it matter?” “Not really.” “Then no, she is not Scottish.” “Indy?” […]

“You are Dog Quixote, are you not?” “I am, m’lady, at your service.” “Will you tell me the purpose of your visit to this painting, sir?” “I will, m’lady. I seek my friend McDinkus, whom I fear was knocked into this painting by a single blow.” “Quite a blow, then.” “Indeed, m’lady, considering that it […]

People often assume the wizard’s mom is his sister and that Pennie is their daughter. I’m sure you can see why.

Email Daniel@WizardAcademy.org

As I said, a beagle can always find a kitchen and a grocery store.

This is the Italian Cafe across the street from my Paris office. Want to go in?

And then you walk out of that lobby into this second lobby. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had all the Louie I need for awhile. Let’s you and me head back to the island and walk down the street looking into the doorways of the little shops, then we’ll glance across the street to the fronts […]

“I am the Sun King. Bask in the glory of my essence.” – Louis XIV

Like I said, those Egyptian pharaohs got nothin’ on these Louies when it comes to ego-splattered opulence. Napoleon wasn’t technically a Louie, but when it comes to ego, he could certainly give them a run for their money. But Louis XIV took it to a level that will probably never be equaled. I’m trying to convince the wizard […]

Now let’s follow the wizard’s mom through the tunnel that leads down to that lower circle. Are you ready?

You want to talk about a tomb? You want to talk about a tomb? This is the tomb of Napoleon. Construction was begun in 1670 by Louis XIV, also known as “bat-crap-crazy Louie,” but following the French Revolution, Nappy decided to claim if for himself. To see the sarcophagus, you’ve got to walk over and look […]