If you had asked me yesterday, "Is there anything missing on Substack?" I would have said, "Nothing comes to mind!" Turns out, I was wrong. Welcome to Substack, Dave.
I’m so excited for this. I’m a huge fan of Dave’s going back to the ‘80s. He’s a connection to me for both my late dad and my late son. My dad always read the columns in the newspaper; and my son read my Dave Barry books. At one time I owned everything Dave had written, but my boy was an inveterate thief of my books (and my beer and my Jameson) and about half of them ended up in his truck, or his gym bag, or Afghanistan, or Iraq or some chick’s house. I can’t tell you how much I wish I could call my dad (who died in 2013) and Nick (who died in 2019 at age 33) and tell them Dave’s back.
Good plan. In my life I’ve owned probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 5,000 books. And I’m sure Nick was responsible for the destruction or loss of 1,000 of them!
I second your emotions. I didn't discover Dave until 1991 when I started reading his weekly column in the Winnipeg Free Press (blogs/posts weren't a thing back then). I've been a fan since then and had the privilege to meet Dave at the inaugural book signing of Florida.Best.State.Ever down in Coral Gables. He graciously tolerated my adding my two cents worth in the middle of the talk he was giving, prior to the book signing. You can read about that here: https://lateralthinkingdepartment.com/?s=there+and+back+again. All three of my children share my warped sense of humor but I don't let them anywhere near my books.
"Void where prohibited." It is one of my favorite mottos. I just wanted firsties on getting it in to a new substack before it gets too big for its britches.
I'm both aghast (must be those refried beans I had for lunch) and chagrined. Here I thought you were a champion of diversity and inclusion. But no, you're just the strictly nouns and verbs kind of guy like all the rest. So you throw in an imperative every so often. Nice try. We know who you really are. Anyway, I assumed (wrongly it seems) that you were casting about for a title to replace D. Barry's very White and very 77 (working?) title. Gerunds rule!
We share a Substack space Dave. That's close enough. Seen that "After" picture of him he published recently? And if you don't mind me asking, will I get an acknowledgement from "Save the Children" that they did indeed receive half of my paid subscription to your Substack?
OMG. This is the BEST news I’ve had all week. I subscribed w/o reading even one word. I’ve been a fan for maybe 90 years and used to cry (in a good way) when reading Dave’s columns. (I remember one about an airplane…?) Now MY son, whose Dave’s son Rob’s age, is also a fan. God, today in particular I needed to have something to look forward to laughing over. Dave, you saved me!!
Oh, and there was also the column about at a new house and your dogs (including your “emergency backup dog”) knowing they weren’t to poop in THEIR house—but this wasnt their house, so they pooped.
I'm sorry but "Dave Barry's Substack" is just so, I don't know, 77 and White. Suggest you hold a contest to come up with something more you. Something like, "I'm Dave Barry and You're Not. Get Over It." Maybe give away one of those rare recordings of you lick syncing to Clapton's "Layla."
An obviously unsuccessful play on "lip-synching" where, as you probably know, a singer moves their lips in synchronization with a prerecorded soundtrack. A "lick" is a series of short notes, usually in an instrumental solo. But as E.B. White so eloquently put it: “Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You understand it better but the frog dies in the process.” Although, "lip" and "lick" -synching was probably dead on arrival.
I’m so happy to see that you are still writing articles. I’m in a “Must Read” Facebook group and whenever someone requests info about books that will make them laugh aloud, it’s always your work I recommend. True fact: I volunteer at a cat shelter and occasionally they let us give the cats names. I will have you know that I named several cats after my favorite authors. You were right up there with Barbara Kingsolver, Edward Rutherfurd, Alice Walker and Jodi Picoult. Not gonna lie - the adoption went like this - we want to adopt Dave Barry. Husband - Wasn’t he the one weird family member in Arrested Development? Wife - no, it’s that show with that guy that was on SNL - he’s a serial killer that does community theater with Fonzi….Me - actually, I gave him his shelter name. Dave Barry is a humorist not an actor. He had a popular syndicated article in newspapers for many years. Wife - oh, don’t know him. We can rename him, right? Gotta get you back into the zeitgeist. We definitely can’t have folks confusing you with serial killer characters who do community theater with Henry Winkler.
Dave's new Substack launched while I was traveling, so I waited to subscribe until I got home. I'm not saying that my complete loss of balance, running into things face first, and fuzzy vision were all cured because I subscribed - but since I did, everything has improved. I've been a huge fan of Dave for many years, and with diet and exercise, I hope to be a slim fan of Dave for years to come.
I was explaining "Substack" to a friend at lunch today and when she got home she did some searching a discovered that you started one of your own! Yay! I have missed reading your column for years.
Help! I subscribed, thinking I was signing up for 5 bucks a month, but am being charged 50.00! The bank (Chase) wants documentation and it’s not worth the trouble. Do I have to unsubscribe (which I hate to do) to remedy this situation, or can the 50 bucks cover 10 months. I surely do not want this to be a recurring monthly charge. Thanks for any info you can provide. Thanks!
If you had asked me yesterday, "Is there anything missing on Substack?" I would have said, "Nothing comes to mind!" Turns out, I was wrong. Welcome to Substack, Dave.
I’m so excited for this. I’m a huge fan of Dave’s going back to the ‘80s. He’s a connection to me for both my late dad and my late son. My dad always read the columns in the newspaper; and my son read my Dave Barry books. At one time I owned everything Dave had written, but my boy was an inveterate thief of my books (and my beer and my Jameson) and about half of them ended up in his truck, or his gym bag, or Afghanistan, or Iraq or some chick’s house. I can’t tell you how much I wish I could call my dad (who died in 2013) and Nick (who died in 2019 at age 33) and tell them Dave’s back.
Good plan. In my life I’ve owned probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 5,000 books. And I’m sure Nick was responsible for the destruction or loss of 1,000 of them!
I second your emotions. I didn't discover Dave until 1991 when I started reading his weekly column in the Winnipeg Free Press (blogs/posts weren't a thing back then). I've been a fan since then and had the privilege to meet Dave at the inaugural book signing of Florida.Best.State.Ever down in Coral Gables. He graciously tolerated my adding my two cents worth in the middle of the talk he was giving, prior to the book signing. You can read about that here: https://lateralthinkingdepartment.com/?s=there+and+back+again. All three of my children share my warped sense of humor but I don't let them anywhere near my books.
I love you. We need your humor now more than ever
A welcome respite, from someone who Faithfully read your weekly columns since 1983. Excited to get back to reading you again!
"Void where prohibited." It is one of my favorite mottos. I just wanted firsties on getting it in to a new substack before it gets too big for its britches.
Thank you, Gene. It needed to be said.
I suggest "Voiding where prohibited" would be more on point.
Absolutely not. Good God, Dale. IT IS A COMMAND.
Take it back. This is no place for a gerund.
I'm both aghast (must be those refried beans I had for lunch) and chagrined. Here I thought you were a champion of diversity and inclusion. But no, you're just the strictly nouns and verbs kind of guy like all the rest. So you throw in an imperative every so often. Nice try. We know who you really are. Anyway, I assumed (wrongly it seems) that you were casting about for a title to replace D. Barry's very White and very 77 (working?) title. Gerunds rule!
You two need to get a room.
We share a Substack space Dave. That's close enough. Seen that "After" picture of him he published recently? And if you don't mind me asking, will I get an acknowledgement from "Save the Children" that they did indeed receive half of my paid subscription to your Substack?
OMG. This is the BEST news I’ve had all week. I subscribed w/o reading even one word. I’ve been a fan for maybe 90 years and used to cry (in a good way) when reading Dave’s columns. (I remember one about an airplane…?) Now MY son, whose Dave’s son Rob’s age, is also a fan. God, today in particular I needed to have something to look forward to laughing over. Dave, you saved me!!
Oh, and there was also the column about at a new house and your dogs (including your “emergency backup dog”) knowing they weren’t to poop in THEIR house—but this wasnt their house, so they pooped.
Dave Barry is one of those people that I was surprised wasn't Jewish! (I think his daughter and all his grandkids are though).
I can't wait to read it, especially as a regular contributor to his blog, mainly in the form of googling "toilet snake".
For all those signing up, go buy a copy of Dave Barry Does Japan and Lessons from Lucy, his best books.
(And Lucy just passed on, so sponsor something in her memory, maybe a Substack subscription or something.)
I don’t think Congress has a dress code anymore
I'm sorry but "Dave Barry's Substack" is just so, I don't know, 77 and White. Suggest you hold a contest to come up with something more you. Something like, "I'm Dave Barry and You're Not. Get Over It." Maybe give away one of those rare recordings of you lick syncing to Clapton's "Layla."
“Lick” syncing?!
An obviously unsuccessful play on "lip-synching" where, as you probably know, a singer moves their lips in synchronization with a prerecorded soundtrack. A "lick" is a series of short notes, usually in an instrumental solo. But as E.B. White so eloquently put it: “Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You understand it better but the frog dies in the process.” Although, "lip" and "lick" -synching was probably dead on arrival.
Will every episode start with the Adventure Dog theme song? For those who want to sing along:
Adventure Dog!
Adventure Dog!
Kinda big, kinda strong
Stupid as a log
Adventure Dog!
So thrilled to have you back on my reading list, Dave. You never fail to make me laugh out loud, but no pressure.
Just a small request: would you please resurrect Mr Language Person for guest blogs? I have missed him so.
I’m so happy to see that you are still writing articles. I’m in a “Must Read” Facebook group and whenever someone requests info about books that will make them laugh aloud, it’s always your work I recommend. True fact: I volunteer at a cat shelter and occasionally they let us give the cats names. I will have you know that I named several cats after my favorite authors. You were right up there with Barbara Kingsolver, Edward Rutherfurd, Alice Walker and Jodi Picoult. Not gonna lie - the adoption went like this - we want to adopt Dave Barry. Husband - Wasn’t he the one weird family member in Arrested Development? Wife - no, it’s that show with that guy that was on SNL - he’s a serial killer that does community theater with Fonzi….Me - actually, I gave him his shelter name. Dave Barry is a humorist not an actor. He had a popular syndicated article in newspapers for many years. Wife - oh, don’t know him. We can rename him, right? Gotta get you back into the zeitgeist. We definitely can’t have folks confusing you with serial killer characters who do community theater with Henry Winkler.
Dave's new Substack launched while I was traveling, so I waited to subscribe until I got home. I'm not saying that my complete loss of balance, running into things face first, and fuzzy vision were all cured because I subscribed - but since I did, everything has improved. I've been a huge fan of Dave for many years, and with diet and exercise, I hope to be a slim fan of Dave for years to come.
Thanks, Dave!
Thank you, The Amazing Steve.
I’d wondered if Rob survived the constant intrusion - er, participatory journalism - to which his life had been subjected.
I was explaining "Substack" to a friend at lunch today and when she got home she did some searching a discovered that you started one of your own! Yay! I have missed reading your column for years.
Help! I subscribed, thinking I was signing up for 5 bucks a month, but am being charged 50.00! The bank (Chase) wants documentation and it’s not worth the trouble. Do I have to unsubscribe (which I hate to do) to remedy this situation, or can the 50 bucks cover 10 months. I surely do not want this to be a recurring monthly charge. Thanks for any info you can provide. Thanks!
Oops. It’s for the whole year. My bad.