-Caveat Lector- BOOK OF PAPER'S PARODIES OF HISTORY IS A BEST-SELLER The Associated Press MADISON, Wis.-- Remember these immortal headlines: "Zapruder Family Wowed at Home Movie Screening," "Nancy Reagan Ends Nation's Drug Problem With Very Special 'Diff'rent Strokes' Appearance"? Maybe not. But hundreds of thousands of book buyers are seeing them now in the skewed story of the 20th century, as told by The Onion, a parody newspaper. "Our Dumb Century," the Madison-based paper's "retrospective" book, was released less than a month ago. On Sunday, it will top the paperback nonfiction best-seller list in the New York Times. "It's pretty amazing," said Rob Siegel, The Onion's senior editor. "We didn't expect it, but we have a pretty solid, devoted, sizable underground fan base." The book contains front-page headlines and stories, putatively from old issues of The Onion, documenting historical events from 1900 to 2000. All are written and designed by staff members of the satirical paper, which is actually only 11 years old. A story dated Nov. 9, 1960, on JFK's election to the White House, calls him "our nation's first handsome president" and cites experts who noted that previous chief executives were "mildly attractive." Siegel said, "The paper is a pretty big task to do every week. We spent basically tow full years working round the clock, putting out the paper and the book." The weekly paper started in Madison and now has offices in Chicago, Denver and Milwaukee. It features irreverent, off-the-wall headlines such as "Soul Train Derails New Snacks" and "Social Security System Overhauled to Provide Early-Death Incentives." Inside the paper prints serious movie and music reviews. Each week, about 500,000 people read The Onion online at its Web site, Siegel said. The address: http://www.theonion.com A television special for NBC on "Our Dumb Century" also is in the works, Siegel said. -- Mark McHugh One Step Beyond! DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
