That is Priceless by Steve Melcher for September 27, 2021

This had never happened before! The debate had gone into SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME!

As the principal speaker’s talk drones / on and on, in monotonous tones, / the large audience proved / they’re inert and unmoved. / More than half were the other half’s clones.

The meeting was a huge embarrassment and should not have been held right after the big sale at Sam’s Suits.

Diversity club? That’s next door. This is the White Men’s club,

‘And when I lower my hand, all of your heads will explode’

As Jim Brown looked around the room, he realized what ‘token’ meant.

“James, why is there a woman there in the front row? This is a men’s only meeting.” “Sir, that’s Annie Oakley, sir. She has bigger balls than you.”

Everyone sat as still as possible, expressionless, and barely even breathing. The painter had spent many hours meticulously positioning everyone, and would spew torrents of loud, obscene invective if any person’s face should happen to, even slightly, overlap another.

Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will do the fandango?

When the “men of consequence” gather/ if nobody minds, I’d rather / be someplace with color/ – for what could be duller/ than blokes in black, battered by blather ?/// There’s not a rhetorical flourish/ which my starving soul ever could nourish/ half so well as the sight/ of a sprite in tight white / (without women, we might as well perish !)/// Send me not to those serried ranks/ (front and center, or out on the flanks)/ where the orator drones/ in stentorian tones../ would I choose to be present? No, thanks.

I would like to acknowledge the gentleman in the black waistcoat and bow tie. No not you, the other one.

Nuthin could be duller than a scene devoid of color in the mor-or-ornin’…

Tiberius Q. Cummerbund holds his audience transfixed with his stirring demand for the right to wear tattersall waistcoats…

Three whole ladies among all those men. Yup, that’s “parity”.

“Friends, ’Muricans, countrymen, lend me your money….”

“For my next trick I would like a lady volunteer”

“I’d like you all to give a big round of applause to the people who erected this tent.”

an observatory dedicated to dudley do-right and there’s not a touch of red…

can we go back to classic, good art????

If elected, I promise to take on Wall Street, the robber barons, big railroad, hehehe, I mean it.

Hey, there are at least three women. What’s the issue?

What a boring painting…

All white. See you around, loser.

This cloning thing is getting completely of of hand!

“Now who can argue with that? I think we’re all indebted to Gabby Johnson for clearly stating what needed to be said. I’m particulary glad that these lovely children were here today to hear that speech. Not only was it authentic frontier gibberish, it expressed a courage little seen in this day and age.”

“We have gathered here today gentlemen, to decide what Miss Sarah there, can and cannot do with her body. Who has something to propose?”

“SHE CAN RUB IT ON ME!”

“Very well. What say you all to the suggestion that Miss Sarah be permitted to rub her body on me?”

AYE

The artist is experimenting with “copy and paste”, saving much time.

“But look about you! At least one quarter of us do not even have muttonchops!”

“And, in closing, let me recommend my tailor, er, looks like I already did that.”

“Mr Matteson, other artists portray a variety of faces on their subjects. Why do you employ the same face on everyone?”

“Them other artists are looking for it. I flat GOT it.”

Julia was embarrassed by being the only unaccompanied woman in the room, while Bob, across the aisle, was hastily rereading his invitation to see where it said that black jackets were mandatory male attire.

Dedicating the observatory, / Everett mesmerized folks with his story. / Widow Blandina Dudley, / knew her Charles was not cuddly, / but their name would be getting some glory.

The fertility doctor denied using his own sperm at the town clinic, but some remained unconvinced.

I’d say it’s the (anti) abortion committee, but I see a few women in the crowd.

I stand before you and I will remain so!

They are longing for his conclusion/ yet he seems to have the illusion/ that his eloquence “slays”/ even though he delays/ their prized alcoholic infusion..

The drinks which the comp’ny delighted/ were delayed by the speaker – benighted./ He spoke loud, he spoke long/ but he read the room wrong../ he would never again be invited.

Dudley Observatory Dedication, August 28, 1856: 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tompkins_Harrison_Matteson_-_Dudley_Observatory_Dedication,_August_28,_1856.jpg 

has info and links that point to more info about this painting.

Again, a larger strip image is shown by (⌘- or Ctrl-) clicking the image at 

http://thatispriceless.blogspot.com/2021/09/masterpiece-2796.html 

I have added a comment there (already approved by Mr. Melcher) pointing to the artist info I used to point to here. So far, 3 works by this artist have been used here. 

https://www.gocomics.com/that-is-priceless/2016/04/29?comments=visible 

has the prior (the 17 hyperlinks in my comment there have been deactivated, but perhaps the text remains informative).

Museum curator drones on, “Ladies and gentlemen, in this painting, the original had 10 men and 2 ladies, but then George Lucas decided to fix it…”

“Thank you for coming to the casting call for the role of Penguin in the next Batman movie. We’ve had a larger turnout than expected, including members of the fairer sex…”

This diversity thing has gone too far. Not only do we have three women, we now have a man in a beige suit. Outlandish!

last portrait of congress before it all went bad with diversion.what a shame for the united states.

And now a dediatory sonnet from our Poet Laureate Sir Henry Fustian"

O That which from Elysian Dells

Descending, wrapped in radiant spells

Aloft, as if on pinions bright

Nocturnal, and of night

Imbued with glimmerings minuscule,

Far flickering flames find Faith’s fair fuel,

Still lambent through the crepuscule,

Obdurate as the mule

What indehiscent Polykarp

Might adumbrate Angelic harp

Strains o’er and o’er ‘ere interludes

Of those untold vicissitudes

Ecstatic rays emitting when

Betwixt, below, above and then

Beholden not, nor yet beheld,

Endowed with scents as yet unsmelled

Can maunder on without increase

Or better yet could cease.

May I present to you exhibit A, the hand that pushed poor unfortunate Ms. Penelope into the water, during this posthumous trial! Unfortunately, the perpetrator met her unfortunate demise due to not being properly fed.