A Genius Remains Unrecognized

HUBRIS CONTEST:

John shouted into his megaphone, sending the entire set scrambling. He was in command. He was a god, and "Flesh Would Melt" was his creation, his masterpiece finally springing to life.

Even amidst the commotion, there was a still part of John's mind that was not occupied by the calculating of f-stops or picking out of wallpaper patterns. He thought of the first time he'd seen Hamlet performed, wondering at the rapturous applause, and thinking to himself that if he had been in charge, he would have done better.

Almost exactly one year later, John's film premieres to universal vilification.

From Guest Contributor Eduardo Felin

Tiny King Seamus

He was the tiny king of the world's smallest microdictatorship.

He referred to it as his island nation though it was really just seven-ninths of a square meter that was cordoned off in the vacant lot next to Baxter Park.

"Sing to me not of your troubled refrains and broken governments. We will not recognize your sovereignty until you recognize ours." He always spouted such nonsense through the broken megaphone he carried with him like a scepter.

When they came to haul him off to the mental ward, they found that he'd appointed a rabid rottweiler as Minister of Defense.