Anything but 'Ad Nauseam'

Ad Nauseam," the complete thirteenth edition news archive of the nationally known humor newspaper The Onion, is one book you simply must purchase -- as long as you have a sense of humor and are not easily offended. This 13th archive of The Onion's biweekly newspaper is a humorous look back at 2000 and 2001, highlighting the ups, downs and everything in between.\nThe satire runs from national news and headline-makers to the doldrums of everyday existence. There are also 'syndicated columns,' featuring the likes of Jim Anchower, a local stoner, Smoove B, a love man, Jean Teasdale, a repressed housewife and Herbert Kornfield, a ghetto-talking accounts receivable supervisor. These columns are a scream; Kornfield's columns are particularly amusing. The mug shot of a thin, nerdy-looking white man juxtaposed with the ghetto trash talk of an accountant make for one funny read. Who knew the world of accounts receivable was so rough and tumble?\nThe horoscopes and advice columns are also amusing. The Onion astrologer is a retired mechanic, and the advice comes from such diverse places as a guy getting yelled at by his wife, an upscale catalog and a cheat guide for a video game. \nThe national news headlines of The Onion make this book a must-have. I was particularly amused by the "Starbucks to begin sinister 'Phase Two' of Operation" story. Many people believe Starbucks has world domination in mind, but certainly not to the level of which The Onion is accusing it. \nOne area I have to applaud The Onion on in this volume is their handling of the Sept. 11 attacks. While most were afraid to joke about the events of that day, The Onion took it on with a deft mix of humor and respect. From the tag line of "Holy F*ucking Sh*t: attack on America!" it dealt with many of the questions posed by the attacks. Much of what The Onion points out about the attacks can be seen as true; for a while life did turn into a bad Jerry Bruckheimer movie. It also reflected on how the Pentagon attacks didn't receive nearly as much press as the attacks on the World Trade Center.\nAll in all, the thirteenth complete news archives of The Onion is well worth the time. It's not a book you have to read in one sitting. Look at it as a large bowl of candy -- if you eat too much, it won't taste as good. The scathing humor is written with such wit that it really needs to be appreciated in installments. Otherwise, how would you fully appreciate accountants packing Times Square and partying to ring in the new fiscal year?