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The Onion is a parody newspaper and website, originally published in Madison, Wisconsin (and now in Milwaukee, New York, Chicago, and Boulder, Colorado).1 History
The Onion was founded in 1988 by Tim Keck and Christopher Johnson, who were then juniors at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but they sold it to colleagues the next year. As of 2004, Keck is publisher of the alternative Seattle weekly The Stranger, and Johnson publishes Albuquerque's Weekly Alibi. The Onion was primarily a regional (Midwestern) success until it began its website in 19961996 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty''. Events January January 5 Hamas operative Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone Jan. The staff of the Onion have produced numerous books, including Our Dumb CenturyOur Dumb Century is a satirical humor book written by the staff of The Onion and published by Three Rivers Press in 1999. The chief editor was Robert Siegel (not the radio journalist of the same name), with specific sections edited by Maria Schneider, Joh and Dispatches from the Tenth Circle.
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The Onion's fictional editor is " T. Herman ZweibelHerman Zweibel (born 1868) is a fictional character, the long term editor of The Onion whose adventures were recounted in a series of often bizarre editorials, ending in December 2000. The extremely elderly Zweibel had supposedly been writing for the news," who has "held the position since 1901Events January 1 World celebrates what is regarded as the start of the new century. Zero-ists' argument that new century should be celebrated in 1900 rejected worldwide). January 1 The six colonies that make up Australia are federated as under an act of t" and is rather insaneThe Scream, the famous painting commonly thought of as depicting the experience of mental illness. A mental illness is a psychiatric disorder that results in a disruption in a person's thinking, feeling, moods, and ability to relate to others. Mental illn; the real editor is currently Carol KolbCarol Kolb is an American comedy writer. She is currently editor of The Onion''. External Links An interview with Carold Kolb.. The Onion's slogan is "America's Finest News Source". Other writers have included Rich DahmRich Dahm is an American comedy writer. He has written for Dennis Miller Live and The Onion''., Scott DikkersScott Dikkers is a United States comedy writer and filmmaker. He was editor-in-chief of The Onion from 1989 to 2000, and also wrote and illustrated Jim's Journal a comic strip about the mundane life of a college student. Dikkers directed the features Spac, Todd Hanson, Tim Harrod, John Krewson, David Javerbaum, Mike Loew, Robert Siegel, and Maria Schneider.
The articles comment both on current events and imagined stories (example headline: "All Americans Issued Life Jackets for Some Reason"). The paper often reports on extremely minor events in an overly sensationalistic manner ("Area Man Confounded by Buffet Procedure") parodying traditional newspaper features and styles. Obsession with fame and celebrity are frequently satirized. Regular features are an illustrated "statshot" box (parodying USA Today), Point / Counterpoints, random and bizarre " editorials," cynical horoscopes, an "In the News" photograph and caption, and a "person on the street" feature that always surveys the same six people (although the names and professions change every week - aside from there always being one " systems analyst" among them).
Each issue features columns by (fictional) regular and guest writers. The regular contributors include:
- Jim Anchower , a slacker whose musical tastes are stuck in 1970s rock and roll
- Larry Groznic, a dweeb with an obsession for subcultural fandoms
- Herbert Kornfeld , Accounts Receivable Supervisor, a man with a boring desk job who speaks in ebonics
- Smoove B , a smooth talking ladies' man
- Jean Teasdale , an overweight woman obsessed with cuteness
