If the world ends tomorrow like the Mayans have foretold, thanks for reading. If not, I'm taking the rest of the year off and will return in 2013.
All the best to you and yours!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
All I want for Christmas is ... originality.
Believe it or not, but I'm pretty sure Mariah Carey's, "All I want for Christmas is you", is the last Christmas song to become a classic. It was written in 1994. Since that time, I don't think another song has made it into the rotation of traditional holiday songs. Yes, some performers have done wonderful covers of classic songs, but no original song has risen to the level of "Rudolph" or "Jingle Bells" like AIWFCIY has.
Strangely enough, in my brief and haphazard research, I also learned that "Santa's a Fat Bitch" is the only Insane Clown Posse song to ever be charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
The holidays really are a time of celebration.
Strangely enough, in my brief and haphazard research, I also learned that "Santa's a Fat Bitch" is the only Insane Clown Posse song to ever be charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
The holidays really are a time of celebration.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
So close.
This pretty much sums up my year.
If you can't read the picture, it say, "Score exactly 777 and get a free bucket of beer." As you can see, I hit a six shy on the old punching bag machine.
Likewise, in both of my Fantasy Football leagues, I was second place heading into the playoffs. Both of my quarterbacks let me down: One by getting me negative points and the other for being injured (okay, to be fair, that's my fault for not replacing him). Bah!
Then, last night, I came in second place in a poker game. Bah humbug!
So maybe the Mayans were right after all? Or maybe, just maybe, some of my luck is going to rub off on them?
You're welcome, world.
If you can't read the picture, it say, "Score exactly 777 and get a free bucket of beer." As you can see, I hit a six shy on the old punching bag machine.
Likewise, in both of my Fantasy Football leagues, I was second place heading into the playoffs. Both of my quarterbacks let me down: One by getting me negative points and the other for being injured (okay, to be fair, that's my fault for not replacing him). Bah!
Then, last night, I came in second place in a poker game. Bah humbug!
So maybe the Mayans were right after all? Or maybe, just maybe, some of my luck is going to rub off on them?
You're welcome, world.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Laugh, damn you! Laugh!!!
Based on recent events and an impending Mayan apocalypse, it
seems like we could all use a good laugh. Below is a list of some of my
all-time favorite gut buster episodes from shows you might have missed. I’m
loathe to even describe any of the plots—for fear of ruining some of the
fun—but they definitely work best when you’re somewhat familiar with the
characters and their mannerisms.
Party Down,
Season 1, Episode 8: “Celebrate Ricky Sargulesh”
Wannabe actors and writers in L.A. moonlight at a catering
company until they catch their big break … whenever that is. In this episode,
each cast member gets a moment to shine and the guest stars really chew up the
scenes.
The I.T. Crowd,
Season 2, Episode 1: “The Work Outing”
Two geeks and their non-geek boss work in the computer
services department at a typical faceless corporation. This episode is
ridiculously funny and I’ll leave it at that.
It’s Always Sunny in
Philadelphia, Season 3, Episode 15: “The Gang Dances Their Asses Off”
A group of friends buys a bar in Philadelphia, with
hilarious and oftentimes crass results. While this show often relies on shock
value for its laughs, this episode proved that it could be just as funny as
mainstream shows by simply focusing on its characters and their faults. Scratch
that: funnier.
Extras, Season 2,
Episode 2: “David Bowie”
A pair of friends work as TV and movie extras while they
wait to get discovered. Best, most amazing guest star appearance in recent
memory.
Coupling, Season
1, Episode 5: "The Girl with Two Breasts"
Basically a Friends
rip-off, this show, about a group of five friends in Britain, was pretty funny.
While I’ve seen a lot of concept episodes from other sitcoms, I have never seen
an episode quite like this one. Bizarre, yet brilliant.
Labels:
Coupling,
extras,
funny episodes,
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,
party down,
The I.T. Crowd
Friday, December 14, 2012
DON HERTZFELDT is very funny
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Book Review: Startup Communities, By Brad Feld
The Premise:
Entrepreneurial expert, Brad Feld, promises to unlock the
secrets for “building an entrepreneurial ecosystem in your city”.
The Good:
Mr. Feld spells out why some cities, like Boulder, CO,
succeed in creating a vibrant startup community and others do not. He gives
easy to follow guidance on how to access whom the true players and influencers
are and which parties are more supporters or even obstacles. He provides
real-world examples and case studies throughout to support his point of view
and isn’t shy about giving some rather blunt, yet pragmatic advice for anyone
looking to embrace a startup culture in their community.
The Bad:
There’s too much name-dropping. This book could have been
half as long and twice as practical if he stopped mentioning his buddies and
their ventures. One gets the sense that Mr. Feld is almost trying to sell
Boulder versus Silicon Valley at times. This may not have been intentional, but
it is distracting. A more straight-forward “how to” may have been a better
approach, in my opinion.
The Verdict:
Skim it and share it. There are definitely useful nuggets
throughout the book for anyone interested in starting their own business or
fostering a larger entrepreneurial culture in their community.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Malaproposition?
During a recent conversation, a friend of mine inadvertently
created a malapropism. For those needing a refresher, a malapropism is when you
substitute a word with a like-sounding word for comic effect. Oftentimes this
substitution is accidental, like my friend’s, but it can also be intentional
(mainly by writers with a humorous bent).
An example would be “Statute of Liberty” versus “Statue”.
An example would not be “I wish you were dead” instead of “Hello”.
Famous people who have made a career out of malapropisms are
Yogi Berra, Bil Keane of Family Circus fame and former President George W. Bush
(known as “Bush-isms”).
Which brings us back to my friend. Instead of saying, “I
like you in general”, my friend said, “I like your gender.” And there was much
laughing.
Labels:
Bushism,
Family Circus,
Malapropism,
vocabulary,
Yogi Berra
Friday, December 7, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Book Review: The Lost Continent, By Bill Bryson
The Premise:
Author Bill Bryson, after having lived abroad for years,
returns to America and rediscovers the land of his youth, embarking upon a road
trip that takes him through 38 of the lower 48.
The Good:
Mr. Bryson is hilarious, insightful, heartfelt and scathing.
He manages the impossible: both mocking and praising a thing at once. You can
tell that he finds most tourist traps ridiculous, but can’t imagine a world
where they don’t exist. He delivers historical facts with aplomb and gives
surprising gravity to the simplest of pleasures. And he can write. And, wow,
does he make it look easy. The whole book is chocked full of imagery such as, “the
waves crashed like exhausted swimmers on the shore” and hilarity, “My first
rule of consumerism is never buy anything you can’t make your children carry.”
The Bad:
Like Mr. Bryson’s book, Walk
in the Woods, the voyage kind of peters out in the back half. It’s still
informative, poignant and funny, but you can feel that the gusto and verve
displayed in the first half isn’t really found when describing town after town
after landmark near the end. Also, he can be a bit crass at times, which to me
is like hanging out with an old friend, but can be a bit much for the overly
religious or all together too sensitive.
The Verdict:
Buy it. Read it. Laugh with it. And relish in a time capsule
written by a close, yet distant friend.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
Killing Maybe.
The holidays are a celebratory time when friends and family
send out Evites and Facebook invites for parties of varying levels of faith and
camaraderie. And if you’re like me, then you’ve probably clicked on the “maybe”
option.
“Maybe” (henceforth without the quotation marks) is crap.
Why is this even an option?
Maybe I’ll answer your generous and thoughtful invitation to
me by creating more stress for you?
Maybe you should buy enough food and drink for me in case I
maybe do or maybe don’t stop by?
Maybe I’m a dick and just want to cause more work for you
with my uncertainty?
Maybe I drunkenly groped your best friend’s roommate’s
cousin and I’m waiting to see whether or not she’s going to attend first?
Maybe I don’t really want to attend and think that saying
maybe is a valid if woefully misguided way of doing that? Maybe?
The only time maybe is acceptable is if you need a little
time to figure out if you can attend. Like you’re having lunch with a friend
and they ask, “Hey, can you come to my party next Saturday?” If you don’t know
if you have next Saturday available and need to do a little research, then
saying, “Maybe. Let me check my calendar/with my spouse/with my parole officer
and get back to you,” is perfectly fine.
Otherwise, just say either, “yes” or “no”. If something
comes up that changes your situation, then you can always contact the person to
determine next steps. For instance, “Hey, it looks like I can attend after all.
Is that invitation still open?” To which they might reply, “Heck, no. You
groped my best friend’s roommate’s cousin on the veranda.” Either way, you’ve
given the host the most important thing of all: the information they need to
throw the best party possible.
Because you should realize by now that:
Maybe is like farting in an elevator when there’s only one
other person and not saying, “excuse me”.
Maybe is the equivalent of your parent’s disappointment in
you when they find your stash.
Maybe is finding out Santa is real and he’s dating your
sister.
Maybe is the awkward half hug, half kiss at the end of a
date.
Maybe is locker room nudity.
Maybe kills puppies.
Labels:
etiquette,
Evites,
Facebook invites,
holidays,
Killing Maybe
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)