Sunday, January 25, 2009

Garden Path Comedy Planted in a Dead Pan

Comedians

I mentioned the 'garden path' comedy structure in the context of my recent poem. For your enjoyment, some Comedians who employ garden path sentence structure and deadpan humor. My ultimate favorite styles.

Stephen Wright, who's woken up driving
Emo Phillips, who wouldn't kill someone (just to finish a sentence)
Mitch Hedburg, who said 'oh, no, man. I juggle!'

Mitch also conceives of rotisserie as a morbid ferris wheel for chickens (just as i do... sigh. if only it were meant to be. I just don't know where he's buried.) Some other night I shall perhaps post my Spanish song about dead chickens.

Eine Nacht an der Oper

I heard about THIS today, and would love to attend it. The only thing that sounds slightly stupid about it is that the chorus are costumed as ...US historical figures?
If Orfeo ed Euridice were not based on ancient Greek legend, and written by Gluck (an Austrian) with Italian and French influence, and were not an Opera (which is a beautiful thing), I still doubt I would approve. It sounds like a Thanksgiving play at a nursery school. For the designer's sake, I hope it looks something better than one.


Things like that make me questions my -isms. Classic-, Traditional-, Romantic-.....
I always thought I was a romantic.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Suffer Vile Poetry, whilst I write my paper

On a night as cold as
Ice cold feet like blocks of chunks of
Up on a hillside
On a Rockslide
Swerved in to a lot
between white lines
turned off everything except that
one light, 'oh shit, so lost' light
dark enough away up the
train track here?
So near
closer
and wonder if that dog
is barking at me
while i pee

Thursday, January 22, 2009

2 days late, For Perspective, I suppose

Personally, I found the arrangement of 'simple gifts' performed at the inauguration ceremony to be quite beautiful. Anyone with taste should watch.

Otherwise, here are my observations on the ceremony.
Understanding that film is far and away more advanced each year it exists, the 'live' footage could be called a documentary of the event. This is evident even in the short clip I've linked to above. It reads like a book. Cameras and seating were set up in advance, film crews were given cues of when to switch to whom, tradition set a precedent for the activities, and doubtless, film crews with experience were called upon. After all, Yo-yo Ma and Aretha Franklin performed. Talk about calling on people with experience. You think they'd hire a substandard film crew for that?
If you've got the skinny on it, do correct/affirm my assumptions.
In an incredible speech, Obama reasserted that we are not to sit idly by; we must join in the repair process of our nation.

That's not all he said, naturally (the link is to 'part one' of the speech). It's just the part that I find to be most important at present and for the future, independent of who is in the oval office. The nation, the people, the democracy we embody must be exemplified by our actions. If we decline our power to improve our condition, we negate a bit of our humanity.

And when we divide into communities of 'Republican' and 'Democrat', we negate the common bonds we all share. I don't want to only be friends with people who think the way I do. Who cares if someone disagrees with me? We may be healthy for each other, to strengthen our rhetorical abilities, to learn, to listen, to treat better and be more loyal to our friends, despite disagreement.
I don't want to undermine anyone. I don't plan to tell someone they're 'wrong' unless they're being cruel. I'm jumping off the soapbox, now, in case anyone wants to help me crowd-surf my way back down to Earth.

Air and Simple Gifts lifted my soul skyward.

Monday, January 19, 2009

I can has followers?

Hoooray! Thanks to June, I figured out how to allow a 'following,' though I'm not sure I deserve one; I needed 3 tries in order to spell 'following.' Not a good sign for a blog-writer....

funny pictures of cats with captions

Be my guest, all the best, Good night, and Good luck.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Clowns, and a half

I just posted... I know. But I figured since no one reads my blog anyway, (except for the kind woman who runs 'Art on the Darkside') I can't possibly piss anyone off, since this post concerns 'Art on the Darkside'. This clown is the headboard for a bed used in a haunted house. I painted it.





I technically designed the room also, but did not, for example, sew the quilt or build the bed platform or create the dolls. You get the idea.


If anyone did read this, the fact that I posted something about fashion, followed by politics, followed by clowns? I'd definitely have no readers remaining. *Chuckle* Maybe it's a good thing no one's looking.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Indivisible

Can you believe it?

Obama's following (literally) in Lincoln's path, a train ride from Philadelphia to DC. Pretty cool way to use history to call attention to any of his differences and yet promote that he aims for tradition and freedom. He's greatly playing-up that he counts on tradition and on the history of the United States, following a president who had an undeniably unique career. Not to say Bush flouted Every single construct, but he did make certain choices which do not correspond with those of prior US presidents. Precedents, if you will.

And Obama can do this! He can emphasize his respect for tradition. He could have even if Bush had done the same, but only if Bush were popular at the moment. I'm going to cite this article by a Republican commentator to propose that Bush is not, at the moment, popular. What Obama has to do presently is reassure the people who are unhappy with Bush. He can please the liberal folks fairly easily. He wants to put more hybrid cars on the road, rebalance tax cuts for workers, promote public health and lower health costs. Honestly?
After reading the section on his campaign website (where many of these items stem from) which discusses issues facing women, I cannot believe for a moment that he has misaligned priorities. On the conservative side of things, he has respect for tradition, a respect for religion, and he thinks Bush is a 'good guy.' He'd like to regulate immigration, actively defeat terrorism and has a 'mission' for ending the war (not an immediate retreat), and actually approves of increasing the military.You'd never expect, perhaps, that Obama agrees with Bush that the decisions Bush was faced with in office were tough ones. He doesn't want to make similar decisions; he's stated that he wants to reform the nation. But he takes the high ground and does not malign the outgoing president.

All of that is repetition of fact. Stuff you may like or dislike regardless of where you see it. So now let me state my opinions, to give you something to actively dislike about my particular blog. I, as a human, am unwilling to assume that President Bush ever intended ill for this nation. I have no qualms making that statement. Being president, you have a lot on your shoulders, and even more than that, you're held responsible for everything that the nation believes you're actually responsible for.
Presidents have power, yes. I do not personally know how much, because I've never been president. Supposedly, they finalize laws that have spent a lot of time already with representatives of the states. They can, when they feel it is emergent, send our military to combat for a particular length of time without the approval of Congress. I dislike this power, but it exists. They appoint people to certain important positions.

What I feel few people recognize is that Those Appointed Are Responsible as well. They represent their character, behavior, and ideals prior to appointment and are relied upon to do so after. Not everyone is consistent, nor moral, nor devoid of corrupt influence. And are they to blame for that? In the sense that they accepted a position requiring moral and personal fortitude, yes they are. In the sense that people sometimes fail when tempted or in a time of personal weakness, no. We all do.

Do you feel that I digress? Blame whoever you want for the past 8 years. But know that even I, who began in 2002 to protest the (then, upcoming) war and who has disagreed with much of the action of the current administration, did my share of listening. I evaluated and interpreted what I heard. I wished good would come of the policies enacted. I bowed my head and recited the pledge of allegiance.

One nation, under whomever is fit to govern, If Only it were as indivisible as my history tells me.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Fashion is Passion

I've got couture floating through the old cranium..

Some delights from Clothing Drop:
I'm using the image of the back of this black skirt, 'cause it highlights what i love about the skirt.... it's made using suspenders and faux-corset lacing.

Teh Corsetry, Via Etsyshops


Doc Martens, with a bevvy of variations on a classic shoe.
My favorite is by Baby Phat:

If Only this engagement weren't in San Francisco, I'd be there in a heartbeat
Speaking of hearts

I love it.

Who couldn't love a little Haute Macabre? I must confess, I borrowed several of these links from it. In my defense, Illuminating my specific interests. And... dare I say it? Could I help it? They're so Hawt. (even I cringe)

Non-Haute-Klepted is Commander Salamander!



For more delicious 'steampunk' duds, check out the threads on Abney Park! (and don't ignore their music, either)

Apparently, Diesel has decided to go an Utterly weird and dark route. And I like it! Check out the video about 'hair', it's.... uh, hilarious!

Digging the bright blue Docs

Dear Dita, Representing the 1940s so beautifully.
I love these styles.

Obsessive American searching for the perfect look, to be continued.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Got Free Time Monday?

Oh Most Excellent Dictator of things to come,
I announce a Most Excellent Event. The Lady Obama, ahem...... yes... soon-to-be First Lady has lent her image to the endorsement of this nationwide programme:
When in the course of Humanitarian Events...

I support it highly.

Enough pompous from me. Click the link, find an event in your area (you can narrow it down by mile), and Do it. Monday the 19th. It doesn't matter AT ALL whose politics you support. Someone's gone to the trouble to make this day of service inexplicably easy for the masses (you) and most of the events themselves are easy, too.

Food drive: Bring them non-perishable food. That's it.
Reading to children: Exactly that. Can you read? Good! Go!
Invasive plant removal: Ok, this one's just MY personal favorite. probably the most physically demanding event. And I'm gonna do it, with my hair pulled back and gloves on my hands..... which ends up sounding vaguely sexual. Hey! You have a whole new reason to volunteer, no?

There's an overabundance of events entirely for the purpose of collecting things for homeless or in-need families. So if you have a car, find an event close to you. Be part of this era, so that at least if you hate the policies and politicians currently in power, you can say YOU did better. You did something.


Oh, and in case you don't already read this excellent blog, check it out and add it to your sphere:
These Gentlemen



Long live shark-bear and his illegitimate descendants......

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Is it unhealthy to find this funny? And healthy to laugh?

(if you can't see the whole thing CLICK IT)

Looking at Emily Horne's Flickr, I realized that I'm a sucker (in general) for a slight wrinkle across a male's dress shirt as he (the male) turns to look at or do something which doesn't correspond to the way he's standing.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Double Shot

This has nothing to do with espresso.


I've heard it said that getting over the finale of any relationship takes twice the length of the relationship. Now, this may not be true in all cases. But it's a benchmark, and I think it just might work that way. Human brains are excellent aren't they? An example, and this likely will just lead to new questions to write about, is a particularly bad relationship I once was in, about 3 years ago. I don't like to talk about it, but I am at a point in recovery that I can say all manner of things I could not say before. I can say the name of the person who destructively influenced a year and a half of my life simply by convincing me to continue dating him. And that is a huge step. I made it recently. Within the past few months, once I was talking, and referred to him, and it just came out and I nearly stopped, thought about what I'd said.....
I'd said it. Nothing had hurt me. That part was over.

I read a correspondence from the next longterm boyfriend I'd had and suddenly recalled 'flashbacks' that I used to have. He helped me through them. And I helped myself a lot. He knew what to do, what to say, and I can't begin to measure the gratitude I feel toward him for his patience. He's one of Many who were endlessly patient, who gave me hugs, shoulders to cry on, advice, respect, admiration ("of all things!", i thought at the time and understand now), places to stay when I was afraid to stay at my place, smiles, reasons to pick up and move on from it, and ways to do so.
After careful consideration, I sought counseling. It seemed logical. I talk to the wisest woman. And I waited to go to her until I was strong enough to form my own opinions about her, whoever she might turn out to be. I went in, reserved, thinking 'If I don't like it, I'll Never come back here.' I came back. And my life has improved drastically since.

The bad part seems like it never happened, in the sense that I no longer blame myself much. I accept that it happened. I hardly even think about it, actually; something folks told me would happen and I had the hardest time believing. I'm over it, essentially, yet with life experience. I've even developed an appreciation for things that occurred during that time that weren't all that bad. I wish I'd been kinder to myself, but I'm past the point of regret for anything done or not done.

And I love myself. In a non-solipsistic, non-narcissistic way, I see that I'm beautiful and important. That I deserve love and the best life can offer. And that I deserve to be the person I feel I am, not the character someone else tried to box me up to be.

I like my packaging, I like my contents, and yet I'm not here to be sold. If my personality excites you, impassions you, encourages you, Wonderful! I'm thrilled to be part of your life. I'm not going to change my interests to impassion you. My interests are broad, and I'm open to learning. I'm not going to encourage something I don't endorse. Doesn't mean I'll stop you, but I'm not going to lie. I may be here to entertain, but I'm also here to be entertained. It's not a "two-way street." I mean, drive where you want. No one needs someone else to drive in the other direction. It's those horses at the playground that you had to pedal in order for the person sitting opposite you to get to really move fast. I don't expect you to know the horses. They may have only been at one playground. But the concept is easy to understand. Even on stage, I'd expect an audience. In love, I expect love.


Didn't I say it had nothing to do with espresso?*

*Of course, the over-simplification of relationships boiled down to a concentrated formula which is what the masses are most willing to consume because of their rapid-pace inflicted on themselves and by the pressures of society could sound a bit like espresso. If you read into it.

Turn Around Bright Eyes

Monday, January 5, 2009

Something Something Darkside.......

I was asked today what I would suggest for a goth preteen who has little interest in schoolwork. I'll keep this post non-humorous. What I suggested was a 'fashion show' with photographs taken, like my friend and I used to do. Completely innocent, naturally. We were sort of urban neo-classical goth, to put a really pretentious spin on things. We were into Shakespeare... and the Spice Girls.

So, it's not surprising that goth preteens these days like Twilight. My feelings on the book/movie aside (perhaps in a later post), there are more productive things one can do with one's time than join the current trend. It was impossible for me to realize that at 13, when all I wanted in the world was an AOL account (which I never got, and am glad I didn't) and to become the new Spice Girl when Geri dropped out. It may sound stupid to you, as it certainly does to me now, but what fairytale do teens these days have?

Vampires, apparently. Personally, I was always more fond of Cinderella. Keep the evil close to home.

Drat, I said I wouldn't use humor. Sarcasm was included and my intention has failed. Hopefully at least my remark was successful. Any of them.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Welcome to a Beautiful new year! For the intelligent, the humourous, the musical, the whimsical in All of us

Hello, and Welcome to 2009!

I've long expected this to be a good year, actually ever since 2008 began. But, no matter! 2009 is a time for romance, adventure, and culture, as evidenced by the activities of my day. For your enjoyment and enlightenment, I give you:

Presidential hopeful for the year 2020, who plans great things for us all

Music I like coupled with the reason I'm going to rent a particular trilogy...

Unconventional (and sometimes shiny) exercise

Chechnya; conflict for centuries. I encourage you to look up other sources on it, as well

Creations from the artistic mind of a friend of mine. Tongue twisters found elsewhere

Fantasy-based comic. Dig into the archives to start at the beginning!

NASA's International Year of Astronomy is upon us

The Song on which my Film is based, progress of which I shall update throughout the year


Certainly Something listed ignites your passion?

Buona Notte e la Buona Fortuna!*


* I have never studied Italian. Please take no offense if I inadvertently mangled your preferred language.