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.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
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.
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
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.
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....
Be my guest, all the best, Good night, and Good luck.
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.
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.
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.
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