Good Times Jolly & the Stake of Ownership in The Dismembering a Halloween Classic

It was on a night quite like this one, when ... the dismembering came!

Many a good folk were left dis-traught , and dis-satisfied by the whole incident. They were bemoaned and bewildered when at the door was a knock. It was Good-Times Jolly, who'd come to say let's go out tonight, its Halloween?

The proposition seemed so harmless, it seemed so natural. And so the road is where our venturing took us. Out into the night's air and the open road, our bodies felt free from the shackles of the daily grind. We were, alive.

Then, there was this light behind us. The bright lights of an automobile bent on revenge, muscling its way through the road and anything that stood before it. Jolly, tried pulling to the side at a slowed speed, but that only seemed to agitate - the driver in the car behind us.

I had worn my warmest sweater and was glad I'd chose so too. For the wind in the air, coupled with the ride in Jolly's convertible was chilling. It almost had me shaking out of my skin.

Upon deciding that the trailing automobile would not pass, Jolly began to whimper. The Good-Times presence was all but evaporated and a hauntingly suspicious glare came over Jolly's visage. Suddenly, Jolly's expression was contorted into that of someone who had done another wrong, and knew that they would face sever judgement for the wrong they had committed. Jolly's eyes bulged.

Then, our car flipped up in the air and we landed on the edge of a cliff, the trailing automobile with its bright beams squalled on as if to say that is where you belong. Jolly shivered and crept not so subtly toward the part of the automobile that clung to the ever-evaporating real estate below it.

We were going to die, the look in Jolly's face said it all. Jolly had brought this upon us, Jolly was now to blame. And so we pushed Jolly back into the car as we slipped away. Then we watched as Jolly descended into the pit of the Crenshaw Dam River.

After which, we taxied a ride home and wrote this blog about it. Or, did we?

Happy Halloween

New Anti NFL League = Discussionism

NEw BlOG idea, "The Anti-NFL League". The idea could easily transfer to other sports as well, i.e. "The Anti-MLB", "the Anti-Sports as Culture League", or even "the Pro-Civil Discussion & Book reading League".

The notion, explicitly, of each of these leagues is to engage and encourage thoughtful, honest discussions about holding sports as a ... national pass-time, example of heroicism, reflection of culture, and also tie it to certain behavior and performance standards in business, family life, or other spheres of human activity.

One priniciple point of any of the leagues as a blog needs to include an atmosphere where talk is the paramount thing and ideas are only used to invigorate or inspire that. Meaning, though positions held by talkers may be strict, or wholly believed in, the atmosphere should never dissolve into personal attacks, or other manifestations of the Philistinianism that the leagues are built to deconstruct.

All in all objectivity, principles of sound logic and argument, respect for difference of opinion, and humor are predictably key elements to the atmosphere and development of the leagues. Let's sleep on it and, if so moved, head forward with it as a working idea?

Introducing: THE FELICE BROTHERS American Musicians

I heard this song on WXPN some time back, and I'm sure many of us could say this, "it stuck with me." WXPN is doing a fund-drive, as is WITF - the local public radio station. This isn't a shameless plug for them, but I do encourage the use and support of public radio, and television. I love PBS, NPR, and what else...I think I'm starting to love this band.



I know that I love this song, "Frankie's Gun". The band is touring right now (I'll try to find the list and post it below).

Here are the Brothers on NPR/XPN's World Cafe

Whiskey in My Whiskey

With Bright Eyes, Felice Brothers do a Tom Petty Cover

Hey, low & behold, they have a website

Hot stuff, personally, that's how I see it. But what do you say, ya'll?

What do you think - any comments?


October 2008
Wednesday 22 | Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA - more info
Thursday 23 | Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA - more info
Friday 24 | Mission Theater, Portland, OR - more info
Saturday 25 | Chop Suey, Seattle, WA - more info
Monday 27 | The Post Theatre at University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT - more info
Tuesday 28 | Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO - more info
November 2008
Saturday 1 | WDST Presents - HV Food Bank Benefit at Catskill Point, Catskill Point, NY - more info
Sunday 2 | Spiegelworld at Fulton Fish Market, New York, NY - more info
Wednesday 5 | The Roxy, Boston, MA - more info
Friday 7 | The Bug Jar, Rochester, NY - more info
Saturday 8 | Kent State Folk Festival, Kent, OH - more info
Monday 10 | 9:30 Club, Washington, DC - more info
Thursday 13 | Orange Peel, Asheville, NC - more info
Friday 14 | Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA - more info
Saturday 15 | Shoreline Ballroom, Hilton Head Island, SC - more info
Sunday 16 | Anti*Pop Music Festival, Orlando, FL - more info
Tuesday 18 | Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale, FL - more info
Wednesday 19 | Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, FL - more info
Friday 21 | Stubb's BBQ, Austin, TX - more info
Saturday 22 | Palladium, Dallas, TX - more info
Sunday 23 | Ballroom Marfa, Marfa, TX - more info

My Response to a Yahoo Writers Ridiculousness

It is true I would like to get away from television, but some silly Yahoo writer posted their ridiculousness and I had to do my part to help set them straight.

Their article: Project Dumbway

A Voice of Reasons REsponse: Whatever. Do you even watch the show, letter writer? Probably not.

The RunWay (aka Project Runway) is ever-evolving, just like fashion is ever-evolving. The only thing that has worn off is the new bright shininess of the experience. Past winners, and almost winners that you mentioned, that we apparently love (and in cases actually do) have not been head and shoulders above the latest competitors, we've just started to get over it being an entirely new and unique experience.

Think about it, once you've heard Santino Rice impersonate Tim Gunn are newbies go bring anything to it? No. When RunWay hit the scene four-five years ago it was like nothing we'd ever seen. It wasn't undie-clad, dirtball contestants wrestling for an idol, it was people actually creating something. They were using their brains!

To add to the shininess of it, contestants on RunWay had talent, and they were working in a field that interested a new group - the art crowd. Disclaimer: other shows (TopDesign) have begun to capitalize on the recipe, but Bravo tried slapping show after show together and pitching 'em to viewers at hyperspeed. Let it grow naturally.

The genuis of RunWay is part show recipe, part contestant talent, and a heaping dose of voyeurism. Don't blame the contestants for the responsibilities of the show. But thanks to you too, don't let the contestants off the hook. As Kenly found out - it takes more than good looks &/or talent (not saying she had miles to ride those - though she is cute), but in order to succeed people need to like you too.

Photoshop, Presidential Candidates, & Funny web site Gizmodo

I just found the most hilarious thing I am likely to come across today; and I want to share it with you. There's really not enough humor in this world. 

Too much funny photo

Following the above link you should get to the photo that launched 1,000 laughs. The photo is of John McCain with an enormous cell phone and a rather charming, smiling look on his face. I hope you enjoy it. It is/was part of a contest issued by one of my new favorite sites: Gizmodo. 

Gizmodo apparently asked its readers to send in photoshoped pictures of the Presidential candidates. Somehow that photo didn't win?!  

Thuaturday Night Live; Really?

In case you missed last night's debut of Saturday Night Live, on Thursday night at 9:30 eastern standard time here is a filtered recap. 

  The show opened with a parody of Tuesday night's Presidential Debate between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain moderated by Tom Brokaw. The debate was in town hall style format and characterized largely by the deep red carpet and the ring-side seats given to about 80 undecided voters, some of which asked questions during the debate. 

  In the Thaturday Night Live rendition of the debate Fred Armisen and Darrell Hammond played Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain, respectively. Chris Parnell played Tom Brokaw, and brilliantly. Other members of the cast peppered the audience as make-believe voters posing questions. Bill Murray guest-starred, also asking a question. 

  Lately, Saturday Night Live has been getting a lot of play, largely on account of the Sarah Palin skits that veteran Tina Fey has nailed. Fey played Palin in a rendition of at least two different interviews done with Katie Couric (in addition to playing Palin in the VP debate; & originally in a public service address with Amy Pollard as Hillary Clinton). The interviews both parody and real had a lot of people asking whether Palin was able to perform on the high level of public scrutiny relative to the VP's stage. 

  There were a number of high points in Thursday night's take on the Presidential Debate, yet there were also some glaringly failed moments as well. Brokaw, who really is pretty much a caricature of a human being anyway, was played really well by Parnell. The tightly moving jaw, the voice, and the believability were all there (even the, "you are in my way of the teleprompter" moment). 

  The candidates, while okay, leave something to be desired. Armeisn is a good Obama, not extraordinary, but more than adequate. Hammond played McCain but missed a lot of potential parody point and seemed to be still settling into him as a character. For instance, there were multiple times while speaking as McCain that he seemed to visibly remember to stiffen his body so as to better portray the physicality of the war vet. 

  But aside from the actors, who are on the verge of something great, the writing is really what failed the whole program. While there were some good points, and some outlandish moments scripted in, there appears to be a real failure -thus far, for linking actual comments to parodied. 

  The bottom line is that contextual parody is good, but even better is a parody that can use all of an event including the specific things people say. Fey's job was easy when the actual things said by Palin were able to be used pretty much directly, but the task of the artist/show is to take the actual and parody it. This is something much more direct, clever, and poiniant than dressing up like someone and being silly. This is what we should expect from SNL.  

The Weekend Update

   In the second half of Thursday night's show time really started to drag. Seth Meyers, and Amy Pollard do a great one-two delivery of the news via the Weekend Update. Their pieces are generally relevant, they comment on various groups and levels of social life, and most importantly they almost always deliver laughs. 

   So perhaps they're not to blame for being asked to stretch a normally 5 minute skit into a 15 minute show? Either way, 10 minutes in, one begins to wonder is there enough material? are there anymore skits coming? 

   Surprisingly, another episode is scheduled for next Thursday night as well. Perhaps this will only go on until October 30, when Fey's 30 Rock has it's season premiere, but if not I'm not sure even with the final debate, the economic crisis, and yadda yadda that they are going to reign it all in and deliver it in star fashion. I mean really, did they do it on Thaturday night? 

   

Friday Night Lights or Mad Men? :You Decide!

The rather hefty, September issue of Gentleman's Quarterly magazine showcases a photo shoot from the television show Friday Night Lights, in a piece titled TGIFNL. The show apparently is on for it's third season, but how does it weigh against AMC's break-away hit, Mad Men?

NBC is offering viewers the chance to watch full episodes of the program (FNL) in an effort to grow it's loyal fan-base. Once thought to be in it's proverbial fourth quarter, Friday Night Lights has been given the nod for at least one more go-around. Meanwhile, AMC's new gem, Mad Men has had critics and fans alike screaming: "You Win!!"

Here is a fact or two about the shows in their present sense:

• While critics and fans argue over whether FNL is a show about football or not; we do know that it is struggling to find it's foothold with a mainstream, network audience.
• On the other hand, Mad Men is a homegrown show budgeted a meagerly 100K for it's premiere year, but has since been picked-up indefinitely and all eyes appear to be on them. The Emmy buzz this year surrounded Mad Men like a wheel on a tire, and the awards?; .. gave 'em some love. But the question on everyone's mind right now is, will Betty do the same for Don?

Which show is your favorite? Do you have any predictions about where the characters, or plot is heading? And if you had to choose one, which show would you watch?

Social Media Marketing & Wikipedia

The further reading section of wikipedia's page on social media suggests the book titles listed below. I was able to borrow all five of the books from my local public library, and hope to use them - along with information I'm getting from Chris Brogan - to gain a better understanding about social media marketing (SMM).  

• The Wealth of Networks, How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom. Yochai Benkler, 2006. ISBN 978-0-300-12577-1
  
• Everything Good is Bad for You. Steven Johnson, 2005. ISBN 1-57322-307-7
• The Wisdom of Crowds, Why the Many are Smarter than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies, and Nations. James Surowiecki, 2004. ISBN 0-385-50386-5
• Naked Conversations, How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk with Customers. Robert Scoble & Shel Israel, 2006. ISBN 978-0-471-74719-2
• Wikinomics, How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything. Don Tapscott & Anthony D. Williams, 2006. ISBN 978-1-59184-138-8

Poetry

   "I just write poetry when I feel like it."

                                              -Wallace Stevens