Watch, Now Radiohead Will Join the Cast of Lost
August 2nd, 2009Hello loyal readers. Sorry it’s been awhile, but I just haven’t been able to get over killing Michael Jackson with my last post. I called him “probably the most talented person we’ll ever see”, talked about him like he was already dead, and then he dies two days later. I guess I’m gonna have to start being careful about whom I effusively praise on this blog. That said, I think Carlos Mencia is the greatest person ever to live. Well, him and Pat Boone.
Anyway, on to an actual post.
I just saw Funny People this afternoon and it was quite good. In fact, I think Judd Apatow might have made it for me. I always hated the term “nerdgasm”, but it might be apt here. If you know me, you can follow the logic here. First of all, it’s a wry movie about bachelors fucking around. Add to it that these bachelors are stand-up comedians, which opens the door to scenes about the joke-writing process and cameos from a handful of stand-ups. Now put Jason Schwartzman in it. Throw in a few Warren Zevon songs, some Wilco, and a bit of John Lennon. It even had a topless scene. So I get great writing, a plot about comedy, an actor I like a little too much, awesome music, AND I get to see somebody’s tits? Thank you, Judd Apatow. You’ve made my month.
I like it when multiple pleasures collide unexpectedly. It’s better, though, when the pleasures are personal. Because everybody loves chocolate and peanut butter, but not everybody loves both Warren Zevon and stand-up comedy. Not everybody loves both Neko Case and Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me (she was the celebrity guest a few weeks ago… simply delightful). Peanut-butter cups are nice, but the personal moments are special.
I know I mentioned this phenomenon before, but I made the post about something different, so I’m giving myself a pass. I want to explore in more depth these splendidly serendipitous syntheses (alliteration alert: can you tell that I’m currently reading Moby-Dick? Seriously, Melville goes overboard with alliteration. I needed to say that.)
Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Part of why I like life is that it’s both structured and random. We lack the capacity to predict anything, but everything apparently has a cause. As far as we’re concerned, everyone’s path is circuitous and haphazard. We seem to fly around at random, occasionally affecting others as we go. It feels so arbitrary, so it’s nice when two or three paths collide to form something great. Call it inevitable, random, or serendipity. I don’t care what you call it. It just makes me glad to be alive.
-Darrell
August 5th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
I like studying the plants in my yard. Seeing the differences in plant growth from year to year based on weather, insect infestations, etc. is quite fascinating. I can’t think of a better close-to-home example of a place that is both structured and random. The fact that anything grows out there is sort of a miracle–or at least a marvel of chemistry and biology. And so much of it is edible and tasty!
I may have to check out Funny People. I saw Transformers last week and I think it killed more brain cells than all the booze I”ll ever consume in my lifetime. I just thought of a really vague idea of a post for you – Brain Cell Restoration movies/literature/music/some other medium I’ve lost the capacity to imagine. I think I could use something like that.
Speaking of praise, I think you should write a tribute to Henry Waxman. And while it’s a bit early at this point to make any predictions, for Stacks’s sake a Josh McDaniels tribute may be in order sometime this fall.