'Bernie' A Review

'Bernie' is a docu-dramady about a small town Texas mortician, based on a true story. Jack Black plays Bernie an effeminate possibly gay funeral director in a small town who befriends a local rich widow. They develop a vague relationship until one day he is overcome and kills her.

The film is incredibly subtle and well acted. The best parts of the film are those things that are left unsaid. Jack Black's portray is Oscar worthy. His relationship with Shirley MacLaine is undefined and played slowly. A friendship that evolves into something great than devolves. We never loose sympathy with Bernie, ever.

A good portion of the movie is told through actual first person interviews with members of the town who knew the characters in real life. The weaving of the interviews with the scenes is effortless and creates this beautiful bittersweet journey.

It's difficult to describe the 'plot'. You need to know it's not a comedy, but it's funny. It's not a drama, but it can be sad. And it's provocative.

Don't Miss It.

Graffiti 63

I saw this tag a couple times when I was walking home from Punam's the other day. It spoke to me. It may seem obvious but sometimes you need something obvious to jar you out of your day to day routine. I hate people telling me what to do. That's my #1 thing I can't stand. I will always be the one to question management or how things are run. I wish more people did. Always question, never acquiesce.

"A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man." -Tacitus

"Fate leads him who follow it, and drags him who resist it." -Plutarch

Drennen and Joey's Sick Adventure #14

by Del Jackson

Chapter 14: You have the right to Romaine silent.

          “Machismo rape,” said Joey Romaine, the curls of his orange afro lilting daintily dainting liltily in the seething sweaty sleaze of summer, the hot hot heat, “…is my greatest fear. Can you imagine what kind of sick monster? AHHHHHHhhhhhaaahhHHHAAA!”
            Drennen Quinn, ♪♪ Hair. Down. To his knee / Got to be a joker he just do what he please ♪♪, just cackled.
            A rat-a-tat-tat, way more insistent this time, on the driver side window of DQ’s El Camino.
            “Holy shnikes. Who the funk is this guy?” said Joey. “This is the tallest guy I ever seen, oh my God. Unbelievable. This guy’s walking down the street, ♪♪ LA-DUH-DA-DA ♪♪, and people are running away, Godzilla.”
            DQ was right there but far away in his own mind, at home in Hotlanta perhaps, or backstage with The Strokes. In the back seat cooed Erwin Rommel, Joey’s bombastic cat and sometime dance partner. The radio blared Ini Kamoze’s “Here Comes The Hotstepper” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7MK5Esy-L0).
            DQ, back to reality, for real this time. 12:23 AM on Irving Park and Southport.
            “Oh shit. We got pulled over,” said Drennen, staring now at the badge of the tallest guy Joey Romaine had ever seen. Officer Kimball, neo-Chicago PD.
            “Let me handle this,” said Joey, brimming with all the confidence that a Customer Service Role Model and Innovator of the Year (2016), all the confidence that winning an award like that engenders entails encourages. DQ and Joey, they somehow worked CS at GoopOn Adhesives, one of the few old Chicago businesses to successfully rebuild following the—anyway.
            Anyway, complete 58,000 tickets in one sitting like Joey Romaine had, and you’ll win a few awards, too.
            “No way,” said Drennen. “You’ll land us both in jail. I don’t even know how we got into this crazy mess.”
            “What are you talking about?” said Joey, incredulous. “I’m the best at these situations. I was almost the guy they bring in to talk people down on S.W.A.T. teams and stuff. Swear to God.”
            “No you weren’t,” said Drennen.
            “I’ll give him the old razzle dazzle, Officer and a Gentleman-style. By the way, Richard Gere in that movie, not his best. But Debra Winger, oh my God. Greatest acting performance of all time. Give her the Oscar already, that’s what I said when the credits roll'd. Meryl Streep, here’s a Sophie’s Choice for you: eat your heart out, because Debra Winger is in town, and she’s fantastic.”
            DQ roll’d down the window.
            “I’ve been waiting out here for fifteen minutes,” said Officer Kimball, pissed.
            Twenty seconds passed.
            “You two hippies know why I pulled you over?”
            “I can’t imagine what we did wrong,” Drennen said. Got to be a joker.
            “You’ll be spending a night in county. You there, Kool-Aid, you know what happens in county?”
            Joey, sheet white, a ghost biting ghost fingernails, whispered “Machismo rape…”
            My record collection, DQ thought to himself.
            Erwin Rommel stretched, indignant. There would be no dancing tonight.

            And the radio, all Rasta and Reggae:

                        ♪♪
                        Nah, na na na nah, na na na nah, na na nah, na na nah, na na nanah
                        Nah, na na na nah, na na na nah, na na nah, na na nah, na na nanah

                        Here comes the hotstepper, murderer
                        I'm the lyrical gangster, murderer
                        Big up the crew in-a de area, murderer
                        Still love you like that, murderer
          
                        No, no, we don't die
                        Yes, we multiply
                        Anyone test will hear the fat lady sing
                        Act like you know, Rico
                        I know what Bo don't know
                        Touch them up and go, uh-oh
                        Ch-ch-chang-chang
                        ♪♪

Jamison Talks 'Doug'

Your friend and mine Jamison Webb talks the TV show 'Doug'. He didn't have anything to say on Tupac or Summer Camp but he's back on track with 'Doug'. Please notice he won't actually say 'Doug' is his favorite cartoon. Which of course begs the question, what is?

How To Make A Pickle

From the Schwa show tonight. Our suggestion was 'pickles'. Songs are hard. Sometimes you have to take a big risk. And most of the time it will pay off.

Missing Out

Rick had a BBQ today which George hosted which I couldn't be a part of. I had to work. I work Thursday through Monday which for a while there felt like a great schedule. I've been thinking about changing it for a while but for whatever reason this put me into action.

All my friends and fellow performers, who I've been doing next level work with, hanging out on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Honestly it hurt. I was so jealous and quite frankly mad at myself. I was stuck at work answering emails and watching 'Dexter'.

I don't want to miss moments, I want to be a part of moments. I love you Rick.

I'll be talking to my manager tomorrow.

In One Person

My favorite book is The World According To Garp. I read it when I was 14 and it had a profound effect on my development as well as a physical and mental effect on me while I was reading it. It spoke to me in a most singular way. In a way no other book has spoken to me sense. The only one that has come close is 'Zeroville' by Steve Erickson. I've given Garp to around 50 people. I want to share it with as many people as possible.

After reading Garp I was a John Irving fan for life. I've read everything he has written, eagerly anticipate each new release, and frequently reread his books. I love all of them but some more than others: Window For One Year and Until I Find You especially. Irving recently released a new novel In One Person which I read this past week. It effected me greatly.

The book is written in the first person and is a memoir of sorts by William Abbot the main character. He's a bisexual writer who grew up in the 60's. The books main themes are gender and sexuality: how many facets of it there are as well as the discrimination involved. While I was reading this I didn't want to do anything else but read it. I didn't want to work and I didn't want to do shows, I just wanted to read. And I don't know if the experience was pleasurable. The book is almost too raw, too direct, too biting, too honest, too difficult to digest. The reason being it makes the reader look at themselves and their life and their sexual perspective directly. Which can be problematic.

The book was moving and interesting and emotional and lonely. These people that the book is about, people on the sexual or gender fringes are lonesome people. It almost makes me feel guilty to be a heterosexual male. The book is engrossing and fascinating. For me it brings up all kinds of energy in which to discuss my favorite topics: gender and sexuality.

The plot is slightly flawed. The falling action of the last fourth of the book is unsatisfying. Important people from William's young life die without ever being seen again, we hear their obituaries when William is old. There's no closure. But the book is important and meaningful and makes the reader think about the message as well as enjoying the story.

I would recommend it to anyone.

Insomnia

sheets crumpled
thoughts extreme

weakened knees
open-eyed dreams

a restless spirit
that never sleeps

darkness sighs
but never speaks

one long stare
too tired to rest

this must be
some awful test

a vengeful god
                                          pulls my strings.

'First Position' A Review

'First Position' is a documentary about 6 aspiring ballet dancers. I like dance and have known a couple dancers in my time and been forced to watch my fair share of dance movies like 'Center Stage' and 'Save The Last Dance' and for the most part liked them. I was anticipating to be much more inspired by this movie. Of course there is not that much dancing actually in the movie. The fascinating part of the film is showing the sacrifices and discipline these kids have to have at such an early age. They act more adult simply because of the dedication that pursuing ballet entails.

The problem is, I don't know if I care about these kids. They are privileged. We are left wanting more...

Rent It.

Perfection

Human's aren't perfect.
They can't be.
They are flawed.
And emotional.
And draining.
And desperate.

A rose can do no wrong.
It sings.
Without effort.
It doesn't try to sing, it does it because that is it's nature.
It's blessed with fascinating symmetry.
And ease.

I'd like to be a rose.

Graffiti 62

From my Richmond visit. Questions are powerful. Asking, answering and not answering. We all have secrets and those are the most interesting facets of a person. Those things they hide, those questions that are unanswered. What are you hiding?

"Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear." -Thomas Jefferson

 "It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?" -Henry David Thoreau

 "The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." -Ayn Rand

Goodbye 1941

(Half of 1941 back in January: Ilana, Julia, Drennen, Me)

Tonight was 1941's last show. We got cut. I guess at the CIC it's more accurately termed forcible retirement. I'm fine with the decision. I'm sure I would have had to step down anyway because of my other time commitments but it still leaves a hole. I love Julia, Jimmy, Drennen, James, and Ilana. I love performing with them as a group. We never had the best group mind but I always loved being in the same room as them and I always felt that we were kindred spirits. That we shared something unique to us. We'll still hang out. I guess I can thank the CIC for putting us together. For putting me together with some of my best friends and favorite collaborates. I still feel like we got the short end of the stick.

The show tonight was Drennen, James, Jimmy, Ilana, and me. Our suggestion was Civil War. It was super fun. We didn't do a form, we just played. My favorite moment was Ilana and I doing a scene as two girls trying to one up each other with crazy compliments. We didn't do a great cohesive piece but we had fun and we did scenes with each other that we wanted to do.

I love my teammates and it saddens me we wont be performing at the CIC with each other anymore. But it was fun.

The show was ours.

1941.

Strangers, Don't Talk To Me

Recently I feel like I've been talked to by strangers more than I'm use to. Which is to say at all. I don't expect to be engaged in conversation with any stranger on the street. Leave me alone. I won't bother you in return I expect you not to bother me. To be explicit: Don't fucking talk to me.

If you are a stranger:
Don't ask me for a cigarette.
Don't ask me for a light.
Don't ask me how I'm doing.
Don't tell me how you're doing.
Don't tell me a story of your life no matter how interesting you think it might be.
Don't make noises at me which are an attempt at trying to engage me.
Don't compliment me.
Don't criticize me.
Don't ask me for money.
Don't ask me for food.
Don't call me some meaningless nickname.
Don't fucking call me 'Big Man'.
Don't pretend like you know me.
Don't touch me.
Don't tell me how alike we are.
Don't monopolize my attention.

In return, I'll treat you with respect.

Gods

I just finished rereading 'Latro In The Mist' a historical fiction/fantasy novel by Gene Wolfe where the main character sees gods. It just solidified for me my thoughts on religion. The idea of multiple gods just makes sense to me.

Long ago almost all religions were polytheistic religions. People worshipped multiple gods because each god had their own area over which they presided. And logically our primitive peoples couldn't imagine of a god doing everything.

The world is a complicated, multi-faceted, inharmonious place. I don't believe, seeing the world the way it is, that it is presided over by one omnipotent being. It's too chaotic. That being would have to be too cruel, too bitter, too interested in destruction for our world to be the way it is. The idea of multiple gods presiding over different facets of our life makes sense. Each of them with their own agenda, with their own allegiance, and their own interests. At times warring against each other.

We are all pawns in a greater game. I've always felt that way. I've always felt that to some extent my actions have been preordained or orchestrated by fate. There are times when I feel I can even tap into it, I can realize I am suppose to do something or I am meant to do something.

The idea that God has compassion is my biggest problem with any monotheistic religion. I believe that gods would take an interest in me, would invest, and help me. But I don't believe that any being greater than myself would feel compassion or empathy for me. I believe that they are interested in their own ends, like everyone is from the smartest human to the lowest insect. We are all self serving to various degrees.

And the idea of gods is more accessible. You can appeal to them, you can talk to them, you can interact with them. They may be foreign or scary or unspeakably powerful. But they all have their own area of expertise and they can all be appealed to in clearly specific ways.

God is too ambiguous.

Street Talk 6

(outside the CIC)
Older Guy With A Nose Ring: Good show. No, no great show!
Me: Thanks, man.
OGWANR: Wow! How long have you been playing together?
Me: Four years.
OGWANR: Wow! Best show I've ever seen!
Me: (wary) ahhhh...Thanks.
(starts to get on motorcycle)
OGWANR: You have a helmet!?
Me: Yeah. It's-
OGWANR: You should wear a helmet!
Me: I have-
OGWANR: You gotta wear a helmet!
Me: Yep-
OGWANR: I'm the son of a biker! I'd never ride a motorcycle!
Me: All right-
OGWANR: My-dad-was-a-biker! You-should-wear-a-helmet!
Me: You're something.
OGWANR: Getahelmet!
(I ride off)

'Headhunter' A Review

'Headhunters' is a Norwegian thriller but at times it fells like an unintentional dark comedy. The movie follows Roger Brown corporate headhunter who moonlights as an art thief. He doesn't do this for any pleasure but for extra cash to keep his beautiful, blond, tall wife in the lap of luxury that she has become accustomed. He thinks that because he is 5'6'' she only loves him for his money. Any sympathy set up for Roger is destroyed when 5 minutes in we see him cheating on his wife. At this point you stop really caring about any of the characters involved.

The movie gets going when Roger steals the wrong painting from the wrong man. The movie takes a lot of twists and turns. There's a good amount of action. But it doesn't really make much sense, you don't care about the characters, and some sequences are so over the top they are laughable. Most notable is when a semi truck crashes into a cop car, crushes it like a can, and launches it airborne off a cliff without of course going after it.

There may be something lost in the cultural translation.  The plot goes to such extremes it becomes absurd. But I think the intention is to make a realistic edgy thriller. Which it most definitely is not.

I was entertained but I wasn't really sure what I was watching.

Don't See It.

Constant Change

James sent this to me last night. It speaks to me. Whenever you feel alone, know that we're all connected. Everyone, every action in your life, every regret and every triumph, it's all part of some elaborate structure. We're constantly changing and taking in parts of our surroundings and giving out parts of ourselves. It's a cycle. Bad times will come but they will also pass. Good friends will come into your life and sometimes they'll fade away. But they'll come back too. You're never truly alone. Life is an infinitely complicated web. We're spiders dancing along the threads.

Everything's connected.

Sophie's Choice

Kate and I from Schwa last night. She's so great. It's effortless to play a scene with her. I really wanted to do a tandem pedicab scene later but we never got to it. The show was great. We went really meta. More meta than I've ever gone before. It's so great to do things each week that I've never done before. I feel like my learning curve has increased dramatically because of Schwa. Each week I'm breaking new ground even if it's old hat for my teammates.

Kzoo Improv Fest

Yesterday was the final day of the Kalamazoo Improv Festival. The Album performed in the 8 o'clock slot and Craig and I performed at the 10 o'clock slot. Both shows were tons of fun.

The Album show was real fun. We hadn't played together in a long, long time and it was nice to get back into the grove. The group work was just as good as it ever was but we got cut early. It felt like we had just started getting going when the lights got pulled. For some reason the way the festival was structured the first two groups got twenty minutes only. I really didn't understand that and felt like we were slightly gypped.

Craig and I's show was great. Our suggestion was 'proctology' which kind of threw me. The first scene Craig was doing most of the talking and I wasn't doing much. Then about 2 minutes into the show Craig hit himself in the face with a stool causing him to bleed. That also took me out for a second. Once I realized the cut was minor we both kicked in to gear and ran pell-mell till the end of the show. My favorite part was a scene we did where I was flying a bi-plane. Craig was a rich guy passenger and we were doing a bunch of plane tricks which we would act out with the chairs. Eventually we got out on the wings, parachuted down to Craig's pool, drank a Tab then jet packed back up and into the plane. The audience went nuts. It felt great. After the little hiccup in the beginning the show was effortless and so full of joy for me I can't really describe it. It was like when you are a kid and you start to fall over and then you run so that you don't fall but then you lean more so you have to run even faster not to fall. The show was like that. Or at least that's how I felt.

Joyous momentum.

les emotions

'les emotions' Punam and Sarah's sketch show opened this past Thursday. It was great. Fun characters, a variety of styles, different themes, and a couple great songs. They frame it like a French cabaret. All the scenes were great but one of my favorites involved a lot of purses. It's nice to see two great performers in a situation where they can showcase themselves without any creative constraints. There was such a nice sense of freedom and joy to the show. The show went by quickly and left me wanting more.

'les emotions' Thursdays at 10:30pm in the DeMaat.

Don't Miss It.

but...

What they don't tell you is that there is an opening group. Neither Punam nor Sarah told me there was an opening sketch group. They've been talking about the show for two months or so and never mentioned it. No where in their promotional materials do they mention a second group. When the lights came up at the start of the show there was a woman on stage who was neither Sarah nor Punam I was so confused. I thought it was a bit. A joke. I was expecting a reveal. But no, the first scene was some woman in overalls talking to the audience and at the end she threw jellybeans at us. The next scene was some overly done substitute-teacher-who-can't-handle-the-class thing. It was so bad I thought Punam and Sarah were starting their show with a parody of a sketch show. Turns out they were just splitting the bill.

But it gave me an idea for a great bit.

Steve's Guide To Managing Anxiety

1. Don't Forget To Breathe.

2. Family and Friends. No matter who you are you have some kind of support system. Probably more deep and broad then you realize. Use it, that's what they're there for. If you need help or some company ask for it. There's no shame in that. People can't read your mind and you may be better at hiding your emotions then you realize.

3. Walk Away. There's no situation in your life that you can't walk away from for a couple minutes. Get some air, walk around, take a moment for yourself you deserve it.

4. Special Place. Everyone has one or more special places. Places that they love and calm them. One of mine is the movie theater. I go to the movies by myself once a week just to decompress. Find that place and visit it often.

5. It's Going To Be OK. No matter what problems you have in your life it's going to be OK. All problems are solvable. All problems can be handled. All problems have resolutions. They may be long and they may be tough but eventually they will be resolved. And during that time you're not alone. That's the other thing.

6. You're Not Alone.

Facebook Can Be Fun

In general I don't care for Facebook. I think it's kind of dumb and I think people take it way to seriously. A while back I started this bit where I would post a fake quote and tag someone as if they said it. I thought it was pretty funny and a great way to help a work day pass. Some of my friends thought it was funny as well and do it occasionally or have done it back to me. The other day Scott did a version of the bit tagging fake quotes of many different people through out an entire day. This of course made me really happy. It's great to see friends repeat/enhance an idea or joke that you have. Even if it's some stupid Facebook thing. Conner posted some jabs regarding Scott doing the bit so I tagged Conner in a fake quote the next day. I will admit it was my intention to bait him. The result was amazingly fun. More fun the Facebook has a right to be.
I started posting non-scenical bits then quickly both of us got personal. There was no malice involved, I think both of us were trying to be funny as well as push some kind of boundary. How personal could we get without hurting feelings? Could we actually hurt feelings? Should we even allow Facebook to be a place where anything other than funny-things-that-make-your-day-pass things happen?

I don't know. It's all a joke.

'The Avengers' A Review

'The Avengers' is a combination superhero movie. It doesn't really get going until half way through when all the characters are finally together. Once they all get in the same room it's a lot of fun. There's lots of action, snark, and a couple inspiring moments. If someone tells you it's great, it's not. It's good but not something life altering or something so good you have to see it again the next day. If you liked the characters in their original movies you'll like them again. I hated Thor and still thought his character was boring. The Hulk finally got a good portrayal by Mark Ruffalo who stole the show. Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role for a third time as Iron Man and is, at this point, too much snark not enough soul. Even so he's enjoyable to watch and does a lot of the heavy lifting as far as driving the plot and keeping you engaged.

The movie is fun, somewhat predictable, and funny. Some of the characters(Captain America, Hawkeye) don't really have much to do. The movie isn't deserving of the best opening of all time. The movie isn't great despite what all your nerd friends tell you. But it is good. Go in with the simple expectation to be entertained and you might be surprised. More than that and you'll be disappointed.

See It.

Graffiti 61

It's like something someone says during the first couple dates in order to scare the other person off cause they feel like they're getting to close. But it's not really scary. Everyone is self destructive from time to time. You just have to watch it doesn't go too far.

"Be the flamb, not the moth." -Giacomo Casanova 

“Having a low opinion of yourself is not 'modesty.' It's self-destruction. Holding your uniqueness in high regard is not 'egotism.' It's a necessary precondition to happiness and success.” -Bobbe Sommer

"Well, love is insanity. The ancient Greeks knew that. It is the taking over of a rational and lucid mind by delusion and self-destruction. You lose yourself, you have no power over yourself, you can't even think straight." -Marilyn French

Love Me Or Hate Me

My sister put the song on a mix for me a couple years ago. I don't know why but I can't get enough of it. Maybe its because under all the snarky pop I identify with the sentiment.

I'd rather have someone feel strongly about me one way or the other, rather than nothing at all. When I perform I want a reaction, most of the time I don't really care what it is.

Ski-Doos

First scene of the first beat of the Schwa show tonight. It was Craig and I's first scene together on Schwa. It made me very happy.

Two Guys Yelling

I went to meet Ted to do some writing, before which I watched The General Slocum show. It was really fun as they always are, the above is Jamison with two chairs on him. They were calling him 'chair face'.

After the show Ted and I ate at a vegetarian place to do some writing. We're writing a two person sketch show  to put up late summer/early fall. I did HouseCo with Ted and we really enjoyed writing together so decided to write our own show. For now were calling it 'Two Guys Yelling' from a note Jim gave us once. We've also thrown around 'A Year Of Saturdays'.

It's great writing with Ted. Once we started talking the ideas started coming really easily. Talking about the show in the abstract generated themes, scenes, and general ideas that make me feel like were getting off to a great start. Something that will definitely be us. Honest, sweet, biting and pointed. It feels like something different too, which is what I want it to be. With Ted I feel like we both are on the same page. We want to do what we want to do and with us it's the same thing.

It was a great start and felt really productive and satisfying.

My artichoke, green olive, feta, tomato sandwich was pretty amazing too.

'The Hunter' A Review

'The Hunter' is a film about the Tasmanian tiger. Williem Dafoe is a hunter sent to Tanzania by a military biotech company in order to follow up on rumors of a siting of the presumed extinct Tasmanian Tiger. He lodges with a widow and her two children in between week long hunts for the tiger in the wilderness.

There are attempts at some kind of thrill or intrigue. The locals are all lumber workers, they don't like outsiders, the family Dafoe is staying with is part of an eco-protest in the area trying to shut the lumber company down. Dafoe gets close with the family and involves himself in the local unrest. At least that's what the movie implies but doesn't really pull off. It's not really clear whats going on and the 'closeness' of the family and Dafoe is so underdeveloped we don't really believe that he cares for them. Maybe we believe he cares for them but we don't know why. He has no reason to. We also don't know anything about the title character. He has no back story, no context.

The best parts of the movie are Dafoe in the wilderness hunting the tiger. We find out a little bit about the history of the tiger and its mystery. We find out a little bit about Dafoe- his skill, his affinity with the wild. That is what the movie is about but they make it too complicated. Or simply can't pull off a multi-layered plot.

The movie is engaging, I wasn't bored. It has the spark of something haunting and mysteries but it never starts the fire. You leave disappointed because you realize that somewhere in the confusion there could have been a great movie.

Rent It.

Fart Factory

Punam and I celebrated our 10 month anniversary. We had a nice steak dinner, went to a movie, and sat by the lake. Things have been a little bumpy recently but all relationships have that. Ups and downs. It feels like we're back on track. Things are great maybe better than they ever were. I think if I've figured out anything about relationships it's to be honest. Be honest with your partner and be honest about your expectations. That is of course super obvious. But some lessons you need to learn and relearn.

Later in the night we were just sitting around making jokes and decided that we needed to do a two person show.

(both of us laughed throughout the conversation)
Me: Fart Factory.
Punam: It's a show entirely based on farts.
Me: Every scene is about farts. That's the conciet of the show and we take it super seriously.
Punam: "Can I get a suggestion of a fart that you farted today? Pffffffftttt? Did I hear Pfffffftttt? Thank you Fart Factory presents Pffffftttt."
Me: "Hello we are Fart Factory can we have a suggestion of a face you made when you smelled someone else's fart? (face you make when you are really worried about what your smelling) thank you."
Punam: "Hello we are Fart Factory reeeeeeeeeethplll. Can we get a suggestion of the sound of your most embarrassing fart? PLPLPLPLPLPLBBBBBBBBBB thank you!"

That went on for a while until both of us were convinced we had to do it for real. Look out for Fart Factory coming to a stage near you. Before we went to bed Punam said something I thought pretty poignant.

Punam: ...I just...I think farts are so funny...

It's universal. Farts are funny.

Random Thoughts 4

I saw an article today that said cell phone devices being implanted in your brain is an inevitability. When this becomes the norm I will go live in the mountains somewhere.

In the past couple years I don't think you can argue that the weather has been more erratic than in years previous. Winters more temperate. I don't know if this confirms global warming but it may confirm the Mayan's prediction that the world will soon suffer some great catastrophe.

I'd rather have carpets and a nice vacuum than hardwood floors and a broom. Although hardwood floors are nice to slide around on in your stocking feet.

What happens when Hollywood has made all the super hero movies based off of comics they can? I would bet they will just start remaking them at a greater frequency. Or maybe start making movies based off of super heroes that were never popular. Like Cannonball.

Are people really that excited about 'The Avengers'? Looks like it's going to be kind of a shit show.

Making inappropriate eye contact with strangers is fun. Kids do it all the time.

If you have a pet that's your business. It's cool that you like your pet, it's cool that it does something for you, brings you comfort or whatever but I want no part of it. Don't complain about or sing the praises of your pet to me. I have no interest. Literally zero.

Batman is going to die this summer. We're all preparing for that right?

If you live in the US and you don't tip, you are an asshole.

Walking on the clouds sounds fun but I bet it would be super cold and clammy.

It seems like, as time passes, people are taking Facebook more and more seriously.

When was the last time you talked to a tree?

'The Raid Redemption' A Review

"The Raid Redemption" is a simple action movie where a swat team assaults a drug lords 15 story apartment complex. The movie starts with the main character leaving his wife who is pregnant very quickly setting up we want him to get back alive. The action starts shortly after as the swat team approaches the apartment complex. The rest of the film is non-stop action as we follow the cops as they attempt to fight their way up to the top of the building to apprehend the drug lord.

The action is great and there is never a lull. The fighting style used in the film is Silat the native Indonsian martial art. It's very different from anything seen in most American action movies.

The premise is simple, the action is bloody and engaging.

See It.