I hate these “Oh man, Sarah Palin’s supporters are so dumb!” videos that have been making the rounds lately. It’s the easiest thing in the world to find the dullest, least media-savvy members of a group, shove a microphone in their face, and allow them to make themselves look foolish. You could do the same thing at the Westminster Dog Show or the U.S. Open if you wanted — I’m sure there are plenty of nuts there too — but you wouldn’t prove anything about dog breeding or tennis by doing so.

Ultimately, the only purpose these videos serve is to pat you on the back for being wiser and smarter than those you disagree with, and to confirm and justify your contempt for them. It’s a form of ideological masturbation, and a habit well worth kicking. We’d all do much better to get off of YouTube, go find a smart Republican, and have our ideas challenged for a change.

14th Street. (via flaunted@fipi)

fuckyeahclassical:

Pilgrim’s Chorus from Tannhäuser - Richard Wagner

This is the melody that got me hooked on Wagner, and (to a lesser extent) on opera in general. Make sure you listen at least until the two-thirds mark, when it goes from black and white into color.

mistakeswemade:

Some new Crazy Cat Bitches (based on the conjoined twin characters from Hellen Jo’s comic, “Jin & Jam”).

My weird girlfriend’s bloggin’ her crazy art!

oldeenglish:

Whoa! Amazing find by my cousin. Listen to the above audio from an interview with Pixar. If you don’t get why that’s hilarious, Harry explains:

standardreview:

Okay, this is kind of weird. I was listening today to Jeff Goldsmith’s excellent Creative Screenwriting podcast interview with the Pixar dudes who made Up. He asks them what they’re working on next, and their answer is the audio attached to this post. This is basically exactly what happens in this sketch, leading me to believe they have watched the sketch which is, you know, pretty cool.

-R

We have it on pretty good authority that some folks at Pixar saw and enjoyed “Mr. Cube Goes to the Cylinder”, so I’m just going to go ahead and consider this a shout-out. Awesome!

The fact that a movie this subtle, different and strange can open at number one is startling. “Forget explosions and car chases — give me a kid who confronts nine-foot tall metaphors for his own complex emotions in a deserted island wasteland! That’s what people will pay to see!”

I’m not sure if this will be my favorite movie of the year, but it certainly will be the most interesting — I’ve been thinking about it for days. Jonze, Eggers and Sendak have created something singular, complex, and ambiguous. Last time I checked, that’s what “art” is. Fuck the reviews and just go see it — this is one of those works where forming your own opinion is an essential part of the experience. Even if you don’t like it, you’ll still leave saying “I really just saw something.”

• Had a video go viral
• Appeared on Fox and Friends
• Performed for a sold-out crowd at the UCB with Janeane Garofalo
• Took 12 hours of classes
• Performed in an improv show in which I acquitted myself not terribly
• Beat my personal record in the Greenpoint 5K
• Went on a bike date with Lisa to Governor’s Island

migratingtaste:

New blog that’s just about rap.

For the last year, I’ve basically only been listening to music that Dave recommended to me. I have no regrets — the dude has phenomenal taste, and always shares the secret of why the track deserves your attention. Which is a long way of saying: I’m excited about his new rap blog.

boringoldraphael:

Every few months, I reread this blog entry on Batman’s Greatest Boner, and I giggle like an idiot.

I’m so happy that Raphael posted this. It is, in full frank and open honesty, one of the funniest things I have ever read in my life. It’s not just the repetition of the word “boner” — it’s the sublimely stilted and awkward way the characters use the word over and over again as though no set of syllables could be more thrilling. If you can read this without laughing, I feel sincerely sorry for you.

oldeenglish:

So here’s something weird. Fox News’ morning show, “Fox & Friends”, saw the wedding slide-show Adam made for Ben & Joanna, and is having them all come on to the show at 7:30am tomorrow.

Like I said, something weird.

-Dave

This bears repeating: At 7:30 AM tomorrow, I will be appearing on “Fox & Friends.”

I can honestly say that I never saw this one coming.