Open Thread 9 JAN 18 -- Snicker

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 5:00am

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum. ( /ˈfɔːrəm/ = A meeting or assembly for the open discussion of subjects of public interest.) As we laugh at the comedy of errors which our society has become, I thought a bit of levity would be a welcome respite from some of the doom and gloom.

-1890s-uk-brain-salt-headaches-humour-the-advertising-archives.jpg

We were discussing the other night how back in the good old days, before political correctness became a thing, the comedians and their skits had way more funny social commentary. There were no sacred cows that couldn't be made fun of. Lenny Bruce, Joe Pyne, Richard Pryor, Rowan and Martin's Laugh In, Smothers Brothers, Fire Sign Theater, the original SNL crew...Aykroyd, Belushi, et. al., Mel Brooks, George Carlin,and Robin Williams -- to name a few were pushing the frontiers of network censorship. Such stalwarts as Walter Cronkite and Andy Rooney also were not afraid to speak their minds about the mindless, explaining to us they way things are without the BS. Gary Trudeau with his Doonesbury even made the rulers uncomfortable.

The freedom to laugh and make fun of the PTB is evaporating, strangely being replaced with very serious controls by essentially joyless psy-ops thick with fearful consequences. Therefore, to counter this lack of humor, may I suggest engaging in random acts of absurdity, amusement, buoyancy, facetiousness, festivity, fickleness, flightiness, flippancy, folly, foolishness, frivolity, giddiness, happiness, high spirits, hilarity, jocularity, laughs, lightheartedness, mirth, picnic, pleasantry, repartee, trifling, triviality, volatility, wit and all other forms of creative merriment.

The stage is set, the mike is live. Enjoy the day and express yourselves on this Open Thread. Peace

Tags:

Open Thread

humor

social comedy

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Comments

Submitted by Raggedy Ann on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 5:57am

Good morning, QMS ~~

I thought you were going to entertain us with uses for the pictured Brain Salt. Specifically, how it might help Herr Drumpf, but I guess when you are a "very stable genius," brain salt is probably useless.

Have a beautiful day, folks!

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 8:03am

Thanks RA

@Raggedy Ann that's a great idea. I wonder if it works for hair loss and shrinking finger syndrome?

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question everything

Submitted by earthling1 on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 2:08pm

Brain salt

@Raggedy Ann
Has the same effect as salt on slugs.
Will have no effect on Trump.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 2:29pm

slugs and salt

@earthling1 @earthling1 like water and wicked witches, may be the undoing of our betwittered leader

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question everything

Submitted by earthling1 on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 2:44pm

Good analogy, QMS

@QMS
Not dis-similar to sunlight and vampires.
Same result though, no brain- no effect. Trump is safe.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by riverlover on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 8:10am

I think He has a salt-cured brain

Kinda like country hams. Although hams are muscle and have no thoughts. His brain seems capable of half-thoughts, but not complete ones.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 8:19am

yeah, half salted

@riverlover half cured and half baked. Ham it up!

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question everything

Submitted by Tall Bald and Ugly on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 8:52am

Open thread,

yes?
I’m getting annoyed that folks are referring to the tax scam as ‘only’ $1.5 trillion. That’s just the hole in the budget.
It’s $6.8 Trillion with $4.3 TRILLION in NEW taxes or Elimination of deductions/exemptions for us bottom feeders to pay.
Nobody seems to be getting the difference and it’s been irritating to say the most.

Edit; added TRILLIONS.
Stop These Fucking Wars

peace

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Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 8:57am

Mind numbing numbers

@Tall Bald and Ugly Perhaps we should petition a peoples budget? Think it's been tried before, but my rep is going to see it again.

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question everything

Submitted by Lookout on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 9:42am

The worst thing to me about the tax scam

@Tall Bald and Ugly

...is that the working person is going to get a few more dollars (till their cut runs out) and think it's a great thing (at least here in red Alabama). I remember how well bushy boys foolish use of the surplus was doled out at $300 per person and the sheeple were pleased. Plus they have the MSM spinning it for them. Capitalism is eating itself.

Did you hear how the father explained capitalism to his son?

Son: "Daddy, I have to write a special report for school, but I don't know what Politics is."

Father: "Well, let's take our home as an example. I am the bread-winner, so let's call me Capitalism. Your Mum is the administrator of money, so we'll call her Government. We take care of your need, so let's call you The People. We'll call the maid the Working Class and your brother we can call The Future. Do you understand son?"

Son: "I'm not really sure, Dad. I'll have to think about it."

That night awakened by his brother's crying, the boy went to see what was wrong. Discovering that the baby had seriously soiled his diaper, the boy went to his parents' room and found his mother sound asleep. He went to the maid's room, where, peeking through the keyhole, he saw his father in bed with the maid. The boy's knocking went totally unheeded by his father and the maid, so the boy returned to his room and went back to sleep.

The next morning he reported to his father.

Son: "Dad, now I think I understand what Politics is."

Father: "Good son! Can you explain it to me in your own words?"

Son: "Well Dad, while Capitalism is screwing the Working Class, Government is sound asleep, the People are being completely ignored and the Future is full of Shit."

Perceptive kid...

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by randtntx on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 9:09am

My brain hurts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyFfmGf3b2Y

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 10:43am

cartoon

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question everything

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 10:59am

Good morning, QMS, a brilliant column, OT, suggestion

and proposed way of life. Omitted is random acts of crazy and random acts of lunacy. At various times in my life, either solo or in coordination with like minded pals, I have participated in both planned and unplanned wierdness and absurdity, not only for the hell of it, but also for the effects on bystanders.

Appreciation and generation of the absurd, surreal and crazy is healthy and invigorating. Somewhere I have a small book of activities and such that the surrealists and dadaists used to engage in to generate the irregular. I keep it around for those times when visiting friends or family suggest an evening of games.

I can't help noting that "picnic" is on your list. That is one of our favorite pastimes. California is teeming with great picnic sites, not by any means all of which were intended or designed as such. We go on frequent planned picnics, but also have certain basic supplies pre-loaded in both vehicles. That way the spontaneous urge to picnic while on the road can be satisfied by finding any old deli or grocery store. Each vehicle has blanket(s), wineglasses, cutting board, knives, corkscrew, napkins and paper towels. We also have a storage tub into which we can throw our portable grill, gas cannisters and all that rig which we can pop into the day's vehicle when we suspect that we might wind up deciding on picnicking involving sausages, burgers or food of that ilk instead of our usual cheese and crackers or cold sandwiches. I highly reccommend it.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 11:14am

sounds great EL

@enhydra lutris a movable feast!

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question everything

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 11:12am

The NSA: a government organization that actually listens to you!

Bill Gates offers to pay for Trump's wall on condition he gets to install Windows

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question everything

Submitted by Ellen North on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 11:47pm

@QMS

@QMS

Hilariously perfect! If all too true...

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by hecate on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 11:32am

there is still

comedy that can cause people to blanch and commence the St. Vitus Dance. The clip below, for instance, so offends the mouthbreathers it is difficult to find one in the YouTubes that does not include an audio overlay from some knuckledragger chundering he's glad Hitler killed the Jews.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSrhJGGDqx0]

Conversely, you'll find that even the people on your list regarded some areas as places where comedy should not go. There is a documentary, The Last Laugh, exploring humor and the Holocaust, and in it Mel Brooks, he of "Springtime For Hitler," declares that to him the Holocaust is not funny, and so should remain cordoned off from the comedy. Then there is Richard Pryor, who decided mid-career, after traveling to Africa, that "nigger" is not funny.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AltWj4iAmno]

In other comedy, a photo has emerged of Vlad The Impaler hacking the tubes. There is now proof!

Submitted by Ellen North on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 11:55pm

@hecate

@hecate

Thanks for the giggles! Although I suspect that the instant anyone from TOP notices that bottom pic, somebody from the Mad Bomber crowd will appear on TV waving that and declaring that 'This pictoral evidence we've been searching for all this time means - (more active) war!'

It's certainly more solid than anything they've produced so far.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 12:05pm

What's the difference between a politician and a flying pig?

Give me an F!

America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won't cross the street to vote.

The worst part about working for the department of unemployment is when you get fired you still have to show up the next day.

We need to show compassion for the mentally ill without letting them run for President.

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question everything

Submitted by hecate on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 12:52pm

seems now

@QMS @QMS
to be the president, you have to be a boob in a tube. First came The Hairball. Then the Okra woman moved her mouth at Sponge-Bob-Square-Pants-spongebob-squarepants-16769752-440-396-1.jpg some show about an award, and everywhere Americans began orgiating that she should be the boob in a tube who is the president. Soon the Americans will have Square Bob Sponge Pants, as their president.

Also, Lester Maddox is still here. His name is now Joe Arpaio. A human so repulsive his mother died giving birth to him, as she had a pre-cog of what he would become, and refused to remain in the world into which she had delivered him.

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 1:03pm

Yes, that makes sense

@hecate In order to appeal to a majority of potential voters, a cartoon character is probably a much easier sell...

get the youth vote

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question everything

Submitted by hecate on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 1:22pm

when

@QMS
I clicked on the video, and that character started his routine, the cat jumped off the table and ran out of the room. So he will not be getting the feline vote.

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 1:28pm

yes, you have a smart cat there

@hecate I'm suspect of a banana threatening a pnutbutterjelly with a baseball bat anyway. Maybe shows he's tough on grime? No se.

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question everything

Submitted by Ellen North on Wed, 01/10/2018 - 12:28am

@QMS

@QMS
Thank for the giggles on the first two, but I somehow can't laugh as I applaud the 3rd.

(While nose-typing, of course, since I fail miserably at clapping with my feet. I keep making seal noises when I try, which makes my roommate nervous... not sure why... but I hate to add to her stress level, so I've quit trying that. Despite the fact that I do type somewhat faster using all both typing fingers...)

Actually, regarding your others, I suspect that Americans would be less chicken about crossing the road to vote if the selection they're permitted to vote for didn't believe they all ought to be paid bird-feed, ever since peanuts went up in value. And if they could work for the Employment Office and fire off any government foxes who let the banksters get away with their houses...

Wouldn't installing democracy in America make America truly great? I'll bet the American people would line up for days to vote for that...

(I'd better go to bed - I get too giggly and silly when this overtired, lol. G'night!)

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 12:16pm

the quality of laughter

sometimes hurts by it's sound. I heard the most open, joyful laugh on a Portuguese radio show. Don't hear that much in the US. More painful guffaws.

Hurricane Irma hits Cuba, causes millions of dollars worth of improvements to property and infrastructure

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question everything

Submitted by Meteor Man on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 1:26pm

Lenny Bruce Is Not Afraid

@QMS
Thanks for the laughs folks. The whole thread has me in stitches. Looking forward to watching the videos.

How do you know somebody is a real Hillbilly?

In the county where they were born, after a couple gets divorced they are still legally considered brother and sister.

—

"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 2:02pm

bold for his time

@Meteor Man

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question everything

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 12:21pm

Joe Pyne lost a leg in the war

When interviewing Frank Zappa, Pyne asks: So with all of that long hair, does that make you a woman? Never missing a beat, Zappa comes back with: so with that wooden leg, does that make you a table?

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question everything

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 1:18pm

firesign theater

What do you think they took? "Oil from Canada, gold from Mexico, geese from the neighbor's backyard - boom boom. Corn from the Indians, tobacco from the Indians, Dakota from the Indians, New Jersey from the Indians, New Hampshire from the Indians, New England from the Indians, New Delhi from the Indians" - Indonesia for the Indonesians! Yes, and Veteran's Day.

Gentlemen, gentlemen! I won't take any more credit for this victory than necessary. Lord Kitschener did not - nay, will not - die in vain, grid willing. [Applause] Gentlemen, gentlemen - I, as leader, will use power like a drum, and leadership like a violin. Take out any idea. Compare ideas, with the one idea left we are left you have no doubt and without a doubt we have enthusiasm! Gentlemen, gentlemen, please, gentlemen - to make life whole, it's as easy as a bridge! Now, now, gentle- gentlemen, now that we have obtained control we must pull together as one - like a twin! Keeping the prophecy of power as enthusiasm! All for one!
All for one!
- and all for one!
All for one!
Let me hear it for me!
You're under arrest!

And lo, there came unto them Philip called Punter. And he was Lilian Roth in his extremity. "Merrily, merrily," he says unto them "say Merrily, merrily for I am come." And he came, and he came unto the house of his mother's, brother's servants saying "Where am I?" and there was nobody there, not even no one to say "Yea, nowhere but in the land of reversible cups and sanitary pedestals." And he lay in that land a long time, like worms on a hot cheese log.

You see? Madness can be fun too!

http://www.firesigntheatre.com/frp.php

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question everything

Submitted by Meteor Man on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 1:29pm