How Funny Are You?

I grew up during a time when stand up comedians ruled the world; Richard Pryor and George Carlin ruled from on high [no pun intended] with iron fists. Late night talk shows regularly featured both of them. While they each had their own brand, they were both really good story tellers at heart and outrageously funny in their own way. Richard provided a peek behind the scenes at black American culture while George Carlin provided a view into a white American culture that made us uncomfortable.

Everyone has a sense (his or hers) of humor. I am a firm believer that, much like I believe everyone is capable of making art, everyone can be witty. Case in point - By the end of the night @ Cult Movie Night @ Gary's - everyone in attendance has made at least one clever comment; if not two.

I heard this story - What Makes Something Funny? - on NPR while cruising home last week and it really got me thinking. As a species, what are the benefits of being funny? It doesn't help us gather food, reproduce, or build a shelter. Did humor evolve shortly after we became non-nomadic by producing beer? Imagine what it would be like if folks didn't have a sense of humor ...what if everyone acted like a fact spewing, no personality character on some CSI show?

This is a link.

In Which I Get Rear Ended AGAIN!

I just don't believe it! I attended The Indy Film Bufffs Cult Night Movie @ Gary's - Damaged Lives, Maniac, and Narcotic - Three exploitation films from 1933 and 1934. Crazy! We were joking about me getting hit in my rental Camero (See Vroom Vroom below). Oh...of course...what happens? I get hit in the rental Camero. Yep. I was rear-ended at the intersection of Kessler and Central Avenue while waiting on a red light. One car in front of me - no one behind me...Until a guy (his name comes out later) in a white 350 Z plows into the back of my car. WTF?!! I can't get my head around the fact that I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN HIT AGAIN!

When I looked back at him through the rear view mirror, my first thought was, "Is he dead?" Uh...turns out, he was quite inebriated. Probably never saw me sitting there. I walk back and look at him and the car. The front of his car was a bit crumpled,while the bumper of my car was sporting an 8 to 10 inch scratch in two places and a flipped up, crimped corner license plate - his car was so small, he went under the license plate.

Learning a lesson from the previous rear-ending incident, I call 911 and ask for the non-emergency number - I've been in an accident. While I'm sitting in my car talking to dispatch, the guy walks up and stands outside my window. He's just sort of standing there and mumbles something like - "Is there any damage to your car?" Not sure if my brain just thought he said that. He gets back into his car and stares out the windshield. I think he even repeats - "Is there any damage to your car?" Uh...can you not see the back of my car?
I walk behind his car and I read his license plate out loud to the dispatcher. I must've read it to her 4 or 5 times. She finally tells me, "I've got it!". Meanwhile, the guy starts his car up and starts driving away. Surely he's just getting out of the way....I'm still on the phone with the dispatcher, so I let her know that he's clearly leaving the scene. UNREAL! I'm yelling out all of the dirty names I can think to call him.

At Last, An Article That Makes Sense

Before the earthquake in Japan, I kept seeing these articles about the eleven year girl in Texas who was gang raped. They were written from the stand point that it was all somehow the victim's fault, or the town's fault (riiiiight). WTF?! Journalism (I use the term loosely) or whatever it might be, has become a joke. Thankfully, I ran across this article.

Time to move to a new planet - Earthquake in Japan

Quake moved Japan cost 8 feet; Earth tilted on its axis.

Explosion at Japanese nuclear plant.

This cannot be good.

Vroom Vroom

I've been fairly bummed out about getting rear-ended. After taking the car to Carmel to get assessed, Liberty Mutual called to tell me that I'd agreed to let Express Repair do the work. In fact, the adjuster on the phone told me that I'd signed papers to have the work done. Uh.....NO. That pretty much shoved me over the edge.

Yesterday I finally got up gumption to go to Penske Honda on 96th. Street to see about getting an estimate. Wow! This place was day and night from Express. The guy I worked with, Veche (gotta love that name) told me that since my tail light was smashed, the car was not drivable and sent me to Enterprise Rental which was right next door. Turns out, they were out of compacts. My wheels are turning..."What do you have the next level up?" Next level up0 turned out to be a 2011 Camero. Which of course was not the next level up. Dean Fox, the rental guy/kid, gave me the car at next level up price.

This car is crazy is to dive. It handles like nobody's business, but you've really got to pay attention because if other vehicles are not right outside either the driver's or the passenger's window, they're in a blind spot. I must look like a red tail hawk driving the thing.

Waterman Dave and Charley

Listening to NPR on the way to work yesterday, I heard this story about David Ross aka Waterman Dave.

First night of Life Drawing class with Vandra Pentecoste. I'm happy to be back taking a drawing class @ Indianapolis Art Center and using the better half of my brain. Drawing the human body is so challenging; the 3 hours just flew by. Our model was Natalie - a very young, thin waif of a lass. Vandra said we would alternate - female, male - on the models. So, will I finally get to draw the famous (in his own mind) Diablo?

I got this from a friend of mine. Man, that's one cute kitty.