Jump The Shaaark

I would like to go on record by saying that I am officially sick to the teeth of Talk Like a Pirate Day.

It was cute a few years ago when some random guys thought it up and got Dave Barry to promote it. But now it’s just annoying.

I’m trying to figure out why I dislike it so much. Is it:

• the crass commercialism, which, I realize is at the heart of this holiday as much or even moreso than the Hallmark-invented ones?
• that I’ve always been more of a ninja person? (Plus, Sneak Like a Ninja Day is just after my birthday)
• the stupid puns? (likely)
• the fact that now that everybody is not only talking but blogging, tweeting, texting, cartooning, and emailing like a pirate* makes me feel like strangling someone, like I do around the middle of December when I’ve been listening to the same vacuous Christmas songs for three weeks every time I’m in a public place?
• the same reason old Burners decry Burning Man for being “too big” nowadays?

How about “all of the above”?

And I fear that it is still picking up steam.

*Why does the phrase “email like a pirate” remind me of “walk like an Egyptian”?

Nom Nom Nom

I just posted a new dance track over at the D-1-3 site. It’s what all the cool kids will be dancing to come Arbor Day.

Desecration

The latest episode of the D-1-3 show is up. And it’s free if you download from work!

Before There Was Chocolate Rain …

… there was “Losing You”:

Aside from how horrendous the song, singer, and cinematography are, I didn’t realize you could get that out of sync with the audio using VHS.

Cockberg

Now, I’m not normally one to go for the cheap dick joke (quiet, you!), but this iceberg was just too perfect. It’s NSFW so click to view it.

Epic mockery in 3…2…1…

So, might as well just face it, there’s just some impulse purchasing I do that has no explanation what-so-ever.

Case in point – my wife and I were at the Orlando Virgin Mega Store yesterday, and when I went up the escalator to the 2nd floor, there was the $10 DVD rack in my sights.  And which DVD caught my eye long enough to carry all the way to the checkout counter? Feast your eyes on this Treasure:

This is just a lowly image I snagged from the internet, if I could find the battery charger for our camera, I’d take a picture of the real thing and you’d see it’s actually entitled “Xanadu: The Magical Music Edition. “ Or as my wife calls it, “The Glitter Edition”. Because it does indeed – glitter.

So, what do you get for $10 on a “Magical Music Edition” of perhaps one of Hollywood’s biggest mistakes? You get:

• “Going Back to Xanadu – An all-new retrospective documentary with the cast and crew discussing the making of Xanadu and its lasting Legacy.
• “Photo Gallery” – Rare production photos and still from the archives
• A digitally re-mastered picture and all new 5.1 surround sound audio track.
• And, the Soundtrack CD with far too many super-hits to list here.

Why did I buy this? That can best be explained in our podcast entitled “Episode 02a: Fancy New Gregg Suit”. Please note, I said “best explained” and not “well explained” or “sensibly explained” or even “I can kinda see that explained”.

So all in all, I bought it for the laugh of the whole “me and Xanadu” thing that came out in the podcast. But now that it’s a day and half later, and it cost me 10 bucks – no so funny actually. Dang it.

I’m hoping admitting buying this publically on this blog will in some small way help rehabilitate me from making future senseless purchases. Something tells me – no chance in hell though.

I also bought a copy of “Watchmen”. Does the make up for anything? Probably not since they were both in the same bag for about 3 hours.

No AC and No Wifi Makes Jack a Dull Boy

Somebody must have driven their car into a power transformer down the street. I’ve been without power now for over six hours. The road is blocked off. It’s only a matter of time before I start talking to the volleyball.

Mitch Hedberg – Do You Believe in Gosh? The Review

Just under the 3 and half year mark since Mitch Hedberg’s untimely death, a new album by the late great comedian was released. And… it’s really good!

When Dave fist sent me the link to the news article about the new album “Do You Believe in Gosh”, I was excited to hear some new Mitch recordings, but a bit worried about how it would play out. The article stated it was recorded 2 months before his death. If you take sometime to search the internet, there are quite a few bootlegged recordings of some Mitch’s final performances. And recording quality aside, they’re not too good. His delivery was flat, he was so chemically altered that he mixed up words in the jokes, even changed thought in the middle of the setup from what I recall. I was even fortunate enough to see him at the Hard Rock Orlando on Dec 11, of ’04. The fanatic inside me loved the show, but the realistic side of me had to admit, it was pretty awful. But this new album was released this week and was available from iTunes and I had to get it.

I don’t know if it’s the timing at when this was recorded or a sobriety issue, but Mitch is definitely “on” in these recordings. He has the same energy (for Mitch, that is) he shows in “Mitch All Together” as opposed to “Strategic Grill Locations” and his delivery is dead on. He even has the whereabouts to salvage a joke here and there that by his own admission is “that one’s stupid, I know.”

I don’t know much detail, or any for that matter, on why these shows happened to be recorded, but I for one am glad they were. They were definitely recorded at an “Improv” since he states that quite plainly in the set, that’s about all I gathered from the act. The venue is either smaller or emptier than his last album – I’m guessing smaller. The crowd loves Mitch, that’s obvious, there’s not just al whole lot of them. 30 to 40 if I had to guess. The recording isn’t quite as professional as “All Together” but surely a pro-grade. And if the album was put together from several acts, I couldn’t tell. The whole edit of the set is seamless.

The best part of this album is also what surprised me the most. A majority of the material was totally new to me. After hearing every recording I could get my hands on in the past 3 years since his death, I was reasonably sure I heard it all in one form or another. I’m happy to say I hadn’t. At least 90% of the jokes on this album where new to me. There’s even a short, yet hilarious, exchange with a heckler – again, something totally new.

I’ve been reading some other reviews on this album since having listened to it. The biggest complaint I see is that it’s “too short”. Not sure why that’s a big issue with some people because this new album is 38 seconds longer that “All together”. And for a Mitch Hedberg act, that could easily be 7 more jokes.

Along with the new album is a revamping of his official website, www.mitchhedberg.net. Finally! The old version literally hurt my eyes. There’s some good information there, particularly – the posts Mitch did himself have been preserved and are still posted for reading.

Whether you’re an old fan, new fan, or never heard of Mitch Hedberg, “Do You Believe in Gosh” is worth taking the time to listen to. Regardless of Mitch’s passing and the whole history behind this album, the set is just plain funny!

Hats off to his widow Lynn Shawcroft and everyone else involved in making this album happen. It’s a better tribute to the comedian than anyone else could do – great new material from the man himself!

Moosebutter

I never thought I’d like an a capella song this much, but singing Star Wars lines to a sampling of John Williams melodies just made my day.

Tip of the helmet to Darth Vader.

A Veritable Pool of Talent

At long last, Episode 9 of the D-1-3 show is up. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, but the next episode should be up soon, too.