This is a link to The Nerdist Podcast with Dave Grohl.  It seems he made a documentary about this really famous studio where lots of seminal records were made.  He is also a good interview and I love Chris Hardwick.  So, another stark illustration of my nerdiness.  Though Grohl is pretty cool, I do not think it trumps Chris Hardwick and a podcast actually called "Nerdist."  Best part?  The mutual appreciation for Rick Springfield.  It is cool.  Give it a listen.

This is becoming a clearinghouse for my random crap.  Sorry, but I feel better having a place to put it.

Also, the other night I had a dream that I was running down the street naked and came across Bo Burnham hitchhiking.  Insanity is close, dear readers.

The Absent-Minded Poster

I really love to laugh.  My life is generally steeped in difficulty and chaos, so laughing is very important to me.  My favorite person to laugh at (or with) is Steve Martin.  When I was very young, I had a friend, Genie Hero.  Genie was a theater geek, went to the local performing arts school and new cool guys with crazy piercings and even crazier cars.  She played this song for me, and it was transforming.  This is not Eddie Murphy or Richard Pryor (which was the dominant comedy at the time)-not offensive or rude, but smart and funny.  I never knew funny could be smart.  Here is some of my favorite Steve Martin.

These are great examples of I guess what is comedic about the absurd.  I still have the same sensibility:  What is truly funny is truly subversive.

Genie is now a successful actress and has a very creative position in the arts somewhere- I am too embarrassed to get in touch.  I  cyber spy on her every once in a while.  I hope she knows what an impact she had on me-  she planted the seed in my mind about what I am constantly in search of- something DIFFERENT.  Something I have not seen before.  Something I have to deconstruct.

That sensibility carried over into my academic life, too.  But that is boring.  And this was supposed to segue into Anthony Jeselnik at some point, but maybe later.  So, enjoy the Steve Martin.  I know I did.

I am watching Damages, which is as good as advertized.  Strong women, great writing, but the thing that stands out the most about it is the use of the flash forward/backs.  They are fluid and really help carry the story and maintain tension.  So often those type of scenes are a) hard to discern from the regular time line scenes, b) so differently shot that they are incongruous with the rest of the show and therefore jog you out of the story or c) are just used as exposition.  Bravo to Damages for excellent execution of an often difficult and usually clumsily employed literary device.

I tried to find some clips that display this deftness, but I could not.  So, here, instead is some gratuitous Timothy Olyphant:

I also love the funny.  What is funny?  Well, that is an entire other entry.  But this. . .is some of the funniest people in the world in one place.  This comes from The Green Room with Paul Provenza (who is actually not as funny as the other guests).  We all need to laugh more.  Chris Hardwick is a hero of mine.  He encouraged me to embrace my inner nerd.  In fact, his definition of a nerd is spot on.  I obsess over things down to molecular detail.  It amazes me that everyone does not do this.  This is going to be my portal.  High points:  Is it wrong that I want to fuck your accent AND Have you not seen Dane Cook?

Haha.

Hello minions of dorkery.  Yes, that is a word.  Don't go look it up, just TRUST ME.  I know these things.  This is my blog.  I have been threatening to start one, and now it is here.  What will I talk about?  All things nerdy, pseudo-intellectual (and some actually intellectual), current eventy or. . .well, just anything.  I will not talk about who I am specifically.  That is boring.  Again, trust me.

I will never talk about my work.  Not that it is top secret, just that it is boring, plebeian and very often drives me to tears.  So, no. 

I have a deep and abiding love for stories.  Great stories-literature, both classic and modern, movies, and above all TV.  Great TV. 

I also have a deep and abiding love for children.  Especially for special needs children.  I will post stories about that, also.

So, from where did the name of this blog come?  I love Homeland.  Just love it.  I really looked forward to it, and even more that that, I love to talk about it.  So I would ask people.  Perhaps, desperately, do you watch Homeland?  Somehow, this developed into the legend that I run up to random people, and often the same people, yelling "OH MY GOD.  DO YOU WATCH HOMELAND????"  Myth, I assure you.  Pure conjecture.  But now,  when I am distracted or being too serious, someone will come up to me and say. . .well, you can guess.  So here we are.

First, and most importantly, this news:

J.J. Abrams may direct the new Star Wars!!!!

May the Force be with you.