We Need To Get Our Sense Of Humor Back

Now that the elections are over and we've figured out that the Democrats hate the Republicans, the Republicans hate the Democrats and the Independents hate both of them, I think it's time to try to recoup and get a handle on our attitudes. I was watching some YouTube videos of some comic stuff from the 70's the other day and it occurred to me that while most of it was very funny, it wouldn't be allowed on TV today because of political correctness. I wonder at what cost comes PC? It seems to me that when people become overly sensitive and litigious, the rest of society begins to want to find ways to get rid of them, or at the very least, become suspicious and have hateful attitudes toward them. Have we lost the ability to laugh at ourselves?

I think that could be the reason why movies like Jackass 3D do so well. It's the one time where you can just laugh at stupidity with no constraints, at least for now. While it's not my cup of tea, I'm not going to protest, set up a special committee to investigate the "real meaning" of Jackass, recommend a congressional investigation on whether there were any crimes committed or laws broken by the film or any of that. I'm just not going to watch it. Very simple. It's a choice I can make as an adult and a citizen of a free society. Or at least, that's the way it's supposed to be.

As the holidays approach, I hope everyone can take a deep breath, look around and try to find a little humor and good times in their lives, maybe focus on things that would help someone out, do things that make you laugh, celebrate a little. Decorate something. It doesn't have to be serious business all the time. It really is true that laughter is the best medicine. Next time you see me, I'll be the one with the Santa hat on.

Pawn Stars

I have a new addiction. It's a TV show called Pawn Stars that airs on the History Channel. Basically, it's a reality show about the Gold & Silver Pawn shop located in Las Vegas Nevada that's owned by Rick Harrison, his son Corey "Big Hoss" Harrison, and the 68 year old patriarch of the family, Richard Harrison, also known as "The old man". They also have an employee, Austin "Chumlee" Russell, that is a little on the slow side and provides a lot of the show's humor.

The basic plot of the show is that people bring items in to the store to either pawn or sell and the owners have to determine the value of said items to put a figure on what to allow for them. That's what makes the show so interesting, like Rick Harrison says "you never know what's going to come in the front door". There's been everything from rifles from the revolutionary war to old Playboy magazines and it all has a price and whatever that price is has to make both parties happy for a deal to transpire.

When an item is brought in they have a description that comes up on the screen that has some bullet points on what the item is and background info that brings insight to what the item might be valued at. So it's educational as well. I've learned a lot about all kinds of things by just watching this show. It certainly makes history more interesting. Many times, people will bring an item in that they think is worth a lot of money that turns out to be a fake. The shop has several expert advisors that they call on from several different fields of expertise that help them determine the true value of what they are appraising.

And then there's Chumlee, sometimes just the look on his face is pure comedy. The rest of the crew pick on him relentlessly and he just lets it roll off his back.

It's a lot of fun and it's also interesting and by all accounts, hugely successful. It's one of the most popular shows on the History Channel. Check it out when you get a chance, I think you'll like it.

Maybe they'll give Chumlee a raise soon, but I doubt it.

The Rumble Begins

It's already begun. After the Academy awards show last Sunday night where Jeff Bridges won for best actor and Ryan Bingham won for the song "The Weary Kind", the inquiries started rolling in. People are beginning to pick up on what's going on in the Texas Music scene and especially around the Austin area. The talent pool around Austin is by and large well known to the film community both in Austin and Los Angeles, no secret there, producers and directors have been coming to Austin for quite some time and are very familiar with the artists and singer-songwriters that live here. But nationwide, to a larger audience, the music scene in Austin and Texas music in general is not all that well known though it has made some inroads in the last 10 years.

But with the worldwide exposure that a film like Crazy Heart has received, you can bet that Country Music, Texas Music, Austin Music, all of the above will be getting a lot of attention in the next few months. Ryan Bingham caught my attention quite awhile back, with a sound that is so far removed from the norm, the gravelly voice, unique production and edgy songs, it's just so different from the pack. I figured he would find an audience but I never suspected he was headed to where he is now. What a ride.

So brace yourselves music people, they are coming. They are coming to Texas, they are coming to Austin, they are coming through the web, they want more. And they are going to find what they are looking for. The time is now.