A Child’s Play With His Father…
Watching live TV: My Dad came across Chucky TV show commercials…he’s never been a fan of magic or ventriloquism or horror. He sighed.
So I RSVPed this opportunity to make him feel better: “Oh: it’s not ventriloquism! Chucky is a doll imbued with the maniacal soul of a serial killer.”
A beat.
As we go through life we all have moments where we say things out loud we wish we could take back. Sometimes even as we’re saying em. I misread the situation…this was clearly NOT a teaching moment.
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Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.
Fatty Not Phat Because Slang
My Pop Culture Week: Dave Chappelle’s Unforgiven
I got a hankering for McDonald’s french fries so I’ma keep this short. Gotta find pants and car keys. I’ve been slow but expect a few My Summer Lair episodes to drop soon. I’ve been recording just been slow releasing em: taking more mental health breaks from the computer.
Mentally it’s been a long hard year with one month to go. Thankfully breaks and McDonald’s french fries make this modern life much easier.
So! A comedy check-in with my Pop Culture Week.
#EarJoy
On June 12, 2020, Dave Chappelle released 8:46 a short “comedy special” in response to police violence against African-Americans. His latest “special” Unforgiven is just under 20 minutes yet it extends his social commentary on the black experience in America. Though truly Dave Chappelle’s relationship with Chappelle’s Show is so complicated that it ah…”colours” the final product.
It’s a weird connection that probably reveals more about himself than it does for the audience: like the Will Smith beef with Aunt Viv. That’s about you; not us. Still: Dave Chappelle’s Unforgiven is stunning. I…just wow. I watched this mother twice. The callbacks, the efficient metaphors, judicious word choice: it was like watching Jordan play in the 90s. Behold The Spectacle. Wow.
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Allergic To Logic
Yesterday afternoon in the store picking up supplies as the Will Smith Summertime song goes: “cause you’re invited to a barbecue that’s startin’ at 4!”
(Yesterday was deeply incredible…that heat was totally bbq inspired. As I driving I had all the windows down and stereo up cranking like Bowie’s Modern Love and MJ’s Off The Wall. Summer is beautiful and wonderful in that order.)
I picked up ketchup chips and was debating which gummies to pick up for the kids/myself when a young lass…maybe 13 or 15 sneezed.
It was like a shotgun went off and people froze like they’re bringing back the Mannequin Challenge.
Her face went all red…looking down at her faded red Cons she mumbled: “I’ve allergies.” Poor kid. She was instantly lepered.
I guess people with allergies now hafta start carrying that Joker “medical condition card” just to participate in our society. That sucks. Hang in there Red Con Kid (and others like her.).
Oh, and I went with sour patch kids.
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The Library Is A Hell Of A Drug
After months of being separated, the Library and I reunited. And it feels so good. Cause we understood.
Only now the experience is like a cop TV show/Colombian cartel movie drug deal.
At the appointed date and time—you get a time and a date when the deal is going down. When your shipment has come in.
I step up to the table, make eye contact and wordlessly place my library card on the table and take 2 steps back.
She takes 2 steps forward, looks down at my card and she looks up at me: scanning. I’m not carrying a wire or heat: either a gun or coronavirus fever.
She nods. I nod back.
We good. She has the stuff and is willing to give it to me. Which is a deep relief because I’ve been jonesing since I quit cold turkey back in mid-March.
I step up to the table, make eye contact, and wordlessly place my library card on the table and take 2 steps back making eye contact the entire time.
It’s not said but I know: Make. No. Sudden. Movements.
I’m nervous. I wanna make a “joke” to evict the tension. I can feel a drop of sweat slowly sliding down my back like a lover’s gentle one finger caress.
I take two steps forward maintaining eye contact, in one sweeping motion grab the bag and grab the card turn and walk briskly to my car. In the car, I tear open the bag and yep…that’s the stuff.
Smells so good. I exhale. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath this whole time. I start the car thinking this should tide me over but the Library and I know…that’s not true. I’ll be back.
They got the stuff I want.
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Don’t Suck At Self-Care
Dracula Takes Good Care of Himself!
People will always come to your door to suck up your time; they’re often out for new blood.
Hang in there; winter is not easy it can drive you batty and feels like the Sun will burn if you ever see it.
What does “Count” is the rest you get. Dracula: Dead and Loving It.
If a vampire is down with Self Care how you can not be?! (Dracula remains…as always an inspiration! Sure wish “he’d” put out a self-help book. Especially since he’s got a reputation for helping himself…)
(Image Credit: Marv Wolfman/Script; Gene Colan/Art from Tomb of Dracula (1972) #24)
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Urine Inspiring
A No Pants P.S.A.
New Year; Same Old Crappy Pants.
Like the self-driving car inspiring a radical vision of leisure and entertainment…if you choose today and everyday in 2019 to not only picture a world without pants you can make this freshtastic dream a reality by what you choose to do.
Critics and Criticism are not obstacles to overcome they’re beneficial signposts informing you how much closer you are to your destination.
If you’re not getting criticism you’re not working hard enough.
#DownWith Pants
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