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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“Why must we be so serious about what divide us and trivialize what bring us together?”

I’m a Chris Rock fan…that is when it comes to comedy. His interview skills always leave the viewer wanting. Remember The Chris Rock Show…which wrapped in 2000. (Man time is flying faster than Superman saving Lois!).

And as for J.J. I’ve issues with him. I refer to his Star Trek as Star Wrecked because it was silly and guilty of being unnecessary. Super 8 doesn’t even come up in this talk and the first Cloverfield was an utter piece of crap. So no love lost between me and J.J. So Be It.

In the oval office Obama has a plaque thing that says: “Hard Things Are Hard.” Hashtag No Guff.

Sammy Younan

Girth Radio Presents…

Well now…so far 2017 smells like 2016. Still…New Year, New Hope and most important: New Work! When it comes to work Jack White is an ideal source of inspiration.

From the documentary Under Great White Northern Lights this is how hard Jack works:

Which of course prompts the question: How Hard Are You Working?

2017…let’s do this thing!!

Gonna start Nick Hasted’s bio Jack White: How He Built an Empire From the Blues soon.

Sammy Younan @ W • T • F

Ziggy Was Here January 8, 1947 – January 10, 2016

It’s 2016…practically 2017 so how do you drop an album now? Run The Jewels visits Portlandia for some “helpful” album drop suggestions…let the LOL commence:

Over Christmas break I checked out Ascension a 2014 Syfy mini-series on Netflix.

Back in the 60s JFK launched an inter-generational space shuttle…it was going to take 100 years for it to reach its destination: Proxima Centauri. (The show was inspired by the real-life concept of Project Orion which Kennedy ultimately killed). Of course…things don’t go well and it’s all sparked by a murder.

Some of the writing is a bit cheezy, typical tv writing…but there are some fresh moments too. Only lasted 6 episodes then died (don’t ponder the ending too much as Syfy confirmed: “We were very happy with Ascension as an event series, but with so much high profile development in the works, we have decided not to pursue a full series.”).

You can knock it off in a lazy winter weekend.

Here’s the trailer:

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Listen to Girth Radio @ W • T • F

Ziggy Was Here January 8, 1947 – January 10, 2016

It’s that time of year when the jolly man returns. Philistine I ain’t talking about Santa!

I’m talking about Grant Cermak. He and his “elves” release a horror trailer every Christmas. (Horrible trailer? Yeah that too…check out the last year’s winner: The Xmas-Men Trailer!

Canada’s currency is getting a face-lift. Best pun I can do under the circumstances.

Viola Desmond will grace Canada’s $10 bill starting in late-2018.

(And that’s not all. According to the Globe and Mail: “Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, will move from the $10 to a higher denomination, as will Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who is currently on the $5. Another Canadian will be chosen for the $5 note in a similar manner to Ms. Desmond. Former prime ministers Sir Robert Borden and William Lyon Mackenzie King will be dropped from the $100 and the $50. The $20 bill, which has long featured the Queen, will remain unchanged.)

That’s great, right? Wait who is Viola Desmond?

Historica Canada’s 82nd Heritage Minute depicts Viola Desmond’s spark that ignited an effective civil rights struggle:

Bonus: If you dug that here is the Behind The Scenes of that Hertiage Minute:

Sammy Younan @ W • T • F

Ziggy Was Here January 8, 1947 – January 10, 2016

Sammy Younan

Girth Radio Presents…

Considering the dearth in leadership and the ongoing lack of integrity dominating this current US election…it’s a hard sell to suggest the candidates are different…I’m reminded of this stark moment in Star Trek Voyager: