Monty Python Matching Tie and Handkerchief - Album 10 of 10

Album Title: Matching Tie and Handkerchief
Artist: Monty Python

Album 10 of 10 in the 10 Album Challenge

Thoughts

Oh there were several other candidates for this final spot on the list of "10 Albums which Influenced My Musical Tastes."  But Monty Python won out.  Why?  In part because ...

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

[Well, something like that, anyway!]


One of the attributes of Monty Python's comedic brilliance was its ("their?") comedic use of, and creation of, music.  I own Monty Python multiple albums, which is more than I can say for any other comedian or comic group.  While I do not own them solely because of their music, I do love being able to hum, whistle and/or sing the funny songs this group created.

Now, the other two albums I've shown here, also in my collection, have some real treats: "Money Song," "Eric the Half-a-Bee," and "Spam" are on these two.  Had I still been 14, I would have been forced to select Monty Python's Previous Record, if only for the six-breasted fairy on the cover.

But Matching Tie and Handkerchief has three things going for it which vaulted it above the others:

1. It has a very memorable name, which matches its cover art.
2. It is a "three-sided" record! (Three tracks; one on one side of the album and two on the other side, making it hard to find the second [or third] track if you were looking for it.)
3. It has "Bruces' Song!"  A song about philosophers being drunk.  It's hilarious!  Until "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" (from The Life of Brian) this was the MP song that most frequently popped into my head.  (And now it's in a three way tie with "Always ..." and "The Galaxy - Lighten Up" [Monty Python's The Meaning of Life] for that honor.)

Seriously (or humorously) a part of my musical taste -- the eclectic, sticky, messy, jumbled web that it is -- is filled with the irreverent, bold, clever, absurd comedy created by the Pythons.

----
I'm putting a link to Bruces' Song here, because if you haven't heard it, this link takes you to a "lyric video."  It's not as funny as watching the Pythons perform it at the end of the "Bruces" sketch, but you can catch the lyrics this way. Besides, I'm not sure there's a legal, public version of that sketch.  I hope so, but a cursory look didn't unearth it for me.

Bad Lip Reading - Walking Dead Season 4

Seriously, I think, even if you don't watch "The Walking Dead" this is funny.  But if you DO watch the show, it's freaking hilarious!

Oh, and before I forget, all the scenes are from Season 4, so while none of the words in this "Bad Lip Reading" will give away anything, I suppose there are some spoilers in the images.  So, be warned.

Man, this is funny!  I have to see more of these "Bad Lip Reading" videos.



Carl's rap is laugh out loud funny!

***IT'S Happening Somewhere (And We Care WHY?)

Love this.  Some offensive language, but it can be excused because of the message it's delivering.

Genius.



I saw this because I follow @JeriLRyan on Twitter.

Jon Stewart - For the Win - So What Should People Buy with Food Stamps

If you are an opponent of the Food Stamp program, then just be an honest opponent of the food stamp program. Say you don't believe anyone should get any money from the government to help them eat.  Just say it.

Because when you decide to deride each and every choice made by a person using food stamps (by using unsubstantiated stories) and when you seem to be saying "anyone on Food Stamps had better be having a miserable life, or they don't deserve Food Stamps" then you don't just sound uncaring about your fellow American.  No - you don't just sound uncaring; you are uncaring.  And Jon Stewart will fry you.




(In case you can't see the video above, here is the link.  It's about 8 minutes long, even though it looks like it will be longer.)

This is both funny and sad.

So tell me, according to Fox News: What is acceptable for people to buy with Food Stamps?  Not healthy food (fish, organic.)  Not bait so you can try to catch healthy food.  Are you unemployed because of the economic downturn, having been laid off so some executives can meet a Wall Street earnings expectation?  Well, you have to let your dog starve, because we don't want you spending Food Stamp money on dog food.  Did you and your family finally take advantage of 50% off day at Disneyworld to have some fun?  Or did some church group give you free tickets?  Better not buy food there with Food Stamps! In fact, you better just hand in your food stamps, because if you can have fun, you don't deserve them.  And, heaven knows, your baby had better be using cloth diapers! (It's not clear if buying detergent and diaper rash cream with food stamps is acceptable in this case. The "logical conclusions" don't seem to be part of the anti-Food Stamp arguments.)

Again, if you are politically or morally opposed to Food Stamps, then just be against it.

But if you're going to tell people exactly how they have to spend their Food Stamps then:

1. Give us the list.  What is acceptable?  Is it flour and meat? (But not fish. God no, not fish.) Is that all?  What's the rest?  Give the list.  What can people buy without you callously criticizing their choices?  And then ...
2. Don't ever, ever, ever criticize liberals again for having government too involved in our lives, because there isn't much that's more intrusive than telling "poor folks" what they can buy.

More Internet Things

I think I did this sort of post once before, but whether I did or not here it is:

Some things I've shared on Facebook which were worth my time and which I might want to see again in the future.


Serious and Cool

AIDS-Related Problem solved by gamers
 
Funny and Cool

Laser Grid game

Quote Quiz - Shakespeare or Batman?

To be a Kid again


Musical and Cool

Billy Joel sings with student accompaniment

Encumberance Rules

This is a Dungeons and Dragons post.  Very short.  If you don't play Role-Playing Games in general, and DnD in particular, it might not mean much to you.  It's another item I posted to Facebook which I do not want to forget.

Math Humor

This particular bit of humor was shared by George Takei, but certainly not originated by him.  Nevertheless, I saw it because I follow him on Facebook.  And I laughed.  Sure, it was probably more appropriate right after Thanksgiving, but I didn't want to use this on a Favorite Foto Friday.  But it fits well into the string of Facebook-related posts.

Written By A Kid - Web Series

This year, Felicia Day, Kim Evey, Wil Wheaton (and probably more cool web people) started a channel on YouTube with a slate of web series.  One of them is "Written By A Kid."  Anyone who has had young children knows how amazingly creative they can be.  Kids think up stories almost without trying, and the stories are imaginative and full of interesting plots, characters and items which come from imaginary places as often as from real life.

"Written By A Kid" allows kids to tell their stories, and then creative TV-Movie people put them on screen.  It's a great concept.  The way they can afford to do these is for people to "Like" them on YouTube, and even better to "Subscribe" to the channel.  Their financiers pay based on the number of people who do those things.

The very first one got me hooked, and I have enjoyed every one of them since.  Here's the first:

Scary Smash



Yes, this is another in my series of things I put on Facebook. Ssdly, I can't find it on Facebook anymore. See? Facebook does not Always have Everything you posted in the past. That may be a good thing for people who posted embarrassing photos, but really, what are the chances that THOSE will be the things Facebook leaves off your timeline?

Dinosaur Attack WIN - from Cheezburger

Continuing with cooll things I shared via Facebook, but want to keep around....

Here's something I initially saw through icanhas.cheezburger.com.  Here's the link.  Cheezburger (which I follow on Facebook) has a lot of funny stuff, a lot of cat stuff (lolcats), a lot of offensive stuff, and sometimes, some really awesome stuff.  I'll imbed the video, too, but I do encourage people to check out cheezburger. 

Academy Award Winning Movie Trailer

Facebook is, among other things, a place where I share funny and/or interesting things I come across.  Despite the fact that, theoretically, Facebook keeps all of this in my timeline, in reality what happens is that I post, then I lose track, of some stuff I really like.

So, this week, I am going to put some of my favorite stuff in my blog, which will reach a slightly different audience, while also being a little more "permanent."

Today, we have a video which is not truly ironic, but because the popular definition of "ironic" has changed, I think people might call it that.  In fact, it's satirical.

And very, very funny.  So let me introduce it with this:

"Effusive praise" - A critic you recognize

Tripod - King Kong - Song on YouTube

My friend, Eric, shared this with me. Essentially it's a review of the blockbuster movie King Kong, from 2005, but the review is a song. A really hilarious song. I laughed so hard. I simply have to share it.

BUT

Warning: Profanity! Don't listen if you can't enjoy humor with profanity.

[It helps if you remember the film. But I bet it's not completely required.]




[Thank you, Eric.]

{Template}

{Conversational opening line}

[Photo if you have one]

{Short theme paragraph which refers to the title.}

{Exposition with simple examples, typically with logical support.}

{Clever idea which was the inspiration for the entry. Like, analyzing how I write blogs.}

{Pithy or clever closing. Two sentences at most; shorter is better.}

Warwick Castle

I attended an event at Warwick Castle near Stratford-upon-Avon tonight (it's in Warwickshire, naturally) and it was a blast, a hoot, a lot of fun!

Much like attending the Renaissance festival, the staff members were dressed in period costume and stayed in character all night. We, the guests, were to be given a tour of the castle (or a bit of it, anyway) and then treated to a meal, for the next day we would be going into battle for the Earl of Warwick, Richard Neville (the Kingmaker), to put Henry IV on the throne in place of Edward IV (who had been supported by the very same Earl when he rose to power.)

The setting may sound grim, but the experience was anything but. We had a jester doing tricks with a spinning toy on the grounds before we went in. We had a laundry mistress lead us through the castle showing us (wax figure) inhabitants at typical chores, we had a passed-over knight, and the young man for whom he was passed over poking fun at one another and the audience all night, we had serving wenches, and we had a magician who made us laugh and laugh. (I still have the invisible cards he gave to Jenny during his card trick.) [Yes, I do! She gave them to me.]

Oh, and we had food. Good food. Pea soup (really -- it was good -- and not as much like fog as one might expect), bread, a tart with some sort of seafood in it, a nicely seasoned chicken breast, spring potatoes, salad, and a great "pudding" of some sort with a berry and cream crumble to it. Yum.

When I return home, I will post a photo or two. It will help me remember this -- perhaps the most fun I've ever had at a work-related event.

Lenten Humor - Cat Style

Saw this. Laughed. Thought I'd share.