George Carlin, 1937-2008

I first discovered George Carlin in the mid 1980s when my friend Shawn and I started buying comedy cassettes and lps. I picked up his seminal Class Clown, which is famous for his routine "Seven Words You Can't Say on Television"; however that routine, for which Carlin was arrested and tried for obscentiy - overshadowed the astute political and cultural criticisms as well as the smaller, more personal observations like the musicalness of boxer Muhammed Ali's name. Profanity aside, in his early work Carlin came across as a laid back hippy, who is as amused with himself as the rest of the world.

As time went on, Carlin's onstage persona morphed to the angry old man, with no time for the but that sharp political criticism and deconstruction of society remained. He


Warning: Adult language and adult ideas...

I'll get over you, I know I will

I never feel as out of touch with popular culture as when I'm watching shows like "Entertainment Tonight" or "Access Hollywood." Those celebrity-focused magazine shows, with interviews with people I've never heard of, tell me loud and clear that I really don't have a clue what young people like, what they're watching or what they're listening to. In the fifteen minutes I was watching ET last night, I didn't know a single "celebrity." I forced myself to keep watching until someone I recognized was featured. Most of these people seemed to be brainless, buxom reality show contestants or American Idol losers, but occassionally there'd be an actor (usually having recently starred with someone else I'd never heard of in a movie I'd never knew was in production) or a singer: someone I should probably know. Or if I do know their names or seen them in something, I have no idea why they are or how they got to be famous (Shia LeBeouf, for example - where'd this guy come from?).

For me, the biggest celebrity mystery would have to be the train-wreck that is Amy Winehouse. Who is this person? I know she's supposedly a singer (and I've heard that stupid "Rehab" song once or twice), but is she popular? Where did she come from? Why should I care?

Put my clarinet beneath your bed til I get back in town

Just got back from a conference in Vancouver. I'd never been to the west coast, so I was looking forward to it. Sure the conference promised ot be interesting, but people told me about the beautiful beaches and the lovely weather. It was cold and rainy (almost) the whole time. The sun only really broke the afternoon I returned to Winnipeg. C'est la vie.

Here are some thoughts from my journal I thought I'd share:

People run in Vancouver. Because I was still on Winnipeg time (two hours later than BC time) I was up and wondering around quite early. I was amazed by the number of joggers I encountered. You'd think, given the amazing surroundings, people would be inclined to slow down and take it all in. But they put their earphones in, focus on the space directly in front of them and run.

Heard far too much about that special little section of UBC known as Wreck beach, Vancouver's clothing optional beach. Of course, the only people who mentioned it were creepy old men. It was always said with a "ha-ha-ha" tone and raised eyebrows. I imagine that most of the bathers at Wreck are creepy old men, hoping against hope for young frollicking coeds to show up.

Academics make up words, even words that don't need to be invented. I heard someone use the word "photographified."

"I'm sorry, what was that word again?"
"Photographified."
"What's that?"
"It denotes the obect you take a photograph of."
"You mean, photographed?"