Jaycee returns as Guest Author, with an interesting piece on generational changes in types, and appreciation, of humour. Thank you, Jaycee – it is a subject of considerable interest to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXwGGbnvlYg
Recently, I wrote a cameo piece about a cross-dresser and the time and place he came out publicly in a small country town. I wrote it as (I thought) a humorous piece, acting on the logic that where or whenever such an event happened, be it in the place chosen for its degree of comfort and camaraderie, or in the main street in full drag, it was bound to be confronting in a pathos – bathos scenario that could occasion a few laughs from the distance of many years hence. I sent it to a younger person employed in an local government artistic / cultural occupation as an adjunct to a conversation we had on certain local issues. I was mistaken … at least, mistaken in the perception of what a new generation of readers finds funny. Perhaps, as has been suggested, my aged, male, working-class perception of what is or is not funny is now thoroughly dated! “It’s just not funny anymore” has been at odd times leveled accusingly at yours truly. I’ve had my own doubts before … it may be time to believe it!
Though, when one analyses the condition that creates a moment of humour, so that a laugh involuntarily springs from our lips, it is understood as the sudden leap from pathos to bathos and the swiftly altered situation thereof – like the flaying of arms and legs in a sudden banana-slip moment – a kind of slapstick suddenness … but something has changed. There now seems to be some hesitancy to guffaw innocently at others foolishness or mishaps. You think about it – how long since you have heard a string of good jokes? I used to hear many … one tuned one’s ear for the grand joke from a good joke teller. They were considered rare treasures … one good joke could make or break a reputation in any front-bar! You remember that “Clayton’s … the drink you have when …” advert’ with … what’s isname? … oh yeah! … Jack Thompson, THAT was the accepted locale for the dispersion of male humour. I’m sure that other gender has a similar locale!
Now it’s all gone, but people are still laughing, the guffaws are still coming … but what are we now laughing at, if not socially incorrect slapstick? I think we are more inclined to seek out humour in the more perverted absurdities of life – in the increasingly bizarro-behaviours of people and situations. I think we are finding more laughs in a kind of sado-humour than we did before … and it is a worrying thing. I’m not saying certain ghastly racist/sexist jokes aren’t deserving of the dustbin of history, but there is a worrying criticism of satire that is very over the top censorship. There seems less inclination to humour, and more inclination to litigate such skits as one would find on The Hampster or Ripping Yarns or Python etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npjOSLCR2hE
Yet, I have seen rise alongside such cruel treatment that one occasionally views on a channel-surf expedition of Reality TV, an appreciation of sado-humour, where cruel or victim-selection programs top the ratings. I have watched several so-called funny home-videos skits that seem to me to be brutal and dangerous … one can see such moments have been deliberately staged to get the video on the show. Same with those competitive cooking / singing programs etc. There can be no better display of sado-humour than one sees on such channels … yet they are the top-rating programs. What gives?
One can track the evolution of such sado-humour back to the days of try-hard Hollywood black humour, where the big studios tried their hand at so-called crime-comedy. I remember the hit movie Beverly Hills Cop was the beginning of the genre … it was billed as a comedy, yet I counted seven quite brutal killings in the show (I was a “forced” viewer – was taken to the cinema against my better judgement by acquaintances who “just loved it and you will too!!”) … I hated it – it made me wince. I’m a sensitive bloke.
Indeed, the humour of the aged, white, working male may be dated beyond redemption … but the basis for such humour, i.e., the situation comedy surely will not date. The spectator / viewer, looking on to the unfolding of a unscripted public slapstick moment, whether by accident or by self-deprecation, surely must be allowed a release of laughter at the ironic absurdity of the situation without guilt or remorse, rather than be driven to approvingly laugh sneeringly, cruelly, publicly, at the misfortune and hard-luck of others.
Bring back The Hampster crew, I say!
THE PUB 
Mandy Rice-Davies is alive and well
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/coalitions-budget-cuts-will-not-go-far-enough-nab-chairman-warns
Question- Prime Minister, You have been a loud,compelling and daily voice regarding the tragedy of MH17, and the complicity of Russia. You have called for a world response, and justice.Can I ask, where is your outrage regarding the murder of Palestinian children on a lonely beach by Israeli rockets, and the murder of ordinary men and women who happen to eek out a family life in the Gaza Strip? Is a Dutch life or an Australian life worth more to you? Is murder not murder wherever it is done.Have you called th Israel Prim Minister to express your disgust? If not, why not?
Whatever is said in praise about the idiot…you can guarantee that he will not long after screw the whole thing up again!…It’s not in his character to be able to maintain for long that “pleasant attitude” (it’s like watching a crocodile smile!!)….They could praise him to the heavens, it’ll only enlarge his ego and increase his hubris so that he will make some god-awful brain-fart goof up anytime soon…GUARANTEED!!
Abbott is the “Ozzie Osbourne” of Aussie politics!….”Aussie Ausbourne”
He says his country will do its ‘absolute utmost’ to recover the bodies of any Australian victims
Does this mean that if his country finds a victim, and if this vicitim is not Australian, this country will just leave it on the ground?
Al Palster
Or the 240 killed and wounded , virtually all civilian, in Lukhansk as Ukraine launched what looked a pretty indiscriminate barrage of artillery and mortars on the city. All forgotten as it happened just before MH17 . Current shelling of Donetsk according to the Kiev PM is not being done by the army but “groups of self organising partisans” . This is the guy whose claims Abbott keeps parroting.
I’m surprised Abbott hasn’t done a photo opportunity in the drivers cabin on the refrigerated train carrying the bodies yet.
Kirsdarke
I’m sure he will visit the area at some stage and we will enjoy the sight of a helmeted jut jawed Abbott staring determinedly in the direction of Russia . :barf:
Krisdarke
He could dust off his fluorescent vest!
I can picture it now, Ukrainian officials looking on bemusedly as Abbott’s striking poses for the cameras. Angry Tony, Sad Tony, Dramatic Tony, Uniting-the-nation-in-times-of-tragedy-hand-gesturing Tony.
Kirsdarke
😆
Can any Victorian tell me whether it is possible to bring an action in nuisance against a local council?
Kirsdarke
Also the “Adoration of Tony by local villagers ” shot.
@KK
True, although I think more than a few such villagers would probably mistake the instruction from the News Ltd photographers of “look on in admiration” with “throw borscht at him”. At least if they have any sense.
Can any New South Welshmen tell me whether it is possible to bring an action in nuisance against a local council?
Botany Bay Council insisting on full heritage DA, with three lots of fees which basically makes the project not feasible, for a single solar panel. In a street where there are already several. This is a Labor council. The seat where in the last federal election they had to go deep into preferences and nearly lost it for the first time. They claim to be green but put roadblocks in front of everything related to green.
Labor should be in the business of making things easier for voters. This sort of thing isn’t going to win them any votes. Then again, why am I surprised when the mayor is the hubby of ex premier, Barbie Keneally?
Our fears are confirmed, he is going to milk this for all it’s worth…..ignoring important stuff……
Fiona
Was it the curtains they didn’t like, or the rugs?
Mr Abbott, who Canberra observers will note is looking weary, has also taken naps in his Parliament House office this week as he waited for late night and early morning calls from counterparts in Europe about MH17.
Poor Tony! This has all been far too much for him …
Diddums!
This bloke has a work-rate about a tenth of that of Julia Gillard.
Must be his renowned jet-lag …
Julia Gillard never complained even though she worked twice – or ten times – as hard.
Gravel,
Neither.
No: we have a problem with drainage in the back lane. Years ago the council redid the footpath, and instead of having dips down at the laneway entrances – which meant water could drain out to the street – they had the entire path at the higher level, without making any provision for drainage.
As we are on the (slightly) lower side, puddles of rainwater accumulate on our side, and rot the fence. We want and need to replace the fences, but don’t want to until the drainage has been fixed.
Roy Orbison,
I studied Local Government and Town Planning Law in my final year of law. Because I was at the ANU, we studied both the New South Wales and the Victorian legislation. I don’t remember much of the fine detail, but I do recall that in one of those two jurisdictions councils were immune from civil actions – and I have a strange feeling it was New South Wales.
HoJo showing his lack of command of English
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/joe-hockey-says-pm-encouraged-him-to-back-controversial-biography
Abbott taking naps in his office? Pfffft. nothing new there.
Remember the time he missed the vote on GFC stimulus because he had passed out drunk in his office after too much wine at dinner?
http://www.9news.com.au/national/2013/06/25/15/09/abbott-was-drunk-during-gfc-vote-swan
What about the time he fell asleep during a meeting with indigenous leaders?
http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/tony-abbott-and-human-decency,5093
He doesn’t just nap in his office, either. Remember this?
He also likes to catch up on his sleep at official functions. Remember this disgrace in Normandy?
Maybe if The Idiot didn’t insist on long, exhausting bike rides every morning he might have a bit more energy for other trivial stuff like actually staying awake on the job.
tlbd
This has always been my problem. Now, if Hockey had said “his” wouldn’t that imply that a treasurer can only be male? The “their” covers both.
leone
Abbott simply took off all his orange makeup to be more in tune with the sad event. When this is over his forehead will reappear smooth and shiny.
tlbd
Would that be his famous grand cru from Chateau de Jet Lag ?
A slap in the face for Morrison. It would seem the Indian government was not won over by his smarm.
Delhi offers little comfort to Morrison’s boat mission
http://www.smh.com.au/world/delhi-offers-little-comfort-to-morrisons-boat-mission-20140723-zw2wr.html#ixzz38LdF582I
“their” should only be used for the plural. “His” implies the feminine as well or you can say “his or her”.
Sadly, “their” will become standard usage, if it isn’t already.
There’s his problem and the reason for the bleary eyes…too much of the vino at all those ‘working dinners’.
kk,
Marvellous how tiring a shandy can be.
Sadly, “their” will become standard usage, if it isn’t already.
That’s interesting.
Languages have always evolved while actually users survive.
He is tired because he spends so much energy ‘massaging the bullshit’ into a “fit body of merde” to sell to a gullible MSM.
leone
And yet he went to India, accompanied by a military figure, Angus Campbell, to put more pressure on that govt.
Recently I came across the Shakespeare Unlocked version of Julius Ceaser and was again reminded of the dictum that one should be cautious “of men with lean and hungry looks”
Mr Abbott maintains his “lean and hungry” look presumably through exercise and like Cassius, has a great line in persuasive conversation (News Ltd?) to convince his audience of his point of view. If life imitated art a little more closely, I would be consoled with the knowledge that Cassius’ conspirators all ended bloodily – it’s just a pity that we will have to live with the civil war while these ‘Good Men’ sort out the spoils.
I must be missing something here:
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-pulls-out-of-pacific-leaders-meeting-to-deal-with-mh17-tragedy-20140724-3chh6.html
Right, sounds serious. He must be doing some very important stuff here in order to keep him from what is described as a ‘major summit’. Let’s have a look:
Hmmm. He’s waited for phone calls. I’m only conjecturing here, but when he’s at that summit, I reckon they’ll have phones there. He could probably manage both. So what’s he doing?
National security? I must have missed the national security issue here, but ok. He’s convening them. What’s he actually doing at them? Anything being achieved?
Dinners. Briefings. Those things can go on without him, I’m sure. And talking to the families of victims, well, that’s done now, you can’t keep hanging around them. So what’s he actually doing that’s so important?
Ah right, so 20 phone calls in 6 days. What’s that, three a day? He hasn’t exactly gone wild on the phone calls, has he? So what’s he actually doing?
Ah, a bit of his job. So sum total: talked to the families of victims, waited for phone calls, had some phone calls, sat in on some meetings and briefings. And a bit of his job. I’m not exactly sure which of those things prevent him from attending a ‘major summit’.
This isn’t an ongoing situation. There aren’t developments to deal with. There’s an aftermath, and Abbott seems very little involved with any of it. I’m sure I’m missing something. But what?
Oh hang on, I’ve got it. Has this got something to do with milking the issue for votes?
Either that or he has a “Dorian Grey” stashed away in the house where Mrs Abbott lives, which is why they won’t be parting company … ?
Oh what fantasies a lack of sleep can produce after too much coffee!
It was mentioned over the road I’ve noticed that Howard didn’t like going to the Pacific Forum either because it was too hot and he was made to dress in silly clothes.
Presumably that’s a major reason why. He’d much rather spend his weekend cycling with his other swaggering rich twit mates rather than have to go to a sticky hot island that may or may not still be there in 50 years and made to dress up in a grass skirt and have to put up with all those brown people. Such a forum is probably beneath him in his opinion.
Probably the fact that this is an overpaid PM who enjoys dinner meetings with expensive wines to help him delegate his responsibilities. And is quick to take any opportunity to pull out of a boring Summit Meeting with tin-pot regional leaders.
Quick,quick, everyone stop what you’re doing! Abbott’s holding a presser on MH17 at 4.30!!!!! You know it’s got to be about something important, he wouldn’t call a presser for no reason.
I kind of want it to be an announcement that he’ll send in half the army to Ukraine to fight the pro-Russian rebels for desecrating the crash site.
Then hopefully that’ll be grounds for the GG to sack him for incompetence and/or insanity.
Kirsdarke
There is a pro Russian Chechen unit in E Ukraine. I’m sure they would be very keen to provide their traditional “meet and greet” for outside forces.
You’re not far off, Kirsdarke. 50 police, apparently, to help secure the site. Give me strength….
Ah, okay. Just 50. Presumably he wants to save the rest for Operation Barbie-Ross next year in a march on Moscow to save his arse in the polls after the 2015-16 budget where it’s decreed that all first-borns of those earning under $50,000 must be sacrificed or something.
Of course he’ll pose at the front of the army on his white charger like Napoleon.
You guys have me in stitches here.
Fiona
Wow, you do have problems with that fence, hope you can find a way to get it sorted.
I just met up with Zoomster and we agreed that Sophie is a caring delicate little flower.
After all that, I missed the presser. Damn. Still I’m sure all 25 of the news services will be carrying it, once they’ve attached all the requisite superlatives.