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 
WARNING. From over the road sprocket_ has discovered in The Daily Toilet what must be the most barf producing article ,like EVA. Simon Benson has earnt his pieces of silver from Rupes this week A sample.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/the-nation-has-a-true-leader-in-tony-abbott/story-fni0cwl5-1227000591025
Let’s just consider that for a moment.
Expectations of Abbott are so low that when he does something “every elector has a right to expect” it’s considered an achievement?
That’s not a compliment he got there.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Excellent perspective from Waleed Aly.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/mh17-gaza-and-the-value-of-human-life-20140724-zw8jn.html
When is enough not enough?
http://www.theage.com.au/world/un-shelter-in-gaza-shelled-killing-at-least-15-20140725-zwmz1.html
Laura Tingle – Hockey opens the book on a misfiring government. Read it.
http://www.afr.com/p/opinion/joe_hockey_opens_the_book_on_misfiring_quKZSbqrm1O6iInbVNvdRP
The ATO is going for the Obeids and $9m.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/mh17-gaza-and-the-value-of-human-life-20140724-zw8jn.html
This article confirms Greg Combet’s admirable qualities.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/julia-gillard-offered-secret-deal-for-greg-combet-to-become-prime-minister-to-fend-off-kevin-rudd-20140724-zwd9z.html
How can this be tolerated?
http://www.smh.com.au/national/child-abuse-reports-increase-but-less-than-half-investigated-report-20140724-zvxq9.html
Palmer better be careful.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/clerk-of-senate-should-resign-if-she-cant-be-neutral-palmer-20140724-3cigg.html
Shorten is keeping an ETS on the stage. This time in the US.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bill-shorten-makes-case-for-ets-to-tackle-climate-change-in-us-speech-20140724-3cgr8.html
A good article from Van Badham on the anti-abortion proponents.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/24/no-anti-abortion-activist-should-be-able-to-mislead-women-to-rescue-them
Peter Wicks with more on the Kathy Jackson saga.
http://www.independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/gillard-accuser-deserts-michael-smith-over-kathy-jackson,6706
A breakthrough in solar panel efficiency.
https://theconversation.com/more-efficient-durable-solar-cells-are-possible-thanks-to-glass-29466
Workplace agreements – Dept of Defence style.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/leaked-defence-pay-rise-offer-two-per-cent-below-inflation-20140724-zwix3.html
Section 2 . . .
A good article on ABC “bias”.
https://newmatilda.com/2014/07/24/abc-biased-get-over-it
Can-Do’s inadequacy at apologising.
http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/newman-and-bleijies-dismal-non-apology,6705
The difficulties of pregnancy in the modern workplace.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/workplace-still-hostile-territory-for-many-parentstobe-20140724-zw8p0.html
Sam Dastyari posits that David Cameron is more moral than our government when it comes to foreign aid.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/24/take-it-from-this-australian-david-cameron-has-it-right-on-foreign-aid
The spotlight moves on to Macquarie Bank.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/macquarie-cops-fallout-from-scandal-20140724-3cikv.html
Joe Hockey’s attempt to impress is pretty average says the SMH.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-editorial/joe-hockeys-attempt-to-impress-is-pretty-average-20140724-zwd3f.html
The new boss of the AFL is making his mark. Let’s see if he can clip Eddie McGuire’s wings.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/show-us-whos-boss-swans-chairman-andrew-pridham-tells-gillon-mclachlan-20140724-zwi6j.html
Andrew Dyson on Hockey wanting an even tougher budget.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/andrew-dyson-20090819-epqv.html
David Pope and the sinking budget.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/david-pope-20120214-1t3j0.html
Ron Tandberg nails Liberal hypocrisy on the Security Council here.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/ron-tandberg-20090910-fixc.html
Davis Rowe on Gaza conflict negotiations.
http://www.afr.com/p/national/cartoon_gallery_david_rowe_1g8WHy9urgOIQrWQ0IrkdO
I think Simon Benson wants to get into Tony Abbott’s pants so bad.
And from the Land of the free –
Rachel Maddow on the best of batshit crazy Michelle Bachmann’s “fails”.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2014/07/23/michele-bachmann-please-proceed/
Execution Arizona style.
http://crooksandliars.com/2014/07/another-botched-execution-another-red
Family planning Texas style.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/24/1316374/-Forced-birthers-joyful-that-only-six-abortion-clinics-may-remain-open-in-Texas-after-September-1
Home protection California style.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/24/california-80-year-old-satisfied-after-gunning-down-fleeing-pregnant-home-intruder/
Petrol price control Kentucky style.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/24/price-gouging-businesses-cry-socialism-after-ky-drivers-flock-to-city-run-gas-station/
Intimate surgery Alabama style.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/24/alabama-man-sues-hospital-he-claims-amputated-penis-instead-of-circumcising-it/
Parking lot etiquette Tennessee style.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/23/tennessee-woman-pulls-gun-in-walmart-parking-lot-when-asked-to-drive-slower/
Road rage karma Florida style.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/24/road-raging-florida-man-run-over-by-his-own-truck-after-drunken-crash/
God!…That Benson bit was “super-size me grovelling”….He’d surely have to take a swig of “Fitzroy cocktail” to wash his infected mouth out with every word!
From the Fairfax editorial on Hockey’s biography:
Pretty much what I’ve been saying – too trusting, easily duped, prey for bullies – but it doesn’t explain the tantrums.
“Fat wogs” who get bullied at school usually go home to Mummy and get all the ice cream and cake they want. After a while they get a sense of… entitlement. They become upset when Mummy, on occasion, doesn’t provide the goodies.
That’s when the tantrums start.
A naive tantrum thrower, who can never see the sucker punch coming… not Prime Minister material.
Especially when he’s up against a bovver boy like Abbott whose stock in trade is decking the unwary.
Benson’s article isn’t even funny. It’s like you read it and you snigger “What, are you in love with him or something?” then the absurdity is confirmed and you say “Oh… wow, you really are, aren’t you? Um, okay” and leave it feeling awkward.
You know, it was “de rigeur” in a workplace to scorn and dismiss the help and opinions of boss’s crawlers once…as they were considered kind of “un-Australian”..now we have these low-life crawlers in the MSM. getting a hearing everywhere!….It’s truly disgusting.
Three hearty cheers for Rosemary Laing, Clerk of the Senate. And a great big hiss to Clive Bully Boy’ Palmer.
Because Ms Laing refused to break the rules and allow Palmer’s inappropriate and unconstitutional amendment to be circulated she is ‘biased’. Palmer, havng a big sook about it all, says he is not a bully because – get this – he did not raise his voice. Gee, thanks for defining a bully for me Mr Palmer. I never knew being a bully simply meant yelling at people.
Palmer should have carried though with hs threat to go to the High Court. His complaint would have been thown out and he would have had to deal with that embarrassment. I’ve met other bullies who, like Palmer, use threats of legal action to get their own way. The threats never turn into actual action, one is supposed to be terrified at the idea of being dragged into court and just give in.
Ms Laing knows the rules, Palmer does not. She is there to make sure the senate follows correct procedure, Palmer is there to bully his way into getting what he wants. Good on Ms Laing for doing her job, I say, good on her for remaining impartial and unbiased and for staring down a large, angry man determined to have his own way.
The really alarming thing here? Palmer seems to think anyone who does not do as he demands is ‘biased’ and must be disposed of and replaced, probably. with a hand-picked Palmer stooge. It does not matter if he is right or wrong. All that matters is that he gets what he wants. We will see a lot more attempts at bullyng from Palmer, and a lot more hissy fits and tantrums.
Another missing aircraft –
Air Algérie flight AH5017 disappears from radar in sandstorm
Officials give conflicting details about when Air Algérie plane went missing with 116 on board, as three-country search begins
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/air-algerie-ah5017-flight-burkina-faso-algiers-disappears-from-radar?CMP=ema_1731
We’ve seen fawning Simon. meet tough simon
@simonbenson let me just ask -are you rooting @TonyAbbottMHR ?#giveusanexclussive
Details Reply Retweet Favorite More
User Actions
Follow
simon bensonVerified account
@simonbenson
@VdagostinoVince be careful pal
Australia and the Abbott government get a mention in the New Yorker. Not in a good way.
Down Under, a Carbon Tax Goes Down
http://www.newyorker.com/news/hendrik-hertzberg/carbon-tax-goes?utm_source=tny&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyemail&mbid=nl_Daily%20%28224%29&spMailingID=6801814&spUserID=NjMxNjEwNTM3MTYS1&spJobID=482559494&spReportId=NDgyNTU5NDk0S0
In other breaking news –
Russia loses contact with satellite full of geckos
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/russia-loses-contact-satellite-geckos?CMP=ema_1731
Abbott is slowly being played out of the investigation as it gets down to the nitty gritty. No matter how hard he tries in coming days.
I still believe the over the top actions and words of Abbott will come back to bite him at some stage in the near future as he strives for relevance as the narrative changes.
Another issue now arising is the apparent instability of the Ukraine administration. Sending any Australians into the area is very dangerous let alone on the back of the aggressive rhetoric of Abbott.
He will overreach, sadly.
I wonder if there are any Australians in that second plane crash. We wouldn’t like Abbott to become too hysterical.
Not Just defence force employees, the DHS is the first to have its EBA negotiated.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/dhs-workers-offered-115-per-cent-pay-rise-at-most-20140723-zw24l.html
A good piece from Grog (Greg Jericho), gives it to Toxic Tony. (Sorry Fiona, am changing from BO). I also liked the editorial in Fairfax. Toxic Tony better watch out, the ABC radio is pushing J Bitchop in every news break.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/07/24/comment-why-confused-journalists-dont-know-how-report-jacqui-lambie
Wreckage of the Air Algerie aircraft has been found.
http://news.sky.com/story/1307109/air-algerie-plane-wreckage-found-in-mali
No Australians were on board. What a disappointment that must be for Super Tony. He must have been about to hold another presser to announce his decision to take control of search and rescue operations in Mali.
Abbott has already sent 50 Mr Plods to London in anticipation of getting his international force up and running. Here’s hoping they are sent straight back home, unwanted, refused permission to go near the crash site.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/australia-has-federal-police-ready-to-enter-ukraine-and-secure-mh17-site?CMP=ema_1731
The hide of the man! Who does he think he is? His pathetic attempts to hog the limelight are an embarrassment. Putin has now been mightily offended at least twice by Abbott, once at APEC, remember, when Abbott missed Putin’s birthday celebration and again last week when Russia expressed outrage at Abbott’s intemperate comments. Putin placed Abbott last on his list of ‘annoying leaders I have to deal with’ after initially refusing to take Abbott’s phone calls. Since that one call Abbott has continued to give offence by telling Putin what he should do. Now the Idiot has marshalled his troops, insisted they be armed and is expecting to have them arch into the crash site and take over. I think Abbott is dreaming, delusional even.
It is a very subdued FM we are seeing on our TV screens now. Her initial bullying, angry rhetoric has gradually moderated since she has been in the company of real experienced diplomats so that she appears to have learned something about the folly of spruiking uninformed rhetoric…..I wonder if she is practising her newly acquired diplomatic skills on the abbott and has told him to stfu and go back to napping away his alcoholic dinners on his office settee.
leonetwo
[Abbott has continued to give offence by telling Putin what he should do.]
Doubly so as hours after the incident Putin spoke with the Dutch PM. Afterwards Putin spoke of wanting the UN aviation body to conduct the investigation. Exactly what the Idiot is trying to claim he and Mesma muscled Putin into.
Russia’s concern has always been for an independent investigation because by convention Ukraine should be in charge. They’d be as unbiased as the Peoples Republic of Donetsk . What ever blame belongs to Putin you can’t blame him for feeling that way.
Gravel,
When it comes down to it, both HoJo and the abbott had better watch their backs as their adoring msm as well as their colleagues change their love-in to Ms.Bitchop who is learning fast how to wrap her warped views/ideology in smooth diplomatic language.
You should get your breaking news from the Daily Tele, Leone…
Simone Benson reports, not one, but TWO phone calls, plus Abbott stiffening Obama’s weak spine…
Seems an appropriate post in a thread called “Accent On Humour”.
http://www.thelocal.de/20140724/for-a-masters-in-munich-english-required
BB
‘Simone’ Benson – that explains so much.
I see the Smelly forgot to mention Putin refusing to take Abbott’s initial phone call(s). And refusing to mention Abbott sitting around in his office for days waiting for the phone to ring.
For Tony
BB,
Simon(e) Benson sets a very low bar for a ‘true leader’ doesn’t he? It would be laughable to read such tripe from a biased and stupid journalist if it weren’t so serious.
When Julia Gillard was PM, Simon(e) constantly tried to diminish her. Her high standards invariably prompted him to vilify her.
News Corpse takes out some insurance:
Fiona
Thanks for that photo, 774 were talking about it and trying to describe it, it is woeful, looks like she’s pooped her pants.
Gravel,
Thanks for making me choke on my coffee! Pooped her pants, indeed.
Gravel,
I don’t know what the woman (Cressida?) saw in that photo to make the suggestion that FM Bishop should be wearing a Superman cloak.
Not the best footwear choice for clambering in and out of military cargo planes.
Kaffeeklatscher,
Imagine the reportage had a “shoe malfunction” occurred.
Or would it have been *crickets*?
Why is it that in order to look ‘business like’, women seem to be required to wear high heels?
The only ‘woman of power’ that I can recall NOT wearing them, was Hillary Clinton when she was Secretary of State. Lots of photos of her in low/flat heeled shoes then.
Bishop the Smaller adopting some of Tone’s mojo – Frans Timmerman her new ‘bestie’.
Julia Gilard and Angela Merkel wear pretty reasonable low-heels.
CTar,
As opposed to Bishop the Shorter?
Ugh, banging my head on the desk here. If Victorian Labor is turning out to be responsible for this theft of the Baillieu tapes then it’s a stupid thing to do. It didn’t damage Napthine and now it’s making Labor look dirty.
And now the MH17 circus has come up with “Coalition of the Grieving”.
Pardon my language, but it’s just fucking ridiculous now. I hate this country so much sometimes.
Hot off the press . Can’t wait until Scrott gives a presser 😀
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/25/tamils-held-high-seas-transferred-mainland-camp
Fiona
Either/or.
Tell you what, if a tragedy happens to my family and Abbott presumes to gatecrash their funeral or use them to glorify himself I’ll tell him where he can go.
Great news for the Tamils!
Boats have not stopped!
http://www.afr.com/p/business/companies/the_legal_case_clive_palmer_has_aGohcGCIMwpH3IDQmtCOrJ
http://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/nick-xenophon-wants-national-referendum-on-pokies-on-the-20th-anniversary-of-their-introduction-in-sa/story-fnii5yv4-1227000824669
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/25/tamils-held-high-seas-transferred-mainland-camp
Andrews has come out and denied that the party had anything to do with this.
http://blogs.abc.net.au/victoria/2014/07/daniel-andrews-responds-to-stolen-audio-allegations.html?site=centralvic&program=central_victoria_mornings
Additionally, there are a number of questions that should be raised about the Age’s Story:
1: Why did Farrah Tomazin record a supposedly off the record conversation that she had with Ted Baillieu?
2: Why did she take this recording with her to the State ALP conference?
3: When she realised it was missing did she go and look for it? and if not, then why not?
4: If she did actively look for it and came to the conclusion that it had been stolen, did she report it to the police? and if not, then why not?
Abbott is putting us off our dinner.
Rise of Tony Abbott a downer for restaurant takings as budget puts diners off their dinner
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/rise-of-tony-abbott-a-downer-for-restaurant-takings-as-budget-puts-diners-off-their-dinner/story-fn59nsif-1227000739465?nk=98573e01d09b2b98b3531143fe8f84b7
Thanks, GL. Those are good points.
But even if The Age is lying, it doesn’t put me at ease. They must seriously not want Labor to win the election if they’re going this far to throw mud at them.