(no subject)

[spatch]

Okay, first let me say just how disgusting it is when one's own sick makes one sick. (er.) And when one has gas comin' out of both ends. Ever burp and a fart came out? IT'S TERRIBLE. DO NOT TRY IT. You can't even make a cute word amalgamation out of the hideous experience because you'll either get furp or bart. And you don't want either one. Please, for the love of all that's holy, trust me on this one. I was completely mortified this afternoon. I took too many items to the self checkout lane at the supermarket because I didn't want to talk to anyone.

Ok. Gross out is over. I feel better now. I had chicken broth and tuna (NOT AT THE SAME TIME) and things are staying down and feeling better. The stomach isn't going all Joe Versus The Volcano as it was. This is good. I may be up for living tomorrow. Living is good.

Speaking of living, here's a good argument for it: in honor of Tom Lehrer's upcoming 80th birthday (April 9th, start writing those cards now) a YouTube fan has uploaded actual video footage of Tom Lehrer performing (with Mr. L's blessing, no less.) An entire concert, mind you.

Now let me just illustrate exactly how powerful these intar webs are. See, it was only ten years or so ago that I actually saw the first pictures I ever saw of the man, a fellow who honestly has been a inspiration to me for almost twenty-five years now (my parents tried in vain to ban me from listening to Lehrer and similar Dr. Demento artists in the fifth grade, because my sense of sarcasm had become unbearable. That was when this young lad learned a bit about tact. We're still learning, but everybody's gotta begin somewhere, right?) All I saw was a scan of an album cover; Mr. Lehrer had his arm stuck in a Gramophone and was hollering loudly. Actually, it may have been Allan Sherman. Who knows?

Anyway, now here's video of his performances right up there for me to see. Yes, life is good. And I've a new default LJ icon (sorry, Magoo, you got trumped.)

Tomorrow is looking better and better.


Oh, and also, to my Canadian friends: I just saw the first four episodes of Corner Gas. How come you been holdin out on me all this time? Ain't I been good to you? My gosh but that's entertaining television.

Comments

[dskasak.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but has Tom Lehrer ever endorsed a shitty beer, and starred in numerous commercials for said swill? Stag is the local-to-STL equivalent of PBR, but in reality, it is somewhere between Narragansett and Schaefer in terms of taste and quality.

[modpixie.livejournal.com]

that muzak over the opening advert from "retro TV and video" sounds like an arrangement of "she's a woman (and now he is a man)" by husker du.

Hamms, the beer refreshing!

[spatch]

And the Magoo beer ads bring us to the land of sky-blue waters (waa-ters!)

[fantastic-salad.livejournal.com]

thanks for posting this.

I knew "poisoning pigeons" from that dr. demento best of collection, but I'd never known about all the playfully morbid political stuff, or that he's responsible for "the elements song"--where would high school chemistry teachers be without him?

My friend teaches at UC Santa Cruz, I'll ask if he's run into him.

morbid curiousity forces me to ask

[haardvark.livejournal.com]

what's that userpic?

Re: morbid curiousity forces me to ask

[fantastic-salad.livejournal.com]

He's no too much coffee man, I'll tell you that.

It's some person who was horrifically disfigured during WWI. It was sitting in a dusty corner of my hard drive for 6 or 8 years before it became my LJ pic, so I no longer can even guess who he was or where I originally got it from.

Re: morbid curiousity forces me to ask

[haardvark.livejournal.com]

I convinced myself originally that it was a death photo of Lincoln that I'd never seen (and despite the fact that I was pretty sure he was not shot in the face...) but couldn't turn anything up. Sounds like I was kinda sorta a bit close, anyway.

Where they gonna go for coffee? Woolerton? *phplut*

[haardvark.livejournal.com]

Look, I can only post "Merkins, go watch corner gas" so many gawldurn times, yknow?

[scout1222.livejournal.com]

I thought of you when I read that part of the post!

You don't want to know what I thought about when I read the burp/fart combo. But since you're on my FL, you probably have a good idea.

[modpixie.livejournal.com]

i do believe the time is right for me to try and remember how to play "poisoning pigeons in the park" on the uke. again.

[moneypenny.livejournal.com]

I was also reamed out for loving Dr. Demento growing up, which was exacerbated by me teaching myself all the songs on the piano and refusing to play anything but them during my lessons ("Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" was a favorite of mine). Several years later, when my autistic and nonverbal little brother started screaming until "Dancin' Fool" and "Star Trekkin'" was put on at home and played on a loop, I think my parents were about ready to start walking west until they found Dr. Demento and assassinated him for crimes against parent patience.

Demento got me into Lehrer, but that has not helped resolve one matter: HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE HIS LAST NAME? My ex Daniel and I argued about this all the time. Leer-urr? Lair-urr?

[ron_newman]

I've always heard Lair-urr.

[spatch]

Yeah, I haven't heard anything but that.

[fantastic-salad.livejournal.com]

I think Ron's right. "Lair-urr" is how Jim Lehrer is pronounced.

[heliopsis.livejournal.com]

I apologise, Spatch. I have introduced a few Merkin friends to the pleasures of Corner Gas, but I have neglected to be comprehensive about it. I have it on DVD if you'd like to borrow them...

universal bereavement

[coconuthead.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Spatch.

[eppylover.livejournal.com]

Mrs Buttinski here. Just found you via Google Alert "Tom Lehrer" ~~

As much as you love Mr Lehrer, even to the point of userpic-ing him, I cannot believe you don't belong to tomlehrer.

I mean, really.

Okay, I'll leave you alone now.

[spatch]

Well, I was only waiting for you to come around and tell me!

[eclecticavatar.livejournal.com]

I'm so addicted to Canadian tv, now, it's disgusting. There's this show called "The Hour with George Stroumboloupolous" and he's better than Stephen Colbert and John Stewart, together. Plus, he's literally got their entire hour all to himself.

He introduces himself at the beginning of the show as "Your boyfriend George." Amen to my new sexy Canadian boyfriend, George! ;)

[tylerpistol.livejournal.com]

George used to be a MuchMusic VJ (Canada's version of MTV, not to be confused with the actual MTV Canada), and he was the only one who knew anything about music. Once he left, the station went right down the crapper.

[tylerpistol.livejournal.com]

I guess I've made mention of Corner Gas before, but never is any recommending kind of way. That show is pretty much what family vacations to Saskatchewan were like. Davis is my favorite.

[ron_newman]

Spatch, do you have a record player? I have a vinyl LP called "Songs by Tom Lehrer", but I have nothing to play it on. The label says "Lehrer Records", copyright 1953 -- obviously a private pressing. The contents:

Fight Fiercely, Harvard
The Old Dope Peddler
Be Prepared
The Wild West Is Where I Want To Be
I Wanna Go Back To Dixie
Lobachevsky
The Irish Ballad
The Hunting Song
My Home Town
Three Love Songs -- When You Are Old And Gray, I Hold Your Hand In Mine, and The Wiener Schnitzel Waltz

I'd love to hear this record, if you or anyone else has a record player.

[annenayne.livejournal.com]

I have that record on CD now ...

[spatch]

Indeed, that is on CD plus there's a few extra songs on the release not included on the LP.

And he did start out on his own label, privately financing his first releases. He also enjoyed printing his negative reviews on the back.

!

[(Anonymous)]

I had this record. i found it in a little record store that used to be my pizza place of choice. i think i paid a buck for it.

i kick myself regularly for losing track of it...

[annenayne.livejournal.com]

Tom Lehrer is a fan of old musicals. He came to see a show I was in once. I held his hand in mine. Nice guy.

Trailer Park Boys

[zmook.livejournal.com]

It occurs to me that if you're enough of an ignorant American to have missed Corner Gas, you might also have missed the Trailer Park Boys. I know, I know, it's crazy and inconceivable, and I apologize for insulting you by even bringing it up.

You can't go wrong with "I'm Not Gay, I Love Lucy... Wait a Second, Maybe I am Gay" or "A Dope Trailer Is No Place for a Kitty" or "Where in the Fuck is Randy's Barbecue?"

[pecosy.livejournal.com]

You started and ended this post with gas, hurr hurr hurr.