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More Fun
The first I found through a link roundup of a link roundup here, I didn’t even watch the whole list at first, but Mom said the goat one was hilarious (eventually we watched all of them together while showing various family members. But this one, was definitely the favorite.
Hilarious and darling at the same time.
Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. “He’s tiny Aragorn” and “Oh, offensively so.”
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. “Yeah, the assassin hired an assassin to assassinate somebody and then followed the assassin to supervise the assassination and then assassinated the assassin when the assassination went wrong.” And that is one of the lesser funny ones, there are a ton of zingers in this one.
The Minimalists home tours, Josh and Ryan. Watch in that order.
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Happy Things to Start the New Year
Good news to focus on for a change:
15 Good News Trends Reductions in polio, TB, and malaria, the top 3 I think most serious situations in diseases in recent decades (cholera is probably up there too though). I believe polio is slated to be the 2nd permanently eradicated disease ever.
Inspiration and beautiful nature:
This gorgeously shot Darling Desi video. Where she lives is so stunning (I think it’s Utah, I think that was on one of the videos).
And of course, some humor:
Of course we have to have 16 Personalities Reviewing 2020. I’m INTJ, ISTP, ENTP with a touch in INTP here. ENTJ has a point about elbow bumping, too close, also, I’ve always hated hand shakes. How about, and this was pre-2020, hi and don’t touch me and stay out of my personal space which is a 6+ foot radius for strangers?!
And how about some major throwback to actors before they were famous and/or (not as famous) their breakout roles. There are some hilarious photos in there.
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Work Humor
16 Personalities at the office
16 Personalities at the Therapists
I wish I had the working at home “problems.”
A lot of my work stories are sad or infuriating.
The weirdest thing I’ve seen is a personalized check with a photo of the couple kissing right in the middle of it.
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Sarcastic or Facetious?
I feel like I’ve heard discussion on a couple of podcasts the confusion of meanings between works like “irony” and “sarcasm” and “facetious.”
Word origin for “sarcasm” is about flesh tearing, which I think Jake Triplett mentioned in one of the Ghostrunner’s podcast episodes which got me thinking about this. It ties in with modern Brits discussing (seemingly constantly) Americans allegedly not understanding sarcasm and me not liking what passes for modern British humor yet adoring the classic humor (more on that in a minute) as well as thinking about how my family and our broader circle talks.
I know it’s not linguistically sound to hold onto language to concretely. The Wired language guy even discusses the use of “irony” here.
Sarcasm- Oxford Learner’s Dictionary “a way of using words that are the opposite of what you mean in order to be unpleasant to somebody or to make fun of them”
- Merriam Webster “a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain” or “a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual”
- Cambridge Dictionary “the use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say, made in order to hurt someone’s feelings or to criticize something in a humorous way”
All of the definitions point out the intent to hurt in sarcasm. Whenever I’ve thought about sarcasm and Brits saying we don’t know it, I always thought, well we do, we just it as weapon as an ax (as opposed to a rapier wit), and always as a weapon. Now, I know that that IS what it is, it’s mainly as a weapon.
I’ve thought that some of what passes for “British humor” now is Brits trying to pass spite and/or insecurity off as humor and that the connotation of British humor is them resting on “long dead laurels” (I don’t know where I heard that phrase or to what it was even applied, but it is SO apt here). I never thought the classics stuff was mean-spirited, there was of course plenty of poking fun, but it was intrinsically witty while the impression I get of a lot of modern stuff is intrinsically petty and mean. I think looking up the definitions made things clearer. Modern Brits seem to call sarcasm humor and their humor sarcastic, but classic British humor had more than that and sarcasm was more honed and specific.
Facetious - Oxford Learner’s “trying to appear funny and clever at a time when other people do not think it is appropriate, and when it would be better to be serious” Synonym is “flippant.”
- Merriam-Webster “joking or jesting often inappropriately” or “meant to be humorous or funny : not serious”
- Cambridge “not serious about a serious subject, in an attempt to be funny or to appear clever” Synonym is tongue-in-cheek.
These are all vaguer definitions than I thought. I was thinking facetious was the opposite meaning humor and insincere statements without the weaponization, like the connotation I have of “tongue-in-cheek.” But then I’m probably expecting to much rigidity in language.
Tongue-in-cheek:
- Oxford Learner’s “not intended seriously; done or said as a joke”
- Merriam-Webster “characterized by insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration”
- Cambridge “If you say something tongue in cheek, you intend it to be understood as a joke, although you might appear to be serious”
The Merriam-Webster definition is definitely more the connotation I have of “facetious” and “tongue-in-cheek.”
Irony- Oxford Learner’s “the funny or strange aspect of a situation that is very different from what you expect; a situation like this” while Ironically “in a way that shows that you really mean the opposite of what you are saying”
- Merriam-Webster “the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning” and “a usually humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by irony” OR “incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result”
- Cambridge “a situation in which something which was intended to have a particular result has the opposite or a very different result” while Ironically “in a way that is interesting, strange, or funny because of being very different from what you would expect” and “in a way that suggests you mean the opposite of what you are saying, or are not serious”
It seems like “ironically” maybe is a modern sort of definition creep. I think these definitions match what I think of as “facetious” and “tongue-in-cheek.” It looks like Merriam-Webster moved that type of humor to irony rather than only have situational irony under the definition.
Sardonic- Oxford Learner’s “showing that you think that you are better than other people and do not take them seriously.” Synonym is mocking.
- Merriam-Webster “disdainfully or skeptically humorous : derisively mocking”
- Cambridge “humorous in an unkind way that shows you do not respect someone or something”
I was thinking sardonic was closer to sarcasm that it actually is, I mean I guess sarcasm IS sardonic, like a type of sardonic comment but they aren’t interchangeable. Sardonic is just a broad category.
So there is clearly a spectrum of humor ranging from intending to hurt with sarcasm to the milder/not necessarily mean irony/facetiousness/tongue-in-cheek banter. I think that my circle has both. And I think when people use sarcasm we often try to pass it off as banter when it really is not. This explains a lot of hurt feelings and communication problems in my family. It also explains why often modern British “humor” raises my hackles while I positively adore the classic stuff particularly à la Sayers and Trollope. Actually, this kind of humor is present in Montgomery (it also explains why Anne hates sarcasm but uses lots of ironical humor) and Alcott and some modern American middle grades. It’s the American Classics that seem to be entirely devoid of humor, even often the cruel kind. And that topic will be featured in another post.
As far as modern Americans not understanding sarcasm and or tongue-in-cheek humor, we do, I think perhaps it has more to do with missing the British deadpan delivery. And no, no more definitions, I’m exhausted with that now, that one I think is fairly obvious.
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If Digital Assistants and Such Were Southern and Other Funny Southern Things
The slow driving when there is a little rain. Yeah, that is me. When a few snowflakes caused the car to eject him, oh my word. We aren’t this far south, but I remember people scorning Atlanta when a few inches of snow basically stopped city traffic. Look, it makes sense for Northerners to invest in 4-wheel drive, and Northern cities in tons snow plows (we have a few), but Atlanta and around, that would be stupid.
Amazon Echo for Eastern Kentucky
“Fancified Pringles Can”
“Your unintelligent personal assistant”
Humidity. Well, the video is funny because it’s accurate but wow, humidity makes everything feel so much hotter. Don’t look at the temperature on the weather app, look at what the humidity is going to make it feel like.
Our “overreaction” to a slight chill in the air. I’m so hot-blooded, I personally don’t react like this. Actually, where we are we do get seasons, but we make get all of them in one day. Way back in college a student from Boston was laughing at our “cold.”
Country sounds to get you to sleep. “In Memaw’s arms.” The tornado siren and train. I put crickets on my sleep sounds recently.
Things to Do in My state. Strike out “ope” and put “coke” for all soft drinks and this is what I saw on FB for my state. The deer thing, my stars its carnage.
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More Fun
Watching a Jess and Gabe video, around 4:17-ish mark “oldest homeschooled kids naivity” yes, I said it’s a thing people.
Tied in with this subject added to my general lack of musicality/muscial interest/musical tolerance, Mom and I were watching a Hallmark movies, and I think they usually have generic music, but Mom started singing along.
“You know this?”
“Uh, yeah, Diana Ross and the Supremes.” As if I should know formerly sheltered and musically deficient being that I was/am . . .
I mention my lack of musicality.
“Do you know who the Beatles are?”
Gee, thanks Mom, yes I know the Beatles, also you had Beatles records in the basement when we were growing up.
If you haven’t noticed, I’m rather brain dead. I’m also starting three summer classes this week and hopefully returning to 40 hours. Maybe one day I will write real posts, but as my Mom likes to say, “It is not this day!” (the only part she likes from LotR). Edit: well, it will be this day when this posts because I’m in the mood.
Another find from trending, Honest Friends Trailer. An honest look at the Ross and Rachel relationship. Hilarious. I do like Friends, I think you have to like something to honestly appreciate spoofing, otherwise it is just spite.
Here is the playlist to peruse.
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Fun for This Week
I’m still working but between mandated off days that don’t follow any sort of pattern and everything going on or rather not going on, the days and weeks are blurring together. I have to keep checking to see if it’s a new week from the last time I posted one of these, lol.
Pocket Princesses (on zoom). I totally forgot about Pocket Princesses, but for some reason they popped up in a search or somewhere shared them or something. So now I follow them on Instagram (or maybe refollow?). They are both cute and hilarious.
Crow’s Eye Productions Walk with Me videos. The team behind Crow’s Eye production has a model in different period dresses in gorgeous nature videos with music and quotations (regency one is from Emma).
This youtube channel. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before. The “You know you’re dating a person from insert country, when” videos as well as the cultural stereotype videos are hilarious. They have a lot of countries I don’t know much about or don’t see many videos about.
Basic Bro’s During Safe at Home. The gym withdrawal, lol.
Day 1 vs Day 50 Staying at Home. “It’s stuck to me at this point, so.”
16 Personalities Reacting to 16 Personality videos. ISTJ “Myers-Briggs is pseudoscience.” Yeah, that is me this one.
I also decided to rewatch A Very Potter Musical . . . because I’m classy. Oh, my stars, it’s hilarious. Someone else commented (I think I thought this before or someone mentioned it before), but um, this Ron is FAR better than the movie Ron. Actually, he’s better than book Ron (oh, sacrilege). Oh, my word, that chocolate bar scene! Ron’s emotional eating is something else. Another blogger mentioned something that triggered the memory train of naive homeschooler moments . . . yah, I learned some things from this musical. I
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Link Love: Culture Clips
Strategies for using social media well.
This short film (I can only recommend this particular one; there is another I don’t recommend)
This and this. These are poetry videos (I can only recommend these I post here; there are others I don’t recommend). I really struggle with poetry, perhaps I should see if mixed media poetry forms will help me. These are the same people who did the above video and Kissing in the Rain (which, if you need a semi-sweet respite, is just the thing). I just love their work.
Perhaps we need to be more interesting (otherwise known as “having a life”).
And because I’m contrary, here and here are humorous takes on essential oils (though to be honest my main issue is . . . I don’t really like smells, like almost NONE).
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Would You Rather, Jane Austen 2nd Edition Plus Mr. Darcy’s Inner Struggles
I’m borrowing these questions from Cordie. My sister kept mentioning and sending me Mr. Darcy’s Inner Struggles on Pinterest, and I only recently realized how many of them exist, so I set about trying to find them all. Here is the original source. The link is to the beginning, scroll down to see the earliest, and then go to the next page and repeat. Enjoy, they are hysterical (note, some language).
1. Would you rather summer at Abbey Mill Farm with the Martins or spend the winter in London with your aunt and uncle?
2. Would you rather be carried away in the moment and insult someone in company or be overcome by horrid imaginings and have to confess your thoughts to someone you admire?
Oh, I’d far likely do the former, and I would probably prefer it too.
3. Would you rather marry Mr. Bingley or Robert Martin?
Mr. Bingley. We can see in the book that he’s intelligent, kind, sweet, etc. while I only know that Mr. Knightley thinks Robert Martin could.
4. Would you rather tour the lake country or visit the seaside?
Tour the lake country. I’m rather tired of the Southern default to Florida. Do we have to do the same thing a trillion times? Although, the British beach would be new to me, but I’m trying to translate my experience here. I’d go to Colorado lakes or mountains before another beach trip if I had my choice.
5. Would you rather entertain Miss Bates or Mr. Collins in conversations?
I think Miss Bates would be easier and less embarrassing. I’d rather listen to Mr. Collins safely from afar though for amusement.
6. Would you rather sing a musical piece at a gathering while hiccuping every other line or take a great tumble while dancing?
Fall. Definitely.
7. Would you rather be deceived by Willoughby or Wickham?
I would rather be deceived by someone more clearly wrong and far less interesting, like Wickham, but I’m sure I’d more likely be deceived by Willoughby’s good (superficial) qualities.
8. Would you rather fall head over heels in love with a man who turns out to be engaged or fall for a man too busy loving someone else to notice you?
If the engaged man loved me, then the engaged man.
9. Would you rather ride in a carriage or upon a horse to an evening party?
A carriage; I’d want to still look nice when I got to the party.
10. Would you rather accept advice from Mrs. Weston or Elinor Dashwood?
Mrs. Weston? I don’t know. I prefer advice from people who have both more of a claim to experience and more mildness and humility of manner. But I wouldn’t call Elinor a know-it-all.
11. Would you rather have as a companion Jane Fairfax or Charlotte Lucas?
Probably Charlotte as she talks. I talk a lot, but I don’t like talking to silence; I want a response. -
Wives and Daughters Abbreviated
I wrote this a few months ago and posted it on FB. I cracked myself up anyway. With some minor corrections I present to you
Wives and Daughters Abbreviated
The sweet wallflower meets a nice, snobby family with the debonair, cool son (and mama’s boy) and a dork son. She crushes on the dork.
The pretty wallflower is upset when her father marries a wicked step-mother. She comes to love her gorgeous, diva step-sister, but her dork loves the diva, and the diva pretends to love him back.
The cool dude and dork’s mother dies.
The diva happens also to be a jilt, and the poor heroine is used by the diva to get rid of the jilted playa. The dork goes off, and the diva cheats on him with your average Joe who just so happens to be filthy rich.
The cool dude who is secretly married pines away and dies because his father is cruel; therefore, his marriage becomes public knowledge.
The dork returns.
The diva’s shallowness, deceit, and two-facedness are discovered. The dumb dork is crushed, and then immediately falls in love with the deserving wallflower. The author dies, and the fans make up a happily ever after for the dork and the wallflower.
I will resurface (hopefully) in December when this abominable semester at an abominable university is over.
