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Did anyone watch the Rally to Restore Fear and/or Sanity on Saturday? Did anyone GO? I turned it on for a little bit. The Myth Busters were there? Fair enough. By all accounts, it seems to have been a huge success. More than 200,000 people were in attendance. There were musical performances. (Have you read Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom yet? You should read Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom, because it’s really good and it’s weird that no one is talking about how it is good. But also there is a part in that book that is VERY reminiscent of the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. Hi, Jeff Tweedy!) Anyway, live comedy things are always a little weird, just in general, and live comedy things that have an “Important Message” are even weirder, because the space between comedy and sincerity is, if not cold, at the very least decidedly awkward. And also confusing. David Carr at the New York Times complains that Jon Stewart’s target was too easy. Politico says this won’t change tomorrow’s election (Duh Aficionado Magazine: Politics Page). But it is always nice to see people in this world TRYING. And Jon Stewart’s speech is nice (watch here). The world is a complicated place, and laughter is not the best medicine. Medicine is the best medicine. But we all need to find something in this world that makes us happy. And then on Monday, we have to talk about it in the comments, riiiiiiight?!
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Well, I did not watch the rally because I was busy slaving over a bag of cotton balls making last minute costumes for me and my boyfriend. (and them photoshoping us into their inspiration, of course) So I’ll post a picture of that!
My black pug was a shark, mostly because of this movie and my life-long fear of Jaws (and also because his name is Finn). Unfortunately, I don’t know how to post it or we could have a Shark-off. Your costumes are alarmingly similar. What I’m saying is, if you need a dog as a prop next year, let me know.
Ok, I really don’t know what I’m doing so I’ll just post the link and pretend that that counts. http://twitpic.com/32b5ax
I wanted to go, but then I had to attend the Rally to Restore Surprise Birthday Dinner For My Mom.
Lemme tell you guys, it was a complete success.
I think your mother’s birthday was too easy a target and a surprise party is just going to tear this country part even more.
Is it really even a child’s place to hold a surprise birthday dinner for his/her mother? I mean, I think we can all agree that a child should stick to painting on the walls and pooping, which they’re good at, and leave Serious Business like surprise birthday parties to the adults.
NO WAI LOLZ. She totes loved the Beiber cake and also the Silly Bandz videogame giftz.
Bieber cake and Silly Bandz video game giftz? I can only hope you also had Willow Smith’s music on, if so that must have been the best party ever!
OH WOW Mr. Wright is my ALGEBRA TEACHER is that you MR WRIGHT because you SHOULD BE TEACHING CLASS RIGHT NOW ROFL
I went to the Rally (DC Monsters represent, amirite?), and it was pretty great. It was mostly just a lot of people hanging out, but you know, whatevs.
Anyway, the best sign of the day was definitely the one that said “This sign is bigger than my penis”. Good job, that guy.
Yay DC Monsters! It was great people watching, but I couldn’t see/hear anything when I was in the giant crowd! I also annoyed my friends by complaining about all the people who brought their bikes (seriously, bad idea in a crowd of over 215,000). Other than that, I had a good time.
So many bikes! And also babbies and dogs.
I couldn’t hear or see much of anything but I’m happy I went. Tons of funny signs and costumes, and the overall spirit of the crowd made the hellish journey to the mall worth it (thanks WMATA!). I left early and watched the last 30 mins at Thai Chili in Gallery Place. That place has $20 beer towers and a portrait on the wall that looks like the Thai Charlie Chaplin.
So yeah. It was a good day.
what are “babbies and dogs”?
Your moms!!!
NNNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also went to the rally (Not DC Monster though, Indiana Monster). It was very worth it. I got to hang out with a lot of fun people and see the Roots live along with Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy. Oh, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. KAREEM ABDUL JABBAR.
My favorite signs were either the one I saw later that night online with the little girl all dressed up that said “I’m taking back the tea party!” or the guy near me with “I FUCKED KARL ROVE’S MOM. (No really, I did. No. Really. I DID.)”
I am only moderately ashamed to admit that I will do whatever the Mythbusters tell me to do.
One day in a college classroom, the professor was for some reason discussing Jaws, and the ongoing cultural impact of it. As an example, he wanted to mention some show he’d seen where they were repeating famous scenes from it, to see if they could happen, or something. He couldn’t remember the details.
The correct response to this situation was to raise my hand, and when called on, say something like: “Oh, that sounds like it was Mythbusters. They were running tests to see if things like the shark submerging the yellow barrels was at all possible with a real shark.”
The dork response was to shout out “MYTHBUSTERS! It was wicked awesome!”
Any guesses as to which tact I took?
Hey, you probably don’t care, but if you do, it’s “tack,” not “tact”; look it up. I’m so damn fucking bored and lonely right now I could die!
Exene, you are the greatest singer from one of my all time favorite bands -X- please dont die! (im bored and lonely too!)
Anytime I’m in a room full of people, I’m going to ask everyone to make cheek popping noises. Best part of the rally.
*pop*
Sorry protesters. I only hold signs about stupid lamps. No more, no less.
I just watched it a couple of hours ago (thanks dvr! Fast forward through those music performers I don’t care about!), and I enjoyed it overall.
I was surprised to see the Mythbusters as the warm-up act after the Roots played an awesome set. Adam is the one with performance training and Jamie’s the behind-the-scenes, I-don’t-talk-for-nobody guy, so that was awkward as the constantly checked the teleprompter for things to say. Adam definitely didn’t help matters when he kept referring to how many people were there, and then talking about how many pounds of people that was, but referring to them all as X pounds of MEAT. “We’re all MEAT. Jump up and down, MEAT. We’re going to measure how much earthquake all this MEAT can make when it jumps. We’re made of MEAT.” Uh, Adam. Can you call it flesh? Flesh is much less “supermarket terminology” than meat. Nerd.
Stephen Colbert always manages to land the #1 spot in my heart for celebrities whose wives I’d probably kill so we can be together (sorry, Jon Hamm). He was jamesfranco.gif.
I hope “jamesfranco.gif” becomes a part of everyday speech in the same way that my new sister-in-law says “OMG” and “WTF” non-ironically during actual conversations.
I could never say OMG and WTF in real life. “WHAT THE FUCK?!” and “OH MY GOD!” are the same amount of syllables as their acronym counterparts, and feel so good to say for reals.
On the other hand, I like ZOMG as it’s own word, and I will say that at times in a “ZOUNDS!” context.
*CORRECTION: “DOUBLE-U T F” is 5 syllables. “WHAT THE FUCK” is 3 syllables.
Also, I will say “double-u T F” when I’m talking about ‘WTF with Marc Maron,’ because that’s the name of his show. But any other time, definitely going with the actual cursing and the pronouns and interrogative adverbs.
How do you pronounce ZOMG? “zoh em gee”?
I believe it’s “zoh-my god” BUT I still don’t know how
to pronounce cicadas, soo…
I’m adding jamesfranco.gif to my microsoft word dictionary because YES.
Zahmg.
If only I had known there was a (sniper infested) Marathon in DC the next day, I woulda been there, but instead I was on Cape Cod anxiously the marathon there, my first. That’s my life story, I hope you aren’t too bored.
How cute was Jon Oliver in that Peter Pan costume? The answer is VERY.
Jeff Tweedy photobomb. Loves it.
“Can I interest you in a bit of slap and tickle?”
Halloooo Bugler.
The best part was when they saved America…At least ’til tomorrow.
Too preachy for a Halloween Saturday.
I enjoyed Freedom a lot too, Gabe. And, yes, the rally lacked only a performance by Walnut Surprise and/or Colbert going off on how the human race is a cancer on the earth.
So, caaaaan anyone explain to me why “Hi, Jeff Tweedy!” was included in Gabe’s ‘Freedom’ parenthetical? Because I really want to read ‘Freedom,’ and have really wanted to read ‘Freedom’ (even though I hated that miserable misanthropic slog ‘The Corrections’), and I have read lots and lots and lots of ringing endorsements for it, but I think “Blah blah blah Freedom is great. Hi, Jeff Tweedy!” might be the ringingest. (I love Jeff Tweedy.)
Tweedy get name dropped a couple times in Freedom because one of the main characters is an alt-country musician.
Personally, I enjoyed The Corrections, at least for the writing and a few well realized characters. I can see where it turned a lot of people off, though, for the overall misery/ugliness. I’d encourage you to give Freedom a chance if you’re interested. It may veer into some of that same territory, but on the whole I found the characters more sympathetic and the overall arc of the book more redemptive.
Dunno, I haven’t read Freedom, but I understand it has a lot of that in common with The Corrections, so I think we’re all better off rereading our N. West.
There’s time for both, pt! I hope no one has to choose between Freedom and Day of the Locust!
Yes! The whole idea seemed Walter Berglund-y. But probably more successful.
Miss Lonelyhearts — I, too, really struggled to like The Corrections. Freedom is far far better.
Seems like a lot of people DIDN’T watch this. Maybe we should have an open thread to discuss OTHER wonderful things we experienced this weekend?
In a related note, CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER BUGLES!
Facetaco, are Chocolate Peanut Butter Bugles real? That sounds like the unicorn (get it? ’cause of the shape and the amazingness?) of the junk food world.
BEHOLD!
oh, thats just wrong!
bugles were one of my favorite childhood snacks, so crunchy, so salty, so good! but i dont even know what they are exactly!
sad times: I ate a bag yesterday, then realized I’d just had 120% of my saturated fat for the day. But they *are* very jamesfranco.gif. It’s cornmeal, salt, and coconut oil, basically. (I’m sure the choco peanut butter ones are waay better for us.)
Anyone have any ideas of what Judges I should vote for? How do I find out which is which and waht is what?
I hear Judge Holden is a judicial activist.
I hear Judge Dredd comes across as the good guy but wtf crazy future earth?
I hear Judge Reinhold is a pretty nice guy in person, plus he was in Beverly Hills Cop, so you know he’s qualified (too qualified?)
I have a nephew named Judge so……joke.
I hear Judge Judy isn’t even a real Judge!
I went and I had a good time (despite rallies and large crowds not being kind to short people). I can understand people’s… confusion? apprehension? about this whole thing, and there were some weird moments (Kid Rock? really?) but it was fun and felt kind of cathartic. We just want everyone to stop yelling at each other!
Looks like it was fun. Show business!
http://www.lamag.com/uploadedImages/LA_Mag/laToZ/RIPMain.jpg?n=7728
Can we take a moment to recognize how perfect Yusef/Cat Steven’s voice is? I would ride any train he told me to. No perve-o.
If anyone can lend me $800 I’ll come over and unsuccessfully attempt to vote
Do I hear $801?
I watched part of it early – it was boring and cheesy – and then I put in a netflix dvd called Purple Noon which is the basis of that Matt Damon (cave man voice “Maaatt Daaaaamon”) movie The Talented Mr Wripley from the 90s. It was rad. John Stuart’s speech I read on the internet later and thought that was rad but I’m glad I didnt sit through more of that lame nonsense “give an award to anderson coopers black shirt” etc. BORING!
Alain Delon is pretty.
Yes?
I swear, there was a picture from Le Samourai there.
Purple Noon you say? I was wondering what this week’s pick was:
Have you seen “Dear Zachary”? It’s on Netflix instant. I think you might like it.Just thinking about Dear Zachary makes me want to weep.
you and me both.
I missed the whole rally because I was trying to get to the rally.
HA ha!
Loved Jon’s speech. Though the comedy bits were fun. Then I made the horrible decision to read the comments section on news/politics sites… wow did people do their best NOT to get what they were trying to say.
Now, I must return to the shower, where I’ve been since I’ve looked at those comments.
*Thought the comedy bits were fun. I can’t function properly these days.
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I went and thought it was great. We got there four hours early and stood in sight of the stage (and apparently could be seen on tv), but this also meant we were standing still for seven hours.
It was surprisingly a more diverse crowd than I ever anticipated, maybe even the most diverse crowd of all the crowds I’ve ever been in. And even though most of the humor was Colbert-tailored lampooning, I felt that Stewart’s speech at the end was sincere and sound-minded. Good show.
BUT UM, DID WE ALL FORGET TO MENTION
I went! I thought it was funny and the crowd was unfailingly polite which was neat! The best sign I saw said “Where is the nearest Whole Foods?” but it doesn’t seem like any news organizations got a picture of it. Shame.
I flew in from Chicago, and it was pretty great. Favorite sign: “There’s always money in the banana stand.” All economic issues SOLVED.
I came down, and enjoyed the hell out of the show. The Mythbusters leading over 200,000 people in a chorus of cheek popping, jumping and waving was incredible. Seriously, the sound and the minor tremor on the ground when everyone around me landed was amazing. If people could park near the mall, car alarms would have gone off. Where were the MythBusters during Obama’s inauguration? We could have used a warm act for that show too, in every sense of the word.
But yes, It was great! Stephen calling the press out for not having the courage of a seven year old girl was hilarious! The Roots sounded great! And, holy crap, Yusef! Actually, how do you think that phone call went? “Hey, Yusef, you don’t perform all that much, but we would love for you to play Peace Train. And then we’ll interrupt you with Ozzy Osbourn.”
I also loved that – Yusef and Ozzy and their trains! And i cant believe there is not more mention of the beginning concert with the Roots!! so good! and John Legend, his voice is amazing.
My friend went in a Winnie-the-Pooh costume and I’ve been combing through all the online photos in order to find him. I can’t find him. My life is slowly being sapped of any meaning. HELP ME FIND HIM.
I flew from St. Louis to go and had an awesome time. I met tons of really cool people, and spent most of the Rally standing near someone dressed in a really impressive Flying Spaghetti Monster costume. So that was exciting. My one slight disappointment was that we got there at like 8:30am and ended up behind the giant crane thing where the photographers/cameras were so I couldn’t see the stage at all. But we had lots of room, were near a big screen, and could actually hear, so from what I’ve heard I really have no room to complain.
Then walking back to the hotel I saw John Hodgman walking by me, but I was way to chicken to bother him.
My mom flew from Michigan to attend. She’s a huge Colbert-head.
dc monster — got to the rally by 12:30, got stuck in the middle of 7th st, stayed for an hour, then left at 1:45 to get to work by 3 (work was 3 blocks away mind you) – a clusterfuck but a fun one – couldn’t hear anything but the train song bit but the most exciting part for me was seeing a guy dressed as green man dancing excellently on a news van, also here’s my bro-in-law and sis with sign:
