This time we really mean it. Over the past few weeks we have suggested some themes of the past year that could define 2011. There is no doubt, however, that the most compelling legacy of 2011 will be that this was the year that the dictators got their just desserts. The rogues gallery of deposed despicables is of unprecedented length: Ben Ali of Tunisia, Mubarak of Egypt, Saleh of Yemen, Gaddafi of Libya, and Kim of North Korea. Others teeter on the brink; we’re looking at you Assad. While the actions (or lack thereof) of “leaders” in the Western world will certainly cause many to question the true value of democracy, there can be no doubt that it is far better to be governed by fools than to be ground underfoot. Our sincere hope for the new year is that this theme continues in force and that millions more will be able to choose their own destiny, no matter how dysfunctional it may be. With this in mind, we share with you a television ad that is not only topical but the funniest we saw this year. It features one individual in particular that we hope will be dispatched to the dustbin of ignominy as quickly as possible………
Here is the one-hundred-and-twenty-fifth edition of Tom Nob’s Thursday Notes. TN2 serves as a brief summary of what good humor we have found during the past week plus some suggestions for the upcoming weekend.
The third major theme that will likely define the year 2011 is the continued rise of the fembots. By this we refer to shift in power toward females and away from males in the post-recessionary economy that rewards brains over brawn. While this trend did not start in 2011 it certainly gained strength during the year that was. To illustrate how it has impacted the world of humor, you only need to read Bossypants by Tina Fey to gain an understanding of how women have evolved from being set-pieces in skits (or maybe writing bits for female characters) to writing for all actors on the stage and even (gasp!) creating and producing their own television shows and movies. With more women ascending as the primary breadwinners, a gender reversal is taking place in which men are taking a more domestic role in their family’s lives. But you can never fully domesticate a wild beast so, now, when the dudes settle on the sofa to watch their stories (ESPN’s Outside the Lines, of course) they can soothe their caveman souls by nibbling on bonbons laced with beer. That’s right, a new trend sweeping through the land of confections is to blend beer flavors like hops into candies such as brittle, truffles and caramels. Which makes you wonder if a modern-day Norm Peterson would lumber on to his usual bar stool at Cheers and state: “Women. Can’t live with them, pass the beer nougats.” Meanwhile, the beer industry is seeing an evolution as well – particularly among small, craft brewers – away from bitter, hop-heavy brews and toward sweet, malty flavors more reminiscent of chocolate. Thus, it would seem that the solution to achieving peace on earth probably involves some combination of beer and chocolate. Hoppy holidays and a malty new beer!!
Here is the one-hundred-and-twenty-fourth edition of Tom Nob’s Thursday Notes. TN2 serves as a brief summary of what good humor we have found during the past week plus some suggestions for the upcoming weekend.
In addition to the rise in geek chic that we detailed last week, another theme that will define 2011 is the mad-scramble by public governments at all levels to plug the holes in their budgets either by raising revenue or cutting costs. Here in the U.S., due to inordinate power exerted by the Tea Party and its minions, increasing taxes has become a non-starter which means that new revenue must come from more creative sources. The golden honey-pot that quickly attracts attention is gambling and it seems that every state and large city has explored ways of increasing gambling activity. One of the more unique and unusual initiatives comes from Missouri (new state motto: Show Me The Money). For fifteen years the state had “addressed” the problem of gambling addiction among its residents by allowing individuals to ban themselves for life from the state’s casinos. In fact, since 1996 until early this December, over 16,000 people added themselves to the self-imposed exile list which meant that they would be fined or arrested if found gambling in state (crime: trespassing). This ban only applied within the state of Missouri which meant they could always drive over the state line and wager without worry about the warden (the majority of casinos are located within mere miles of the border). Of course, these are just the type of customers you want in casinos if higher revenues are your goal, so the Missouri Gaming Commission unanimously approved a change lifting the lifetime ban and replacing it with a mere five-year voluntary suspension option. When confronted by objections from anti-gambling advocates, the commissioners claimed that such a move would actually encourage more people with gambling problems to sign up and, thus, lead to lower revenue. While this circular logic is both amusing and amazing, the real lesson of this story is one that’s been said many times, many ways….what happens in East St. Louis stays in East St. Louis.
Here is the one-hundred-and-twenty-third edition of Tom Nob’s Thursday Notes. TN2 serves as a brief summary of what good humor we have found during the past week plus some suggestions for the upcoming weekend.
One of the main themes that will define the year of 2011 is the revenge of the nerds. A decade after they flamed out spectacularly during the dot-com bust, Silicon Valley companies and the technology whiz-kids who founded them are once again the darlings of the financial world. What’s ironic this time is that the slick-dressing (former) masters of the universe who inhabit Wall Street are, for the most part, on the outside looking in as hoodie-wearing hackers accumulate wealth beyond even their wing-tipped imaginations. One side effect of this reversal in fortunes is the rapid rise of geek chic among the general population and one of the fastest ways to get your geek on is to don a pair of glasses. And thanks to a fashion trend coming out of Asia you can achieve this look on the cheap by eliminating the glass lenses. That’s right, just wear the frames. The great part of this trend is that frames are so inexpensive that you can buy multiple pairs and match them to your flip-flops, mock turtleneck, muumuu or whatever your tech titan-inspired sartorial statement happens to be. So this holiday season, if someone says they are going to accessorize your face, don’t tremble with fear but rather with excitement as most likely you are about to be framed. Said another way: no need to be wary of geeks bearing gifts.
1 December, 2011 (09:41) | Audio, TV | By: tomnob2008
Here is the one-hundred-and-twenty-second edition of Tom Nob’s Thursday Notes. TN2 serves as a brief summary of what good humor we have found during the past week plus some suggestions for the upcoming weekend.
Another Thanksgiving has been observed and, in many domiciles, the holiday can be considered a success if the family gathering did not degenerate into a food fight. The meltdowns usually stem from alcohol-fueled debates on topics such as religion and politics. While religion most commonly gets top billing, food and politics can be just as messy of a pairing. To wit…
Sometime this month the Pacific island-nation of Samoa will finally be admitted to the World Trade Organization after waiting 13 years for its Members Only sarong. Their final requirement was to lift the import ban on turkey tails, a flap found near the tukus of a tom that is 73% fat. The conflict, you see, is that over 55% of the Samoan population is obese and turkey tails were viewed as a health hazard to a population at risk. The USA Poultry & Egg Export Council cried fowl and lobbied to overturn the ban using the “consumer choice” argument. Meanwhile such choices have resulted in…
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children between ages 9 and 11 be screened for cholesterol levels. This move was prompted by the rapid increase in childhood obesity and diabetes. Children with elevated cholesterol levels will most likely not be prescribed medications like statins but rather they will be encouraged to improve their diet and increase exercise. Admirable goals that may be complicated by the fact that…
In school cafeterias across this land of free choice, pizza counts as a vegetable. That’s right. According to current federal school nutrition guidelines, a slice of pizza is considered to be equivalent to a serving of vegetables due to the fact that the pizza sauce contains tomato paste. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has sought to change that designation, as well as to impose limits on sodium and servings of starchy vegetables such as potatoes and corn, but the agency was thwarted by the U.S. Congress via legislation contained within a stop-gap spending bill that banned the USDA from making such changes. While they lost that battle…
The USDA was successful in defeating efforts by Yum! Brands to expand the use of food stamps at its Taco Bell and KFC restaurants. While food stamps can be used at restaurants in California, Arizona and Michigan, the company had sought to expand the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to enable those unable to cook for themselves (i.e., homeless, elderly and the disabled) to access Chalupas and Snackers in additional states. As a leading contender for under-statement of the year, a company spokesman stated: “We understand there was little support for this initiative.” The Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services at the USDA said the program should promote access to healthy foods. To which…
A modern day Marie Antoinette would imperiously proclaim: “Let them eat turkey tail.” Oh, SNAP!
