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.

New Film

We Bought a Zoo

And Finally

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!!