As I watched the Laughing Liberally comics at YearlyKos, I wasn’t sure where I was supposed to see the funny. I missed last year’s performance by James Adomian, a seriously funny Bush impressionist. Someone recently passed along his Bush Blog on Scooter Libby, a plug for the new OpenLeft.com. This was not particularly inspired, but I followed the “video response” link and watched his State of the Union 2007 and the Democratic response. This was the belly laugh I needed so much. You have to watch all of the way to the end to get the full scream-then-big-sigh effect of a belly laugh.

read comments (0)

Apparently, evolutionarily speaking, depression is a survival tool. It may not come as a surprise to you that our species was not “designed for our sedentary, socially isolated, indoor, sleep-deprived, frenzied, poorly nourished lifestyle.” Though theories vary, a new therapy encourages patients to live more like our paleolithic ancestors, getting more “aerobic exercise; ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids; light; positive social interaction; substituting activity for rumination; and increased sleep.” Not only would we be better off eating a Stone Age Diet, but we may also be better off if we adopt / adapt other aspects of a stone age lifestyle — after all, we are evolved for that active life.

So, what I take from this is that it can be depressing to sit home in front of your computer screen, all alone even when you are surrounded by a metaverse of virtual friends, and ruminate about, say, creeping authoritarianism or the slight possibility that environmental collapse is not inevitable.

Great. That’s it?

No.

Barbara Ehrenreich (author of Nickel and Dimed) writes in her new book Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy that we all may be so depressed because we have forgotten how to have fun together. Ecstatic rituals, she says, have been suppressed by elites because they were perceived as being so “disruptive, subversive, and even dangerous.” We’ve allowed ourselves to be disciplined. Disciplined and punished, as the infamous Frenchman has said. She seems to see a positive sign in the carnivalization of some protest movements, like the music and colorful costumes of anti-globalization.

So, if I paint may face and yell about authoritarianism I might feel better?

You might, especially if you look around you at all of the other painted faces and laugh.

Collective joy isn’t meant to be an escape from the worries that might press in on us. Play, big adult play, is another way to remember that we’re not alone. Ehrenreich suggests that we reclaim our traditions — outside of consumption and commodification. Utah burners, go to Burning Man as a walking tree this year. That ought to make you laugh.

“How can progressives,” the Alternet writer asked her, “use collective joy to help motivate people and promote our causes?”

People who are working for change need to think about how to make their events draw on the solidarity and creativity of lots of people together. That’s been happening … but it’s something we need to address. Bringing art and culture into politics is a way to express what we are seeking, what our vision of the world is.

read comments (3)

Look closely at the flags.  People across the world have a surprisingly similar message for George Bush.  It could have been worse, considering his name.

read comments (1)

For the first time in my life, I watched The O’Reilly Factor last night. I guess Fox people did a decent job of selling the confrontation love fest between O’Reilly and Steven Colbert. I knew Colbert could play it any direction. I watch him do it (nearly) every night.

There has been great anticipation this week. The key is, of course, the promotional opportunity of both shows to reach audiences they have never reached before–people like me who get somewhat nauseous at the idea of watching Fox. I knew I could just watch on YouTube the next day, but there I was and there the tv was.

I wanted it to be funny. It wasn’t. Just weak. You know, that’s what I often think watching Colbert. Is it just me?

O’Reilly’s talking heads discussed why Colbert is so popular. Why does the press love them? Because they “make fun of the news.” Female talking head says O’Reilly is “generous to fraternize with the enemy.” I think male talking head called himself a dufus. I agree. He’s definitely a dufus (as is his so-called book–I’m not going to name it because I wouldn’t want you to bother reading it). Commentary also weak.

Then, O’Reilly moves on to The Colbert Report. Peak moment: Colbert shows O’Reilly’s book, WITH the 30% off sticker from Barnes and Noble. Seriously, that was the peak. See for yourself.

When O’Reilly told Colbert, “I’m just an act,” Colbert asked the most important question of all: “If you’re an act, then what am I?”

Well, I don’t know what he is, but I do know that whatever he is remains the reason I prefer to watch The Daily Show.

read comments (0)

I have a week to decide, which freak show should I follow: Sundance or the Utah State Legislature?

The Sundance Film Festival runs January 18 - 28 in Salt Lake City, Odgen, Park City, and, of course, Sundance Resort. Ticket sales for Locals Only ended yesterday.

The Utah State Legislature meets January 15 - Februrary 28 in Salt Lake City. Watch the Utah Democratic Party and Utah Democratic Progressive Caucus websites for news of what happens during the session. Good luck finding a non-Republican play-by-play site to follow what happens. I hear rumors that the Democratic Senators are planning something interesting.

I may follow Mitt Romney and grab a diet Coke so I can keep my eyes on both. But, don’t expect me to write about them (much). There is so much going on nationally and globally that it’s tough to keep one’s eyes on one’s own paper.

read comments (2)