1. MudLuscious Press
MudLuscious Press is one of my favorite publishers and is always innovative and invigorating and just unusually awesome. It was founded by JA Tyler who still manages, edits, and publishes everything that goes through there. He produces an amazing product, from covers to text, the aesthetic is everything I look for: simple on the outside, complex on the inside. If you want to get a taste for what they do, check out the online magazine, which is published quarterly. It’s how I discovered them way back in 2008, I think, and I’ve never stopped reading.
MudLuscious Press currently needs help to keep everything running smoothly. They’ve already received, I believe, 70% of the $2,000 they needed to keep going, but 70% is not 100%. If you believe in independent art, in any kind of art, in words, in stories, in being challenged aesthetically, intellectually, and emotionally then check them out and support what they do. They have a deal going on right now for three of the titles in the Nephew series, featuring Joshua Young, Robert Kloss, and Andrew Borgstrom.
Look through the back catalogue as well where you’ll find some amazing titles by incredibly talented writers like Molly Gaudry, Matt Bell, Norman Lock, Gregory Sherl and so many more.
2. Full House Reviewed
My good friend Janeface introduced me to this blog: Full House Reviewed. It is, I think, the funniest blog I’ve ever read in my life. The author began writing reviews of every episode of Full House beginning at episode one and moving chronologically to the end, which is sometime in the future. He publishes a review every Friday. And trust me, you’re going to want to start at the beginning.
I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent reading that blog but I can tell you that it continually leaves tears in my eyes from laughing so god damn hard. The ways in which he absolutely hates this show are just too funny to name. And the one thing he loves about the show: Kimmie Gibbler. If there’s ever a class given about sitcoms, the author here should either teach it or his blog should be mandatory reading.
If you were a fan of the show or just want to reminisce or want to laugh way too hard about something you probably only kind of remember, then check it out. You won’t be disappointed. I mean, I’ve read all the way up to where he is now, which is nearing the end of season five. That’s right. I’ve read almost 150 posts written by a man who absolutely hates Full House. And I would probably do it again.
Also, only kind of related, but in the same theme: check out Bill Cosby dubstep and tell me you didn’t die of hilarity.
3. Bill Murray!
Obviously. But check out these stories about random strangers meeting Bill Murray and having the most awesome time ever.
A taste:
Bill Murray Doesn’t Like Giving Autographs
The Story:
Like most celebrities, Bill Murray isn’t a fan of being bothered for their autographs. Unlike most celebrities, it’s because he finds them too impersonal.
Apparently Bill Murray was doing a shoot for a guy, and that guy’s friend asked him for an autograph. Instead of just writing his name on a piece of paper, Bill gave them something better. He filmed a slow motion walk down the hall with all the guys ala Wes Anderson.
4. Mad Men
Mad Men is my latest television obsession and I’ve only made it through season one so don’t tell me anything or I’ll have to kill you. I know, four or five years late to the party, or something, but I’ve never been good at doing things on time. Anycase, a part of me hates this show. Like absolutely hates it! Don Draper is such a dick! And everyone’s such a misogynistic asshole! It makes me furious!
But it’s also just awesome television, somehow. I don’t know when it became a thing on television to make your protagonist an unlikeable dickhead, but it seems to have been going on for a while [House, Dexter, whathisname on Californication, the cast of Entourage, the cast of TrueBlood] but it somehow seems to work. I mean, I guess that’s the difference between watching these people and knowing them. No matter how funny you find Dr House, you’d hate him if you met him. Dexter’s a serial killer. And I don’t need to keep going with the other, but Don Draper is a womanising, racist, misogynist, alcoholic who is just captivating.
It’s a tribute to John Hamm, I think, that he can pull this off. And it’s not that I even like watching Draper, but I’m enthralled by him. His mystique, the odd insights into his psyche, his pensiveness, the well of emotion that seems to just seethe behind the thick and foggy veneer of expensive bourbon and smoke.
Anycase, it’s all streaming on Netflix, unless there’s a fifth season, which maybe there is or will be or is currently playing.
And this video has nothing to do with Mad Men but it does illustrate why I really can’t get behind the new Sorkin show, and this article covers it all pretty well, too. If you’re interested in my problems with Newsroom, I’ll explain to you on a different day or in the comments or something.
5. This awesome picture!
And then, on the opposite side of the coin, something that is the opposite of my favorite thing.
Gabriel García Márquez is suffering from dementia and can no longer write.
I have no words.
Edward J Rathke
edward j rathke lives here and there, finds his name in print occasionally, but mostly stares at the walls and waits for stories to fall out. His debut novel, Ash Cinema, was published by KUBOA Press.
