Amusing (if only to me) – Page 4

I wonder how many more times John McCain is going to say, “I know how to do that,” or refer back to the ’80s, or say “my friends” tonight. 6:27pm

I think I just heard McCain call Obama “that one.” 6:50pm

Uh, oh, here it comes. 7:14pm

I can’t believe he pulled out the “a ‘K,’ a ‘G,’ and a ‘B'” line again! It was lame the first time. 7:20pm

(Maybe he forgot he said it last time.) 7:21pm

I think you, too, should check out the comments on FoxNews.com. You decide. 7:42pm

I laugh at Pat Buchanan claiming McCain came in with “more heart, and more fight”. MSNBC’s token Republican. At least he’s repeating “Bomb, bomb Iran”…. 7:44pm

I am wondering why Brian Williams just said on NBC that there’s “one month” left until the election, when it’s FOUR WEEKS from now on November 4th. (Not a month!) 8:00pm

(I think Tom Brokaw said it at the end of the debate as well, actually…) – 8:01pm

I am done liveblogging (livestatusmessaging?) the debate, to the relief of all, my friends. 8:01p

^*(this material originally appeared in a slightly modified form on Facebook)

“No.”

By Jason L. Gohlke

On September 25, 2008

In Amusing (if only to me), Life, Tech

Has the Large Hadron Collider destroyed the earth yet?.

If you need any more incentive to give to Barack Obama

By Jason L. Gohlke

On September 23, 2008

In Amusing (if only to me), Culture, I Hate Politics, President Barack Obama, Recommendations

Miranda July and Carrie Brownstein have thoughtfully compiled a (mildly humorous) range of choices for how to contribute to Barack Obama, including the option of purchasing up to three videos produced eight years ago for $10 a piece (which will then be contributed directly back to Obama).

I say, right on.

Tom Ridge Defends “John Bush”

By Jason L. Gohlke

On September 5, 2008

In Amusing (if only to me), I Hate Politics

Oh, no, he didn’t.

Oh, yes, he did, in the #1 Freudian slip of the election so far: Tom Ridge defends “John Bush,” aka John McCain!

“everyone sane has already been eliminated from the power structure”

By Jason L. Gohlke

On September 2, 2008

In Amusing (if only to me), I Hate Politics

In Welcome to the Terrordome on This Modern World, Jonathan Schwarz argues that “living through the decadent phase of the American empire is going to be REALLY EXCITING,” as evidenced by McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Oh, my. Read it. Then weep, or laugh, or both, hysterically. Or just sigh because you know it’s true and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Thoughts?

Literally, A Web Log

By Jason L. Gohlke

On August 28, 2008

In Amusing (if only to me), Picky, picky.

Literally, A Web Log: An English Language grammar blog tracking abuse of the word “literally”.

Pratfalls are funny

By Jason L. Gohlke

On August 27, 2008

In Amusing (if only to me), Sports, Unfinished Thoughts

Sometimes bad things happen to good athletes: What didn’t make it to the Olympics.

My answer to someone who wants to be funnier in person

By Jason L. Gohlke

On August 15, 2008

In Amusing (if only to me)

I decided to post this here as an oblique response to my own earlier post. And why waste my writing solely on someone else’s website? (Why not waste it here, too?)

I don’t know how much it would help to try any particular techniques, or specific kinds of things to say, or joke structures, that other people suggest. Because what makes you funny is probably exactly what makes you unique. What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for someone else, obviously.

So the key is being yourself.

Turn off the internal censor.

Just say what you think is funny or (better) whatever occurs to you naturally in any given situation. Don’t try to be funny.

You should have an inner confidence that you’re funny, but you also shouldn’t expect anyone else to think you’re funny.

Self-deprecation is good, but not necessarily required. You can say something funny about something else without drawing attention to your own humility (real or false).

That said, considering how you describe yourself, deadpan humor may be the key.

Since you mention you’re funny in print but not as much in person, a funny thing to say if you bomb might be “That was hilarious on paper,” or “That would have gotten a huge laugh on MetaFilter,” or “That was way funnier when I submitted it to the New Yorker.” For example.

My favorite running gag is, when someone says something unintelligible, or makes an irreproducible sound, to say “That’s what I always say.” The underlying humor (to me) is that what I always say is “That’s what I always say.”

Clearly I’m a fan of the self-referential and the absurd. And, frankly, I’m far more interested in entertaining myself than anyone else. But that seems to work for me most of the time.